The dramatic sight of enormous, oversized trucks with massive tires launching skyward before roaring crowds has transformed into a lucrative industry worth millions. These colossal vehicle exhibitions are experiencing unprecedented growth, with multiple national touring circuits now competing for audiences and events expanding into international markets.
Reporter John Burnett plans to cover Monster Truck Wars, billed as “America’s Wildest Monster Truck Show,” scheduled for March 14 in Henderson, Texas. His coverage will include interviews with dedicated enthusiasts and an in-depth look at one of the drivers who pilots these mechanical giants.
The phenomenon has captured audiences nationwide, turning what began as a novelty attraction into a serious entertainment business that continues to expand its reach both domestically and abroad.
A court in Mexico has determined that inadequate maintenance caused a devastating 2018 aircraft accident in Cuba that claimed 112 lives, ordering the charter company responsible to compensate victim families with millions in damages.
Court records from March 31, obtained by The Associated Press, reveal that an independent aviation expert concluded the tragedy was an “institutional accident” resulting from maintenance neglect. The expert’s analysis, which supported the families’ claims, characterized the flight crew as a “final line of defense” who could not overcome the aircraft’s low-altitude emergency.
The ruling requires Mexican charter company Aerolíneas Damojh to provide $1.5 million in compensation to each family of the four Mexican crew members who initiated the legal action. The airline did not participate in court proceedings and was judged without representation present. While the aircraft’s insurance company was included in the lawsuit, it was ultimately exempted from financial responsibility.
The Boeing 737 aircraft crashed into a field shortly after takeoff from Havana’s José Martí International Airport, becoming one of Cuba’s most devastating aviation tragedies in recent history. Out of 113 passengers and crew aboard, only one Cuban woman survived the impact. The majority of those killed were Cuban nationals.
Cuban investigators concluded one year later that pilot error caused the accident. Mexican officials had previously suspended Aerolíneas Damojh temporarily and launched their own inquiry. Mexico’s Secretariat of Communications and Transportation did not respond to AP inquiries about their investigation’s current status.
Under the business name Global Air, Damojh had leased the Boeing 737 and Mexican flight crew to Cuba’s national airline, Cubana de Aviación. This leasing arrangement put the aircraft into operation despite documented concerns about the company’s operational history before the fatal crash.
Attorney Samuel González, representing the victim families, called the court decision a hard-fought and “groundbreaking ruling for Mexico.” He stated the judgment confirms what Damojh’s own maintenance supervisor admitted immediately in Havana when he told relatives the aircraft should not have been airborne.
“That plane flew over our heads for 10 years without maintenance,” González stated. “It crashed in Cuba, but it could have happened anywhere.”
AP reporters were unable to reach airline representatives for comment.
González indicated the airline may be pursuing bankruptcy protection, adding, “If it’s a fraudulent bankruptcy, we will press charges for that as well.”
In addition to this initial case, González confirmed that a broader class-action lawsuit representing all crash victims is proceeding. At the same time, criminal homicide charges have been filed with Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office targeting the company and other potentially liable parties.
González reported that the criminal probe has stalled because Cuban officials have not shared requested information. The Attorney General’s Office did not immediately respond to AP requests for updates on the case status.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mayor Muriel Bowser presented her final budget proposal on Friday before leaving office this year, outlining a $21.2 billion gross operating expenditure plan that’s expected to create significant debate among District Council members and on Capitol Hill, where GOP legislators have increasingly intervened in local matters.
The mayor’s financial plan prioritizes education and healthcare expenditures while reducing allocations in multiple sectors, including eliminating $127 million designated for upcoming union contract negotiations and salary increases for non-unionized municipal workers.
A significant aspect of the proposal involves reducing the general funds budget to $12.7 billion, representing a 3.3% decrease from 2026 levels. These general funds finance essential city operations. Bowser explained the reductions stem from declining revenues caused partly by federal employment cuts and increasing expenses, such as elevated Medicaid costs and higher administrative expenses for SNAP benefits due to federal law changes that transferred certain costs to state governments.
During her presentation to Council members, Bowser emphasized the city is “not broke” while describing what she characterized as three distinct phases of her leadership: periods of expansion, the COVID-19 economic crisis, and the post-pandemic recovery.
“We are adjusting to what DOGE has done to our workforce and commercial corridor,” she stated, referencing the Trump administration’s federal government downsizing efforts. She noted that increased expenses and reduced income have created an estimated budget shortfall requiring attention.
“I think we all have to be clear headed about where we are and what it will take to keep growing,” Bowser remarked. The mayor has led the city since 2015 and announced she won’t seek reelection this year.
Council members challenged Bowser and her team regarding proposed reductions, particularly criticizing cuts to programs designed to reduce childcare expenses in a city where families spend over $25,000 annually on average for infant care, according to Child Care Aware of America. The proposal would limit the District’s childcare subsidy program, which assists low-income families with care costs, to 6,000 children. Current subsidy recipients would maintain their benefits. The plan also eliminates a program that supplemented childcare worker wages, a pandemic-era initiative designed to attract and retain employees in a traditionally low-wage sector.
Council Chairman Phil Mendelson indicated the council would likely conduct a budget vote in June.
Washington’s financial planning has faced complications over recent years, including 2025 when the House approved federal funding legislation forcing the district to return to 2024 budget limits, effectively removing $1.1 billion from its balanced budget during the fiscal year.
The Department of Government Efficiency’s federal workforce restructuring significantly affected the Washington area. Terry Clower, who directs George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis, calculated that the region lost more than 50,000 positions. Clower explained these job losses extend beyond lost wages and income taxes, also impacting businesses serving those workers and creating additional revenue losses for local governments.
The D.C. Office of Revenue Analysis determined Washington experienced a net reduction of 22,000 federal positions with combined annual salaries exceeding $3 billion.
City Administrator Kevin Donahue identified revenue impacts from federal workforce reductions, primarily through the Department of Government Efficiency, which resulted in approximately $325 million in lost revenue from employment cuts and reduced consumer spending. These losses are projected to increase further in fiscal year 2027.
Municipal leaders in Kansas City, Missouri have unveiled plans to finance $600 million through bond issuance for a brand new downtown baseball facility, hoping to prevent the Royals from following the Chiefs’ recent departure to Kansas.
On Thursday, Mayor Quinton Lucas joined nine City Council members in presenting legislation that would authorize the city manager to enter stadium negotiations with the Royals. The proposed venue would be constructed close to Union Station and the World War I museum, roughly six miles northwest from their existing home at Kauffman Stadium.
Officials estimate the total construction cost at $1.9 billion. Missouri passed legislation last year committing the state to fund half that amount at $950 million. With Kansas City’s proposed bond contribution, the Royals organization would be responsible for securing $350 million through private financing.
Both the Royals and Chiefs have called the Truman Sports Complex home since 1973, where Kauffman Stadium sits adjacent to Arrowhead Stadium on Jackson County-owned property. Current lease agreements end in 2031, and county residents voted down a tax extension in April 2024 that would have funded renovations for both facilities.
Team officials are also evaluating an alternative location approximately five miles north in North Kansas City.
Kansas lawmakers, who would need to authorize any deal to attract the Royals, appear reluctant after the state approved $2.4 billion in bonds this past December to fund 60% of a new $3 billion domed facility for the Chiefs in Kansas City, Kansas. House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Republican, and Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, a Democrat, released a joint Friday statement congratulating Missouri and stating they were “looking forward to what’s ahead.”
The Kansas City Council may vote on the ordinance as soon as this Thursday, though City Manager Mario Vasquez emphasized that efforts to retain the team are “just beginning.”
In a Friday statement, the Royals expressed appreciation, saying: “We are grateful for their engagement in this process, as well as for the critical work of the State of Missouri, and look forward to more detailed conversations as we consider solutions that are best for our team, our fans, and our community.”
Sports economists have consistently found over decades that public stadium subsidies fail to justify their costs, as these facilities typically redirect economic activity rather than generate new regional growth. Despite this research, municipalities and states continue funding stadium construction and renovation projects.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe characterized the Royals as “a key economic catalyst” for the state.
“The State of Missouri is committed to continue working alongside the Kansas City Royals organization and the City of Kansas City to ensure the Royals remain in Missouri — where they belong,” Kehoe stated.
Among the 60 facilities housing MLB and NFL franchises, 49 operate under public ownership or on government-owned land.
Recent examples include New York state and Erie County contributing $850 million, representing 40% of the Buffalo Bills’ new $2.1 billion stadium cost. In Ohio, state and local authorities have committed $1.2 billion to cover half the expenses for a new Cleveland Browns facility, though litigation has delayed the state’s contribution.
Kansas officials have labeled the Chiefs’ stadium project as their state’s most significant economic development initiative ever. The franchise also intends to develop a surrounding retail complex and construct a new training facility in Olathe, Kansas.
Standing on the deck of their sailboat Soul Mate, Lynette Hooker cheerfully announced to her camera: “We’re finally leaving Kemah,” speaking about the Texas harbor town where they had been docked.
“It’s only been four months,” she joked while her husband Brian adjusted the boat’s rigging in preparation for departure.
That “Gulf Crossing” recording from over three years ago captured the beginning of a maritime journey that the couple shared extensively on Facebook – a voyage that has now become evidence in a criminal case following Lynette’s mysterious disappearance in the Bahamas.
Days after Lynette vanished, Bahamian police took Brian into custody. Through his lawyer Terrel Butler, Brian maintains his innocence regarding his wife’s disappearance and states he is fully assisting law enforcement with their inquiry.
According to Brian’s account to police, his spouse of over two decades fell into the ocean Saturday evening from their small motor vessel while traveling between Hope Town and Elbow Cay, two tiny islands in the eastern Bahamas. Brian reported that 55-year-old Lynette possessed the boat keys when the motor stopped running.
“Strong currents subsequently carried her away, and he lost sight of her,” authorities explained in their Saturday statement.
Brian reportedly used paddles to reach land and notified others early Sunday morning, police said. Officers arrested and interrogated him the following Wednesday.
The U.S. Coast Guard has launched its own inquiry independent of the Bahamian investigation.
Lynette’s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, expressed doubt that her mother would simply tumble off a vessel.
Despite the cheerful demeanor displayed in their online sailing videos, the couple had a troubled past marked by conflict.
Police records from Kentwood, Michigan, obtained by NBC News reveal that both Brian and Lynette accused each other of physical violence in 2015.
The report indicates Brian was intoxicated and had a bloody nose when he told officers his wife had repeatedly hit him in the face. He also claimed Lynette was under the influence of alcohol. She was taken into custody for assault and held overnight in jail. Prosecutors declined to file charges because they couldn’t determine “who started the assault.”
Aylesworth also revealed to NBC that her mother and stepfather had a turbulent relationship with a “history of not getting along, especially when they drink.”
The couple resided in Onsted, located roughly 72 miles southwest of Detroit. The nearest major waterway is Lake Erie, approximately 60 miles southeast of their hometown.
Lynette’s mother, Darlene Hamlett, explained Wednesday that their family has always been connected to water and that her daughter spent her life “near lakes, on boats, sailing and swimming.”
The pair regularly uploaded footage of their Caribbean sailing experiences to their “Sailing Hookers” Facebook account.
In the March 2023 recording, Lynette narrates their departure from Kemah, Texas, as the Soul Mate navigates through morning mist into Gulf of Mexico waters.
“Pretty cool,” Lynette commented as Brian sounded the vessel’s foghorn. During a later scene showing Brian replacing an engine belt, he glances up at his wife and remarks, “Hi sexy.”
An earlier recording shows the couple describing their purchase and renovation of the Soul Mate in Rockport, Texas.
“After several years of driving around the country, looking for our perfect sailboat, we finally found her in Texas,” Lynette explained in the eight-minute video from January 2023. “She was a little rough on the edges. The decks needed to be redone, but we knew we were up for the task.”
That footage captures them collaborating on repairs, scraping, preparing surfaces and applying paint. Text overlay reads: “The decks are done! we’re still married! party time!”
A recording from two years prior shows them using their smaller motorboat for supply runs to shore, though the location isn’t specified.
“We got the grub,” Brian tells the camera, which then pans to show a beer case at his feet and grocery bags in the boat’s front section. “Delivery… the way of life, man.”
WASHINGTON — Former First Lady Melania Trump caught many off guard Thursday when she delivered an unexpected public statement rejecting any significant ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex trafficker, during a time when his case had largely disappeared from public discussion.
Speaking from prepared notes at the White House Thursday, Mrs. Trump declared she and her legal team were pushing back against “unfound and baseless lies” regarding her relationship with the deceased financier, who used his connections among wealthy and influential people to find victims and hide his criminal activities.
“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” she declared. “The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.”
Mrs. Trump declined to answer reporters’ questions following her remarks, leaving numerous unanswered questions about what motivated the statement.
The timing remains mysterious. Her husband, President Donald Trump, and his administration appeared to have finally moved beyond more than a year of Epstein-related controversy, particularly as the Iran conflict had dominated Washington’s attention.
The former first lady’s public comments will likely thrust the matter back into the political spotlight, even though the president has encouraged both the public and press to leave the case behind.
Mrs. Trump appeared to reference a short 2002 email with sender and receiver information redacted. The message opens with “Dear G!” and closes with “Love, Melania,” praising the recipient regarding a magazine piece about “JE.”
“I know you are very busy flying all over the world,” the email states. “How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY.”
This correspondence was sent during the same month New York Magazine published a profile of Epstein in which Trump described him as a “terrific guy.”
During Thursday’s statement, Mrs. Trump denied being friends with either Epstein or his associate and former romantic partner Ghislaine Maxwell, though she acknowledged moving in similar social circles throughout New York and Florida. She characterized an email response she sent to Maxwell as “casual correspondence” without providing additional details.
“My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trivial note,” she stated.
Released documents also included an image from Epstein’s residence displaying multiple photographs arranged on furniture and stored in drawers. Within that image, tucked inside a drawer among other pictures, was a photo showing Donald Trump with Epstein, Melania Trump, and Maxwell.
Mrs. Trump highlighted Thursday that multiple people and organizations have issued apologies for their “lies about me.” Among her examples, the most recent occurred in October when book publisher HarperCollins UK apologized to the former first lady and removed sections from a publication that suggested Epstein facilitated her introduction to Donald Trump.
MS NOW journalist Jacqueline Alemany reported on social media Thursday that President Trump told her he was unaware of his wife’s planned statement regarding Epstein.
The White House press office has not responded to inquiries for comment.
Nick Clemens, speaking for Mrs. Trump, confirmed the West Wing knew in advance about her planned statement. However, he directed questions about whether officials knew the specific content of her remarks to the West Wing.
In recent weeks, President Trump’s public schedule has focused primarily on the Iran conflict.
The former first lady’s statement returned Epstein to public attention months following federal authorities’ release of millions of documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislation passed after sustained public and political pressure. The law mandates government disclosure of files related to the late financier and Maxwell.
Congressional members initially criticized the Justice Department for limited document releases, but officials explained additional time was necessary to examine newly discovered materials and protect sensitive victim information.
While several prominent European figures have faced consequences for Epstein associations, comparable prosecutions have not occurred in the United States.
Most significantly, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew — was arrested in February following the latest document release. Mountbatten-Windsor’s name appeared repeatedly in the files, showing a close connection with Epstein.
However, his arrest was unrelated to sexual misconduct. Instead, he faces charges for allegedly sharing confidential trade information with Epstein.
Mrs. Trump urged Congress to conduct public hearings focused on Epstein’s crime survivors, providing opportunities to testify before lawmakers and have their accounts officially recorded.
“Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes,” she said. “Then, and only then, we will have the truth.”
The Seattle Mariners faced an embarrassing moment Friday when their ceremony honoring Hall of Fame outfielder Ichiro Suzuki took an unexpected turn.
During the unveiling ceremony at T-Mobile Park, the bronze statue’s bat broke off just above where the hands grip it as officials removed the navy blue covering. Suzuki himself was present for the dedication, standing alongside baseball legends Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, and team owner John Stanton on the first-base side of the stadium. The legendary player covered his face with his hands and winced when he saw the damaged statue.
“I did not do that,” Griffey said.
The team responded to the mishap with humor on their social media accounts, sharing an image of a miniature version of the broken statue and writing: “Breaking: We’ve updated tonight’s Ichiro Replica Statue giveaway.”
“I didn’t think Mariano (Rivera) would come out here and break the bat,” Ichiro said through his longtime interpreter.
The bronze memorial captures Suzuki’s distinctive batting stance, showing him holding the bat perpendicular to the ground while his left hand crosses over his chest.
During his time with Seattle, Suzuki earned 10 All-Star selections as part of his Hall of Fame career. Over 14 seasons with the Mariners spanning 2001-2012 and 2018-2019, he maintained a .321 batting average and recorded 438 stolen bases.
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware track and field program combined their annual Senior Day festivities with hosting duties for the Delaware Invitational meet on Friday at Grant Stadium.
The Blue Hens used the occasion to honor their graduating student-athletes while welcoming visiting teams to compete at their home facility in Newark.
Northbound lanes of Route 1 have been completely blocked at New Wharf Road following a vehicle collision, according to DelDOT traffic officials.
The crash has forced authorities to close all northbound traffic in the area, creating significant delays for commuters and travelers.
DelDOT is advising drivers to find alternative routes while emergency crews and traffic officials work to clear the accident scene and restore normal traffic flow.
No additional details about the collision, including potential injuries or the number of vehicles involved, have been released at this time.
A Pakistani government official found himself at the center of an international controversy this week after posting inflammatory comments about Israel on social media platforms.
Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif removed a controversial message from his X account on Wednesday following strong criticism from Israeli leadership. The post contained accusations of genocide against Israel and included references to “European Jews” that critics described as carrying antisemitic undertones.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration characterized the comments as “outrageous” and claimed they questioned Israel’s fundamental right to exist. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and additional Israeli officials also spoke out against the post, particularly criticizing the “European Jews” terminology as crossing acceptable boundaries.
The timing of the social media controversy proved particularly problematic for Pakistan’s government. While the nation has historically backed Palestinian interests, Pakistani leadership has simultaneously worked to establish credibility as a neutral mediator in complex Middle Eastern diplomatic efforts. Asif’s comments undermined these efforts and raised questions about Pakistan’s claimed impartiality in regional conflicts.
The defense minister quietly removed the message from X without providing any public explanation for his decision. However, as of April 10, 2026, the identical content continued to appear on his Facebook profile, leading to speculation that internal government or military pressure may have influenced the partial removal, though no official confirmation has emerged.
While Pakistani leadership continues to voice opposition to Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, sources indicated that Asif’s deleted post used exceptionally harsh language during a period when the government was attempting to demonstrate diplomatic moderation.
CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga delivered six spectacular no-hit innings Friday afternoon before Pittsburgh finally managed to connect against reliever Caleb Thielbar in the seventh frame.
The 32-year-old left-hander dominated the Pirates lineup, recording nine strikeouts while issuing just one walk. Imanaga threw exactly 100 pitches during his outstanding performance, with 68 finding the strike zone.
Pittsburgh’s breakthrough came when Ryan O’Hearn stepped into the batter’s box to face Thielbar, connecting on a 1-1 slider for a clean single to right field — the Pirates’ first base hit of the contest. Bryan Reynolds followed immediately with a towering blast to left field off Thielbar’s next offering, his third home run of the season, giving Pittsburgh a 2-0 advantage on the cold Chicago afternoon.
The Pirates had managed just one baserunner against Imanaga prior to his departure. Oneil Cruz drew a two-out walk in the second inning, but the Cubs pitcher quickly escaped trouble by striking out rookie Konnor Griffin to end the frame.
Coming into Friday’s game, Imanaga was looking to bounce back from a rough start to the season, carrying an 0-1 record and 4.50 earned run average through his first two outings.
In an unusual move, former First Lady Melania Trump broke her typical silence Thursday to issue a public declaration distancing herself from Jeffrey Epstein while demanding Congressional investigations into the case.
Trump’s unexpected statement explicitly denied any personal relationship with the late financier and convicted sex offender, marking a rare instance of the former first lady addressing controversial topics publicly.
The announcement has generated divided responses among those who experienced abuse at Epstein’s hands, with survivors expressing varying perspectives on her decision to speak out and call for legislative action.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopian Orthodox Christians marked Good Friday in the nation’s capital with muted celebrations as ongoing conflict has triggered severe fuel shortages and skyrocketing food costs that are disrupting traditional Easter preparations.
Ethiopian Orthodox believers follow a different liturgical calendar than most Christian denominations worldwide, who celebrated Easter on April 5 this year.
The Good Friday observance caps off a 55-day fasting period called Abiy Tsom, characterized by collective worship services where many faithful wear customary white garments. The day leads into an all-night prayer vigil where congregants pray for absolution and tranquility before Easter Sunday arrives.
However, inflated costs have significantly impacted both transportation and the traditional animal sacrifice ceremonies.
Local resident Samuel Teshome explained that sheep prices have nearly doubled, putting them beyond his family’s financial reach.
Fellow resident Sirawdink Admaus noted that rooster prices have similarly skyrocketed to nearly twice their previous cost.
Livestock vendors attribute these increases to dramatically higher transportation expenses for bringing animals from countryside locations.
The country is grappling with severe fuel shortages, with most service stations lacking adequate supplies. Some entrepreneurs have resorted to black market purchases, where costs are substantially higher.
Minibus operator Tefera Aragaw described how extended waits at fuel stations have devastated his earnings and expects a subdued Easter observance.
“We have been waiting for three days, and we spent the nights here. There is also a possibility that we may not be able to get fuel at all,” he said.
Government officials have implemented emergency conservation strategies, including permitting most civil servants to telecommute and directing available fuel supplies toward critical services first.
Fresh polling data from the Pew Research Center reveals a notable shift in Republican attitudes toward Israel, particularly among younger conservative voters, while President Donald Trump has launched sharp criticism against several prominent right-wing media figures.
The new survey indicates that while Republican support for Israel still outweighs opposition overall, there’s been a marked decline among younger party members. Among all Republicans and those who lean Republican, 58% maintain favorable views of Israel while 41% hold unfavorable opinions.
The generational divide within the party has become more pronounced, with 57% of Republicans between ages 18 and 49 now holding negative views of Israel, representing an increase from 50% the previous year. In contrast, Republicans aged 50 and above maintain predominantly positive attitudes toward the nation.
For context, Democratic opposition to Israel has grown even more dramatically, with 80% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents now viewing Israel unfavorably, jumping from 69% last year and 53% in 2022. Younger Democrats show slightly stronger negative sentiment than their older counterparts, with 47% expressing very unfavorable opinions compared to 39% of older Democrats.
Republican opinions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have become evenly split, with 45% expressing significant or moderate confidence in his leadership while 44% report little to no confidence. The age gap persists here as well, with Republicans over 50 showing twice the confidence level in Netanyahu compared to younger Republicans—58% versus 30%.
Regarding Trump’s approach to US-Israel relations, approximately 73% of Republicans express confidence in his decision-making abilities, compared to just 16% of Democrats. However, younger Republicans show less enthusiasm, with only 52% of those under 30 expressing confidence, dramatically lower than the 93% confidence rate among Republicans 65 and older.
In a separate development, President Trump used his Truth Social platform to launch an extensive attack on conservative media personalities Tucker Carlson, Alex Jones, Candace Owens, and Megyn Kelly. These commentators, who previously backed Trump, have recently voiced opposition to his Iran war stance and Israel policies. Trump labeled them as “NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS,” ridiculed them for being “thrown off Television,” and declared they were no longer welcome on TV appearances.
The president alleged that these four media figures want Iran to develop nuclear weapons and suggested their criticisms stem from seeking “cheap publicity” for their podcast ventures. Trump dismissed suggestions of division within his MAGA movement, stating that anyone opposing him represents “the opposite of MAGA.”
Trump further claimed he could “get them on my side” at will but stated he refuses to take their calls when they attempt to contact him. He ended his statement by emphasizing that MAGA represents winning and strength, declaring “these people have no idea how to do that, BUT I DO.”
CHICAGO (AP) — A complex political dispute over whether Chicago public schools should close on May 1 is reaching a critical point, leaving hundreds of thousands of students and families uncertain about their plans.
The powerful Chicago Teachers Union, which supports Mayor Brandon Johnson, is pushing for educators to join protest activities in America’s third-largest city on May Day, aligning with global workers’ rights demonstrations. However, the recently appointed head of Chicago Public Schools has turned down the request to close schools.
This disagreement has left families of more than 315,000 students in limbo.
Workers’ rights demonstrations on May Day have traditionally been strong in Chicago, a city known for supporting organized labor. International Workers Day traces its origins back more than 100 years to a significant period in labor movement history.
Labor organizations across the United States are organizing a comprehensive boycott of work, commerce, and education this year to oppose the Trump administration’s policies. In various locations, including North Carolina, union groups are urging teachers to skip work on May 1.
The Chicago Teachers Union is calling for the country’s fourth-largest school system to eliminate classes entirely, claiming this would enable both educators and students to demonstrate during a period when public education faces challenges. Labor groups are pushing for increased educational funding, higher taxes on wealthy individuals, and an end to immigration enforcement operations.
Over 70% of the district’s student population comes from low-income households, with most students being Black or Latino.
“What our students need, and what history teaches us is the only thing that works, is educators, labor unions, and community groups standing together to defend each other and our democracy and demand that the government put our families over their fortunes,” the CTU said in a statement.
Earlier this week, Macquline King, the recently appointed district CEO, announced she had no intention of canceling classes.
“As a career educator, I believe every minute in the classroom is vital for our students,” she said in a statement, adding that the district’s school board could override her with a vote. Their next regular meeting is April 23.
The union plans to designate May 1 as a professional development day for educators, switching it with one originally scheduled for June 5, which marks the beginning of students’ summer vacation. The union has submitted a formal complaint regarding this issue.
The potential closure of more than 500 schools is causing significant problems for parents who are worried about securing childcare or canceling test preparation activities.
District research revealed that 113 schools, roughly 20% of all schools, had scheduled events for May 1, including educational trips, athletic competitions, and makeup sessions for Advanced Placement exams. An additional 100 schools reported having other events such as proms and senior recognition nights planned for that date, according to a document from King to board members that The Associated Press obtained.
“Disruptions would directly affect academic testing and key student milestones, particularly for graduating seniors and 8th graders with limited ability to recover or reschedule these experiences,” King wrote in the memo.
Mariam Hafezi, whose child attends middle school in northwest Chicago, expressed support for civic education and wouldn’t oppose student-organized walkouts. However, she pointed out that these demonstrations were being organized by adults.
“It is a teachable moment without them being outside of school,” she said. “It would be wiser to spend time in class explaining about the strike in general.”
The conflict over a single school day highlights a challenging situation for first-term Mayor Johnson and his potential reelection campaign in 2027.
Johnson endorses the May 1 demonstrations but has been less definitive publicly about whether schools should be closed. His office did not respond to an email on Friday.
As a former CTU organizer, Johnson won the 2023 election with union backing. This relationship has created friction, especially during last year’s contract discussions and the removal of former CEO Pedro Martinez.
Following a difficult search process for a replacement, the board selected King, someone already working within the district who had been serving as interim CEO. The board approved her three-year contract last week.
This disagreement has also provided insight into the politics of the city’s newest Democratic governing body. Chicago is transitioning from a mayor-appointed school board to a completely elected one this November.
The current 21-member board includes both elected and appointed members who frequently disagree.
“Calls to keep students out of school are reckless,” elected board member Jennifer Custer wrote on Facebook. “They hurt parents who work, disrupt classrooms, and set our kids back — all for politics.”
However, Emma Lozano, a veteran immigrant rights advocate appointed by Johnson, expressed a different view.
She believes students should participate in May 1 demonstrations, which have attracted hundreds of thousands of participants in Chicago in previous years.
“We don’t just get educated in the classroom,” she said. “We get educated in the world and have to learn how to fight for our rights.”
Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams revealed on Friday that he has obtained honorary citizenship from Albania, moving him closer to his frequently stated goal of pursuing life overseas after leaving politics.
Albania’s President Bajram Begaj granted the honorary citizenship to Adams, a Democrat, following a formal request, according to an official presidential decree.
Albanian media outlets first broke the story, which was subsequently verified by Adams’ representative, who noted that the former mayor has maintained strong ties with Albanian-American communities for years.
“The decision by the Republic of Albania to grant Mayor Adams citizenship reflects that enduring relationship and mutual respect,” spokesperson Todd Shapiro stated via text message, noting that this recognition “further strengthens the bond between New York and Albania.”
Adams, who previously referred to himself as an “international mayor,” has demonstrated ongoing interest in the small Balkan country. His grown son resided in Albania while participating in the nation’s equivalent of “American Idol,” and Adams himself visited the country in October during his final months as mayor.
During that visit, he explained his purpose was “to say hello to a friend and learn from a friend and build a relationship with a friendship that will not allow our oceans or seas to divide us.”
Adams’ specific plans for his new citizenship status remain unclear. However, he has consistently voiced aspirations to relocate far from New York City after his political career.
“When I retire from government, I’m going to live in Baku,” Adams declared during a 2018 Azerbaijan community event while serving as Brooklyn Borough President. Later, in a conversation with a Jewish media outlet, he mentioned wanting to spend his retirement in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.
During his mayoral tenure, Adams’ frequent international travel, particularly to Turkey, led to federal charges partly based on claims he accepted inappropriate travel perks from foreign contacts.
Adams rejected these accusations, and the Trump administration’s Justice Department subsequently dismissed the case. Adams later discussed potential ambassadorial positions with Trump officials, though no appointment occurred.
Following his unsuccessful reelection campaign, Adams took a four-day Albanian trip, where he met with Prime Minister Edi Rama, cabinet members, and business leaders. The Albanian government partially funded this journey.
Since departing office, Adams has been seen in Dubai and the Democratic Republic of Congo, though his current activities remain largely mysterious.
This January, he introduced a cryptocurrency that he claimed would combat antisemitism and “anti-Americanism,” but the venture faced criticism after losing substantial value.
SAN FRANCISCO — A 20-year-old individual is in custody after allegedly hurling a firebomb at the residence of Sam Altman, the chief executive of artificial intelligence company OpenAI, according to law enforcement and company officials.
San Francisco police responded to Altman’s home around 4 a.m. Friday following reports that someone had lobbed an explosive device at the property, igniting an outdoor gate before escaping on foot, authorities reported.
Within an hour of the initial incident, law enforcement received another call about a man making arson threats against a commercial building in a different part of the city. When officers arrived, they identified the individual as the same person from the earlier attack and took him into custody, the police department announced on social media.
The artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT issued a statement verifying that the targeted residence belongs to Altman and that the subsequent threats occurred at their corporate offices. The company reported no injuries from either incident and confirmed they are cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
Law enforcement has not yet filed formal charges or disclosed information about the detained suspect, including his identity or what may have motivated the attacks.
“We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe,” OpenAI wrote in a statement.
As OpenAI’s co-founder and chief executive, Altman has emerged as one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent figures discussing both the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence technology. In 2023, the company’s board terminated him after determining he had not been “consistently candid in his communications” with directors, though he was reinstated within days under new board leadership.
The tech executive has drawn both supporters and critics, and these incidents follow the recent publication of a detailed New Yorker investigation exploring various concerns surrounding both Altman and his company.
Minnesota state officials have filed legal action against the Trump administration, accusing federal authorities of concealing evidence in connection with fatal shootings carried out by immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis.
The lawsuit centers on incidents where Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents killed two American citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Macklin Good, and wounded a Venezuelan individual during enforcement activities in the city.
State authorities claim the federal government is refusing to provide critical evidence and information about these shooting incidents, hampering their ability to conduct a thorough investigation into the deaths and injury that occurred during the immigration crackdown.
The legal challenge highlights growing tensions between state and federal officials over transparency and accountability in immigration enforcement operations that have resulted in civilian casualties.
Israel’s highest-ranking military official declared Friday that the nation continues active warfare against Hezbollah, despite upcoming diplomatic discussions announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff, addressed military commanders near Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, stressing that combat missions are still underway. “The IDF is in a state of war. We are not in a ceasefire, we continue to fight here in this sector, this is our main combat sector,” he said. “We are in all the places. Just as we are in Gaza, just as we are in Syria – we are also here in Lebanon.”
Fighting persisted on Friday despite Netanyahu’s Thursday announcement that direct negotiations would commence “as soon as possible.” Israeli officials clarified these talks would proceed “under fire” rather than following a traditional ceasefire arrangement.
Warning sirens sounded in the Ashdod region Friday after missiles and rockets were fired from Lebanon. Similar alerts were activated in Kiryat Shmona as military operations expanded across several areas.
Power failures affected northern Israel Friday morning after a high-voltage electrical line sustained damage, according to Israeli news outlets. Reports suggest rocket fragments may have caused the infrastructure damage.
The Israeli military issued warnings about Hezbollah’s tactics involving civilian resources. Colonel Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson, posted on X Friday demanding Hezbollah cease using ambulances in their operations. He cautioned that “if this conduct is not halted, Israel will act in accordance with international law against any military activity carried out by the terrorist Hezbollah using those facilities and ambulances.”
According to CBS News reporting from multiple diplomatic sources, ceasefire negotiations have experienced significant changes. The network reported that President Donald Trump initially supported including Lebanon in ceasefire arrangements, which Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also confirmed.
A White House representative told CBS that Israel had accepted the Pakistan-brokered ceasefire conditions when they became effective, but American policy shifted after a telephone conversation between Trump and Netanyahu.
Kuwait’s foreign ministry has confirmed that drone attacks hit critical infrastructure within the country Thursday evening, even as a ceasefire with Iran remains in effect. The strikes have raised new concerns just days before scheduled diplomatic negotiations in Islamabad aimed at resolving the ongoing Iran conflict.
According to a statement released through Kuwait’s state-operated KUNA news agency, the unmanned aerial attacks “targeted some vital Kuwaiti facilities Thursday night.” The timing of these incidents has cast doubt on the stability of current peace efforts, with important talks set to begin Saturday in Pakistan’s capital.
Meanwhile, regional energy infrastructure continues to face threats. Saudi Arabia’s official news service reported through an unnamed government source that the East-West pipeline – a crucial backup route that serves as an alternative to Strait of Hormuz shipping – sustained damage in a recent assault.
President Trump has openly condemned Iran’s handling of maritime passage commitments, stating the country was doing a “very poor job” in maintaining open shipping lanes through the strait. “This is not the agreement we have,” Trump declared, expressing frustration with Iran’s performance on maritime access.
The president’s criticism intensified Thursday when Iran announced plans to charge fees for vessels using the waterway. Trump responded on Truth Social, warning Iran to “better stop now” and emphasizing that passage through the strait should remain free of charge.
The Strait of Hormuz stands at the heart of this dispute, functioning as a vital shipping corridor that connects oil-producing Gulf nations with international markets. Approximately 20% of global oil supplies pass through this narrow waterway, making any disruption a serious threat to worldwide economic stability.
Throughout this conflict, the strategic waterway has remained a flashpoint, with Iran limiting vessel passage while Trump has threatened significant military action if normal access isn’t restored. The recent attacks and damage to backup energy transportation routes have intensified pressure on ongoing diplomatic initiatives.
The federal government spent $4 billion more than it collected in March compared to the same month last year, bringing the monthly budget shortfall to $164 billion, according to Treasury Department figures released Friday.
The 2% increase in the deficit stemmed largely from significantly higher tax refunds paid to both individual taxpayers and corporations, driven by new tax relief measures. Additionally, government payments to farmers contributed to the spending increase.
Military expenditures related to the Iran conflict remained relatively modest during the war’s opening month, with defense and military program spending climbing just $2 billion to reach $65 billion in March – a 3% increase over the previous year.
However, Trump administration officials have calculated that the military engagement cost $11.3 billion during just its first six days. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer stated Wednesday that the war’s “price tag” had reached $44 billion, though he did not reveal the source of that figure.
A Treasury Department spokesperson explained to reporters that many expenses connected to the conflict, including costs for replacing military equipment and weapons, would appear in subsequent months’ budget reports.
Individual taxpayers received $15 billion more in refunds during March compared to 2025, representing a 22% jump to $85 billion total as the April 15 tax deadline approached. Business tax refunds surged even more dramatically, climbing $5 billion or 215% to reach $8 billion, reflecting benefits from Republican tax legislation passed last year.
The new tax benefits encompass individual deductions for overtime pay, tip income, car loan interest for domestic vehicles, and expanded state and local tax deductions. Businesses can now immediately write off capital investments and research expenses.
Economic analysts warn that higher fuel prices resulting from the Iran war may offset the larger refunds many taxpayers are receiving.
Looking at the broader fiscal picture, the government’s deficit for the first six months of fiscal year 2026, which began October 1, actually decreased by $139 billion or 11% compared to the same period in fiscal 2025, totaling $1.169 trillion. This improvement occurred because government revenue increased faster than spending.
Tariff collections under President Trump’s trade policies provided a significant revenue boost, generating $166.5 billion in customs receipts during the six-month period – nearly four times the $43.6 billion collected during the first half of fiscal 2025.
March customs collections declined following the Supreme Court’s February 20 decision to invalidate Trump’s broadest global tariffs that had been imposed under emergency authority.
Customs revenue totaled $22.2 billion in March, down from February’s $26.6 billion and the low $30 billion monthly figures recorded late last year, but still well above March 2025’s $8.2 billion.
Further decreases in customs collections may be coming, since these duties are typically paid with a one-month delay. Most March collections reflected February imports that occurred before the February 24 suspension of duties ranging from 10% to 50% under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Treasury official noted.
The Trump administration implemented a temporary 10% duty on all imports the same day and maintains various other tariffs under different legal authorities.
Government receipts for March reached $385 billion, climbing $17 billion or 5% from March 2025, while expenditures totaled $549 billion, an increase of $21 billion or 4% year-over-year. Both revenue and spending figures set March records, according to Treasury officials.
When adjusting for calendar-related timing differences in benefit payments, the March deficit would have been $250 billion, representing a $9 billion or 4% increase from March 2025.
For the fiscal year’s first half, government receipts totaled $2.483 trillion, up $222 billion or 10%, while spending grew by $84 billion or 2% to reach $3.651 trillion, Treasury data showed.
Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid has been discharged from a Houston medical facility following successful appendix removal surgery, the franchise confirmed Friday. The seven-time All-Star is now heading back to Philadelphia to continue his recovery.
Team officials stated that Embiid’s post-surgery rehabilitation will be overseen by Philadelphia’s medical staff working alongside the surgeon who performed the operation. No specific date has been established for when the center will resume playing basketball.
The 76ers fell to the Houston Rockets 113-102 on Thursday night while playing without their star player, who had undergone the medical procedure earlier that same day at a Houston area hospital. Following the defeat, Philadelphia now holds a 43-37 record and shares the eighth playoff position with Charlotte, though the 76ers hold the advantage in tiebreaker scenarios.
Both Philadelphia and Charlotte trail seventh-place Orlando by one game, with the Magic sitting at 44-36. Toronto and Atlanta, each with 45-35 records, currently occupy the final two direct playoff berths, staying two games ahead of the 76ers. With just two contests remaining in the regular season, Philadelphia would secure a play-in tournament berth if they suffer one additional loss or if both the Hawks and Raptors each win once more.
The 32-year-old Embiid has posted averages of 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds across 38 games this season, starting in each appearance.
The former MVP from the 2022-23 campaign has compiled career statistics of 27.6 points and 10.8 rebounds over 490 games since Philadelphia selected him third overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, starting every game of his professional career.
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox have decided to broaden their celebration of Pope Leo XIV, who hails from Chicago and has been a devoted supporter of the baseball franchise for years.
Team officials revealed Friday their decision to distribute pope-themed caps to every person attending their August 11th matchup with Cincinnati. Initially, these commemorative items were only available to those who had bought special theme night tickets.
“The fans have spoken, and unlike some of our more limited quantity promotions, the White Sox Pope Hat is one we believe all fans should have the opportunity to take home,” Brooks Boyer, the chief revenue and marketing officer for the team, said in a release. “We viewed the promotion as a creative way to celebrate one of the franchise’s most popular fans, and by the overwhelming response we received, White Sox fans certainly agreed.”
The commemorative caps are designed to resemble the Pope’s miter, featuring the team’s sock emblem at the center. Team officials stated that supporters who had previously bought the special tickets will still receive their hat plus one extra item.
The pontiff, who was previously known as Robert Prevost, was present for Chicago’s 2005 World Series opening game versus Houston and witnessed his cherished team defeat the Astros 5-3 during their path to a four-game championship sweep and their first title since 1917.
This past May, the White Sox revealed a graphic display near the seat that honors Pope Leo and that historic moment. The pillar features an image of Pope Leo XIV waving, alongside a photograph from the television coverage showing the future pope seated with close friend Ed Schmit and his grandson, Eddie.
During June, Rate Field held a celebration recognizing his selection as America’s first pope. The following month, during a pre-game tribute to the 2005 championship team, White Sox legend Paul Konerko received a jersey autographed by the pope, presented as a gift from one number 14 to another.
Pope Leo made headlines by breaking Vatican tradition when he wore a White Sox cap last year. This past October, he responded “they lost” to someone who shouted “go Cubs.” Just weeks ago, he gave a thumbs up gesture to a person who called out “God bless the White Sox!”
Motorists in Dover should expect delays on Frederica Road today as construction crews have closed one southbound lane between David Street and Market Street.
The lane closure is currently in effect and is expected to remain in place until 4 PM this afternoon, according to DelDOT traffic reports.
Drivers are advised to plan alternate routes or allow extra travel time when navigating through the construction zone during the closure period.
Delaware State Police’s Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit (SOAR) has released public alerts regarding multiple sex offenders who are either wanted for registration violations or currently experiencing homelessness.
Authorities are actively seeking five individuals who have violated their registration requirements by failing to register or update their current addresses. The wanted individuals include Arthur Baugh, Stefan Ewell, Charles Fulton, Deangelo Hoskins, and John Martz.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of these individuals should contact SOAR at (302) 739-5882. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.
Police emphasize that these five cases represent just a fraction of the sex offenders currently being sought. The complete list of wanted individuals can be found on the Delaware Sex Offender Registry website.
Separately, state police have issued notifications about three homeless sex offenders: Samuel Bishop, Edwin Garcia, and Donnie Parker. These individuals are not wanted for registration violations but have recently reported being homeless.
If community members have information indicating that any of the homeless sex offenders are residing at a specific address, they should contact the same phone numbers provided for the wanted individuals.
The homeless notifications also represent only a portion of registered sex offenders currently without permanent housing. A complete list of homeless sex offenders is available on the state registry website.
Detailed profiles for all individuals mentioned in these notifications can be accessed through the Delaware Sex Offender Registry online portal.
Major League Baseball announced Friday that Black player representation on opening day rosters has grown for two straight years, marking the first consecutive increase in at least 20 years.
According to MLB data, Black players comprised 6.8% of those on opening day rosters, injured lists, and restricted lists this season. This represents a jump from 6.2% in 2025 and 6.0% in 2024.
The 0.6% jump this season represents the largest single-year gain since the sport saw a 0.7% boost between 2017 and 2018.
Research from the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida shows a stark contrast to historical numbers, with Black representation standing at 18% when their annual reports began in 1991.
Among the 64 Black players counted, 20 had participated in league development initiatives including the MLB Youth Academy, Breakthrough Series, DREAM Series, Nike RBI, and the Hank Aaron Invitational.
The league reported that 22 of these players are 25 or younger, while eight are over 32 years old. Black players averaged 27.8 years of age compared to the overall league average of 29.25 years.
Additionally, 17 Black players on opening day 40-man rosters were assigned to minor league teams, with seven coming from MLB development programs. Among this group was Milwaukee outfielder Blake Perkins, who joined the Brewers on March 26.
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Native communities from throughout Brazil converged on the nation’s capital this week for their yearly Free Land Encampment demonstration, calling on government officials to fulfill decades-old commitments regarding Indigenous territorial boundaries.
The annual gathering brings together tribal representatives and activists who continue pushing for official recognition and protection of ancestral lands that remain in legal limbo.
WASHINGTON — Detailed designs for President Donald Trump’s proposed ceremonial arch in Washington D.C. were made public Friday, revealing an elaborate 250-foot monument topped with a golden winged statue carrying a torch and wearing a crown reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty.
According to the 12-page design document from the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts, the massive structure would feature two golden eagles positioned alongside the central figure, with four gilded lions standing guard at the base. The phrases “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All” would be etched in gold lettering on opposite sides of the monument.
The proposed location places the arch in a traffic circle linking Washington to northern Virginia, positioned between the Lincoln Memorial to the east and Arlington National Cemetery to the west.
Speaking about the project in February, Trump referenced historical attempts to construct such a monument in the capital, explaining that the nation originally pursued this type of structure two centuries ago. “It was interrupted by a thing called the Civil War, and so it never got built,” Trump said. “Then, they almost built something in 1902, but it never happened.”
The President has argued that Washington stands alone among major global capitals in lacking such a commemorative structure, emphasizing that other significant cities worldwide feature similar monuments.
President Donald Trump posted disturbing security camera footage on his Truth Social platform late Thursday, showing a fatal hammer attack at a Fort Myers gas station that he’s using to advance his mass deportation policies.
The suspect, 40-year-old Rolbert Joachin, faces murder charges for the April 2nd killing of a convenience store employee approximately 160 miles northwest of Miami. While Trump identified the man as Haitian, police and court documents don’t specify his nationality but note he required a Creole interpreter due to limited English proficiency.
Trump frequently uses immigration-related crimes to support his border policies and criticize Democrats, including former President Joe Biden, claiming they allow dangerous individuals into the country. Research indicates that undocumented immigrants commit violent, drug, and property crimes at lower rates than U.S.-born citizens.
“The video of her brutal slaying is one of the most vicious things you will ever see,” Trump wrote in his social media post, calling the suspect an “animal.”
The security footage, also posted by the Department of Homeland Security, shows the attacker first striking a black car with a hammer outside the Chevron station. When victim Nilufa Easmin, 51, emerges wearing black pants and a pink shirt to confront him, the man in yellow shirt and black shorts immediately strikes her head with the weapon.
The graphic video captures Easmin falling to the sidewalk near the store entrance, where the attacker continues hitting her head six times before stepping over her motionless body and leaving the scene.
According to a GoFundMe campaign organized by Samir Bahadur Syed from the Bangladesh Association of Southwest Florida, Easmin was “a devoted mother who worked tirelessly to provide for her two young daughters.”
Fort Myers officers responded to reports of the hammer attack and discovered the victim on the ground with severe head injuries and multiple wounds. They apprehended Joachin walking nearby shortly after the incident.
Police report that Joachin has admitted to the crime. He appeared in court Wednesday on murder and property damage charges, with arraignment scheduled for May 4th. His public defender has not responded to requests for comment.
Trump criticized Biden for allowing Joachin to remain in the United States under temporary protection. Kelly Walker, acting director of ICE’s Miami enforcement office, revealed Friday that Joachin arrived by boat near Key West in August 2022, was arrested, and received Temporary Protected Status in 2023, which was revoked this week.
The Trump administration strongly opposes Temporary Protected Status programs, which allow citizens from countries experiencing crisis or conflict to live and work in America temporarily. Republicans argue that Biden’s administration has overused TPS to permit hundreds of thousands to remain in the country inappropriately.
Multiple federal lawsuits challenge Trump’s attempts to end TPS for over one million people, including 350,000 Haitians. A federal appeals court upheld a lower court’s decision against terminating Haiti’s temporary status in March, and the Supreme Court will hear arguments on April 29th.
The Department of Homeland Security and Trump administration frequently publicize crimes involving immigrants and maintain a website tracking ICE arrests and related offenses. They regularly feature “Angel Families” who have lost relatives to crimes committed by immigrants.
ICE commemorated the first anniversary of reopening their victim assistance office Thursday, featuring emotional testimony from surviving family members.
Hip-hop star Offset has been discharged from a Florida medical facility following a shooting incident that occurred earlier this week at a casino near Miami, according to his representatives.
The Migos member sustained gunshot wounds Monday evening after an altercation broke out at the Seminole Hard Rock casino in Hollywood, located just north of Miami.
Medical authorities indicated Tuesday that the artist was in stable condition with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, though specific details about his condition remained limited at the time.
“Offset has been released from the hospital and he is up and walking,” a representative for Offset said on Friday. “We’re incredibly grateful to the doctors, nurses, and the entire hospital staff who took such great care of him.”
The artist, whose real name is Kiari Kendrell Cephus, posted his own message on social media Friday, stating: “Thank you to everyone who’s checked in on me and showed me love! I’m good….but I’m planning to be better! I’m focused on my family, my recovery, and getting back to the music…realizing that life is made up of quiet wins and loud losses…”
“Life’s a gamble and I’m still playing to win,” he concluded.
Law enforcement officials took two individuals into custody following the incident. Rapper Lil Tjay, whose legal name is Tione Jayden Merritt, was taken into custody for his alleged involvement in the dispute that preceded the shooting, according to the Seminole Police Department. Authorities charged him with disorderly conduct and driving without a valid license.
A second individual was also detained but has not faced charges, while investigators continue working to identify additional people who may have been involved, police stated Tuesday.
Cephus rose to fame as part of Migos, widely regarded as one of hip-hop’s most successful groups. The Atlanta-based trio became known for their distinctive rapid-fire triplet delivery style, which significantly influenced the trap music genre.
The group achieved massive commercial success with multiple platinum-selling tracks, including their chart-topping hit “Bad and Boujee,” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, along with popular songs “Stir Fry” and “Narcos.” Throughout their career, Migos produced four studio albums.
Tragedy struck the group more than three years ago when Offset’s cousin Takeoff, also a Migos member, was fatally shot at a Houston bowling alley.
Beyond his group work, Offset has established himself as a solo performer known for his distinctive melodic yet aggressive style, releasing three individual albums.
The rapper was previously married to fellow artist Cardi B, with whom he exchanged vows in a private Atlanta ceremony in September 2017. Cardi B filed for divorce in 2024, and the former couple shares three children.
WASHINGTON – Internal discussions at the White House revealed that President Trump’s administration contemplated having him deliver a nationally televised speech about the Iran ceasefire agreement on Tuesday, but senior staff ultimately advised against the prime-time address, according to three federal officials who spoke with Reuters.
The choice reflects the administration’s delicate approach – attempting to demonstrate early optimism about the agreement that paused hostilities and reopened the Strait of Hormuz while simultaneously acknowledging the deal’s uncertain future. These conversations about a potential presidential speech had not been publicly disclosed before.
With negotiations scheduled to commence Saturday in Islamabad, experts question whether the temporary halt in fighting will lead to a permanent resolution of the conflict.
Anonymous sources indicated that Trump was persuaded not to deliver the address. However, the White House disputed these claims in an official response, stating: “This is fake news. This was never even discussed with the president.”
The officials requested anonymity when describing private White House conversations.
Instead of a formal address, Trump revealed the ceasefire through a social media announcement just hours before Tuesday’s deadline, after which he had promised to obliterate Iran’s entire society.
This dramatic policy shift represented one of the most abrupt wartime reversals by any American commander-in-chief.
According to one source, Trump strongly insisted on delivering the televised remarks. Officials explained that while the speech was being considered, the White House abandoned the plan due to lingering uncertainties about the ceasefire terms.
Senior advisers were still analyzing the agreement’s components and felt they lacked sufficient information for a presidential address to the nation, sources revealed.
On April 1, Trump had delivered a 19-minute evening broadcast to Americans, firmly defending his war strategy and announcing plans for intensive strikes against Iran over the following two to three weeks. A subsequent address would have provided an opportunity to explain his strategic reversal.
A senior White House official confirmed internal conversations about Trump speaking to the nation Tuesday evening.
“There was chatter about it, but obviously it didn’t come to fruition, and we didn’t alert the networks or anything; it didn’t get that far,” the official explained to Reuters, though they did not verify that Trump was discouraged from giving the speech.
The ceasefire has suspended American and Israeli bombing campaigns against Iran. However, it has not lifted the Strait of Hormuz blockade, which has created unprecedented global energy supply disruptions, nor has it stopped the separate conflict between Israel and Iranian-supported Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.
The waterway remained closed Friday, and Israel exchanged gunfire with Hezbollah in Lebanon – two ongoing issues that both the United States and Iran characterized as breaches of their ceasefire agreement just before their initial peace discussions.
Trump has expressed his anger publicly, posting that Iran was violating the agreement and declaring Friday: “The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!”
Nevertheless, both nations are dispatching senior negotiators to Islamabad for discussions beginning Saturday. Vice President JD Vance will head the American delegation and stated Friday that the United States was prepared to negotiate honestly.
“If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive,” Vance warned.
Experts emphasize the minimal trust existing between both parties, noting that Trump’s Tuesday threat that “a whole civilization will die tonight” unless his conditions were satisfied may have caused additional damage.
During his previous presidency, Trump withdrew from a 2018 nuclear agreement his predecessor had negotiated with Iran, then bombed Iranian nuclear facilities during 2025 negotiations. Trump initiated the current war against Iran on February 28, despite mediator Oman expressing optimism for a diplomatic resolution.
“So there’s a baked-in lack of trust that is going to confound any diplomacy going forward,” explained Justin Logan, who directs defense and foreign policy studies at the Washington-based Cato Institute think tank.
Pentagon officials state that American and Israeli operations have severely damaged Iran’s military capabilities for a generation. Yet analysts believe Iran will likely emerge as a persistent, long-term challenge for Washington: a diminished opponent with more extreme leadership and hidden reserves of weapons-grade uranium.
Tehran has also proven its capacity to block the Strait of Hormuz, providing significant influence over international energy markets and regional competitors, experts note.
San Francisco law enforcement officials have apprehended an individual in connection with launching a firebomb at the residence of Sam Altman, the chief executive of artificial intelligence company OpenAI, according to a company statement released Friday.
The incident, which occurred on April 10th, also involved the suspect making threatening statements at OpenAI’s corporate headquarters, the company reported.
A company representative expressed relief that no injuries resulted from the attack, stating: “Thankfully, no one was hurt. We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe.”
OpenAI officials confirmed they are cooperating with law enforcement authorities as the investigation continues.
Federal immigration authorities have launched a comprehensive nationwide investigation targeting organized networks accused of helping expectant mothers from other countries fraudulently obtain visas to give birth in the United States, according to internal communications obtained by news outlets.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement distributed an internal message Thursday directing field agents across the nation to prioritize what the agency calls its “Birth Tourism Initiative.” The investigation seeks to identify and dismantle networks that allegedly assist pregnant foreign nationals in traveling to America specifically to secure U.S. citizenship for their newborns.
The enforcement action represents part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration strategy following his return to office in January 2025, targeting both unauthorized border crossings and legal immigration pathways. The administration has pointed to birth tourism concerns as justification for its efforts to eliminate automatic citizenship for children born on American soil.
“Uninhibited birth tourism poses a tremendous cost to taxpayers and threatens our national security,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement, adding that most nations do not provide automatic citizenship at birth.
Federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, and the Justice Department declined to provide additional details when contacted for comment.
While no federal statute explicitly prohibits birth tourism, regulations established during Trump’s previous presidency in 2020 forbid using temporary visitor and business visas primarily to secure American citizenship for babies. Individuals involved in such arrangements face potential prosecution for fraud and related criminal charges.
Official statistics tracking foreign nationals who travel to the United States specifically for childbirth purposes do not exist, nor are there verified calculations of associated taxpayer expenses.
The Center for Immigration Studies, an organization advocating for reduced immigration levels, published research in 2020 suggesting approximately 20,000 to 25,000 mothers engaged in birth tourism during a twelve-month span from 2016 to 2017.
With 3.6 million total births recorded in the United States during 2025, birth tourism cases likely constitute a small percentage of overall deliveries.
Republican lawmakers have cited birth tourism allegations as grounds for restricting access to American citizenship, which has traditionally been granted at birth under constitutional amendment provisions.
On his first day back in office, Trump signed an executive directive ordering federal agencies to stop recognizing citizenship for children born in America when neither parent holds U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status, marking a significant departure from established legal practice spanning more than 100 years.
Several federal judges have temporarily halted the executive order, pushing the matter to the Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments last week. U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer, speaking for the Trump administration, argued that automatic citizenship has fostered “a sprawling industry of birth tourism.”
Sauer contended that birthright citizenship guarantees have motivated thousands from “potentially hostile nations” to travel for childbirth, “creating a whole generation of American citizens abroad with no meaningful ties to the United States.”
The new ICE enforcement initiative, led by the agency’s Homeland Security Investigations division, focuses on uncovering fraudulent activities, though the potential scope of cases remains uncertain.
“HIS is advancing efforts to protect the integrity of U.S. immigration and identification systems, specifically targeting fraudulent activities associated with birth tourism schemes,” the internal communication stated. Officials indicated they would work to disrupt “fraud, financial crimes, and organized facilitation networks that exploit lawful immigration processes.”
Federal prosecutors previously pursued a significant birth tourism case in 2019, charging more than twelve individuals in connection with “birth houses” operating in Southern California that served wealthy Chinese clients.
In what ICE described as the first federal prosecution targeting birth tourism, Chinese national Dongyuan Li admitted guilt to federal charges related to the operation. She received a ten-month prison sentence and was released in December 2019.
Another Chinese national, Chao “Edwin” Chen, received a three-year prison sentence in 2020 but had already departed the United States for China before serving his term, according to ICE records.
The chief executive of USA Rare Earth is pushing back against congressional criticism of a controversial $1.6 billion federal investment deal, telling investors they have nothing to worry about despite unusual contract terms that have raised eyebrows on Capitol Hill.
Barbara Humpton, who leads the mining company, dismissed shareholder concerns about the Commerce Department funding arrangement announced in January. The agreement allows the federal government to maintain an ownership stake in the company even if the promised funding never materializes or gets withdrawn later.
“Not at all,” Humpton responded when asked whether investors should be worried about the deal’s structure during a recent interview.
“With all of the work we’ve done to show our shareholders their path to the future and value creation, they’ll be delighted that we’ve had this engagement,” Humpton stated in her first public response to Democratic lawmakers’ concerns about the agreement, which is set to finalize by month’s end.
The massive funding package represents one of several strategic mineral investments made during the Trump administration’s final weeks, designed to strengthen American production of essential materials used in electronics, military equipment, and countless other products.
However, the deal’s negotiation process and terms have drawn sharp criticism from congressional Democrats. They’ve highlighted concerning connections between USA Rare Earth and Cantor Fitzgerald, the investment firm formerly run by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and now operated by his sons.
A leading House Democrat described the arrangement as “highly concerning” in correspondence to Lutnick last month, calling it “deeply strange” that Washington would keep its ownership interest regardless of whether funding actually flows to the company.
The controversy signals the type of investigations Democrats might launch if they regain congressional control following upcoming elections, as legislators examine how federal financing and equity positions are being used to restructure mineral supply chains.
Federal dollars from the deal will support development of a mining operation in Sierra Blanca, Texas, projected to begin operations by 2028, along with a magnet production facility in Stillwater, Oklahoma, scheduled to open this year.
Humpton, a former Siemens executive, defended her company’s partnership with Cantor Fitzgerald during Commerce Department negotiations, noting the investment firm assisted with the company’s public stock offering in March 2025.
“Our best move was to go with the team who knew us,” Humpton explained.
Critics have questioned the economic viability of the Texas mining site, which the company admits contains relatively low concentrations of rare earth elements compared to competing operations worldwide.
This geological limitation poses potential economic challenges, though the deposit does contain valuable heavy rare earth elements needed for extreme high-temperature applications, making it attractive to certain industrial customers.
A comprehensive feasibility analysis for the mine – typically required by most investors – won’t be completed until year’s end, adding to questions about the project’s financial prospects.
When confronted about negative reactions to the Texas mining plans, Humpton referenced pop star Taylor Swift: “Haters gonna hate.”
“Sheer grade is not the determining factor,” Humpton argued. “The true factor is the recoverable heavy-rare-earth components.”
The mining operation is expected to extract yttrium, a specialized metal used in high-performance alloys and among the heavy rare earth materials that China has restricted from export.
“We weren’t even tuned in to the critical need for yttrium until we did our work with the Department of Commerce,” Humpton revealed. “Commerce made it clear that this is the number-one demand from the semiconductor field.”
MIAMI — The Miami Heat officially released Terry Rozier on Friday, ending a troubled season for the player who faces federal charges connected to an illegal gambling scheme.
The procedural move was widely anticipated and frees up a roster spot for Miami to add another player ahead of the playoffs. Rozier’s lone appearance this season came during the team’s season opener against Orlando on October 22, though he never entered the game.
Federal agents took Rozier into custody at the team hotel the next morning. Authorities allege he provided insider information to help bettors win wagers on his statistical performance during a March 23, 2023 contest while he was still playing for Charlotte.
Miami has until Sunday to sign a replacement player before beginning play-in tournament action next week.
Following his arrest, the NBA immediately suspended Rozier indefinitely. Despite his legal troubles, he continued receiving his full $26.6 million salary throughout the season. Initially, Miami deposited the payments into an interest-earning account, but an arbitrator later determined Rozier should receive the funds directly.
The Heat acquired Rozier through a January 2024 trade with Charlotte, sending Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round draft pick in exchange. Miami was unaware of the ongoing federal investigation at the time. In an unusual move last month, Charlotte provided Miami with a second-round pick in this year’s draft, apparently to settle disputes over the undisclosed legal issues.
League rules required teams to release players with expiring contracts or team options by 5 p.m. Friday. Throughout the season, Miami continued including Rozier on injury reports with a “not with team” designation, and his nameplate remained above his locker despite his obvious absence.
The extent of communication between Rozier and the Heat organization since October remains unclear. He reportedly sent congratulatory text messages to team members following Bam Adebayo’s outstanding 83-point performance against Washington, but has had no known contact with the team otherwise.
The suspicious betting activity surrounding Rozier’s March 2023 performance against New Orleans was immediately flagged by sportsbooks that day. While the NBA conducted its own investigation at the time, league officials found no evidence to prevent him from continuing to play. The current federal probe is separate from that earlier inquiry.
In the game in question, Rozier started for Charlotte and performed well during his 9½ minutes on the court, recording five points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal. This statistical combination in a first quarter has occurred only twice in his professional career.
Rozier left that game citing foot discomfort and did not return. Charlotte has not publicly revealed whether team officials knew about any federal investigation into their player’s activities.
During his NBA career with Boston, Charlotte and Miami, Rozier has maintained a 13.9 points per game average. He suited up for 95 games during his time with the Heat.
Farmers across the country are seeing better returns on their peanut crops, with compensation reaching 25.1 cents per pound during the week that concluded on April 4.
This represents a significant increase of 3.1 cents compared to the previous reporting period, according to federal agricultural data tracking farmer stock peanut transactions.
The price boost affects all categories of farmer stock peanuts and reflects the amount producers are receiving directly for their crops before processing and retail markup.
A groundbreaking scientific study has revealed that exceptionally hot areas of ocean water are dramatically increasing the destructive power of hurricanes and tropical storms worldwide.
Scientists examined more than 1,600 tropical cyclones that struck coastlines since 1981, discovering that storms passing through these marine hot zones were far more prone to rapid strengthening. The research, published Friday in Science Advances, showed these conditions led to 60% more catastrophic events causing damages of $1 billion or greater after adjusting for inflation.
Understanding how these oceanic heat zones amplify storm intensity could prove invaluable for weather forecasters, emergency management officials, and community planners preparing for future hurricanes.
The research team characterized marine heat waves as extensive, persistent areas of ocean water ranking in the hottest 10% historically recorded. Climate change and increasingly warm seas are making these dangerous conditions more common, researchers explained. Elevated water temperatures serve as the primary energy source for hurricane development.
“These marine heat waves affect more than half of landfalling tropical cyclones,” explained Gregory Foltz, study co-author and oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “They’re happening closer to land and more frequently, so I think people need to pay attention and know that these are more likely to result in extreme damages when they make landfall.”
Foltz emphasized the importance for meteorologists tracking storm paths to monitor whether hurricanes encounter these marine heat zones, as rapid intensification becomes much more probable, “can potentially have a bigger impact on landfall.”
Study co-author Hamed Moftakhari, a coastal engineering professor specializing in compound hazards at the University of Alabama, pointed to devastating 2023 hurricanes that struck the United States as prime examples.
“The story of Helene and Milton is that if you’ve got a warmer ocean, you’ve got the fuel to supercharge tropical cyclones even in a cascade. So within a few weeks you could get two rapidly intensified hurricanes making landfall in the west coast of Florida,” Moftakhari explained. “This is shocking but should also be alarming for people.”
The study also highlighted October 2023’s Hurricane Otis, which underwent explosive strengthening from tropical storm status to a maximum-intensity Category 5 hurricane within 24 hours. The storm subsequently devastated Acapulco, Mexico, with 165 mph winds, resulting in approximately $16 billion in damages and claiming 52 lives.
The increased destruction wasn’t simply due to expanded coastal development, researchers clarified. Lead author Soheil Radfar, a hurricane hazard modeling scientist at Princeton University, noted that storms crossing hot water zones were compared against other hurricanes striking similarly developed coastal areas without encountering these heated ocean regions.
While scientists have long understood that warm water energizes and strengthens tropical cyclones, this research provides clearer evidence of the causal relationship.
The implications suggest an increasingly perilous future, according to Radfar.
“All these pieces of the puzzle are going to be really challenging for the coastal environment in the next four decades when you have more rapid intensification, more marine heat waves,” Radfar warned. This “is going to be really costly and frightening for the coastline environment, and it’s going to cause more billion-dollar disasters in the future.”
Moftakhari noted that “from a coastal engineering and risk management perspective, this has important implications for how governments plan, design, and respond to these hazards.”
Emergency evacuation strategies must consider that storms crossing ocean hot zones carry higher risks of rapid intensification and greater threats, Moftakhari stressed. Earlier warning systems and evacuation triggers may become necessary when marine heat waves are present. Infrastructure including flood barriers, drainage networks, and seawalls requires updating to address this evolving storm threat, he added.
Independent scientists praised the study for aligning with established hurricane physics and climate science while providing specific data on mega-damage probabilities during marine heat wave conditions.
“Climate change is causing stronger and longer-duration marine heat waves. Tropical cyclones draw their energy and produce heavy rain via evaporation from warm ocean waters,” said Brian Tang, an atmospheric sciences professor at University at Albany who wasn’t involved in the research. “It’s reasonable that marine heat waves are turbocharging hurricanes, provided other environmental conditions are favorable for hurricanes to intensify. In effect, the dice is being loaded.”
ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV intensified his opposition to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran during remarks Friday, declaring that divine blessing never accompanies warfare and certainly doesn’t favor nations that engage in bombing campaigns.
The pontiff delivered these comments while addressing senior bishops from the Chaldean Catholic Church of Iraq, an Eastern Rite Catholic denomination whose leadership has gathered in Rome to select a new patriarch.
Leo described the bishops as beacons of hope “in a world marked by senseless and inhuman violence,” particularly in regions where early Christianity flourished that have been “desecrated by the blasphemy of war and the brutality of business, with no regard for people’s lives.”
The pope emphasized that no justification exists for shedding innocent blood, encouraging the bishops “to proclaim clearly that God does not bless any conflict; to cry out to the world that whoever is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, never stands on the side of those who yesterday wielded the sword and today drop bombs.”
The Vatican amplified this message by sharing the pope’s statement on his official @Pontifex account on X.
Political figures have invoked religious justifications throughout the war. American leadership, particularly Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has referenced Christian beliefs to defend the conflict and portray the United States as a Christian nation battling its enemies.
Following initially restrained calls for peace and negotiation during the conflict’s early stages, Leo escalated his criticism of the Trump administration beginning on Palm Sunday, when he declared that God ignores the prayers of warmakers.
Earlier this week, the pope condemned President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization as “truly unacceptable” while advocating for diplomatic solutions.
The Vatican expresses particular alarm about the expansion of Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah into Lebanon, citing concerns for Christian populations in the region’s southern areas.
Leo will lead a special peace vigil Saturday evening at St. Peter’s Basilica. Officials scheduled this prayer service before announcing high-level negotiations between the United States and Iran, set to begin Saturday in Pakistan.
Despite the pope’s increasingly sharp rhetoric, both Vatican officials and the U.S. government worked Friday to dismiss speculation about deteriorating diplomatic relations. These concerns emerged from news reports describing a reportedly tense January meeting between Pentagon officials and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Vatican’s departing ambassador to Washington.
The January 22nd encounter occurred months before the war began, but followed the Chicago-born pope’s pointed yet indirect critique of American military intervention during a significant foreign policy address to diplomatic representatives at the Holy See.
In an unusual official response to media coverage, the Vatican stated Friday that Pierre’s Pentagon visit represented part of his “regular duties and provided an opportunity to exchange views on matters of mutual interest.” Officials firmly rejected suggestions of hostility, saying such characterizations “do not correspond to the truth in any way.”
The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See promptly expressed gratitude for the Vatican’s clarification.
The Chaldean Catholic Church serves over one million Aramaic-speaking Christians, predominantly from Iraq. Church leadership is currently selecting a patriarch to succeed Iraqi Cardinal Louis Sako, 76, who has guided the denomination since 2013.
Leo announced Sako’s retirement on March 11th, simultaneously accepting the resignation of U.S.-based Chaldean Bishop Emanuel Shaleta. Shaleta had entered a not guilty plea one day prior to 16 felony charges alleging he stole $270,000 from his California parish.
During Friday’s address to the Chaldean bishops, Leo referenced multiple challenges the church has encountered in recent years.
He acknowledged Sako’s “significant contributions” while declaring this a period for “spiritual renewal,” emphasizing renewed commitment to faith, traditional preservation, and adherence to obedience and chastity.
“I urge you to be attentive and transparent in the administration of goods, sober, measured, and responsible in the use of mass media, and prudent in public statements, so that every word and action may contribute to building up — and not to harming — ecclesial communion and the church’s witness,” he said.
Security forces in Belarus conducted their largest single detention sweep of 2025 this week, arresting 52 workers from a prominent architectural company in what human rights advocates are calling an intensified campaign of government repression.
Officers raided the Minsk headquarters of ZROBIM Architects on Thursday, taking into custody dozens of employees including company founder Andrei Makouski on allegations of disloyalty, the Viasna human rights organization reported Friday.
Before his arrest, Makouski had revealed on social media that government officials were pressuring his private company to employ a permanent “ideologist” whose job would be to surveil the workforce, according to Viasna.
“The situation in Belarus is deteriorating, and we see that even suspicions of disloyalty are enough to trigger the largest single roundup of creative people this year,” Pavel Sapelka, a lawyer with Viasna, told The Associated Press. “This is a new practice for the authorities: first arresting people, hacking their phones and computers, and only then bringing charges.”
Government officials have expanded their use of “extremism” labels to prosecute opposition voices, with sentences reaching up to a decade for anyone connected to individuals or organizations deemed extremist. Sapelka noted that officials recently branded 22 online discussion groups used by inmates’ family members as extremist organizations, describing it as “a blow to solidarity within the country” that puts thousands of households at risk of criminal charges.
Belarus, which maintains close ties with Russia, has faced international isolation for years. Alexander Lukashenko has maintained authoritarian control over the nation of 9.5 million people for more than thirty years, with Western nations imposing multiple rounds of sanctions both for human rights violations and for permitting Russia to launch attacks on Ukraine from Belarusian soil in 2022.
Lukashenko’s grip on power faced its strongest challenge following the 2020 presidential race, when massive crowds filled the streets to denounce what they considered fraudulent election results. The protests represented the most significant unrest since Belarus gained independence after the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991.
The government’s subsequent crackdown resulted in more than 65,000 arrests, widespread beatings of protesters, and the closure of hundreds of independent news organizations and civic groups. Leading opposition voices either escaped the country or were jailed. According to Viasna’s count, 913 political detainees remain incarcerated.
Five years after those massive street demonstrations, Lukashenko secured a seventh presidential term in an election that opposition groups dismissed as illegitimate.
In recent months, Belarus has freed some political detainees in apparent efforts to improve relations with Western nations. Following Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, Lukashenko has released hundreds of prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski and prominent opposition leaders Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Viktar Babaryka and Maria Kolesnikova.
Lukashenko’s most significant gesture came last month when he freed 250 political prisoners as part of an agreement with Washington that resulted in the lifting of certain American sanctions, marking the country’s largest single prisoner release.
Washington responded to these releases by removing sanctions from Belarus’s potash fertilizer sector and the state carrier Belavia.
However, human rights organizations report that oppressive measures persist. Viasna has documented cases where authorities have canceled the passports of freed political prisoners who traveled overseas, including Bialiatski, whose travel document was revoked after he left Belarus following five years of imprisonment.
“This is yet another form of transnational repression aimed at complicating the lives of deported political prisoners outside the country,” Bialiatski told the AP. “The authorities continue their repression and are trying to ritually sever our ties with Belarus.”
A diplomatic conflict between Trinidad and Tobago and its Caribbean partners reached a boiling point Friday when Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar called for the departure of the Caribbean Community’s top official when her term expires in August.
The dispute within CARICOM, a trade organization representing 15 Caribbean nations, intensified in recent months following disagreements about American military operations in the South Caribbean and a significant U.S. military presence deployed near Venezuela to apprehend former President Nicolás Maduro.
While other Caribbean leaders advocated for maintaining the region as a peaceful zone, Persad-Bissessar rejected what she termed efforts at creating a false sense of peace. Instead, she backed American military operations and the Trump administration’s broader efforts to combat international drug trafficking and organized crime.
The Trinidad leader has now set her sights on CARICOM’s leadership structure, calling for Secretary-General Carla Barnett to leave office when her five-year appointment ends in late August.
Following her electoral victory a year ago, Persad-Bissessar has consistently advocated for Barnett’s departure, emphasizing that Trinidad contributes approximately 22% of the organization’s yearly funding, totaling about $20 million.
The prime minister has voiced ongoing frustration with how the regional bloc operates, questioning why Caribbean nations sided with Venezuela and Maduro instead of backing the United States.
“Caricom has chosen to support the Maduro narco-government through the fake zone of peace narrative,” she stated in late 2025 while the U.S. prepared operations against Maduro and regional governments criticized alleged illegal maritime attacks.
Her sustained criticism of the organization and its leadership prompted Friday’s urgent session to address Barnett’s potential reappointment.
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked the release of a man recently acquitted in the murder of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay, as prosecutors challenge his potential freedom on a $1 million bond.
Karl Jordan Jr. was scheduled to be released as early as Friday, but federal prosecutors filed an appeal against the judge’s decision to grant him bond with electronic monitoring. The judge agreed Friday to suspend the release while the appeal process moves forward.
Attorneys for Jordan have not responded to requests for comment, while prosecutors have declined to provide statements on the matter.
Both Jordan and co-defendant Ronald Washington were found guilty in 2024 for the killing of the legendary DJ, more than twenty years after Jam Master Jay was shot to death inside his recording studio. Both defendants had entered not guilty pleas.
In December, a judge reversed Jordan’s conviction and declared him not guilty, while maintaining Washington’s guilty verdict.
Federal prosecutors contend that Jordan should stay incarcerated while they challenge his acquittal and as he faces separate drug-related charges in court. Jordan has entered a not guilty plea to those additional charges.
Defense attorneys for the 42-year-old argue he deserves bond, particularly after suffering severe injuries in a stabbing incident at Brooklyn’s federal detention facility. Jordan’s legal team states that family members have volunteered to guarantee the bond and pledge properties representing their entire assets.
Jam Master Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, along with his Run-DMC bandmates, played a pivotal role in bringing hip-hop music to mainstream audiences during the 1980s with popular tracks like “It’s Tricky” and their collaboration with Aerosmith on “Walk This Way.”
South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies released a comprehensive draft artificial intelligence policy framework on Friday, opening it for public feedback as the nation seeks to advance its position in the global AI landscape.
The proposed policy framework represents a major milestone in the country’s broader digital modernization efforts, with officials aiming to establish South Africa as the leading AI innovator across the African continent while simultaneously tackling ethical, social, and economic concerns.
Citizens and stakeholders have until June 10 to submit their feedback on the draft proposal.
Among the framework’s key recommendations is the creation of several new oversight bodies: a National AI Commission, an AI Ethics Board, and an AI Regulatory Authority. These organizations would work together to coordinate policy implementation, establish and enforce ethical guidelines, oversee compliance monitoring, and create systems for addressing grievances and providing compensation when AI systems cause harm.
The government plans to offer various financial incentives including tax relief, grants, and subsidies to foster collaboration with private companies, with particular emphasis on supporting local startup companies and small enterprises.
A cornerstone of the policy involves substantial investment in robust and affordable supercomputing capabilities to advance AI research and innovation. The plan also emphasizes strategic investments in digital infrastructure, including potential partnerships with international cloud service providers and regional supercomputing centers.
The draft policy acknowledges security risks, noting that “reliance on foreign infrastructure could compromise the security of sensitive South African data.” It emphasizes the need to develop strategies that would decrease South Africa’s “current hardware dependence on the U.S. and China” given the ongoing geopolitical tensions between these superpowers.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris revealed Friday that she’s contemplating another presidential campaign in 2028, telling attendees at a civil rights conference that the possibility remains on the table.
Speaking at the National Action Network gathering in New York City, an organization established by Reverend Al Sharpton, Harris responded to a direct question about her political future from Sharpton himself.
“I might, I might. I’m thinking about it, I’m thinking about it,” Harris responded, drawing enthusiastic applause from the audience.
The former vice president explained that any decision would depend on who could most effectively serve “the American people” in the nation’s highest office come 2028.
Harris, who previously held the role of vice president during Joe Biden’s administration, was defeated by Donald Trump in the 2024 election, losing both the popular vote and Electoral College. Her political background includes serving as a United States senator and California’s attorney general. She also mounted an unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.
Any potential 2028 campaign could encounter obstacles, as recent surveys suggest Democratic voters are seeking fresh leadership following Harris’ electoral defeat against Trump.
The National Action Network event attracted numerous prospective Democratic contenders, including Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, along with other political figures.
Violence between Israel and the militant organization Hezbollah escalated Friday as both sides prepare for direct negotiations planned for next week.
Thirteen Lebanese State Security personnel died in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Friday, while Hezbollah launched an assault on a naval facility in the Israeli coastal city of Ashdod, located approximately 90 miles from the Lebanese border.
Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on multiple southern Lebanese communities, including a government facility in Nabatieh where the security officials were killed. Hezbollah reported conducting 31 separate attacks against northern Israeli targets and Israeli ground forces operating in southern Lebanon.
The current conflict began when Israel initiated its air campaign and ground offensive in southern Lebanon following Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israel on March 2, launched in support of Iran, the group’s primary supporter.
Lebanese Health Ministry data shows Israeli strikes have claimed at least 1,888 lives in Lebanon. The deadliest single day occurred Wednesday when 303 people perished in 100 rapid-fire strikes across the country within a 10-minute span, hitting densely populated residential and commercial districts in central Beirut. Emergency crews continue searching for victims buried in debris throughout Lebanon’s capital.
Hospital officials at Beirut’s primary government medical facility on the capital’s southern outskirts worry about potential targeting after Israeli forces issued evacuation orders for nearby suburbs, including the Jnah district where Rafik Hariri University Hospital operates. Israeli attacks have previously struck Jnah, sometimes with advance warning and sometimes without.
The World Health Organization has urged protection for the hospital and advised against evacuation. WHO representatives confirmed Friday they received guarantees the facility would not be targeted. Despite continuing operations, medical staff remain anxious as their commute requires traveling roads that could face strikes at any moment, according to emergency department chief Dr. Mohammad Cheaito.
“The entire zone around the hospital was threatened and deemed dangerous,” he told the AP. “But at the end of the day, we have a humanitarian duty.”
Lebanese officials have not responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Thursday announcement regarding the upcoming negotiations. Netanyahu stated the discussions would focus on dismantling Hezbollah’s military capabilities and establishing “peaceful relations” between the nations.
A Lebanese government source familiar with the situation indicated that ending hostilities remains essential for Lebanon’s participation in direct discussions with Israel, similar to recent U.S.-Iran dialogue. Lebanon has not yet named a negotiation representative, according to the official who requested anonymity due to protocol requirements.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun had originally suggested direct negotiations early in the conflict under comparable conditions, hoping to prevent Israeli airstrikes from escalating and avoid a ground invasion. That initial proposal, supported only by France, was unsuccessful.
On Wednesday, the United States and Iran declared a temporary halt to fighting that started February 28, covering Lebanon and other nations affected by the broader regional crisis, according to mediator Pakistan. However, Israel and subsequently the United States rejected this announcement, preferring to keep diplomatic efforts for the two conflicts separate.
Hezbollah views Israeli operations in Lebanon as ceasefire violations, while Beirut seeks inclusion in Lebanon-related negotiations as part of efforts to disarm Hezbollah and establish complete national sovereignty.
Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem avoided directly addressing potential Israel-Lebanon talks in Thursday remarks but urged the Lebanese government to “stop giving free concessions” to Israel.
Dozens of supporters of the Iranian-supported organization demonstrated outside the Lebanese prime minister’s Beirut office. The protesters view the planned direct negotiations as capitulation to Israel, which maintains its forces will remain in Lebanon indefinitely.
“Our blood has been spilled on this land, and our state is conspiring against us,” protester Hassan Shuaib said. “Our state wants to kill us; our state wants to strip us of our weapons.”
NEW YORK — The former Vice President received enthusiastic encouragement from African American activists Friday when she revealed she’s seriously weighing another White House campaign.
“I might. I am thinking about it,” Harris responded when Rev. Al Sharpton directly questioned whether she planned to seek the presidency in 2028.
The exchange occurred at the National Action Network’s yearly gathering, where over six potential Democratic candidates made appearances this week, seeking to build relationships with Black voters who represent a crucial Democratic constituency.
While the Democratic presidential primary cycle won’t officially launch until after this November’s midterm contests, the week’s events highlighted numerous Democrats already positioning themselves for what’s expected to be a competitive race.
Currently, no obvious frontrunner has emerged. However, one candidate clearly dominated at Sharpton’s event.
Harris, who made history as the first Black woman to serve as vice president and carried the Democratic ticket in 2024, was the only speaker to receive a standing ovation and drew the week’s largest audience. Attendees broke into her speech with calls of “Run again!”
Sharpton observed that Harris collected more ballots in her unsuccessful 2024 race than Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton had in their campaigns.
“Whatever she decides to do, she made a point in history,” Sharpton commented.
Since leaving office 15 months ago, Harris has previously hinted at another presidential campaign. She recently established a political action committee and has been traveling nationwide to campaign for Democratic candidates, particularly throughout Southern states.
However, some party members have turned their attention toward newer Democratic leadership following Harris’ challenges in the previous presidential election.
This week’s speaker roster included Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, and Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego.
When Buttigieg took the stage after Harris departed, he faced lukewarm applause in a room that had emptied by half. While some audience members cheered his mentions of supporting federal employees and minority-owned businesses, many had left the packed venue following Harris’ remarks to attempt taking photos with the former vice president.
Like other potential 2028 candidates this week, Buttigieg dismissed questions about another presidential campaign with laughter.
Harris provided a more direct response.
She stated “I’m thinking about it” three times when Sharpton pressed her about pursuing the White House in 2028.
“I served for four years being a heartbeat away from the presidency of the United States. I spent countless hours in my West Wing office footsteps away from the Oval Office. I spent countless hours in the Oval Office and the situation room. I know what the job is, and I know what it requires,” Harris explained.
She added: “I am thinking about it in the context of who and where and how can the best job be done for the American people. That’s how I’m thinking about it. I’ll keep you posted.”
Two University of Delaware women’s tennis athletes have received recognition for their outstanding academic performance alongside their athletic achievements.
The Conference USA announced Friday that Amelia Gorman and Navya Vadlamudi have been selected to join the 2026 CUSA All-Academic Team, highlighting their excellence both on the court and in the classroom.
The honor recognizes student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement while competing at the collegiate level in their respective sports.
LONDON — Prince Harry finds himself in legal trouble with an organization he helped create to commemorate his mother, Princess Diana, as the African charity has taken him to court on defamation charges following his departure as patron last year.
Court documents examined on Friday reveal that Sentebale, an organization dedicated to helping HIV-positive youth in Botswana and Lesotho, initiated legal proceedings against the Duke of Sussex last month through London’s High Court.
The legal filings indicate that both Harry and Mark Dyer, who serves as a trustee for the organization and is a close friend of the prince, face accusations of either libel or slander, though specific documentation remains unavailable to the public.
Internal conflicts within the charity became apparent in 2023 when disputes arose regarding a proposed new approach to fundraising. Both Harry and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, resigned from their patron positions in March 2025.
During their departure, the co-founders stated that the working relationship with the board and its chairwoman, Sophie Chandauka, had deteriorated beyond any possibility of reconciliation. Chandauka subsequently alleged that Harry had led a systematic effort involving intimidation and harassment aimed at forcing her resignation.
Following an official review by the Charity Commission for England and Wales, investigators found fault with both parties for allowing their internal conflicts to become public knowledge, thereby causing damage to the organization’s standing. However, the investigation uncovered no proof of systematic bullying or gender-based discrimination within Sentebale.
“Sentebale’s problems played out in the public eye, enabling a damaging dispute to harm the charity’s reputation, risk overshadowing its many achievements, and jeopardizing the charity’s ability to deliver for the very beneficiaries it was created to serve,” commission CEO David Holdsworth said in a statement in August 2025.
While Harry’s representative expressed disapproval of the commission’s findings, Chandauka praised the report’s conclusions.
A University of Delaware tennis player has received recognition for his academic achievements alongside his athletic performance.
Euan Mackenzie from the Blue Hens men’s tennis program has been selected to join the 2026 CUSA Men’s Tennis All-Academic Team, according to Friday’s announcement from the conference office in Dallas.
The Conference USA honor highlights student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional performance in both their sport and academic studies. Mackenzie’s selection reflects his commitment to excellence in the classroom while competing for Delaware’s tennis program.
British law enforcement officials took a Sudanese national into custody Friday in connection with a tragic migrant crossing that left four people dead in the English Channel waters.
The deadly incident unfolded Thursday when four migrants – two men and two women – drowned after being caught in powerful currents off a French shoreline. Emergency crews managed to save 38 other individuals from the water near Calais where the group had been attempting to reach a small inflatable vessel for their dangerous journey to Britain.
The 27-year-old man now facing charges was among more than 70 migrants who successfully completed the crossing. Officials apprehended him at a migrant intake facility along England’s southeastern coastline, charging him under recent border legislation that makes it a crime to endanger lives during sea voyages to the United Kingdom.
Authorities have not disclosed what specific role the detained man allegedly played in organizing or facilitating the crossing.
The tragedy took place at Equihen Beach in the Calais area as migrants attempted to wade through waters to reach what officials describe as a “taxi-boat” – small motorized inflatable craft that collect passengers along France’s northern coastline.
This pickup method has gained popularity among smuggling operations as French police increase efforts to prevent launches by damaging the larger rafts that migrant groups traditionally inflate and transport to the water themselves.
French maritime officers avoid intercepting boats already in the water due to safety protocols that recognize such actions could endanger lives.
The suspect continues to be held for questioning by the National Crime Agency, officials confirmed. Investigators also plan to conduct interviews with other individuals who made the channel crossing.
The past week has witnessed a spike in crossing attempts and fatalities, with rescue operations saving 102 people during two separate incidents Wednesday. Another two migrants lost their lives last week under similar conditions in waters north of Calais.
LUCKNOW, India — A fatal boating accident claimed the lives of at least 10 people Friday when a passenger vessel overturned in northern India’s Yamuna river, according to local authorities.
The tragedy unfolded close to Vrindavan, a sacred Hindu pilgrimage destination located in Uttar Pradesh state.
Authorities report the privately-run vessel was dangerously overloaded, carrying approximately 25 individuals despite being designed for only 15 passengers. Initial investigations suggest powerful wind gusts caused the boat to rock violently before colliding with a pontoon bridge and flipping over in the middle of the waterway.
Senior administrative officer Chandraprakash Singh confirmed that rescue teams pulled 15 survivors from the water, with four requiring emergency medical treatment for serious injuries. All fatalities were Indian nationals, including six women, Singh reported.
Safety violations were apparent at the scene, with authorities noting that the majority of passengers lacked proper life vests and the watercraft showed signs of poor upkeep. The boat’s operator abandoned the area following the incident, officials stated.
The victims were among a much larger tourist group of roughly 150 visitors exploring the religious site that day.
Such maritime disasters occur frequently across India, where passenger boats routinely exceed safe capacity limits and lack proper safety gear.
A similar tragedy struck southern India in 2023, when another tourist boat accident resulted in at least 22 fatalities.
NEW YORK — Former Vice President Kamala Harris revealed Friday that she’s seriously weighing another White House campaign after supporters at a civil rights gathering urged her to seek the presidency once more.
When Rev. Al Sharpton posed the direct question about a 2028 run, Harris responded: “I might. I am thinking about it.”
The exchange occurred at the National Action Network’s yearly gathering, where over six potential Democratic candidates made appearances throughout the week, seeking to build relationships with Black voters who represent a crucial Democratic constituency.
While the Democratic presidential primary cycle won’t officially launch until after this year’s midterm elections, the convention highlighted how various party figures are already positioning themselves for what’s expected to be a competitive race.
Currently, no obvious frontrunner has emerged. However, Harris appeared to be the crowd favorite at Sharpton’s event.
The former vice president, who broke barriers as the first Black woman to hold that office and served as the 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, was the only speaker to receive a standing ovation and drew the week’s largest audience. Supporters interrupted her speech multiple times with calls of “Run again!”
Sharpton highlighted that Harris collected more votes in her unsuccessful 2024 race than former Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton achieved in their campaigns.
“Whatever she decides to do, she made a point in history,” Sharpton remarked.
This isn’t the first time Harris has hinted at another presidential campaign since departing office 15 months ago. She recently established a political action committee and has been traveling nationwide to campaign for Democratic candidates, particularly in Southern states.
However, some party members are looking toward newer Democratic leadership following Harris’ challenges in the most recent presidential election.
This week’s speaker roster included Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, California Representative Ro Khanna, and Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego.
When Buttigieg took the stage after Harris departed, he spoke to lukewarm applause in a significantly emptied auditorium. While some attendees cheered his remarks about supporting federal employees and minority-owned businesses, many had left following Harris’ address to attempt photographs with the former vice president.
Like other potential 2028 candidates this week, Buttigieg dismissed questions about future presidential ambitions with humor.
Harris provided a more direct response.
She stated “I’m thinking about it” three separate times when Sharpton inquired about her 2028 intentions.
“I served for four years being a heartbeat away from the presidency of the United States. I spent countless hours in my West Wing office footsteps away from the Oval Office. I spent countless hours in the Oval Office and the situation room. I know what the job is, and I know what it requires,” Harris explained.
She added: “I am thinking about it in the context of who and where and how can the best job be done for the American people. That’s how I’m thinking about it. I’ll keep you posted.”
WOODLAND, Calif. — Authorities in Northern California announced Friday that seven individuals have been taken into custody in connection with a catastrophic fireworks warehouse explosion that claimed seven lives and left two others wounded last July.
The tragic blast occurred near Esparto, a small agricultural community in Yolo County, triggering an enormous fire that forced the cancellation of local Fourth of July festivities in the area.
Officials from the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office planned to reveal the indictments during a Friday press conference. Jail documentation indicates that multiple suspects face murder charges.
Among those apprehended are Samuel and Tammy Machado, the married couple who operated the storage facility located roughly 40 miles northwest of Sacramento. Samuel Machado served as a lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, while his spouse Tammy held an administrative position with the department. Both were placed on administrative leave following the incident.
Kenneth Chee, who runs Devastating Pyrotechnics and whose unauthorized fireworks were housed at the facility, was taken into custody in Florida. During his Friday court appearance in Florida, Chee was informed he would be transported back to California within seven days, according to KCRA-TV.
Law enforcement also detained Jack Lee, who managed operations for Devastating Pyrotechnic, and Gary Chan Jr., whose name appears on the company’s federal licensing documents, the television outlet reported.
Craig Cutright, who operates Blackstar Fireworks from the Esparto location owned by the Machados, was also arrested. Cutright served as a volunteer with the Esparto Fire District and was additionally employed by Devastating Pyrotechnics, KCRA-TV stated.
Ronald Botelho III, one of Cutright’s workers, has remained in jail since December. Court records reveal that more than a dozen additional charges were filed against him on Thursday.
Federal aviation officials are examining a dangerous near-collision that occurred at Los Angeles International Airport this week when a Frontier Airlines aircraft came dangerously close to hitting two service vehicles that moved across its path.
The incident unfolded late Wednesday evening around 11:25 p.m. as the commercial jet was traveling along a taxiway. The pilot expressed alarm and used strong language when reporting to air traffic control that he was forced to apply emergency braking to prevent a crash. “It was real close. The closest I have ever seen,” the pilot stated, according to audio recordings published by ATC.com.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed they are investigating the event, noting that multiple vehicles from a service road crossed directly in front of the aircraft. Fortunately, no injuries resulted from the incident.
“We thank our crew for their vigilance and professionalism,” Frontier Airlines stated in their official response.
This close call comes just weeks after a tragic accident at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on March 22, where an Air Canada aircraft carrying 76 passengers and crew members struck a fire truck during landing. That collision resulted in the deaths of both pilots and left dozens injured.
In the LaGuardia tragedy, an air traffic controller had authorized the fire vehicle to cross the runway less than 20 seconds before the crash, then desperately attempted to halt the truck’s movement moments later.
The Los Angeles incident occurred in a section of the airport where aircraft coordinate their movements through air traffic control communications, while ground vehicles are expected to give way to any planes, which typically travel at approximately 15 mph on taxiways. Airport representatives have not yet responded to inquiries about the circumstances or existing safety protocols designed to prevent such conflicts.
Former United Airlines pilot and aviation safety specialist Steve Arroyo noted that similar incidents occur regularly at airports nationwide but typically receive little notice when collisions are successfully avoided. He believes these events will now receive increased scrutiny.
“Multiple incidents, accidents happening, just in March alone, I think it’s time to put some serious eyes on what’s going on on the ramp,” Arroyo commented.
A New Jersey-based software company that helps businesses protect their data is considering selling itself after attracting interest from multiple potential buyers, according to industry sources.
Commvault Systems, headquartered in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, has brought on investment bank Goldman Sachs to evaluate its strategic options, four people with knowledge of the situation told Reuters. The company, valued at approximately $3.5 billion, has received inquiries from both private equity investors and strategic acquirers.
Among those showing interest is private equity firm Thoma Bravo, which sources say has expressed interest in acquiring Commvault in recent weeks. According to one source, the buyout firm had previously submitted an offer for the company, though details about timing and price were not disclosed.
Representatives for Commvault, Goldman Sachs, and Thoma Bravo all refused to provide comment on the matter.
The software company specializes in helping organizations safeguard and restore their digital information when faced with cyber incidents, ransomware attacks, technical malfunctions, or accidental data loss across enterprise systems and cloud platforms. Notable clients using Commvault’s services include manufacturing giant 3M, entertainment company Sony, and hotel chain Hilton.
Software company stock prices have faced significant headwinds recently as investors worry about artificial intelligence’s potential impact on traditional business models. Commvault’s shares have plummeted roughly 60% since reaching their peak on September 18.
However, the company’s financial performance remains robust. In its latest quarterly report, Commvault posted impressive results with revenues climbing 19% to reach a company record of $314 million. The firm’s yearly recurring revenue hit $1.085 billion, representing a 22% increase from the previous year.
Although declining stock prices typically attract private equity interest, most firms have been cautious about new software investments while AI-related uncertainty persists in the market.
Thoma Bravo’s Managing Partner Orlando Bravo has taken a different approach, describing the software sector’s decline as presenting a “huge buying opportunity.”
The data recovery business has proven more resistant to disruption within the broader cybersecurity industry, as artificial intelligence actually increases rather than reduces the demand for backup and recovery solutions.
Ticket sales for the Atlanta Dream have exploded following the team’s blockbuster trade earlier this week that brought Angel Reese from the Chicago Sky to Atlanta.
According to a Thursday social media post from StubHub, fan interest reached unprecedented levels after the trade was announced.
“Atlanta Dream ticket demand spiked 15x after trading for Angel Reese, the largest single day spike in franchise history,” the company wrote on their X social media account. “The Angel Reese Effect is real.”
The Sky sent Reese to Atlanta on Monday in exchange for the Dream’s first-round draft selections in both 2027 and 2028, plus the ability to exchange second-round picks in 2028.
The 23-year-old forward has dominated the boards during her brief WNBA career, topping the league in rebounds for both of her professional seasons. She pulled down 13.1 rebounds per contest in 2024 and 12.6 during her rookie campaign, establishing the two highest single-season rebounding averages in league history.
In just 64 career games, Reese has achieved 49 double-doubles. The two-time All-Star selection put up 14.7 points per game this past season, an improvement from her 13.6 scoring average as a first-year player in 2024.
Federal energy regulators have given the go-ahead for a major expansion of construction operations at a Texas liquefied natural gas facility, according to regulatory documents filed Friday.
NextDecade Corporation received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to dramatically boost its construction crew at the Rio Grande LNG project, citing urgent global demand for American energy exports.
The company explained to federal officials that international conflicts have created unprecedented demand for U.S. liquefied natural gas, pushing developers to accelerate their timeline for bringing new facilities online.
Global LNG markets have faced significant disruptions due to ongoing conflicts in Iran, which have impacted QatarEnergy, the world’s second-largest natural gas producer. The company has been unable to export its supercooled gas products and has experienced facility damage that could remove 12.5 million metric tons from worldwide supplies for as long as five years.
NextDecade’s formal request, submitted to FERC last Friday, sought permission to increase its maximum construction workforce by 2,275 additional workers, bringing the total from the current authorized level of 5,225 to 7,500 personnel.
Federal oversight requires energy companies to obtain approval for workforce increases at LNG construction locations to ensure operations remain within previously established environmental guidelines and minimize impacts on surrounding communities.
The company indicated that plans to construct two additional liquefaction units at the facility necessitated the larger workforce and required authorization for construction activities during nighttime hours and weekends.
FERC’s approval encompassed both the workforce expansion and the request for around-the-clock construction operations, regulatory filings confirmed.
The Rio Grande LNG facility will feature five liquefaction units with total annual production capacity of approximately 30 million metric tons once completed.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is moving forward with direct negotiations with Israel following a devastating month of conflict that has displaced more than one million Lebanese citizens, destroyed sections of Beirut, and sparked sectarian tensions throughout the country.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to participate in peace discussions, analysts believe Lebanon enters these unprecedented talks from an extremely compromised position with limited ability to secure meaningful results.
Hezbollah, currently engaged in combat with Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, remains opposed to direct negotiations, raising serious questions about whether the militant group would honor any ceasefire agreement reached by Lebanese government officials.
“The talks that will take place between Lebanon and Israel are frankly pointless, because those conducting them in the name of Lebanon have no leverage to negotiate,” a Lebanese official close to the group told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
DEVASTATING STRIKES CLAIM HUNDREDS OF LIVES
Israeli air campaigns against Lebanon escalated after Hezbollah launched missiles into Israel on March 2, occurring three days after the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran began. Israeli forces have since expanded their ground operations.
Members of Lebanon’s Shi’ite Muslim population, which forms Hezbollah’s primary support base and has suffered the heaviest casualties from Israeli attacks, expressed to Reuters their lack of confidence in a government they view as unable to protect them.
Netanyahu’s directive to his cabinet regarding direct negotiations came following Israeli airstrikes throughout Lebanon that claimed over 300 lives, marking one of the deadliest single days for the country since its civil war concluded in 1990. Emergency responders continued recovering bodies from destroyed buildings on Friday while families conducted funerals nationwide.
Israeli bombing campaigns have devastated public infrastructure throughout southern Lebanon and resulted in the deaths of multiple Lebanese security personnel on Friday.
“Israel’s brutality does not distinguish between one civilian and another, nor between Muslim and Christian, in this country. We must all stand together to confront this barbarity and this aggression,” said Hassan Saleh, a Lebanese man attending a funeral in the southern city of Tyre.
GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY CONTINUES TO ERODE
Numerous Lebanese citizens, including two government officials speaking anonymously to Reuters, characterized Netanyahu’s delayed agreement to negotiations as a political maneuver designed to improve relations with Washington as the United States prepares for discussions with Iran this weekend, while maintaining military operations in Lebanon.
“Just because Israel agreed to negotiate with us doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. The problem is that we don’t have any other option,” said Nabil Boumonsef, deputy editor-in-chief of Lebanon’s Annahar newspaper.
Lebanon’s central government has traditionally struggled with limited authority, weakened by widespread corruption, a sectarian power-sharing structure that frequently results in political gridlock, and recurring internal conflicts and wars involving Hezbollah and Israel.
While Lebanese citizens have voiced concerns about governmental weakness for decades, recent crises have further undermined public confidence in official institutions.
The country’s banking system collapsed in 2019, and a chemical explosion at Beirut’s port in 2020 killed more than 200 people. Authorities have not held anyone accountable for either catastrophe.
A September 2024 Arab Barometer survey revealed that 76% of Lebanese citizens expressed no confidence whatsoever in their government.
The following month, Israel deployed ground forces into Lebanon and intensified bombing operations after a year of cross-border exchanges with Hezbollah. Lebanese casualties exceeded 3,700 people during this period.
INTERNAL DIVISIONS PERSIST
Despite a U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement in November 2024, Israeli forces remained in Lebanon while continuing strikes against what they identified as Hezbollah infrastructure. Residents who returned to demolished towns in southern Lebanon used personal funds to rebuild their homes without government assistance.
Thousands of displaced citizens unable to return home blamed their own government for failing to secure Israeli withdrawal through diplomatic channels.
The United States and Israel criticized the Lebanese government and military for not fulfilling ceasefire commitments to completely disarm Hezbollah.
Lebanese officials argued that forcibly disarming Hezbollah would trigger civil conflict, and diplomatic efforts to persuade the group to surrender its weapons were unsuccessful while Israeli forces continued occupying Lebanese territory.
Following Hezbollah’s entry into the regional conflict on March 2, Lebanon declared the group’s military operations illegal. However, the army did not prevent Hezbollah’s missile attacks, with officials again citing concerns about internal warfare.
Netanyahu has indicated that negotiations would address Hezbollah’s disarmament and establishing a formal peace treaty between Israel and Lebanon, who have remained technically at war since Israel’s establishment in 1948.
However, both objectives appear unlikely following such a destructive period of violence.
Michael Young of the Carnegie Endowment’s Middle East Center described Lebanon as approaching negotiations while internally fractured.
Disarming Hezbollah “means entering into a confrontation with the entire Shi’ite community, which will not accept Hezbollah’s disarmament because they feel they are surrounded by enemies”, he said.
“We’re weak because we’re unclear on the terms of reference of negotiations, divided over the question of negotiations, because our demands will be rejected and because we cannot do what we need to do to secure an Israeli withdrawal.”
Drivers traveling through New Castle County should prepare for significant traffic disruptions this week as state transportation officials implement multiple overnight road closures near Newark.
Delaware’s transportation department has announced that three lanes of southbound Interstate 95 will be shut down during nighttime hours from Monday through Wednesday to allow crews to complete overhead sign installation work.
Simultaneously, motorists will encounter closures on northbound Route 896 and the connecting on-ramp to northbound I-95 as crews perform road milling and paving operations Monday through Wednesday nights.
The construction schedule extends into Thursday night, when workers will close the southbound I-95 exit ramp leading to northbound Route 896 for additional milling and paving activities.
All closure work is scheduled during overnight hours to minimize impact on daily commuter traffic through the busy I-95 and Route 896 interchange area.
DALLAS (AP) — The intensity level between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild reached playoff heights with their first-round Western Conference series still a week away.
The Central Division rivals, who have already secured their playoff matchup, delivered a physical preview of what’s to come in the postseason during Dallas’ 5-4 victory Thursday night.
“That’s probably exactly what you’re going to expect. Guys finishing hits, taking hits to make plays,” said Jason Robertson, who netted his 42nd goal of the season with 9:25 remaining to secure the win for Dallas.
Stars coach Glen Gulutzan agreed with the assessment. “You knew there was going to be some emotion in the game. They’ve been trying to hunt us down for months, and it’s given them some fuel,” he said.
Dallas rallied from a two-goal deficit thanks to contributions from Wyatt Johnston, Mikko Rantanen, and Colin Blackwell, who each recorded a goal and assist. The victory pushes the Stars to 106 points, establishing a four-point lead over Minnesota for home-ice advantage in their upcoming series. Both clubs have three regular-season contests remaining before the playoffs begin.
The physical nature of the game was evident in the penalty statistics, with officials calling 12 roughing infractions — split evenly between the teams — along with numerous other altercations involving multiple players.
“Every time these two teams play each other it always is a hard-fought battle,” said Wild coach John Hynes, whose squad saw its four-game winning streak come to an end. “You saw some emotion in the game, and I think that is to be expected.”
Dallas will face only Eastern Conference opponents in their remaining games, beginning with Saturday’s home finale against the New York Rangers before traveling to Toronto. The Stars conclude the regular season at Buffalo, which has ended a franchise-record 14 seasons without playoff qualification.
Minnesota’s schedule keeps them in the Western Conference, starting with a road game at Nashville and finishing at home versus Anaheim — both teams still battling for playoff positioning. The Wild will also visit St. Louis between those contests.
Kirill Kaprizov led Minnesota’s offensive attack with two power-play goals, bringing his season total to 45 and tying his franchise record with 19 power-play tallies.
Kaprizov gave the Wild a 2-1 advantage with 16 seconds left in the opening period, scoring just 14 seconds into the man advantage. He extended Minnesota’s lead to 3-1 in the second period with another quick power-play strike, finding the net only 16 seconds into the penalty.
After Dallas tied the game, Ryan Hartman’s power-play goal with nine seconds remaining in the middle frame put Minnesota ahead 4-3.
However, the Wild couldn’t hold their lead. They suffered their first regulation defeat since March 2024 when leading entering the final period, ending a remarkable 61-0-4 record in such situations.
Minnesota had one final opportunity to tie the game after Rantanen took a slashing penalty with 2½ minutes left, but couldn’t convert even after pulling goaltender Filip Gustavsson for an extra attacker.
“How we played, we should have gotten a better result. I felt like we were playing very good,” Gustavsson said. “We went 2-2 against them.”
The season series between these teams began with Dallas winning 5-2 in their home opener on October 14. Minnesota captured both games on their home ice, winning 5-2 on December 11 and taking a 2-1 overtime decision on March 21.
The Stars may face a significant concern heading into the playoffs after defenseman Miro Heiskanen left the game with a lower-body injury following a hard check into the boards by Hartman late in the first period.
Gulutzan had no immediate update on Heiskanen’s condition but indicated the defenseman would miss the next game. “We’ll have him looked at tomorrow and the next day,” said Gulutzan when asked about potential playoff availability. “Honestly, I don’t know, but any time there’s an injury, especially your top guys, it’s concerning.”
American hedge fund manager Bill Ackman made his first phone call to French billionaire Vincent Bollore before announcing his massive $64 billion takeover attempt for Universal Music Group this week.
The Pershing Square Capital Management founder later informed investors that Bollore’s reaction to his proposal was “music to my ears,” noting that the French mogul’s team appeared “intrigued” by the offer.
“Without Bollore, we don’t have a transaction,” Ackman stated about the 74-year-old businessman, who maintains control of just under 32% of the entertainment giant that houses major artists including Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar.
Despite being officially retired, Bollore remains actively involved in business dealings and possesses effective veto power over any potential deal through his direct ownership and indirect holdings via his family enterprise and stake in French media company Vivendi.
Representatives for Bollore’s Paris-traded holding company have not responded to requests for comment regarding Ackman’s proposal, which industry observers view as a test of the French tycoon’s business philosophy.
Ackman declined to provide additional comment. Universal has stated that its board of directors is examining Pershing’s “unsolicited and non-binding proposal” but refused further commentary.
Following his successful transformation of his family’s centuries-old business, Bollore expanded his empire through strategic stake-building campaigns during the 1990s, particularly targeting construction-to-media conglomerate Bouygues.
He later perfected this strategy during his acquisition of advertising company Havas in the early 2000s, creating a “creeping control” method he subsequently applied to media ventures while earning recognition for his direct management style.
Universal, where CEO Lucian Grainge has maintained considerable independence, has represented a notable departure from this pattern.
Bollore’s investment in the world’s largest music company, obtained through Vivendi’s 2021 spinoff and Amsterdam stock exchange listing, is considered among his most profitable decisions.
Over time, Bollore steadily expanded his influence within Vivendi, placing supporters on the board and strengthening his control.
“He has always known how to unlock value, and he did so in a truly striking way with Vivendi’s assets, bringing out the real wealth inside that conglomerate,” said Vincent Beaufils, author of a Bollore biography.
While Bollore has transformed France’s media environment, including Vivendi’s acquisition of Lagardere and the sale of its logistics division to CMA CGM, not every investment has succeeded.
Vivendi’s Telecom Italia investment eliminated billions of euros in value, while an attempt to enter Mediaset created conflict and legal battles with Silvio Berlusconi’s family, and a push into Ubisoft fell short of complete acquisition due to opposition.
Forbes calculates that Bollore and his family’s wealth has grown from $5.2 billion in 2017 to $9.8 billion in 2026.
Ackman, who holds a 4.7% stake in Universal and served on its board until May of last year, is presenting Bollore and other shareholders with choices to exchange their shares for cash or ownership in a new U.S.-listed company.
“He will look at it in a very cold and analytical way,” said one individual who has collaborated with Bollore. However, two industry leaders who have previously dealt with him indicated that Bollore’s choices can be challenging to predict.
JPMorgan analysts remain among those skeptical that Ackman will receive his desired response, arguing that Universal will find it difficult to endorse a proposal that “materially undervalues” the company.
The primary consideration influencing Bollore’s decision-making is his group’s extremely complicated ownership framework, analysts noted in a Friday report, adding that they anticipate rejection of the Pershing offer.
“It does not need cash; it has been a buyer, not a seller, of UMG shares; it is unlikely to sell at a discount to fair value; it would not want to reduce its influence; and it has historically favoured a European listing and domicile for UMG.”
Bollore’s group reported maintaining a net cash position of approximately 5.6 billion euros ($6.55 billion) at the end of last year.
New Castle County police have taken two teenagers into custody after catching them in the act of breaking into cars in a Newark neighborhood early Friday morning.
Officers with the New Castle County Division of Police were called to the first block of Alexis Drive in the Chapman Woods Townhomes development around 2:24 a.m. on April 10, 2026, following reports of people burglarizing vehicles.
When police arrived at the scene, they spotted three people who fit the descriptions provided by witnesses. Authorities successfully apprehended two of the suspects, both juveniles, while a third individual managed to escape.
During the arrests, officers discovered a loaded firearm in connection with the incident.
The investigation into the vehicle break-ins remains ongoing as police continue to search for the third suspect who fled the scene.
Similar to how underdog teams have become scarce in March Madness, smaller colleges are seeing fewer of their players selected in the NFL draft.
The culprits are NIL deals and the transfer portal, which together have created a talent pipeline flowing toward major conference schools.
The Power Four conferences – SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 – control college football through superior revenue streams, television contracts and financial resources.
These advantages are increasingly drawing top athletes away from smaller programs.
“Jerry Rice still gets drafted by the 49ers, but I don’t know that it’s from Mississippi Valley State today,” said Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, referencing the Hall of Fame receiver’s legendary rise from a small school. “That’s where he started, but I think it may be from — pick a big school.”
The NCAA basketball tournament once regularly showcased unknown programs from remote locations that captured national attention and destroyed tournament brackets. However, for the first time since the field expanded in 1985, all 16 Elite Eight teams last year came from major conferences, including the Big East. This pattern repeated in the most recent tournament, indicating that the transfer portal is consolidating elite talent at well-funded institutions.
This basketball trend is now appearing in football recruiting and development.
The numbers tell the story: Just 24 players from non-major conferences were drafted in 2024, continuing a steep decline from 70 such selections in 2022. The figure dropped to 38 in 2023 before reaching last year’s low of 34.
Even these statistics include players from traditionally strong programs outside major conferences. Last year’s two first-round picks from non-power schools were Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, chosen sixth by Las Vegas, and North Dakota State lineman Grey Zabel, selected 18th by Seattle.
Boise State has consistently produced NFL talent, with seven draft picks since 2021, while North Dakota State has captured 18 national titles, including 10 FCS championships since 2010 and eight Division II crowns.
Other 2024 selections came from schools like Alabama A&M, Central Arkansas and Western Kentucky.
The NCAA implemented its name, image and likeness policy in summer 2021, allowing athletes to earn money from their personal brands. Soon after, rule changes permitted multiple transfers while maintaining immediate eligibility under specific conditions.
Athletes like Jeanty and Zabel continue reaching the draft – they’re just more likely to come from established football programs now.
This year’s draft from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh could see even fewer small-school names called, as only 17 of the 319 combine invitees represented non-power conference programs.
Notable exceptions include Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, rated by NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah as the draft’s 16th-best prospect, and San Diego State defensive back Chris Johnson, ranked 40th by Jeremiah.
This shift has altered how NFL organizations approach college scouting, with fewer trips to smaller campuses.
“I think as you set your schedule for where you want your scouts to spend their most time, I think even in the last couple of years, you want them more in those places, concentrated areas like we talked about,” explained Broncos general manager George Paton. “Not that there’s not going to be good players in some of these other smaller schools.”
The difference is that many talented players now transfer to major conferences, where they access better financial opportunities, increased visibility and stronger personal branding possibilities.
Paton discovered one of the decade’s best small-college gems when he selected Wisconsin-Whitewater guard Quinn Meinerz in the third round of 2021.
Among 37 smaller-school draftees that year, Meinerz quickly became one of the league’s premier guards, famously wearing a gold paisley suit to sign his $80 million contract extension in 2024. He has since earned consecutive first-team All-Pro selections.
Despite playing “for the love of the game” in Division III’s Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Meinerz attracted NFL attention.
“There’s a pretty good scouting department across the entire NFL,” Meinerz noted, “and they’ll come find you.”
While that remains true, scouts increasingly find their targets concentrated within Power Four conference boundaries.
MADRID — Emergency responders in Spain’s Canary Islands reported that a tourist-filled bus crashed into a ravine on Friday, resulting in one death and sending 27 people to the hospital with injuries.
The majority of those aboard the vehicle were tourists from Britain.
The crash occurred on La Gomera, which is part of the eight-island Spanish chain located in the Atlantic Ocean west of Africa’s coast.
According to emergency officials, all injured passengers were transported to a hospital on the island where they received medical care for their wounds.
La Gomera ranks among the smaller islands in the Canary chain and features challenging geography including volcanic peaks, thick forests, and communities perched on cliffsides. These Atlantic islands attract numerous British and European vacationers throughout the year due to their consistently mild climate.
A federal court has granted a one-week extension of an emergency order blocking a massive $6.2 billion acquisition between television broadcasting companies Nexstar Media Group and Tegna, while the judge considers whether additional delays are warranted.
The legal challenge comes from eight state attorneys general along with DirecTV, who filed suit claiming the combination of these television broadcasting powerhouses would drive up costs for consumers while damaging local news coverage. The plaintiffs petitioned U.S. District Court Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley in Sacramento, California, to prevent the acquisition from moving forward until their antitrust case reaches resolution.
Legal representatives for Nexstar counter that the acquisition will enhance rather than diminish local news programming and coverage.
Judge Nunley pushed back the temporary restraining order deadline to April 17, explaining the additional time would allow him to properly consider whether to issue a more extended preliminary injunction. The judge also adjusted the current order to permit both broadcasting companies to conduct “reasonable steps” for routine operations, including compliance with federal debt reporting requirements.
The acquisition, which was first announced the previous year and received Federal Communications Commission approval, would establish a media company controlling 265 television stations across 44 states plus the District of Columbia. The majority of these stations serve as local affiliates for the major broadcast networks: ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.
The broadcasting deal required sign-off from the Republican Trump administration’s FCC since regulators had to waive existing restrictions on how many local stations a single company may control.
During his initial ruling imposing the temporary restraining order, the judge expressed concern that the merger could enable Nexstar to charge higher rates to multichannel video programming distributors such as DirecTV. He noted that if these distributors declined to accept rate increases, they might risk their customers losing access to popular programming like Sunday NFL games.
President Donald Trump’s backup strategy for implementing worldwide import taxes is facing another court battle as his signature economic initiative encounters continued legal resistance.
On Friday, the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York conducted oral arguments regarding Trump’s current tariff system, which he implemented after the Supreme Court rejected his original, more expansive tariff plan in February.
Trump initially attempted to establish global tariffs by citing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, declaring the nation’s persistent trade deficit a national emergency to justify imposing substantial import taxes worldwide. His interpretation of this legislation was broad, allowing him to set tariffs of any amount, at any time, targeting any nation he chose.
However, the Supreme Court invalidated those tariffs on February 20, ruling that the emergency powers law did not grant authority to use tariffs as a response to national emergencies.
Following this setback, Trump turned to Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 as his backup plan. This provision permits presidents to establish worldwide tariffs up to 15% for a maximum of 150 days, requiring Congressional authorization for any extension. Trump immediately announced 10% tariffs under this authority and indicated he might increase them to the full 15%, though he has not yet done so. These current tariffs will end on July 24.
The legal dispute centers on whether Section 122’s language regarding “fundamental international payments problems” encompasses trade deficits — the difference between American exports and imports with other nations.
This trade provision was created during the monetary crises of the 1960s and 1970s, when the dollar was backed by gold. During that era, foreign countries were exchanging dollars for gold at fixed rates, threatening to destabilize American currency and create financial market turmoil. Since the gold standard no longer exists, opponents argue Section 122 has become outdated.
The situation presents complications for both sides. Trump’s own Justice Department previously filed court documents stating the president had to use emergency powers because Section 122 lacked “obvious application” to trade deficit issues, describing trade deficits as “conceptually distinct” from payment problems.
Conversely, the challengers face their own contradiction: the same trade court that is now hearing their case previously ruled that Trump could have used Section 122 to address trade deficits instead of emergency powers.
A federal jury in Manhattan started weighing evidence Friday in a major antitrust lawsuit where 34 states are challenging Live Nation Entertainment over alleged monopolistic practices.
In the civil lawsuit, state attorneys general claim the entertainment conglomerate and its Ticketmaster division have cornered the market on live music events, resulting in inflated ticket costs for consumers.
Live Nation maintains that the concert industry has never been more competitive and denies any unfair business practices in what they describe as a thriving entertainment market.
Shortly after beginning their discussions, jurors in the Manhattan federal courthouse requested to hear portions of testimony again from the five-week proceedings.
The state coalition continued pursuing their case even after federal authorities reached a settlement agreement with Live Nation last month.
According to the Justice Department, their settlement secured significant changes from Live Nation, especially regarding ticket sales at numerous company-owned amphitheaters.
During Thursday’s closing statements, an attorney representing the states claimed Live Nation dominates 86% of the concert venue market and holds 73% control when sporting events are factored in.
Live Nation’s legal team acknowledged the company’s position as the nation’s largest entertainment and ticketing corporation. However, their attorney argued that “success is not against the antitrust laws in the United States.”
Whirlpool Corporation announced Friday its plans to pour more than $60 million into a new Ohio manufacturing facility dedicated to producing components for washing machines and dryers.
The major appliance manufacturer revealed that this new facility will mark its 11th production site across the United States and its sixth location within Ohio. The investment is projected to generate between 100 and 150 new employment opportunities.
“Whirlpool Corporation is leaning into our commitment to U.S. manufacturing,” stated Marc Bitzer, CEO of the Benton Harbor, Michigan-based company, in a release. Bitzer has been a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. The company made this announcement during an event held at its major washing machine manufacturing facility in Clyde, Ohio, where U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer was in attendance.
Greer made the trip to the Midwest this week as part of efforts to promote the current administration’s initiatives designed to strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities.
This latest announcement follows Whirlpool’s October revelation of a separate $300 million investment plan focused on expanding capacity within its current laundry-related manufacturing operations.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — A moment of pure frustration at Augusta National has put Scottish golfer Robert MacIntyre in hot water both literally and figuratively during Thursday’s opening round of the Masters Tournament.
MacIntyre displayed his middle finger toward the course after watching his approach shot find the water hazard fronting the 15th green. Standing at 3-over-par at the time, the Scottish player’s troubles were just beginning. His next attempt from the drop zone suffered the same watery fate, spinning backward off the firm green surface.
The disastrous sequence resulted in a quadruple-bogey 9, pushing MacIntyre to 7-over for the tournament. Additional struggles on the 17th hole with another bogey left him at 8-over 80 for the day. His woes continued into Friday’s second round with a double-bogey on the opening hole, placing him at 10-over and well outside the projected cut line.
Tournament officials may review MacIntyre’s gesture for possible disciplinary measures, as such conduct violates professional golf’s standards of sportsmanship.
The 15th hole, typically among Augusta National’s more manageable scoring opportunities, proved treacherous for multiple players due to exceptionally dry and firm course conditions. Thursday’s field averaged 74.65 strokes, with the par-5 15th playing to a 5.12 average — the only par-5 to play above par.
Patrick Reed experienced similar misfortune when his well-struck 7-wood approach bounced off the green and rolled into the water near the 16th hole. Reed attributed the outcome to unfortunate bounces on the concrete-hard putting surface. Gary Woodland narrowly avoided disaster, watching his second shot roll dangerously close to the same watery grave.
Veteran Fred Couples endured perhaps the day’s most painful experience at the 15th. Sitting comfortably at 2-under and inside the top-10, Couples watched in disbelief as two consecutive approach shots rolled back into the hazard, matching MacIntyre’s quadruple-bogey 9. A subsequent double-bogey on 16 contributed to his 78.
“I’ve played I don’t know how many rounds. I’ve never done that, hit it in the water going for the green. Never hit a 90-yard shot in the water and then followed up with another one,” Couples explained. “I’ve played 41 years here. I’ve never done that.”
“It was kind of like a shot I can handle, but I wasn’t even trying to handle it. I was just trying to hit it 30 feet right. No one is going to hit it in there five feet I don’t think. The greens are like concrete. The course was really, really good.”
Adam Scott also found the water with his 15th-hole approach but demonstrated better course management. Rather than dropping in the same location, Scott utilized the designated drop area forward of the hazard, pitched to the back portion of the green, and limited the damage to a single bogey.
Utility companies across the nation delivered their most impressive quarterly performance in five years, posting a 7.5% gain during the first three months of 2024 according to market data from LSEG.
The utilities sector’s strong showing marked the best opening quarter since 2019, as investors moved money away from riskier investments during a period of market uncertainty sparked by Middle East tensions and concerns about rising inflation.
While the broader S&P 500 dropped 4.6% during the same timeframe – marking its worst quarterly decline since 2022 – utility stocks attracted investors looking for steady dividend payments and less volatile returns during turbulent market conditions.
Matt Stucky, who manages equity portfolios at Northwestern Mutual, explained the appeal of defensive investments during uncertain times. “When volatility really ramps up and there are questions about where the market is going in the short term, it’s natural for investors to rotate into defensive type equities and utilities tend to be a prime recipient of along with healthcare,” Stucky said.
Beyond their traditional safe-haven status, utility companies are experiencing unprecedented demand from technology giants constructing massive data centers to support artificial intelligence operations. Research from the Electric Power Research Institute projects that electricity consumption by data centers could increase more than fourfold by 2030, potentially accounting for 17% of the nation’s total power usage.
Gerry Sparrow, who leads Sparrow Capital Management, noted the significant impact of this technological shift on utility companies. “I read a few recent quarterly calls from some of the utility companies and the big drivers are the data centers and the increased electricity demand, which is crowding out other interests,” Sparrow explained.
Major technology corporations including Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Oracle are driving this electricity surge through their substantial capital investments in AI-focused data center construction, according to Sparrow.
“The data center demand is coming from technology companies — in particular Alphabet, Meta Platforms and Oracle, with their capital budgets that include data center buildout for AI. So that’s some of the stuff that’s moving the market around, especially around individual utility companies,” he said.
Market analysts expect that as geopolitical tensions ease following recent ceasefire agreements, investors may shift back toward growth-oriented investments, potentially reducing some of the utilities sector’s recent gains.
However, utility companies positioned to serve the expanding AI infrastructure – particularly those providing power to commercial customers in key data center regions including Virginia, Texas, Florida, and Midwest markets – are expected to maintain strong investor appeal.
Companies such as American Electric, Dominion Energy, Nextera Energy, Xcel Energy, and Duke Energy are among those well-positioned to benefit from this trend, according to Sparrow.
“A lot of the performance is likely going to be tied to how much they’re serving industrial customers versus residential customers closer to the larger cities,” Sparrow noted.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump encouraged Americans in February to enjoy their enhanced tax refunds, describing this year’s payments as “substantially greater than ever before” due to new individual tax relief measures enacted in 2025.
“Don’t spend all of this money in one place!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
However, Americans are finding themselves doing exactly that, as rising fuel costs are consuming the majority of increased tax refunds resulting from new deductions on gratuities, Social Security benefits, overtime wages, vehicle loan interest, and state and local taxes included in last year’s GOP tax legislation.
Oil prices remained near $100 per barrel Friday despite an unstable ceasefire in the U.S.-Iran conflict, with the Strait of Hormuz still blocked ahead of diplomatic discussions in Islamabad. Even with potential reopening of the crucial waterway that carries roughly 20% of global oil supplies, fuel costs may continue climbing for months, according to Energy Information Administration projections showing Brent crude averaging $96 annually.
Energy analysts at Rystad Energy warn that damaged infrastructure throughout the Gulf region will constrain future production, with reconstruction expenses estimated at a minimum of $25 billion and potentially rising as hostilities persist.
Continued energy supply disruptions suggest extended hardship at gas stations, with economists noting that lower-income Americans, who dedicate larger portions of their earnings to fuel, will experience minimal benefits from tax reductions.
Consumer prices surged 0.9% in March, marking the steepest monthly increase in nearly four years, primarily due to unprecedented gasoline price jumps amid global oil market volatility and ongoing tariff impacts, Friday’s Bureau of Labor Statistics report revealed. Additional cost increases for diesel fuel, fertilizer, aluminum, and other commodities affected by Middle Eastern conflicts, along with food price inflation, threaten to eliminate remaining refund benefits.
Through March 27, average individual tax refunds for 2025 increased by $351, representing an 11.1% jump to $3,521 compared to the previous year, based on current Internal Revenue Service processing statistics.
These amounts may climb before Wednesday’s April 15 filing deadline, with projections ranging from Morgan Stanley’s $560 estimate to the Tax Foundation’s $611 calculation and Treasury’s $1,000 forecast. However, some relief may appear through reduced payroll withholding or decreased quarterly individual payments.
TAX BENEFITS BECOMING ECONOMIC BUFFER
Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research economists calculate that conflict-related price increases have raised Americans’ typical annual gasoline expenses by $857 this year. Their March 23 analysis assumed Brent futures at $99 per barrel – roughly $2 above Friday’s levels – and projected Strait of Hormuz reopening around April 10.
Congressional Joint Economic Committee Democrats estimate Americans spent an extra $8.4 billion on gasoline during the Iran war’s initial month, using AAA price information, Edmunds.com fuel efficiency data, and federal consumption statistics. This amount represents nearly one-third of the $26.5 billion total IRS refund increase through March 27.
“Gas prices are probably the most salient price in the economy,” explained Stanford University economics professor Neale Mahoney. “The impacts may be modest from a macro perspective, but for the sort of kitchen-table economics of a family, and things that they’re paying attention to, they can be big.”
Families anticipating larger refunds for summer vacations or home renovations may scale back plans as they spend more filling their tanks. Food costs are also expected to rise as higher diesel, fertilizer, jet fuel, and aluminum prices ripple through the economy.
What officials intended as economic stimulus is now functioning more as protection against deeper recession, though analysts are reducing U.S. consumption and GDP projections by several tenths of a percentage point. Morgan Stanley now forecasts 2026 consumption growth slowing to 1.7% from 2025’s 2.1%, with durable goods bearing most impacts, while Oxford Economics cut global GDP growth expectations for 2026 to 2.6% from 3.0%, well below recent performance.
ENHANCED DEDUCTIONS FOR PROPERTY OWNERS
Most tax relief provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act approved by the Republican-majority Congress last year applied retroactively from January 2025, meaning initial benefits primarily come through claimed income deductions.
Multiple breaks, including those covering tips, overtime, Social Security, and auto loan interest, apply whether taxpayers itemize returns or claim the standard deduction, which also increased $1,150 for individual filers in 2025. This modification would generate a $138 refund boost for 12% tax bracket filers earning $11,926 to $48,475.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently praised the overtime deduction as “a home run,” noting 25% of filers are utilizing it.
However, one major benefit – a $30,000 increase in state and local tax deductions – still requires itemization, essentially excluding non-homeowners without mortgages or property tax obligations.
Only taxpayers with market incomes between $71,659 and $126,348 – exceeding 60% of earners – will retain money from new tax breaks after covering increased fuel expenses, according to Tax Foundation analysis. Market income encompasses adjusted gross income, tax-exempt interest, employer health and retirement benefits, and additional components.
Tax Foundation research indicates that reductions for the top 0.01% of returns exceeding $2.24 million in income still provide greater tax savings than benefits for those earning up to $37,486.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A federal court has granted another week-long extension to temporarily block the proposed merger between television broadcasting companies Nexstar and Tegna, as legal proceedings continue over antitrust concerns.
U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley announced Friday that he would prolong the temporary restraining order that requires Nexstar to maintain separation of Tegna’s business operations while the court weighs whether to impose a preliminary injunction. The judge initially imposed the asset separation requirement on March 27 following an antitrust challenge brought by satellite television provider DirecTV.
During Friday’s proceedings, Judge Nunley indicated he plans to modify certain aspects of the current order to address specific objections raised by Nexstar’s legal team. The extended timeline will allow the court additional time to evaluate whether the merger should face longer-term restrictions pending resolution of the underlying lawsuit.
Kuwaiti military officials announced Friday that Iran carried out strikes against multiple National Guard installations within the country, leaving several service members injured and causing extensive damage to the targeted sites.
The assault on the strategic military facilities represents a significant escalation in regional tensions, according to statements from Kuwait’s armed forces leadership.
President Donald Trump’s ambitious initiative to rebuild Gaza has encountered a severe financial obstacle, with sources revealing that his Board of Peace has collected less than $1 billion of the $17 billion promised by international donors.
The funding shortage has effectively halted Trump’s strategy for the devastated Palestinian territory’s reconstruction, according to Reuters sources familiar with the situation.
Just ten days prior to U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran that escalated regional tensions into full conflict, Trump organized a Washington conference where Gulf Arab nations committed billions toward Gaza’s governance and rebuilding efforts following two years of Israeli bombardment.
The reconstruction blueprint calls for extensive rebuilding of the coastal territory following the disarmament of Hamas, the Palestinian militant organization whose attacks on Israel sparked the Gaza offensive, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.
The promised financial contributions were also designated to support operations of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a U.S.-supported group of Palestinian technocrats designed to take governmental control from Hamas.
A source with direct access to the peace board’s operations revealed that among ten nations that made funding commitments, only three have actually delivered money: the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and the United States.
The Iran conflict “has affected everything,” the source explained, making existing funding challenges even worse.
Security concerns and insufficient funding have prevented NCAG from entering Gaza, the source noted. Despite a ceasefire agreement reached last October, Israeli military actions have resulted in at least 700 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza health officials, while militant attacks have claimed four Israeli soldiers’ lives.
A Palestinian official with knowledge of the situation said the board has notified Hamas and other Palestinian groups that NCAG cannot currently enter Gaza due to financial constraints.
“No money is currently available,” the official quoted board envoy Nickolay Mladenov as telling Palestinian organizations.
Hamas has consistently stated its willingness to transfer governance responsibilities to NCAG, which is headed by Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister with the Palestinian Authority that currently maintains limited self-governance in portions of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Shaath’s committee is intended to take charge of Gaza’s government ministries and oversee its police operations.
According to a diplomatic source, Shaath and his 14 committee members remain confined to a Cairo hotel under American and Egyptian supervision.
Neither the Board of Peace nor NCAG representatives provided immediate responses to requests for comment.
International organizations estimate that rehabilitating Gaza, where Israeli bombardments destroyed four-fifths of all buildings over two years, would require approximately $70 billion.
This struggling Gaza initiative mirrors other ambitious Trump projects, as the president has positioned himself as a global peacemaker while facing difficulties ending the Ukraine conflict as promised and watching this week’s Iran truce face immediate serious challenges.
Egypt, which has been facilitating disarmament negotiations, extended new meeting invitations to Hamas for Saturday, according to a source within the militant organization.
The ceasefire ended large-scale warfare but left Israeli forces controlling a depopulated area covering more than half of Gaza, while Hamas maintains power in a narrow coastal section.
Trump’s board has been directing negotiations with Hamas and other Palestinian factions regarding disarmament. Israel demands Hamas surrender its weapons before withdrawing troops from Gaza, while Hamas refuses compliance without guarantees of Israeli withdrawal and cessation of attacks in Gaza.
The diplomatic source familiar with disarmament discussions said negotiations remain stalled and expressed concern that Israel might seek justification to resume full-scale Gaza operations.
Israeli military leadership has indicated preparation for rapid return to comprehensive warfare if Hamas fails to surrender its weapons.
The Gaza conflict originated with Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel that resulted in 1,200 deaths according to Israeli records.
Israel’s subsequent two-year military campaign has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, according to Gaza health authorities, while causing widespread famine and displacing most of the territory’s population.
Motorists traveling on Bear Road southbound should expect lane restrictions today as construction crews work in the area between Reybold Drive and North DuPont Highway.
The Delaware Department of Transportation has temporarily shut down the right shoulder for ongoing construction activities. The closure began earlier today and is expected to last until 3:00 PM this afternoon.
Drivers are advised to use caution when traveling through the work zone and allow extra time for their commute. Traffic may experience delays during peak travel hours as vehicles merge away from the construction area.
Delaware State Police have taken two Felton residents into custody on multiple felony drug charges after a probation compliance check led to the discovery of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Eric Cane, 47, and Amber Knolls, 43, were both arrested during the April 6th operation at a Jessica Lane residence in Felton. The incident began around 10:00 p.m. when the Kent County Governor’s Task Force responded to assist Probation & Parole officers with a routine administrative check at Cane’s home.
Before conducting the search, investigators observed Cane engaged in what appeared to be a drug transaction with an unidentified individual outside the residence. When law enforcement approached, officers witnessed Cane toss a bag containing narcotics underneath a vehicle parked in the driveway.
Both suspects were taken into custody without resistance. The subsequent search of the individuals and property yielded approximately 13.54 grams of methamphetamine along with various drug-related equipment.
Cane faces multiple charges including Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Tier 2 Quantity (Felony), Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tier 2 Quantity (Felony), Tampering with Physical Evidence (Felony), Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was processed at Troop 3 and appeared before Justice of the Peace Court 2, where he received a $30,200 unsecured bond. However, he was sent to Sussex Correctional Institution due to probation violations.
Knolls was charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Tier 2 Quantity (Felony), Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tier 2 Quantity (Felony), Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. After being processed at Troop 3, she appeared before Justice of the Peace Court 11 and was committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on a $30,000 cash bond.
Dover Police Department has issued updated registry information for sex offenders residing within city limits, as required under state notification laws.
The department’s latest notifications include photographic identification and details for individuals required to register under Delaware’s sex offender registry requirements. Community members can view the complete notification materials through the police department’s official website.
Residents who have questions or concerns regarding these registry updates are encouraged to reach out directly to the Dover Police Sex Offender Enforcement Unit for assistance.
PHILADELPHIA — When Philadelphia Flyers supporter Mike Culin decided his struggling hockey team needed divine assistance, he abandoned conventional lucky charms for a celestial strategy: presenting Pope Leo XIV with a personalized Flyers uniform during a family vacation to Italy.
“I thought, what are you doing? That jersey is expensive,” recalled Culin’s spouse, Christine. “Do you honestly believe you’ll manage to reach the Pope and give him this? But he had confidence.”
Few have endured more heartbreak than Flyers supporters over the past fifty years, but Mike Culin never lost his belief, whether in hockey or in heaven.
When the opportunity arose, Culin prepared for the ultimate play — an attempt to somehow deliver the Flyers jersey bearing “Pope Leo” on the nameplate and number 14 (with respect to current No. 14 Sean Couturier) from Essington, Pennsylvania, to Vatican City and into the possession of the first American-born pope, a Chicago native and devoted sports enthusiast.
The Culin family, along with their son Jesse Gennett, his spouse, and her parents, embarked on an Italian journey that included securing a position for the papal gathering in St. Peter’s Square. The group assembled on March 18 with jersey ready, hoping to attract Leo’s notice as he passed in the popemobile.
“Our objective was simply getting him to notice it,” Gennett explained. “We figured we needed to position ourselves near the edge because that would give us the best opportunity for him to spot it. And he did notice it. He gestured toward it and gave what looked like a thumbs up. Everything happened incredibly quickly.”
Christine Culin raised the jersey by gripping both shoulders so the pope would see it, while her daughter-in-law requested the jersey for a better opportunity to hand it over as the popemobile drew near.
“For you! For you! For you! For you!” Gennett’s wife, Valerie Giacobbe, shouted toward the papal procession.
Indeed, a security officer grabbed the jersey and transferred it to someone who examined the uniform while seated in the vehicle behind Leo. The families cheered with excitement and captured additional photos when the popemobile paused so Leo could bless some infants.
“He might have looked right and completely missed it,” Mike Culin noted. “Instead he looked left and spotted the jersey.”
Culin’s hope centered as much on securing some heavenly assistance for the Flyers’ final games as it did on gifting Leo a jersey.
“He believed the Flyers required that support,” Gennett said. “And they absolutely did.”
With this ultimate advantage, the Flyers defeated Anaheim that evening to begin a three-game victory run, contributing to a 9-4 performance during that period to enter the Eastern Conference playoff race. The white smoke signaling a playoff position hasn’t yet emerged from their home venue: The Flyers maintain a slim one-point advantage for the final spot with three contests remaining.
Certain Flyers supporters attribute papal influence to the winning streak, while more skeptical fans believe it was actually an arrival from above that triggered the turnaround: Canadian teenager Porter Martone, who has scored one goal and earned four points in his initial five NHL appearances.
The papal footage gained social media attention when Chris Gennett, a musician and Jesse’s brother, shared the 60-second family video on TikTok.
The pope, formerly Robert Prevost, is a recognized sports enthusiast, particularly of the Chicago White Sox. He was present at the 2005 World Series opening game against Houston in Chicago and witnessed his favorite team defeat the Astros 5-3 en route to a four-game championship sweep and their first title since 1917.
But what would prompt him to acknowledge a Flyers jersey? He did study at Villanova University near Philadelphia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in 1977. Perhaps he attended some games at the former Spectrum and cheered for those combative Broad Street Bullies.
Culin mentioned he would have kept the jersey — a family friend hand-sewed the nameplate — as a novelty memento if Leo hadn’t noticed the gift.
Maybe during his private moments, Leo has tried on the size 52 jersey, just for enjoyment.
“He had to check if it fits, right?” Culin said with a chuckle.
A groundbreaking legal case in Scotland has resulted in an eight-year prison sentence for a man whose pattern of abuse led to his wife’s tragic death by suicide in July 2023.
Lee Milne, age 40, received the sentence Friday after being found guilty of culpable homicide and abusive behavior at Glasgow’s High Court. The case represents a historic first for Scottish courts, where prosecutors successfully convinced a jury that an abusive partner could be held criminally responsible when their victim dies by suicide.
Kimberley Milne, 28, ended her life by jumping from a bridge in Dundee on July 27, 2023. However, prosecutors argued that her husband’s systematic campaign of terror drove her to that fatal decision.
“Lee Milne physically and psychologically abused Kimberly,” stated Prosecutor Laura Buchan. “He deliberately and ruthlessly exploited Kimberly’s vulnerabilities, which makes him culpable for her decision to end her own life.”
During their year-and-a-half marriage, court evidence revealed a horrific pattern of control and violence. Lee Milne strangled his wife, struck her unconscious, confined her to their home without food, and systematically cut her off from family members and financial resources.
Judge Lorna Drummond emphasized the escalating nature of domestic violence during sentencing.
“Domestic abuse is rarely about one incident,” Judge Drummond explained. “It’s not only about violent acts, it includes more subtle, but nonetheless as harmful, exertions of power and control in a relationship. And it builds over time, each act, whether physical, psychological or financial, adds to the next. Increasing pressure and fear, eroding confidence and independence.”
Family members described Kimberley as a beloved daughter, sister and aunt whose loss has devastated them.
Text messages revealed the psychological grip Lee Milne maintained over his wife. When Kimberley’s sister urged her to leave the marriage four months before her death, Kimberley responded with fear.
“How can I leave him if he’s saying he’s gonna do himself in without me,” she wrote back.
Security footage from Kimberley’s final day captured disturbing scenes of continued intimidation. Despite their separation, the couple was together when Lee Milne deliberately drove his vehicle toward his wife in a parking lot, stopping just short of hitting her before repeating the threatening behavior.
Shortly afterward, Kimberley walked to a nearby bridge and jumped onto the highway below.
“By the jury’s verdict, you must bear responsibility not only for all of your abusive acts, but also for causing her death,” Judge Drummond told Lee Milne during sentencing.
MOSCOW — A military court in Moscow has handed down a 19-year prison sentence to Pavel Popov, who previously served as Russia’s deputy defense minister, following his conviction on corruption charges, Russian state media reported Friday.
Popov’s arrest in 2024 stemmed from illegal business dealings connected to a massive military-themed attraction in Moscow that some have nicknamed Russia’s “military Disneyland.”
The facility, known as Patriot Park, was a signature initiative of former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu aimed at fostering patriotic feelings among Russia’s youth through displays of Soviet and Russian military equipment. The complex includes shooting ranges, an airfield, multiple museums, a conference facility, and a large olive-colored Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces decorated with mosaics depicting Soviet and Russian military personnel.
According to the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin personally contributed funds for the church’s primary religious icon.
Court investigators determined that Popov, who oversaw Patriot Park’s construction and operations, illegally redirected more than 25 million rubles ($324,000) from the park’s budget to fund renovations on his private residences in the Moscow area, state news outlet Ria Novosti reported.
Popov maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, and his legal representative announced plans to challenge the ruling, state news agency TASS reported. The court also imposed an 85 million ruble ($1.1 million) fine.
Two additional defendants faced charges alongside Popov: the park’s director received a six-year sentence, while Maj. Gen Vladimir Shesterov, who worked in the Defense Ministry’s innovation division, was sentenced to five years behind bars.
This case represents part of a broader criminal investigation targeting more than a dozen officials connected to former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, all facing allegations of misconduct within Russia’s military hierarchy.
Popov held the deputy defense minister position from 2013 through June 2024, when President Putin removed him from office through an official decree.
PARIS (AP) — A charitable organization in France is conducting a unique fundraiser, giving participants the opportunity to own an authentic Pablo Picasso artwork for just 100 euros ($117) per entry, with all money raised benefiting Alzheimer’s disease research.
Christie’s auction house in Paris will host Tuesday’s drawing for the coveted prize.
This marks the third such lottery since the program began. The first “1 Picasso for 100 euros” drawing took place in 2013, when a Pennsylvania fire-sprinkler technician became the lucky winner of “Man in the Opera Hat,” a piece the renowned Spanish artist created in 1914 during his Cubist era.
A second artwork, the oil painting “Nature Morte,” was awarded through raffle in 2020 to Italian accountant Claudia Borgogno, whose son had purchased the winning ticket as her Christmas gift.
That 1921 still life was acquired for the raffle from art collector billionaire David Nahmad, who told the Associated Press in a rare interview that the famous artist would have supported making his works accessible through such means. Picasso passed away in 1973.
“Picasso was very generous. He gave paintings to his driver, his tailor,” Nahmad said. “He wanted his art to be collected by all kinds of people, not only by the super-rich.”
The current prize, a gouache on paper work called “Tête de Femme” (meaning “head of a woman”), was completed by Picasso in 1941.
The Alzheimer Research Foundation, which coordinates this charitable raffle, operates from one of Paris’ premier public medical facilities and claims to have become France’s top private funding source for Alzheimer’s medical studies since establishing operations in 2004.
Christie’s will display the artwork at its Paris location starting Monday, before conducting Tuesday’s 6 p.m. drawing.
According to the organizers’ digital sales system, ticket sales will be limited to 120,000 entries, potentially generating 12 million euros ($14 million) if completely sold out.
Of the total revenue, 1 million euros will go to Opera Gallery, the international art dealer that currently owns the painting.
The foundation reports that the two earlier Picasso raffles generated over 10 million euros combined for cultural initiatives in Lebanon and water and sanitation projects across Africa.
A Vietnamese national entered a guilty plea Friday in a Malaysian courtroom for illegally holding protected wildlife materials without proper permits, according to his legal representative.
Hoang Van Thai, age 39, faced charges for unlawfully possessing 1,022 python gallbladders and 191 python tongues from the python reticulatus species, which receives legal protection, at a location in Malaysia’s southern Johor state.
These python parts were discovered among a massive collection of illegal wildlife products during an April 4 enforcement operation conducted by Malaysia’s Wildlife Department, which valued the entire seizure at approximately 37 million ringgit ($9.3 million). The confiscated materials included various python organs, bear bile, suspected tiger body parts, primate remains, and reproductive organs believed connected to global illegal wildlife trafficking operations.
Malaysia serves as a significant center for unlawful wildlife commerce, functioning as both an origin point and transfer location for smuggled species, fueled by consumer demand for exotic creatures and their body parts.
Authorities have not explained why Hoang received charges only related to the python materials. Some people believe python bile from gallbladders possesses healing qualities, while tongues are utilized in traditional ceremonies or consumed as aphrodisiacs.
Defense attorney Mohamad Fazaly Ali Mohamad Ghazaly stated he challenged the wildlife department’s price assessment in court due to insufficient supporting documentation. He explained that Hoang arrived in Malaysia last November and worked as a driver, while his two children attended school in the country.
Hoang awaits sentencing and could receive up to three years imprisonment, monetary penalties, or both punishments. The court plans to confirm his immigration standing on April 20 before deciding on bail. Government prosecutors opposed releasing him on bail, arguing the substantial quantity of confiscated items indicates organized criminal activity.
Vincent Chow, an adviser with the Johor Malaysia Nature Society, told The Star English-language newspaper that Hoang likely served as a storage operator for a broader criminal organization.
“The majority of the confiscated wildlife materials had undergone processing and some were already packaged, apparently awaiting shipment to either domestic or overseas markets,” he stated.
BUDAPEST, April 10 (Reuters) – For the first time since taking office, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Fidesz political party are encountering serious electoral competition in the April 12 vote, breaking a pattern of overwhelming victories that began in 2010.
Throughout his decade-and-a-half tenure, Orban has drawn condemnation from the international community regarding democratic institutions, press liberty, and LGBTQ rights.
Here’s an examination of his signature policy initiatives.
INSTITUTIONAL CONTROLS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES
Leveraging a commanding two-thirds parliamentary majority, Orban implemented a new constitution in 2011 and restructured hundreds of existing laws.
In Fidesz’s initial term, the party forced hundreds of judicial officials into retirement through legislation that European Union officials determined violated EU standards. Hungary’s Constitutional Court subsequently invalidated portions of that legal framework.
Opposition voices argue that revised voting regulations have solidified Fidesz’s dominance by benefiting major parties, restructuring voting districts, and extending voting privileges to ethnic Hungarians throughout central Europe, who predominantly back Orban.
Individuals loyal to Orban occupy leadership roles in critical government institutions.
Beginning in 2022, he has regularly ruled through executive orders, utilizing emergency powers established following Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
His administration has targeted certain non-governmental organizations and imposed stricter oversight on educational institutions. Consequently, the Open Society Foundations, established by Hungarian-born billionaire George Soros, closed its Budapest headquarters in 2018 and relocated to Berlin, while Central European University, a prominent liberal institution also created by Soros, transferred operations to Vienna in 2019.
Orban dismisses claims of weakening democratic governance, asserting that voters provided clear authorization to restructure existing laws.
CONSERVATIVE RIGHTWING AGENDA
Orban has positioned himself as a guardian of Hungarian cultural heritage against Muslim immigration and as a champion of Christian principles against what he terms “gender and LGBT ideology” and Western liberal thought.
His administration has constitutionally redefined marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman, while restricting gay adoption and transgender rights.
In March 2025, parliament enacted legislation providing legal grounds for police to prohibit Pride demonstrations, contending they could endanger children and that child protection should override assembly rights.
Hungary constructed border barriers along its southern frontier following the 2015 migration crisis and established some of Europe’s most restrictive asylum policies. Rather than accepting immigration as a solution to Hungary’s population decline, Orban has attempted to increase birth rates through substantial family tax benefits.
MEDIA OVERSIGHT
Orban has restructured Hungary’s media environment, prompting accusations from the European Union and democracy advocates that press freedoms are being restricted, allegations his government refutes.
His administration has strengthened control over state media, including broadcasting outlets, converting them into government propaganda tools, according to critics.
Government advertising funds directed to pro-administration media have encouraged favorable coverage in private outlets, while numerous other publications have been closed or acquired by government-aligned owners.
EASTERN AND WESTERN RELATIONS
During Orban’s leadership, the EU and NATO member has pursued an “Eastern opening” toward Russia and China, encouraging business investment from those nations – alongside German automotive manufacturers – while advocating for Moscow’s positions within the EU.
Orban denounced Russia’s 2022 war against Ukraine and criticized but supported EU sanctions targeting Moscow. However, he firmly opposes prohibiting Russian energy imports, claiming such action would devastate Hungary’s economy.
Relations between Hungary and Ukraine have deteriorated over multiple issues including energy deliveries, and Hungary has prevented a 90 billion euro European Union loan to Ukraine.
ECONOMIC POLICIES
Hungary completed repayment of all outstanding International Monetary Fund debt in 2013 following a bailout during the global financial crisis, and its debt achieved investment grade rating three years afterward.
Orban’s government controlled fiscal deficits and public debt until the coronavirus pandemic reversed this progress. Recently, the government increased its budget deficit projections to 5% for 2025 and 2026 to accommodate pre-election expenditures.
Europe’s steepest banking tax, nationalization of certain private pension funds, and taxes on telecommunications, energy, and retail companies – primarily foreign-owned – strengthened government revenues but created conflicts with Brussels.
As businesspeople and oligarchs connected to Fidesz have acquired substantial portions of these strategic industries, Hungarian ownership has expanded, with Orban stating earlier this year that banking, media, and energy sectors had achieved majority Hungarian ownership.
The economy has remained stagnant for three years.
An activist hedge fund is mounting a challenge against WEX’s leadership, seeking to remove CEO Melissa Smith from the company’s board of directors during the upcoming shareholder meeting scheduled for May 5th.
Impactive Capital, which holds approximately 5% of WEX shares, is calling on other investors to vote out Smith from her board position while allowing her to continue as chief executive. The hedge fund wants to separate the dual roles of CEO and board chair that Smith currently holds, according to sources familiar with the matter and internal documents.
The investment firm is targeting three board members total, including Smith, Stephen Smith, and Nancy Altobello. Impactive argues that Stephen Smith bears responsibility for increasing executive pay packages, while it faults Altobello for permitting the CEO to maintain her board chairmanship despite what the fund considers underwhelming performance.
Impactive’s criticism centers on WEX’s stock performance since Smith assumed the board chair role in September 2019. The hedge fund contends that shares have underperformed against key rivals Corpay and HealthEquity, as well as the broader S&P Mid-Cap Index during this timeframe.
The company’s market capitalization, currently valued at $5.5 billion, has dropped by half since 2019, resulting in $3.4 billion in lost shareholder value, according to Impactive’s analysis. However, WEX stock has gained 28% over the past year.
WEX operates primarily in fleet management services, corporate payment solutions, and employee benefit programs. The company previously indicated it has reviewed Impactive’s suggestions regarding strategic direction, capital distribution, and board makeup.
A WEX spokesperson did not provide immediate comment when contacted.
The activist investor is proposing three replacement candidates: technology and payments specialist Kurt Adams, financial services veteran Ellen Alemany, and Lauren Taylor Wolfe, who co-founded Impactive Capital.
This proxy battle has been developing for months and is anticipated to be among this year’s most contentious shareholder disputes. Impactive points to declining confidence in Smith’s leadership, noting that she received support from only 64.3% of shareholders in the most recent vote, a significant drop from the 97.7% backing she received in 2024.
WEX operates WEX Bank, a Utah-chartered industrial bank, which subjects the company to oversight by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Utah’s Department of Financial Institutions. Last month, WEX suggested in regulatory documents that Impactive might face regulatory hurdles related to FDIC and state requirements for proxy contests.
However, Impactive states it has addressed regulators’ questions and has not received additional inquiries from either oversight body.
MOSCOW – A Moscow court ruled Friday that investigative reporter Oleg Roldugin must stay in jail until May 10 while he awaits trial on charges related to the alleged improper handling of personal information.
Roldugin, who works for the independent Russian publication Novaya Gazeta, was arrested Thursday after authorities conducted a search of his residence. The detention came as masked security officers also raided the newsroom of Novaya Gazeta, which ranks among Russia’s most prominent investigative news organizations.
The charges against Roldugin center on accusations that he misused personal data, though specific details about the alleged violations have not been disclosed.
WASHINGTON – Federal data released Friday shows that manufacturing orders across the United States held steady in February, marking the second month in a row without change.
The Commerce Department’s Census Bureau reported the flat performance exceeded analyst predictions, which had forecast a 0.2% drop. When compared to the same period last year, orders climbed 3.7%.
Data releases continue to lag behind schedule due to disruptions from the previous year’s federal government shutdown, according to the Census Bureau.
The manufacturing sector, representing just over 10% of the nation’s economic output, had been showing recovery signals after taking hits from extensive trade tariffs implemented under former President Trump’s administration. However, escalating oil costs – up more than 30% due to Middle East conflicts involving the U.S. and Israel against Iran – threaten to slow this rebound.
Aircraft orders for commercial use dropped sharply by 28.6%. Meanwhile, several industries posted gains, including computer and electronic equipment, industrial machinery, basic metals, and metal fabrication.
The Census Bureau also revised upward its figures for non-defense capital equipment orders excluding aircraft – considered an indicator of corporate investment intentions. These orders actually grew 0.7% in February, higher than the 0.6% initially reported earlier this week.
Deliveries of these core capital goods also received an upward revision, rising 1.0% rather than the previously stated 0.9%.
Defense contractor Lockheed Martin announced Friday it has been awarded a massive $4.7 billion preliminary contract by the federal government to accelerate manufacturing of Patriot interceptor missiles.
The agreement covers production of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) and builds on a seven-year deal with the Defense Department aimed at more than tripling yearly output as nations face rising global security threats.
President Trump has directed the Defense Department to rebrand as the Department of War, though such a change would need Congressional approval.
The PAC-3 MSE serves as the Army’s main high-to-medium altitude interceptor technology and represents a cornerstone of American and allied air defense capabilities.
Current stockpiles of the PAC-3 MSE face significant strain following extensive deployment in the Gulf region to counter Iranian attacks, while Ukraine depends on these systems to protect critical energy facilities and military sites from ballistic missile threats. The manufacturing increase is not expected to alleviate supply shortages within the current year.
The State Department gave approval earlier this year for a potential $9 billion sale of PAC-3 MSE systems and associated equipment to Saudi Arabia.
A traffic accident has resulted in lane closures on southbound Concord Pike at Independence Mall, creating potential delays for evening commuters.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials report that the two rightmost lanes are currently blocked due to the vehicle crash. The incident is impacting traffic flow in the area as emergency responders work to clear the scene.
Drivers traveling through the area should anticipate slower than normal traffic conditions and may want to seek alternative routes until the roadway fully reopens.
No additional details about the crash or any potential injuries have been released at this time.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President JD Vance issued a stern warning to Iran on Friday as he departed for overseas peace negotiations, cautioning the nation against attempting to “play” the United States during upcoming talks.
President Donald Trump has assigned his vice president—who has appeared most hesitant about the six-week conflict with Iran—to seek a diplomatic solution and prevent Trump’s dramatic threat to destroy Iran’s “whole civilization” from becoming reality.
The vice president, known for his skepticism toward foreign military interventions and opposition to open-ended troop deployments, departed Friday to oversee mediated discussions with Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital. Before boarding Air Force Two, Vance expressed optimism about the upcoming negotiations, stating, “We’re looking forward to the negotiation. I think it’s gonna be positive. We’ll of course see.”
Referencing Trump’s position, Vance explained, “If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand.” However, he cautioned, “If they’re gonna try and play us, then they’re gonna find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.”
The vice president mentioned that Trump “gave us some pretty clear guidelines” for conducting the talks but declined to provide specifics. He avoided answering questions from accompanying reporters.
This diplomatic mission occurs while a fragile temporary ceasefire teeters on the edge of failure. The gap between Iran’s public positions and demands from the U.S. and Israel appears impossible to bridge. Domestically, where Vance may seek the presidency in two years, mounting political and economic pressure exists to conclude the conflict.
Accompanying Vance are Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, both of whom participated in three previous rounds of indirect negotiations with Iranian representatives. Those earlier talks focused on addressing U.S. concerns regarding Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and its backing of armed proxy organizations throughout the Middle East, occurring before Trump and Israel initiated the February 28 war against Iran.
The White House has released minimal information about the negotiation format—whether discussions will be direct or indirect—and has not outlined specific goals for the meetings.
Vance’s participation represents an uncommon instance of senior-level U.S. government interaction with Iranian leadership. The most significant direct communication since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution occurred when President Barack Obama telephoned newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in September 2013 regarding Iran’s nuclear activities.
Disagreements over ceasefire conditions emerged almost immediately after the White House and Iran announced the temporary truce Tuesday evening.
Iran maintains that ending Israel’s war in Lebanon forms part of the ceasefire agreement. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump have stated the truce excludes Lebanon, allowing Israeli operations there to continue.
The United States has insisted Iran must fulfill its commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Republic had blocked this vital shipping corridor following Israel’s escalated attacks against the Hezbollah militant organization in Lebanon.
Trump criticized Iran’s performance Thursday, claiming the country was “doing a very poor job” of permitting oil tanker passage. He wrote on social media, “That is not the agreement we have!”
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated that Vance, Witkoff, Kushner and Secretary of State Marco Rubio “have always been collaborating on these discussions.” She said Trump remains confident a permanent agreement can be achieved during the two-week ceasefire period. “President Trump has a proven track record of achieving good deals on behalf of the United States and the American people, and he will only accept one that puts America first,” Kelly commented.
This represents the most critical moment yet for Vance, who maintained a relatively low profile during much of last year in the Trump White House, particularly as figures like Elon Musk and Rubio became prominent presidential advisers.
Vance’s responsibilities are expanding rapidly, beginning with a domestic mission to eliminate fraud in government programs and now extending to helping resolve a U.S. military conflict in the complex Middle East.
Despite serving in the Iraq War as a Marine, spending two years as an Ohio U.S. senator, and slightly over one year as vice president, Vance possesses limited diplomatic experience.
On Wednesday, he rejected suggestions that Iran specifically requested his involvement in the talks, telling reporters: “I don’t know that. I would be surprised if that was true. But, you know, I wanted to be involved because I thought I could make a difference.”
Jonathan Schanzer, former Treasury Department official and current executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a hawkish Washington think tank, described Vance as an intriguing choice to lead the delegation given his limited Iran policy experience.
Trump has acknowledged his vice president was “less enthusiastic” than other senior Republican administration officials, making Vance a compelling negotiator for Iran, according to Schanzer.
“I think they probably prefer him knowing that his perspective on foreign intervention is one of skepticism,” Schanzer said regarding Iranian preferences. “I do think that he’s going to need some help. I don’t think he’s ever been engaged in negotiations with this kind of weight, this kind of seriousness. This is as serious as it gets.”
The White House has disputed characterizations that Iran requested Vance’s participation, describing such claims as attempts to undermine negotiations.
While the White House has not identified other talk participants beyond Vance, Witkoff and Kushner, Kelly confirmed that officials from the National Security Council, State Department and Pentagon “will also play a supportive role.”
During preliminary indirect nuclear negotiations with Iran before the war, Democrats and nuclear experts questioned whether Kushner and Witkoff possessed sufficient technical expertise. The White House has not disclosed whether the pair, whom Trump has entrusted with challenging negotiations since returning to office, had nuclear specialists available during those discussions.
Vice presidents commonly assume significant negotiating responsibilities for presidents, according to Joel Goldstein, a Saint Louis University law professor specializing in vice presidential history.
However, he noted, “I don’t recall a situation where a vice president has been sent to negotiate a ceasefire or peace in connection with a war the United States was involved with.”
Vance and Rubio are considered the Republican Party’s leading potential 2028 presidential candidates, though neither has clearly indicated campaign intentions.
According to a person familiar with internal discussions who requested anonymity, Vance’s team is not approaching these negotiations with future political considerations in mind.
As vice president, Vance would naturally inherit any administration baggage if he eventually seeks the presidency, Goldstein explained. However, leading these negotiations further connects him to the conflict’s outcome.
“The fact that he’s involved in the negotiations in a very visible way, that means that, if things go south, that people will be pointing fingers at him,” Goldstein observed.
Simultaneously, Goldstein added, “If things go well, then it will be something that he could point to.”
Motorists traveling along US 113 are encountering periodic lane restrictions at the Shortly Road intersection as construction crews continue their work in the area.
According to DelDOT traffic reports, drivers should expect intermittent lane closures at this location throughout the day. The construction-related traffic disruptions are expected to remain in effect until 6 PM this evening.
Commuters are advised to plan for potential delays and consider alternate routes if possible while crews complete their work at this intersection.
A former major championship winner found himself banned from Augusta National Golf Club this week after breaking the venue’s well-known cell phone restrictions, according to reports from Golfweek.
Mark Calcavecchia, who captured the 1989 British Open title at Royal Troon, was removed from the golf course Wednesday, just one day before the Masters Tournament began. The 65-year-old golfer had been invited to attend as an honorary guest.
When contacted by Golfweek about the incident, Calcavecchia declined to elaborate on what happened.
“I’ve got nothing negative to say about Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, so I think we should literally hang up right now,” Calcavecchia told the publication before terminating the conversation.
Neither Augusta National officials nor Calcavecchia’s representative provided immediate confirmation when Reuters reached out for comment via email.
Throughout his career, Calcavecchia secured 13 victories on the PGA Tour and participated in the Masters Tournament on 18 occasions. His strongest showing at Augusta came in 1988, when he placed second behind Britain’s Sandy Lyle.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court delivered a significant ruling Friday, determining that Meta Platforms cannot escape a lawsuit brought by the state’s attorney general over claims the company intentionally created addictive features targeting young users on Facebook and Instagram.
This landmark decision represents the first instance where a state’s highest court has examined whether federal legislation protecting internet companies from user-generated content lawsuits would also shield them from accusations of deliberately creating addiction among minors.
Meta has rejected these accusations and maintains the company implements comprehensive measures to protect teenagers and young people using its social media platforms.
The court’s ruling follows significant legal developments, including a Los Angeles jury’s March 25 verdict finding both Meta and Google’s parent company Alphabet liable for creating social media platforms that harm young users. That case resulted in a $6 million award to a 20-year-old woman who claimed childhood social media addiction.
One day before that verdict, another jury determined Meta owed $375 million in civil penalties in a New Mexico attorney general’s lawsuit alleging the company misled users about platform safety and allowed child sexual exploitation on Facebook and Instagram.
Thirty-four additional states are pursuing comparable federal court cases against Meta. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, a Democrat, filed her state court case as part of at least nine similar lawsuits state attorneys general have initiated since 2023, including one filed Wednesday by Iowa’s Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird.
Campbell’s legal action initially attracted attention due to allegations about CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s dismissive attitude toward concerns about Instagram’s potentially harmful effects on users.
The lawsuit claimed Instagram features including push notifications, post “likes,” and endless scrolling were specifically engineered to exploit teenagers’ psychological weaknesses and capitalize on their “fear of missing out.”
State officials alleged that internal company data demonstrated the platform was causing addiction and harm to children, while senior executives refused to implement changes that research indicated would benefit teen users’ mental health.
The California-based Meta attempted to dismiss the Massachusetts lawsuit by invoking Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, federal legislation that broadly protects internet companies from lawsuits related to user-posted content.
Massachusetts argued Section 230 doesn’t cover what the state characterized as Meta’s false statements regarding Instagram’s safety, the company’s youth protection efforts, or its age-verification systems designed to keep children under 13 off the platform.
A lower court judge supported this position, ruling the law also didn’t apply to allegations about Instagram’s harmful design features because the state was “principally seeking to hold Meta liable for its own business conduct,” rather than third-party content.
Swiss private banking institution Julius Baer has launched a hunt for a new chief financial officer, completing a sweeping transformation of its executive leadership following substantial losses from high-risk lending practices.
The financial institution verified the executive search through an official statement after the news broke. Chief Financial Officer Evie Kostakis will depart her position to take on another international executive role following a structured handover process anticipated for the latter half of the year, according to the bank. Kostakis declined to respond to requests for comment.
Kostakis assumed the CFO position in 2022, becoming the most senior remaining member of a leadership team that has experienced dramatic turnover during the past two years as the Swiss institution began disclosing a series of devastating losses and asset writedowns.
According to insider information, the search for a replacement CFO has been underway for multiple weeks.
Julius Baer’s annual financial reports for 2022 and 2023 indicated that the CFO held responsibility for supervising credit risk management during what ultimately became a turbulent period for the institution.
Difficulties started surfacing in late 2023 when Julius Baer became entangled in the aftermath of Austrian real estate mogul Rene Benko’s Signa empire collapse, resulting in the bank recording loan losses totaling 586 million Swiss francs ($742 million) in early 2024.
The bank remains subject to an enforcement review by Swiss financial market supervisor FINMA regarding the Signa losses, which prevents it from declaring new share repurchase programs.
When announcing those writedowns, the institution dismissed CEO Philipp Rickenbacher, bringing in external candidate Stefan Bollinger, a former Goldman Sachs executive who assumed control in January 2025.
Long-serving chairman Romeo Lacher became the next executive to exit, with his departure announced shortly after Bollinger’s arrival. Former HSBC chief Noel Quinn was named as the new chairman.
Subsequently, in May 2025, the bank announced that chief risk officer Oliver Bartholet would retire as it disclosed a 130 million franc credit charge following a comprehensive review of its lending portfolio.
In November, the institution reported additional losses of 149 million francs, marking down loan positions within its property portfolio that it stated were no longer aligned with corporate strategy.
NEW YORK, April 10 – American consumers faced higher prices in March as inflation accelerated to 3.3% compared to the same period last year, according to federal data released Friday. This marks the initial economic measurement capturing price effects from the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military conflict with Iran.
The Consumer Price Index increase aligned with forecasts from financial analysts surveyed by Reuters, though it represented a notable jump from February’s 2.4% annual rate. Monthly price growth reached 0.9% between February and March, matching predictions after the previous month’s 0.3% increase.
Core inflation, which strips out unpredictable food and energy costs, performed better than anticipated. It climbed just 0.2% monthly, below the projected 0.3%, and reached 2.6% annually, also under estimates.
Financial markets watched Friday’s inflation data closely since it represents the first official glimpse of how the military conflict has affected American prices. The war has pushed crude oil costs significantly higher and raised investor concerns about future inflation trends.
Stock markets showed mixed responses following the report’s release. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.2% while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.4%. Treasury bond yields edged higher, with the benchmark 10-year note yield increasing one basis point to 4.30%. The dollar weakened, with the dollar index falling 0.2% to 98.6.
Peter Cardillo, Chief Market Economist at Spartan Capital Securities in New York, focused on the core inflation figure. “The key here is the core rate, which actually came in a little bit lower than we were looking for. The top line was hotter than we were looking for and on a yearly basis,” Cardillo explained.
He cautioned that current numbers don’t capture the complete energy crisis impact. “So, while these numbers are not overly worrisome at this time, they do not include the full effects of the energy crisis,” Cardillo said. “Moving forward, obviously we should expect more increases in inflation, but the key is the core rate which was cooler than expected suggests that energy prices eventually will work their way into the system, and they’ll show up later on. But for now, inflation remains elevated and sticky.”
Alexandra Wilson-Elizondo, Global Co-CIO of Multi-Asset Solutions at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, viewed the data as temporary relief. “The market was braced for a hot print, so today’s inline number is a slight relief. However, it may be the best headline inflation number we see for a while as it may only partially capture the full force of the Iran conflict, which sent U.S. crude and U.S. gas up 70% at peak,” she stated.
Wilson-Elizondo noted broader economic pressures ahead. “With input costs globally surging to their highest levels since Covid, the next print may tell a different story, at least at the headline level. That said, the U.S. economy is far less oil-intensive than it was in the 1970s, and a 10% sustained rise in oil adds only about 5 basis points to core.”
She expressed confidence in Federal Reserve policy flexibility. “Wage growth has decelerated to levels consistent with the inflation target, and long-term inflation expectations remain anchored. We believe the Fed will look through the energy-driven noise so long as these factors hold. The Fed has room to be patient, and every reason to do so. Today’s number buys the Fed time, but the real test lies ahead.”
Marc Chandler, Chief Market Strategist at Bannockburn Global Forex, didn’t expect immediate Federal Reserve policy changes. “I think that the bar to a Fed change later this month is very high, and the CPI was largely in line with expectations,” he commented.
Brian Jacobsen, Chief Economist at Annex Wealth Management in Wisconsin, expressed surprise at gasoline price effects. “Although I was braced for a jump in the headline CPI number due to higher gasoline prices, it was still startling to see it in print. There are no signs, yet, that high energy prices are seeping into core inflation. That could be a process that plays out over time as companies absorb the brunt of the blow, at least initially. Perversely, consumers cutting back on other discretionary items could push core inflation lower instead of higher,” Jacobsen observed.
Worcester County officials are alerting drivers about upcoming traffic disruptions scheduled for next week.
A partial lane closure will affect Golf Course Road, which runs along the southern side of US Route 50, on April 15th. The restriction will limit traffic flow in the area throughout the day.
Drivers who regularly use this route should plan for potential delays and consider alternate routes during the closure period. The county has not specified the duration of the closure or the reason for the traffic restriction.
Motorists are advised to exercise caution when traveling through the work zone and allow extra time for their commute.
Drivers should expect delays on Kent Avenue at the intersection with Garfield Parkway, also known as Route 26, where construction activities have forced the closure of the right turn lane.
According to DelDOT officials, the lane restriction will remain in place until 4 PM today as crews complete necessary roadwork in the area.
Motorists are advised to plan alternate routes or allow extra travel time when navigating through this intersection during the closure period.
WASHINGTON — A dramatic surge in gasoline costs triggered the most significant inflation increase in almost four years during March, presenting new obstacles for Federal Reserve policymakers and creating political headaches for the current administration as Americans face higher living expenses.
The Labor Department reported Friday that consumer prices climbed 3.3% in March compared to the same month last year, a notable jump from February’s 2.4% rate and the highest annual increase recorded since May 2024. Month-to-month, prices advanced 0.9% from February to March, representing the steepest such rise in nearly four years.
This marks the initial inflation data reflecting the economic impact of the Iran conflict.
When removing fluctuating food and energy costs, core inflation increased 2.6% annually in March, rising from February’s 2.5%. However, core prices grew just 0.2% for the month, indicating that escalating fuel costs haven’t yet affected numerous other sectors.
The petroleum price surge resulting from the Iran conflict has altered inflation’s path, transforming a steady, gradual decrease into a sharp upturn that moves further from the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal. Consequently, the central bank will likely delay any interest rate reductions for several months, with many Fed officials indicating rate increases might be necessary if inflation fails to moderate. Gasoline costs remain highly visible expenses that significantly influence consumer confidence and political opinions.
Rising fuel expenses reduce consumers’ purchasing power for other products and services, potentially slowing economic expansion. In the immediate term, most Americans have limited options to modify their driving patterns, which depend largely on residential, shopping, and employment locations. Therefore, most individuals will absorb higher gasoline costs and possibly reduce spending elsewhere.
Gasoline averaged $4.15 per gallon nationally on Friday, climbing from $2.98 the day before hostilities commenced, according to AAA data.
The crucial question for consumers and the economy involves whether the oil and gas price surge will generate sustained, widespread inflation pressure, resembling events following the pandemic in 2021-2022. Inflation peaked at 9.1% in June 2022, as COVID-19 disrupted supply networks and multiple stimulus payments boosted consumer demand. Costs skyrocketed for food, furniture, dining, and numerous other products and services.
Currently, economists note that employment markets and consumer spending show less strength, with no substantial government stimulus payments being distributed to stimulate demand. While unemployment remains low at 4.3%, companies aren’t urgently hiring as they did when the economy recovered from the pandemic, which prompted many businesses to offer significant wage increases to attract and retain employees.
Quick salary improvements and steady income growth helped consumers manage higher costs resulting from pandemic supply chain problems, and fueled demand spikes that encouraged many companies to increase prices further.
“That’s where this really differs, is that we aren’t seeing anywhere near the strength of demand,” said Alan Detmeister, a UBS economist. During 2021 and 2022, income growth “was increasing really strongly. We aren’t seeing that now,” he explained.
Detmeister believes a more accurate comparison might be 1990-91, when elevated oil and gas prices from Iraq’s Kuwait invasion contributed to recession but didn’t trigger inflation increases, partly due to reduced consumer spending.
The fuel price spike’s inflation impact resembles President Donald Trump’s tariffs in some respects, as effects will depend mainly on the magnitude and length of increases.
For the present, economists anticipate March and April impacts will primarily affect energy-dependent sectors like airlines, shipping companies, and mass transit. Overall, the American economy relies much less on oil and gas than in previous decades.
Nevertheless, the substantial inflation jump — almost certain to persist for several months — has already changed Federal Reserve discussions. The central bank started the year expecting to reduce its benchmark interest rate at least twice. However, increasing numbers of Fed officials now consider raising rates if core inflation doesn’t decline meaningfully.
Most officials will likely support maintaining the Fed’s key rate unchanged in coming months at approximately 3.6% while evaluating economic developments. Investors currently don’t anticipate Fed rate cuts until late 2027.
Elevated gasoline prices present Fed challenges because they can also slow growth by reducing consumer spending, potentially causing job losses. The Fed typically lowers rates to encourage spending when unemployment increases, while raising rates to fight inflation.
Costlier oil and gas will probably increase grocery prices, creating additional hardship for consumers who have already experienced roughly 25% higher food costs since the pandemic. Nearly all groceries arrive via diesel-powered trucks, and diesel prices have risen more than regular gasoline. Still, analysts don’t expect food price acceleration for another month or two.
Motorists in New Castle County should expect delays on West Newport Pike this afternoon as construction crews have shut down the right lane of westbound traffic.
The lane restriction affects the stretch of roadway between Stanton Road and Petro Drive, according to Delaware Department of Transportation officials.
The construction-related closure is expected to be lifted by 3:30 PM today. Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when passing through the work zone.
Cloud computing provider CoreWeave announced Friday a new multi-year partnership with artificial intelligence company Anthropic, boosting the firm’s stock price by more than 5% during early trading sessions.
The agreement will provide Anthropic with essential computing infrastructure to support its Claude AI model operations, with services expected to launch later this year. Financial details of the contract remain undisclosed.
Company officials said the collaboration will begin with a gradual infrastructure deployment, leaving room for potential expansion down the road.
This latest partnership adds to CoreWeave’s growing portfolio of high-profile clients, reflecting increased demand for computing resources needed to develop and operate artificial intelligence systems. The company secured an $11.9 billion agreement with OpenAI in 2023, followed by a $6.3 billion initial contract with Nvidia last September, and expanded its Meta partnership to $21 billion just this week.
The Anthropic agreement helps CoreWeave reduce its dependence on Microsoft, which represented approximately 67% of the company’s revenue in the previous year. Meta has also emerged as one of its major clients.
CoreWeave operates as a specialized cloud provider, offering hardware and computing services to technology companies. Its strong relationship with Nvidia has positioned the firm as a crucial supplier of advanced AI processing chips that major tech corporations need for their operations.
Despite concerns about the company’s rising capital expenditures and project backlogs affecting investor confidence, CoreWeave’s stock has gained nearly 29% year-to-date.
ABUJA, Nigeria — A high-ranking military officer and multiple troops lost their lives Thursday morning when militants launched an unsuccessful raid on a Nigerian army installation in the country’s northeast region, according to military officials.
The deadly confrontation took place at a base in Benisheikh, located in Borno State, military spokesperson Michael Onoja confirmed. Despite the casualties, Nigerian forces successfully fought off the attackers.
Military officials characterized the attackers as “terrorists,” the standard designation used by Nigeria’s armed forces when referring to Islamic extremist organizations operating throughout the northeastern region.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu acknowledged the death of a general during the raid and praised the fallen soldiers’ sacrifice.
“The insurgents’ counterattack is a sign of desperation,” he said in a statement. “I extend my condolences to the families of our gallant soldiers, led by Brigadier General Oseni Omoh Braimah, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our country today in Borno State. The government will never forget their sacrifices.”
“Their sacrifices will not be in vain,” Tinubu said. “Because of the courage and dedication of our troops on the front line, our resolve to defeat terrorism and all forms of violence across Nigeria is stronger than ever.”
Army spokesman Onoja declined to provide specific casualty figures from the latest assault on military installations.
“This attack is a clear indication of the desperation of terrorist elements who, having suffered significant losses in recent operations, continue to resort to futile and ill-fated offensives against well-defended military positions,” he said. “Regrettably, the encounter resulted in the loss of a few brave and gallant soldiers who paid the supreme price in the line of duty.”
The West African nation, home to Africa’s largest population, continues wrestling with widespread security challenges, particularly across northern regions where a decade-long insurgency persists alongside numerous armed organizations conducting kidnapping operations for financial gain.
The most notable Islamic extremist organizations include Boko Haram and a splinter group connected to the Islamic State, called Islamic State West Africa Province. Additionally, the IS-connected Lakurawa organization operates in northwestern communities along the border with Niger Republic.
Security conditions have deteriorated further with the involvement of additional militant groups from the broader Sahel region, including Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, which conducted its inaugural attack within Nigerian territory last year.
The United States deployed 200 military personnel and drone aircraft to Nigeria earlier this year to support Nigerian forces in combating extremist groups. American military officials emphasized that U.S. troops would not participate in direct combat operations or assume operational leadership roles, maintaining Nigerian command authority throughout all missions.
This military cooperation represents part of an expanded security alliance established after U.S. President Donald Trump raised concerns about attacks targeting Christians within Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis. American forces conducted airstrikes against Islamic State positions on December 26.
United Nations data indicates that thousands of Nigerian civilians have perished in the violence. Security analysts argue that government efforts remain insufficient to adequately protect the population from ongoing threats.
