The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks golf squad wrapped up their participation in the Battle at Rum Pointe tournament with a ninth-place team showing.
Leading the charge for the Hawks was golfer Osten, who turned in an impressive individual performance to land among the top 15 competitors in the field.
The tournament results represent a solid outing for the UMES golf program as they continue their competitive season.
NEW YORK – The head of the New York Federal Reserve expressed confidence Monday that current interest rate policies can effectively navigate the economic turbulence stemming from Middle East conflicts, even as he warned of likely inflation increases ahead.
John Williams, who leads the New York Fed and serves as vice chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, addressed these concerns during remarks prepared for the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation.
“This is an unusual set of circumstances,” Williams stated. “But the current stance of monetary policy is well positioned to balance the risks to our maximum employment and price stability goals.”
The Fed official highlighted how Middle East warfare “could result in a large supply shock with pronounced effects that simultaneously raises inflation — through a surge in intermediate costs and commodity prices — and dampens economic activity,” noting “this has begun to play out already.” He also pointed to emerging disruptions in supply chains.
Despite acknowledging “high” uncertainty around inflation projections, Williams predicted that “the significant increase in energy prices resulting from developments in the Middle East will likely boost overall inflation in coming months.” However, he suggested some relief could come later this year if oil prices decline when hostilities end.
Williams stopped short of indicating any immediate need for monetary policy adjustments.
The ongoing conflict, which began with coordinated U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran, has presented significant hurdles for Federal Reserve officials. The most immediate economic consequences have appeared through substantial energy price increases, particularly after Iran blocked maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Rising energy costs pose a threat to overall inflation rates, which the Fed might typically overlook provided the increases don’t spread to core price pressures and long-term inflation expectations. However, higher energy expenses also risk constraining economic growth as household budgets face increased energy costs.
This dynamic has created a difficult position for the Fed, making it harder for officials to provide clear guidance about future monetary policy direction. Earlier Monday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell emphasized the need for careful approaches given current economic conditions.
“We’re facing events in the Middle East which will certainly affect gas prices, and we’re, we feel like our policy is in a good place for us to wait and see how that turns out,” Powell commented during a Cambridge, Massachusetts event. “There’s sort of downside risk to the labor market, which suggests keep rates low, but there’s upside risk to inflation, which suggests maybe don’t keep rates low.”
Financial markets are currently considering the possibility of additional Fed rate reductions this year, though investors had recently been contemplating potential rate increases, given that war-related inflation pressures are building on top of inflation already exceeding the Fed’s 2% target.
During its most recent policy meeting earlier this month, the Fed maintained its current federal funds rate target between 3.5% and 3.75% while projecting a single rate reduction sometime in 2026.
In his prepared remarks, Williams projected economic growth around 2.5% for this year and inflation reaching 2.75% before declining back to the 2% target in the following year. He also anticipated unemployment rates would ease over the current and next year.
Williams’ projections appear more positive than most of his Fed colleagues, who anticipate unemployment will stay at its current 4.4% level through year’s end and expect inflation won’t reach the Fed’s 2% objective until 2028.
A Manhattan federal court issued a temporary order on Monday stopping T-Mobile from continuing an advertising campaign that claimed customers could save more than $1,000 per year by switching from other wireless carriers.
The decision by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan came after Verizon Wireless filed a lawsuit challenging the rival company’s marketing claims. Judge Kaplan determined that Verizon had a strong case showing T-Mobile’s “Save Over $1,000” advertisements were misleading and caused damage that couldn’t be easily repaired.
The preliminary injunction prevents T-Mobile from continuing to run the contested ads while the legal dispute moves forward through the courts.
A coalition of health and environmental advocates launched legal action Monday against the Environmental Protection Agency, challenging the agency’s decision to eliminate mercury pollution controls for coal-burning power facilities.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, involves several prominent organizations including Earthjustice, the American Lung Association, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The legal challenge targets the EPA’s February decision to reverse the Biden administration’s 2024 strengthening of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standard. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, the now-eliminated update would have cut mercury pollution from coal facilities by 70 percent and reduced emissions of toxic metals like nickel, arsenic, and lead by two-thirds. The standards were projected to prevent $420 million in health-related costs through 2037.
The current administration also granted two-year exemptions from air quality requirements for older coal plants last year, which the coalition says allowed major polluting facilities to avoid compliance. Following these exemptions, the groups report that sulfur dioxide emissions increased 18 percent nationwide, while neurotoxic mercury emissions rose 9 percent.
In their statement, the coalition expressed concern about broader regulatory changes: “This administration is not just rolling back rules, it is eliminating the monitoring infrastructure needed to know what is coming out of these smokestacks in the first place. It is allowing coal plants to spew out more neurotoxic mercury into our air and food supply, while simultaneously keeping the communities most at risk in the dark about how serious that threat is.”
The legal action represents the latest effort by environmental and public health advocates to challenge federal policy changes they argue threaten air quality and public safety.
A federal court has sided with the government in a legal battle over a massive lithium mining operation in Nevada, delivering a victory for efforts to boost domestic production of materials critical for electric vehicle batteries.
U.S. District Judge Cristina Silva dismissed environmental groups’ legal challenge on Monday, ruling that federal regulators properly evaluated the potential impact of ioneer’s Rhyolite Ridge mining project on a rare plant species called Tiehm’s buckwheat.
The Australian company’s stock price surged approximately 24% following the court decision. Ioneer is currently searching for a new financial partner after Sibanye Stillwater withdrew from the project last year due to its own monetary difficulties.
The proposed operation is expected to become a major North American source of lithium, the essential battery component, and will supply automaker Ford among other companies.
Environmental advocates from the Center for Biological Diversity had sued to stop the project, contending it could eliminate the rare wildflower entirely while damaging water supplies, air quality, and wildlife habitats in the area.
The organization’s lawsuit claimed the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management violated multiple federal environmental laws when approving the mine, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Federal Lands Policy and Management Act, and Endangered Species Act.
In her 14-page decision, Silva determined that government officials established protective measures for the flower that were “sufficiently detailed and reasonable” and properly examined the project’s environmental impacts on water resources and ecological systems.
Company spokesperson Chad Yeftich praised the ruling as an important step forward for America’s critical minerals strategy. “Rhyolite Ridge will create hundreds of new American jobs, reduce reliance on foreign materials and processing and provide a domestic source of two critical minerals,” Yeftich stated.
However, the environmental group expressed strong dissatisfaction with the court’s decision. Patrick Donnelly, a regional director for the Center for Biological Diversity, characterized the government’s wildflower protection plan as “a house of cards.”
“We’re exploring our next steps but we’re more determined than ever to continue fighting to save Tiehm’s buckwheat,” Donnelly said.
The Interior Department chose not to provide comment on the ruling. When initially approving the mine, the department emphasized it had implemented multiple safeguards to protect the ecosystem surrounding the site, located approximately 225 miles north of Las Vegas.
Former President Joe Biden provided final approval for the project in 2024 and secured a $996 million Department of Energy loan just before leaving office as part of his clean energy initiatives.
The mining venture carries an estimated construction cost of $1.67 billion. Company executives report they are currently in “active discussions with a number of parties” regarding potential financial partnerships for the project.
A University of Delaware lacrosse player has made program history by earning the team’s first-ever Atlantic 10 weekly recognition.
The conference announced Monday that Colton Silverstein, a defender for the UD men’s lacrosse team, received A-10 Defensive Player of the Week honors following his outstanding showing in the game against Binghamton.
This marks a historic achievement for the Fightin’ Blue Hens lacrosse program, as no player had previously earned a weekly award from the Atlantic 10 Conference since the team joined the league.
Silverstein’s defensive efforts in the matchup with Binghamton impressed conference officials enough to warrant the recognition, highlighting his impact on the field for Delaware.
Federal authorities are exploring options to allow petroleum companies to sidestep wildlife protection measures in the Gulf of Mexico by invoking national security provisions, according to recent reports.
The move would potentially impact some of the world’s most critically endangered marine species, including Rice’s whales, which face severe population threats in Gulf waters.
While the Endangered Species Committee, commonly referred to as the “God Squad,” has never previously convened based on national security grounds, other government departments have already begun referencing “energy emergency” situations to circumvent regulations designed to safeguard at-risk animal populations.
The committee holds the authority to grant exemptions from endangered species protections when economic or other concerns are deemed to outweigh conservation needs. Such exemptions would allow energy companies to proceed with operations that might otherwise be restricted due to potential harm to protected wildlife.
Rice’s whales, among the planet’s most vulnerable whale species, inhabit Gulf waters where oil and gas activities are prevalent. These marine mammals face numerous threats, and any reduction in protective measures could further jeopardize their survival prospects.
The potential policy shift represents a significant departure from traditional wildlife protection approaches, prioritizing energy production and national security considerations over conservation efforts in federal waters.
DENVER — Professional hockey players who represented their countries at the Milan Cortina Olympics reached their performance peak much sooner than they typically would during a regular season. Olympic gold required nothing less than their absolute best.
Now, with minimal recovery time behind them, these athletes must find that peak performance level once more as the pursuit of hockey’s most coveted prize, the Stanley Cup, approaches.
NHL franchises with Olympic participants are implementing strategic rest protocols as playoff season nears. This approach includes eliminating morning skating sessions, reducing practice participation, decreasing ice time during games, and in some instances, benching players entirely. Teams like the gold medal-winning United States, silver medalist Canada, bronze winner Finland, and fourth-place Slovakia essentially played the equivalent of an entire playoff series during Olympic competition.
“It’s a lot of hockey in a short amount of time,” said New York Islanders center Bo Horvat, who represented Canada in six contests over 10 days.
Some athletes gained valuable insight into recovery methods after participating in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
“Take the rest whenever you can find it, for sure,” commented Avalanche forward Brock Nelson, who contributed to America’s first Olympic men’s hockey gold since 1980. “The (NHL) schedule is just so compact for everybody now. Just trying to ride the energy.”
League play was suspended for 19 days between February 6-24 to accommodate Olympic participation. Combined with the holiday pause, each franchise must complete 82 games across 170 days — averaging one contest every 2.07 days, which is more compressed than the previous season’s 2.15-day average with the 4 Nations tournament. During the 2023-24 campaign, teams played every 2.26 days with breaks only for holidays and All-Star events.
Ottawa Senators player Brady Tkachuk found returning to regular season play challenging after captaining Team USA alongside his brother Matthew.
“It was definitely an adjustment coming back, not going to lie, playing in probably the biggest game that has been played in a while and then the emotions of winning,” Tkachuk explained. “It took a little bit to get readjusted.”
The 26-year-old Senators captain has returned to his typical performance level. Veteran teammate Lars Eller, who competed for Denmark in his inaugural Olympics at age 36, views this situation as preferable to mid-season struggles.
“We’re kind of past that Olympic fatigue now, if there was any,” stated Eller, whose squad is actively pursuing a wild-card playoff position in the Eastern Conference. “Now your energy level is actually increasing here towards the end as you’re fighting for a playoff spot and you’re eyeing the end of the season.”
Tim Stützle of Ottawa celebrated his 24th birthday in January, beginning his preparation to represent Germany at the Olympics and help his team reach the playoffs during last summer’s training.
“I was prepared to go for a long season, and yeah that’s where the foundation kind of builds,” said Stützle, who finished tied for second in Olympic goal scoring with four. “Obviously right after the Olympics, I was pretty exhausted with the time change and everything. But now I feel great.”
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar emphasized that pushing through the fatigue remains the only viable option.
“You’re limited in your options,” Bednar stated. “It’s very little practice, lots of recovery days, whether they’re at the rink or away from the rink, trying to make sure we’re getting rest on the road and the travel schedule is appropriate. What do you do besides rest them?”
Colorado cannot afford extensive player rest periods. The Avalanche currently lead the Presidents’ Trophy race for the league’s best record, with Dallas trailing closely.
“So we’re not in a position, in my opinion, to be resting guys,” Bednar noted. “So you play through.”
Dallas management reduces strain on their Olympic athletes by decreasing playing time whenever feasible.
“You can’t just, say, give two days off and it’s gone,” explained Stars coach Glen Gulutzan. “You just do (the rest) over a period of time and get their bodies built back up.”
Stars defenseman Thomas Harley, who logged 118 minutes for Canada in Milan, maintains he hasn’t experienced significant fatigue. Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger joked, “I mean, I didn’t play a single second at the Olympics so I’m fresh as a daisy.”
Oettinger, who served as Connor Hellebuyck’s backup, expects the Olympic experience will prove valuable during playoff competition.
“I learned a lot about what it takes to win,” Oettinger reflected. “I think a lot of those guys in that room had won Stanley Cups, and just the messages the guys were saying and how loose and light they were, even in the biggest pressure game of all time, was really impressive to watch.”
Avalanche forward Martin Necas has already recovered his energy after pacing Czechia with eight points across five Olympic games. The 27-year-old athlete appears refreshed.
“It was great to play on a different stage for a little bit,” Necas said. “Now it’s exciting to come back.”
Colorado sent eight NHL players to Olympic competition, including Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon and Devon Toews representing Canada. Minnesota, Tampa Bay, and Vegas also contributed eight players each, with four Minnesotans playing for Sweden. Dallas and Boston each provided seven participants.
Four Finnish Stars players — Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz, Esa Lindell and Mikko Rantanen — joined Colorado’s Artturi Lehkonen to capture bronze medals. Two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida led all teams with 10 Olympic participants but currently faces playoff elimination after consecutive seasons extending into June.
The most recent occurrence of NHL players winning Olympic gold and the Stanley Cup in the same year was 2014, when Jeff Carter and Drew Doughty helped Canada defeat Sweden in Sochi before Los Angeles conquered the Rangers in the championship series.
“Individually, guys have different things that they do (to get ready),” Nelson concluded. “But down the stretch here and playing these games, the energy is going to be high no matter what.”
Four seasoned NFL quarterbacks find themselves in limbo as the 2026 season approaches, with Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson all lacking contracts.
Each veteran signal-caller faces distinct possibilities moving forward.
Rodgers, now 42, has the choice to rejoin Pittsburgh under new head coach Mike McCarthy or hang up his cleats for good. Steelers owner Art Rooney II informed media on Sunday that he anticipates the four-time NFL MVP will make his intentions known prior to next month’s NFL draft.
Despite a powerful finish to the previous campaign where he guided Atlanta to four consecutive victories, Cousins couldn’t prevent the Falcons from missing the postseason, ultimately costing coach Raheem Morris his position. The 37-year-old quarterback compiled 876 passing yards during that winning streak, recording seven touchdown passes against two picks while posting a 93.6 passer rating. He went 5-3 as a starter after beginning the year behind Michael Penix Jr.
Atlanta brought in coach Kevin Stefanski, acquired Tua Tagovailoa and cut ties with Cousins, who now faces the probability of accepting a reserve quarterback position unless an injury creates a starting opportunity elsewhere. Pittsburgh could become his destination if Rodgers chooses retirement and the Steelers seek another experienced quarterback following their progression from Wilson in 2024 to Rodgers in 2025.
Stefanski indicated that Tagovailoa and Penix will battle for Atlanta’s starting position. Penix, selected in the first round during 2024, underwent ACL reconstruction surgery this past November, leaving his availability timeline unclear.
“He has had great success in this league when doing a lot of things that we believe in,” Stefanski said of Tagovailoa. “He’s looking for an opportunity and we can provide that.”
Garoppolo could return to Los Angeles for a third campaign serving as backup to NFL MVP Matthew Stafford. Should that arrangement fall through, the Rams and coach Sean McVay might consider Cousins, given their previous collaboration in Washington when McVay served as offensive coordinator.
Wilson started the season with New York but ended up third on the depth chart behind rookie Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston. The 10-time Pro Bowl selection appears to have exhausted his starting opportunities and seems to be generating minimal interest as a backup despite being a supportive teammate to Dart last year.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni stated that “nothing’s changed” concerning receiver A.J. Brown, who has been the subject of trade rumors.
“A.J. is an Eagle,” Sirianni said.
Philadelphia has entertained trade discussions for the veteran while also adding receivers Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Elijah Moore, who were college roommates at Mississippi. Miami’s deal sending Jaylen Waddle to Denver for first, third and fourth-round picks has elevated expectations for A.J. Brown’s trade value.
Detroit coach Dan Campbell announced that three-time All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell is prepared to move to the left side to shield Jared Goff’s blind side.
The Lions must fill the void left by Taylor Decker’s release. Sewell previously played left tackle at Oregon before Detroit drafted him seventh overall in 2021.
Cleveland has pulled back their proposal that would have permitted teams to trade draft selections five years ahead rather than the current three-year limit, according to a source familiar with the matter who requested anonymity since the Browns hadn’t publicly announced their decision.
Team owners will vote on additional proposals from the NFL competition committee and a Steelers proposal regarding player contact during free agency negotiations.
Rule modifications require approval from a minimum of 24 of the 32 franchises.
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen has ditched the protective boot on his right foot following a bone fracture suffered during Week 16. The 2024 NFL MVP underwent surgery after the Bills fell to Denver in overtime during the AFC divisional round.
“His foot, I don’t want to say it’s 100 percent, but he’s good,” Bills general manager Brandon Beane told reporters Monday. “When he gets back in April, we expect him to be full-go.”
WASHINGTON — Nearly 100 of America’s most dangerous toxic waste locations face serious threats from flooding and wildfires, creating potential health hazards for millions of residents in nearby areas, according to new findings from the Environmental Protection Agency’s internal watchdog.
The EPA’s Office of Inspector General released three reports last week examining weather-related risks at 157 federal Superfund sites designated as top cleanup priorities because of their severe threats to public health and the environment. Approximately 3 million Americans reside within one mile of these contaminated locations, while 13 million people live within three miles.
Multiple natural disaster threats endanger several Superfund locations, the investigations revealed. Researchers identified 49 coastal sites facing dangers from rising sea levels or hurricane storm surges, many situated near densely populated regions and critical environmental areas such as Chesapeake Bay. An additional 47 sites occupy low-elevation areas specifically vulnerable to inland flooding from intense rainfall. The assessment also discovered 31 locations in zones with elevated wildfire risk.
However, the costly and lengthy cleanup strategies spanning five years at these locations frequently ignore potential damage from flooding caused by rising seas, increasingly severe storms, and wildfires, the inspector general’s examination discovered.
“That is a big problem because it means the site managers are not planning mitigation measures,” said Betsy Southerland, a former director of the agency’s water protection division who spent over 30 years at the EPA.
“The communities living near those sites should be made aware of this planning failure and should insist on robust plans,” she said.
At sites lacking adequate flood preparation, toxic materials could escape into neighboring communities and taxpayer money already spent on cleanup efforts could be lost, the investigation determined.
EPA officials stated they are examining the inspector general’s conclusions and emphasized that the Superfund program considers “the impacts of extreme weather events and other hazards as a standard operating practice in the development and implementation of cleanup projects.”
Last year, President Donald Trump dismissed EPA Inspector General Sean O’Donnell early in Trump’s second term, and the office’s latest assessment avoids mentioning climate change, terminology the Republican administration has removed from government websites. Nevertheless, the new reports from the inspector general’s remaining personnel still outline dangers that a warming planet poses to the nation’s most hazardous toxic waste locations.
Lara J. Cushing, a University of California, Los Angeles professor who has researched climate change effects on the nation’s toxic waste facilities, petrochemical plants and other dangerous sites, described the new reports as “noteworthy and important.”
“Although President Trump may wish to ignore it, the fact is the climate is changing and we need to be proactive in responding to rising seas and more extreme weather or face the consequences of increasingly frequent cascading natural-technological disasters that poison communities and local ecosystems,” said Cushing.
The inspector general’s discoveries mirror a 2017 Associated Press investigation that identified 327 Superfund sites at risk from climate change-driven flooding. The AP’s analysis began after Hurricane Harvey caused widespread flooding in Houston areas containing seven Superfund sites and prompted spills from containers holding cancer-causing toxic materials.
The EPA’s latest report noted that during Harvey, dioxin chemicals spread through floodwaters into nearby streets, yards and residences near the San Jacinto River, a location featured in AP’s coverage.
At that time, the EPA under Trump’s first administration denounced AP’s reporting as alarmist “yellow journalism.” Trump has labeled climate change fraudulent, prevented renewable energy initiatives and attempted to increase planet-warming fossil fuel consumption.
“This series shines a light on potential threats to federal facility Superfund sites and the critical role of five-year reviews in addressing them,” said Kim Wheeler, the spokesperson for the Inspector General’s office. “By identifying sites at risk from these weather-related events, we aimed to raise awareness and encourage forward looking planning.”
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge sentenced the co-founder of a California wellness company focused on female sexuality to nine years behind bars Monday following her conviction on forced labor charges, according to federal prosecutors.
Nicole Daedone, who helped establish OneTaste Inc., must also give up $12 million — the sum she received when selling the company, said John Marzulli, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn’s Eastern District.
Federal prosecutors had pushed for a two-decade sentence for Daedone, stating in court documents that her operation created “scores of victims financially, emotionally and psychologically scarred.”
“Daedone and her co-conspirators exercised control through economic pressure, psychological manipulation, physical exhaustion and emotional degradation, leaving behind a trail of financial ruin and lasting trauma,” prosecutors wrote.
Defense attorneys called a lengthy prison term “bonkers” while requesting approximately two years for their client.
The legal team emphasized that the New York resident had a clean criminal history and received more than 200 character reference letters from supporters who praised “her character, her generosity, and her positive influence.”
“She has lived an uncommon and impactful life, and she is deeply respected by people from all walks of life, including many entirely unconnected to OneTaste,” her defense team stated in sentencing documents. “She is a prolific writer, teacher, and spiritual practitioner whose work has long focused on reducing suffering and fostering meaningful human connection.”
CNN correspondent and former Obama administration advisor Van Jones wrote a support letter for Daedone.
The criminal justice reform advocate called Daedone “a woman of uncommon wisdom, grace and moral courage” who has “dedicated her life to helping others find healing, empowerment and a deeper sense of human connection.”
“The West Wing” actor Richard Schiff also submitted a letter arguing Daedone deserved mercy because she has “spent her life trying to bring compassion, awareness, and honesty to a part of human experience that is often shamed or misunderstood.”
Daedone’s legal team did not respond to requests for comment following the sentencing. Rachel Cherwitz, who served as the company’s former sales director, was scheduled for sentencing later Monday.
Throughout the month-long trial, prosecutors argued the two women operated a multi-year scheme targeting followers — many who had experienced sexual trauma — to carry out their demands.
According to prosecutors, Daedone and Cherwitz from California employed financial, sexual and psychological abuse along with intimidation and brainwashing to compel OneTaste members into unwanted sexual activities, including intimate encounters with potential investors or customers.
The pair convinced followers these troubling activities were essential for achieving “freedom” and “enlightenment,” while proving their dedication to the organization’s beliefs.
One defense lawyer described her client as a “ceiling-shattering feminist entrepreneur” who built an innovative business focused on women’s sexuality and empowerment.
Daedone launched OneTaste in San Francisco during 2004 as a self-help community that considered female climax essential for sexual and mental health plus human relationships.
The organization’s main practice involved “orgasmic meditation,” abbreviated as “OM,” where men would manually stimulate women in group environments.
The business received positive press coverage throughout the 2010s as an innovative venture emphasizing women’s sexual satisfaction, rapidly expanding locations from Los Angeles to London.
Daedone divested her company ownership in 2017 for $12 million — one year before OneTaste faced investigation over its marketing methods and workplace practices.
Current ownership has rebranded the organization as the Institute of OM Foundation. They continue asserting their work has been misrepresented and the criminal charges against former leadership were unwarranted.
Enthusiastic coaches called out encouragement as young players maneuvered the ball down the field, with cheers erupting from spectators when a goal found its mark during a special soccer tournament in Portland, Oregon.
The weekend event was organized as what its creator called a World Cup specifically for immigrant and refugee girls. Som Subedi, a community advocate who immigrated from Bhutan, developed the tournament to bring happiness and solidarity during a time when federal immigration enforcement has created anxiety for participating families.
During opening ceremonies, Subedi declared that “ICE and federal enforcement must be out of our parking lots, out of our soccer fields, and most importantly, out of the fear in our hearts and minds,” referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Subedi’s background includes being part of the Lhotshampa, a Nepali-speaking community that faced persecution from Bhutanese officials in the early 1990s. After spending years in a Nepalese refugee camp, he relocated to Portland in 2008 and later gained American citizenship.
“This is more than a competition. It is more than soccer,” Subedi explained to The Associated Press. “We are making this a community event so that they feel valued and welcomed.”
Concerns about federal immigration enforcement have created widespread anxiety in youth athletics nationwide.
During the previous fall season, Oregon’s Youth Soccer Association had to cancel or postpone multiple Portland-area games due to reports of immigration agents near recreational facilities, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Similar incidents occurred elsewhere, including a New York City baseball coach protecting his team from ICE agents during practice, and a Massachusetts high school athlete being detained by immigration officials while heading to volleyball practice before his release.
Federal enforcement activity intensified significantly in the Pacific Northwest during fall months under President Donald Trump’s policies, reaching levels comparable to peak enforcement during the early Obama years, based on University of Washington Center for Human Rights statistics. Oregon experienced a dramatic increase with approximately 1,200 arrests between October and December.
Portland’s ICE facility has become a focal point for ongoing demonstrations protesting immigration policies since June, featuring nightly gatherings for months. The federal agents’ deployment of chemical dispersants like tear gas against protesters has sparked two legal challenges from area residents and demonstrators that are currently under review by federal appellate courts.
Several tournament participants, ranging from ages 10 to 18 and representing families from Mexico, Somalia, Myanmar and other nations, have experienced direct impacts from immigration enforcement. Fifteen-year-old Valeria Hernandez shared that her brother faced deportation to Mexico in recent months.
“I broke down at that moment. I was really sad,” she revealed to the AP, becoming emotional. “He was my best friend.”
Transportation to soccer practice became more challenging after losing her brother’s assistance with rides. She described him as her primary motivation for playing the sport and mentioned sending him a tournament photo before her opening match.
“He was just very passionate about it,” she explained, “so I wanted to be just like him.”
During the ceremony, Valeria, her mother and younger sister received colorful scarves as gestures of community support while dealing with their family separation, with Subedi noting they “deserve to be united” with their deported relative.
Subedi recounted his own family’s experience when his 11-year-old daughter became afraid to attend soccer practice after immigration agents were reported near her school during winter months. Despite showing her his REAL ID and passport for reassurance, anxiety persisted.
“I had to calm her down, and she went into the practice, but also not without the fear,” he recalled.
To establish a secure environment at the tournament, representatives from two police departments and a local immigrant advocacy organization maintained a visible presence. Officers could be seen engaging in casual conversations with attendees around the park perimeter or stationed in vehicles nearby. Oregon’s sanctuary legislation prevents local law enforcement from participating in federal immigration operations.
The police departments agreed to participate in a supportive capacity, according to Subedi, “and their presence helped families feel protected, not policed.”
The gathering of supporters and families also enhanced the welcoming atmosphere, he noted.
“When there’s a feeling of having a community’s back for these girls, I think that creates that sense of belonging, sense of safeness,” he said.
Esraa Alnabelsi, who relocated from Syria to the United States in 2012, expressed enthusiasm about watching her 13-year-old daughter compete while witnessing people from various cultural and religious backgrounds unite.
“We really have to be in one hand to face all that’s happening now in Oregon and other states,” she observed.
The tournament also fostered connections between players. Several girls from non-immigrant families requested participation and were welcomed, as Subedi emphasized the event’s inclusive nature.
Community donations made the tournament completely free for participants, including uniforms and footwear, with girls divided into six squads. Some teams represented specific ethnic communities and organizations, including the Karen people from Myanmar and the African Refugee Immigrant Organization. Winning teams received trophy recognition.
Numerous community members volunteered for various roles, including officiating and coaching positions.
Sergio Medel served as a volunteer coach for his 16-year-old daughter’s team, bringing experience from his professional playing career in Mexico and coaching background in the United States since his 1997 arrival.
“I hope that when they walk away from here, they feel like, ‘Hey, we’re not alone,’” he stated.
Soccer’s status as the world’s most widely played sport creates natural opportunities for diverse communities to connect, with similar immigrant-focused tournaments occurring across the United States in recent years.
Subedi, who has enjoyed playing soccer since childhood, characterized it as a sport where “there is no language needed.”
“You just come together and play,” he concluded.
A United States Marine ammunition specialist stationed at Camp Pendleton in California faces federal charges for allegedly stealing military weapons and equipment, including a shoulder-fired missile launcher, and selling them across state lines.
Corporal Andrew Paul Amarillas entered a not guilty plea in Phoenix federal court last Thursday on multiple federal charges, including conspiracy to commit theft and embezzlement of government property, along with possession and sale of stolen military ammunition. The judge ruled that Amarillas will remain in jail while awaiting trial.
Attempts to reach Amarillas’ defense attorney and Camp Pendleton officials for comment were made Monday.
According to federal prosecutors, Amarillas exploited his role as a technical specialist at the School of Infantry West to unlawfully take at least one Javelin missile launcher, thousands of rounds of military ammunition, and additional weapons-related equipment during a period spanning from February 2022 through November 2025.
Authorities allege that Amarillas moved the stolen military equipment to Arizona, his home state, where he sold the items to unidentified accomplices who then distributed them to additional buyers. Law enforcement has recovered some, but not all, of the stolen weapons and ammunition.
Court records reveal that one accomplice stored Amarillas’ contact information in their phone under the alias “Andrew Ammo.”
“(I) have 2 launchers that (I) think you’d like, if you want to take a look tomorrow,” Amarillas wrote in a text message to an accomplice in August, according to the federal criminal complaint. The messages also contained photographs, including an image of a portable Javelin missile system bearing a serial number that corresponded to equipment Amarillas had officially checked out from the San Diego-area military installation, the complaint states.
Federal prosecutors noted that undercover law enforcement officers purchased some of the stolen ammunition from the accomplices.
“The objects of the conspiracy were to steal property and ammunition from the U.S. military and sell stolen U.S. military property and ammunition to others to earn money,” according to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court for Arizona.
This case follows a 2021 incident where explosives disappeared from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center located in Twentynine Palms in Southern California’s desert region. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service confirmed they were investigating the missing explosives at that time but withheld specific details about the case.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore track and field program showcased exceptional talent at the ECU Bill Carson Invitational, capturing an impressive 18 top-five placements across various events.
The Hawks demonstrated their competitive strength throughout the meet, with athletes performing at a high level in multiple disciplines. The strong showing reflects the team’s preparation and dedication as they continue their outdoor track and field season.
UMES athletes competed against teams from across the region at the invitational hosted by East Carolina University. The meet provided valuable competition experience for the Hawks as they work toward their conference championships and other season goals.
The 18 top-five finishes represent a significant achievement for the program and highlight the depth of talent within the UMES track and field roster.
Law enforcement in Newark has apprehended a local resident suspected of orchestrating multiple robberies targeting people conducting online marketplace transactions.
The arrest comes after a series of criminal incidents that took place over more than a month, spanning from February 26 through March 29, 2026.
The first reported incident occurred on February 26, 2026, around 5:52 in the evening when police were called to respond to the 900 block of Rahway Drive.
Authorities have not yet released additional details about the specific nature of the robberies or the identity of the arrested individual.
The case highlights ongoing safety concerns surrounding in-person meetups for online sales transactions, as criminals increasingly target these exchanges.
Police continue their investigation into the connected incidents and encourage anyone with information to contact the Newark Police Department.
Motorists traveling eastbound on Lighthouse Road should expect delays due to a lane restriction currently in place between Madison Avenue and Dukes Avenue.
DelDOT reports that the right lane will remain closed until 5 PM this afternoon, affecting traffic flow in that section of Route 54.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when navigating through the work zone area.
American businesses significantly increased their equipment financing activities in February, with borrowing jumping 14.2% compared to the same period last year, according to data released Monday by the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association.
The surge was primarily driven by heightened activity from independent financing providers, the Washington-based trade organization reported. The association monitors economic trends across the equipment finance industry, which exceeds $1 trillion in value, by surveying 25 member companies including Bank of America and financing divisions of major corporations like Caterpillar, Dell Technologies, Siemens AG, Canon and Volvo AB.
February saw businesses sign $11 billion worth of new financing agreements, credit lines and leases on a seasonally adjusted basis, though this represented a 4.7% drop from January levels. Small-ticket financing volume, considered a crucial indicator of equipment demand and overall economic health, totaled $4.4 billion – down 14.7% from the previous month but still exceeding the 12-month average of $3.5 billion.
ELFA President and CEO Leigh Lytle noted that the survey data was collected prior to recent geopolitical tensions involving Iran and the Federal Reserve’s March meeting, suggesting these events “could cause more bumps in the first half” of the year. The organization’s monthly confidence index dropped to 61 in March from February’s reading of 67.6, reflecting growing uncertainty in the sector.
Farm commodity prices saw a substantial surge last month, with February’s pricing index climbing 12 percent compared to previous levels, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The significant price increase represents a notable shift in agricultural markets that directly impacts both producers and consumers across the country. The monthly report tracks pricing trends for various farm commodities and serves as a key indicator of agricultural economic conditions.
This upward movement in commodity pricing comes as farmers and agricultural businesses continue to navigate fluctuating market conditions throughout the year.
A group of middle school students from Hockessin have earned the top honor in a prestigious solar-powered vehicle competition held at the University of Delaware.
The winning team represents Henry B. du Pont Middle School and secured first place during the 2026 Solar Racer competition on the Newark campus. The event challenged students to design and build vehicles powered entirely by solar energy.
The achievement marks a significant accomplishment for the young engineers, who competed against other teams in the annual science and technology challenge.
Two of Florida’s most competitive universities are setting aside their historic rivalry to work together on a common environmental goal. The University of Florida and Florida State University, known for their fierce competition in everything from sports to academics, are now joining forces to combat marine debris threatening coastal waters.
The partnership represents a significant shift from the traditional “Sunshine State Showdown” mentality that has defined relations between these institutions for decades. Both universities have cultivated passionate followings among their students and graduates, who typically view the other school as their primary rival.
The collaboration focuses on developing innovative solutions to prevent trash and debris from reaching Florida’s marine environments. One example of their work includes installing specialized debris-catching devices in waterways, such as the litter boom placed in Anclote Creek through the University of Florida’s Operation TRAP program.
This environmental partnership demonstrates how urgent ecological challenges can bring together even the most competitive academic institutions when addressing critical issues affecting their shared state.
MADRID (AP) — Catholic Church leaders and government officials in Spain finalized paperwork Monday establishing a new compensation framework for individuals sexually abused by clergy members who have since died or whose alleged crimes fall outside prosecution time limits.
Back in January, Spain’s Catholic bishops agreed to allow the nation’s ombudsman to make final decisions regarding church compensation for such victims.
This arrangement, which provides a 12-month period for filing claims, represents an uncommon compromise from Catholic leadership. The framework aims to settle disputes between Spain’s left-leaning administration and church officials regarding victim compensation after survivors criticized the church’s initial internal reparations proposal.
Monday’s signing ceremony formalized the operational details of this collaborative church-government compensation program.
Spanish Episcopal Conference President Archbishop Luis Argüello announced the system will launch April 15th. He noted the documentation deliberately omits specific dollar amounts for potential victim compensation.
“We intentionally avoided including payment scales and specific sums; that wasn’t our focus,” Argüello explained. “We’ve arranged for working groups to develop implementation procedures, but the agreement doesn’t establish payment ranges or fixed amounts.”
Although church leaders across numerous Western European nations have established victim compensation programs — whether church-administered or overseen by independent experts — Spain’s approach stands out due to direct government participation in the process.
Justice Minister Félix Bolaños stated Monday that the program will assess compensation individually, considering elements such as abuse severity, victim age, and frequency of incidents.
“Standards have been established to determine appropriate compensation, which shouldn’t be based on a uniform payment,” Bolaños explained.
In recent years, Spain — historically a deeply Catholic nation — has started confronting decades of priestly abuse and episcopal cover-ups, largely prompted by initial investigative coverage from El País newspaper.
Spain’s parliament assigned the national ombudsman to conduct an investigation, and in 2023 the ombudsman released a comprehensive 800-page assessment examining 487 documented abuse cases and including survey data suggesting potential victims could number in the hundreds of thousands.
Spanish bishops disputed this figure, stating their internal review identified 728 sexual abusers within church ranks since 1945. They reported most incidents occurred before 1990, with 60% of perpetrators now deceased.
The new framework allows victims to submit initial requests to Spain’s Justice Ministry. The ministry forwards these to the ombudsman for review and compensation recommendations, which the church’s committee then evaluates.
When agreements cannot be reached between the church and victims, cases advance to a joint panel including church representatives, ombudsman staff, and victim advocacy groups. If this panel reaches no consensus, the ombudsman’s determination becomes final, according to Bolaños’ January statements.
Monday, Bolaños described the agreement as globally unprecedented, where “the state maintains final authority while the church provides compensation owed to each victim.”
Believers in Christian communities worldwide are participating in Holy Week observances through religious processions and traditional ceremonial reenactments.
This sacred period, spanning from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday, represents the most significant and solemn time in the Christian calendar as the faithful reflect upon and honor the final days and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
The observances have been documented through a collection of photographs assembled by Associated Press photo editors.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Speaking to nearly 400 Harvard University students on Monday, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell acknowledged that central bank officials are keeping a close eye on inflation as energy costs surge due to the Iran conflict.
With gasoline prices approaching $4 per gallon nationwide, Powell explained that Fed policymakers have limited tools to address energy market disruptions since these “tend to come and go pretty quickly” while monetary policy operates over longer timeframes. However, he cautioned that multiple energy disruptions could become problematic.
“You have to carefully monitor inflation expectations because you could have a series of big supply shocks and that can lead, you know, the public generally, businesses, price setters, households … to start expecting higher inflation over time. Why wouldn’t it?” Powell stated.
During his comprehensive remarks, Powell also recognized that recent graduates face a difficult employment landscape. He pointed to several challenges including artificial intelligence’s expanding role, persistently low unemployment rates, and minimal job growth.
The nation’s employment situation has remained sluggish throughout the past year. Companies have added fewer than 10,000 positions monthly in 2025, marking the weakest hiring pace outside of a recession since 2002. While January showed promise with 126,000 new positions, February saw the country lose 92,000 jobs.
Despite weak hiring activity, unemployment has remained at 4.4%. Economic experts describe the current environment as a “low-hire, low-fire” market where businesses avoid adding staff but retain existing employees. This dynamic has particularly impacted young job seekers. Concerns exist that artificial intelligence may be replacing entry-level positions traditionally filled by new graduates, or that employers are delaying hiring decisions while determining how to implement AI technologies.
Looking ahead, Powell expressed confidence about medium and long-term prospects, referencing historical patterns showing technological advances consistently improving living standards and boosting productivity. He noted that large-language models enhance productivity for users, including himself.
“You’re in a situation where you need to really invest the time to master the use of these new technologies,” Powell advised. “There’s no denying it’s a challenging time to enter the labor market, It may take some patience and all that, but in the longer term, this economy is going to give you great opportunities. Just be a little optimistic.”
While neither Powell nor student questioners referenced President Donald Trump, who has frequently criticized the Fed chair, Powell emphasized the significance of central bank independence.
“It’s very hard to build great democratic institutions and much easier to bring them down,” Powell remarked.
Trump has consistently pressured Powell and the Fed to reduce interest rates, which would decrease borrowing expenses for consumers, businesses, and government. Powell’s cautious approach has frustrated Trump, who wants lower borrowing costs to stimulate economic growth.
Several Trump administration policies have created complications for the Federal Reserve’s dual objectives of maintaining price stability and maximizing employment.
New tariffs imposed on all trading partners could increase consumer prices, while the Iran conflict has driven energy costs higher.
According to AAA, average gasoline prices reached $3.99 per gallon overnight.
Trump intensified his Fed criticism in January when the Justice Department issued subpoenas to the central bank and threatened criminal charges related to Powell’s summer testimony about headquarters renovation costs.
The Fed has been updating its Washington, D.C. headquarters and an adjacent building. Underground construction work and rising material costs following 2021-2022 inflation have inflated expenses. Current Fed estimates place total costs at $2.5 billion, representing a $600 million increase from the 2022 projection of $1.9 billion.
Trump claims the renovation project’s alleged mismanagement could justify removing Powell from his position. However, dismissing the Fed chair would undermine the central bank’s respected independence, which has traditionally received support from economists and Wall Street professionals.
Mississippi’s public safety agency made a startling discovery while preparing to move offices – a collection of Ku Klux Klan materials hidden in a suitcase, providing rare insight into the secretive white supremacist organization’s operations and connections to law enforcement.
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety found the items during their headquarters relocation and has transferred everything to the state’s Department of Archives and History. Processing the complete collection is expected to take several months, officials said.
Civil rights leaders view these materials as important reminders of the Klan’s violent past in Mississippi and emphasize the need to preserve such history to prevent its repetition.
“I’m glad these stories are coming out because it was a real pain,” said Charles Taylor, executive director of the Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP.
The discovered cache contained a White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan manual, organizational charters, ceremonial robes, recruitment documents, anti-Martin Luther King propaganda, minutes from meetings, financial records, and membership rosters showing who had paid their dues.
Archive officials are embracing the responsibility of preserving these materials rather than avoiding the uncomfortable discovery.
DPS Commissioner Sean Tindell stated, “Mississippi Highway Patrol Troopers and agents with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety have worked for decades with our federal law enforcement partners to shed light on the darkness in which groups like the Ku Klux Klan chose to operate. By preserving these artifacts and shedding light on such organizations, we help ensure that future generations are never led astray by such hate.”
The Klan emerged shortly after the Civil War ended, created by six former Confederate military leaders. Initially resembling a fraternal organization with ceremonial garments and unusual leadership titles, it quickly evolved into a terrorist group targeting newly freed Black Americans. While Congress banned the organization in 1871, it reemerged during World War I and expanded significantly under Jim Crow segregation laws. By the 1960s, the group was responsible for lynchings, church bombings, and numerous other violent acts, Taylor explained.
The organization’s most notorious Mississippi crime occurred in 1964 when members murdered three civil rights activists in what became known as the “Mississippi Burning killings.” Three years later, Klan members bombed the state’s sole synagogue, which was targeted by arson again this past January.
Taylor emphasized that these newly uncovered materials serve as a stark reminder of recent history and highlight the critical need to ensure current law enforcement personnel don’t harbor similar ideologies.
“It’s one thing to be able to say very clearly this was here but it was at their place,” Taylor said. “Folks were studying (propaganda) as they were supposed to be providing safety for all Mississippians.”
Barry White, Commissioner of the Department of Archives and History, noted the significance of finding administrative documents and official charters, given the Klan’s notorious secrecy.
“MDAH is grateful to Commissioner Tindell for recognizing the historical significance of this material and transferring it to the archives,” White said. “These records will give researchers broader access to documentation that deepens our understanding of Ku Klux Klan activities in Mississippi during the 1960s.”
Stephanie Johnson-Toliver, who leads the Black Heritage Society of Washington State and specializes in preserving Black history, stressed the importance of maintaining such records despite their disturbing nature.
Making these materials available to the public will enable people to “look at the history that definitely harmed and was traumatic and remains to be harmful and traumatic here in the United States,” Johnson-Toliver explained.
Marine scientists are getting ready to take the public on an underwater journey through live video feeds during an upcoming mission to restore deep-sea coral environments.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, working alongside partner organizations, plans to broadcast real-time footage from their coral restoration expedition. The interactive broadcasts will allow viewers to witness the underwater conservation work as it happens and pose questions directly to the scientific team conducting the research.
The live streaming sessions will provide a rare glimpse into the specialized techniques used to rehabilitate coral ecosystems in the ocean’s depths, giving the general public unprecedented access to marine restoration science in action.
Massive ocean waves known as tsunamis represent some of nature’s most destructive and unpredictable forces, claiming more than 250,000 lives since 2000 began—while also inflicting hundreds of billions of dollars worth of damage to buildings and critical infrastructure. The enormous scope of devastation these natural disasters create might lead some to question whether scientific information and research can truly make a meaningful impact. However, while tsunami data cannot stop these catastrophic events from happening in the first place, the process of gathering and preserving this vital information plays a crucial role in protecting human lives.
Israeli law enforcement officials have successfully negotiated a security plan with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, that will permit Easter worship services at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem’s Old City, though under limited conditions.
The compromise comes after discussions between police representatives and Pizzaballa resulted in a mutual understanding that will enable traditional ceremonies, including the “Holy Fire” ritual, to take place in what authorities are calling a symbolic and restricted manner due to ongoing security operations under Operation Roaring Lion. Law enforcement emphasized their goal of maintaining both religious freedom and public safety.
This resolution addresses controversy that erupted on Palm Sunday when Israeli police barred Pizzaballa and three accompanying priests from accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, citing Home Front Command protocols and security risks related to the current conflict with Iran.
Recent weeks have seen Iranian missile strikes and debris landing in the Old City area, leading officials to impose limitations they say are necessary to protect worshippers from direct threats.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee had previously condemned the Palm Sunday incident as an “unfortunate overreach,” pointing out that “Home Front Command Guidelines restrict any gatherings to 50 people or fewer. The 4 representatives of the Catholic Church were well below that restriction.”
Huckabee further stated: “While all Holy sites in the Old City are closed due to safety concerns for mass gatherings, including the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and Al Aqsa Mosque, the action today by the Israel National Police … is an unfortunate overreach already having major repercussions around the world.”
After the new compromise was announced, Huckabee expressed approval for the outcome, posting: “Kudos to @israelpolice for resolving misunderstanding regarding access to Church of Holy Sepulcher on Palm Sunday. There is equal access for ALL faiths & equal guidelines for safety.”
According to officials, the negotiated arrangement will permit Easter religious observances to move forward under supervised conditions while keeping security protocols in place throughout the Old City.
President Donald Trump delivered mixed messages about U.S.-Iran relations on Sunday, suggesting diplomatic progress while simultaneously discussing aggressive military options against the Islamic Republic.
During his remarks, Trump indicated that America maintains both “direct and indirect” communication channels with Iran, characterizing the current U.S. strategic position as “very good.” He expressed optimism about potential negotiations, stating: “I think we’ll make a deal with them very soon. It may not happen, but I do see an agreement with Iran; it could happen soon.”
However, Trump also discussed potential aggressive actions against Iranian energy infrastructure. In comments to the Financial Times on Sunday, he said: “To be honest with you, my favorite thing is to take the oil in Iran, but some stupid people back in the US say: ‘Why are you doing that?’ But they’re stupid people.”
The President specifically mentioned Iran’s crucial oil export terminal, stating: “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options.” He acknowledged such action would require extended military presence, adding: “It would also mean we had to be there [in Kharg Island] for a while.” When questioned about Iranian defensive capabilities, Trump responded: “I don’t think they have any defense. We could take it very easily.”
Trump also announced on Truth Social that American military forces had conducted strikes against Iranian positions, declaring: “Big day in Iran. The targets were destroyed by our mighty military, the best and most lethal in the entire world.”
According to Wall Street Journal reports citing U.S. officials, the administration is evaluating a specialized ground mission to secure approximately 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran to block the nation’s nuclear weapons development, though no final authorization has been given while military planners assess troop safety concerns.
Israeli Defense Forces confirmed they are currently conducting operations against Iranian government facilities throughout Tehran. Iranian authorities reported an overnight aerial assault on a petrochemical plant in Tabriz, with officials stating: “the situation is under control and rescue forces are present at the scene,” while emphasizing that “no hazardous materials were released.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran’s Khondab heavy water reactor sustained major damage and ceased operations following last week’s reported attack, though the agency noted that no nuclear materials were believed to be housed at that location.
President Donald Trump delivered fresh warnings to Iran on Monday, threatening military action against the nation’s energy facilities unless the Strait of Hormuz waterway is reopened. The president also revealed that America is in negotiations with what he described as a “new and more reasonable regime.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated the United States is conducting “serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME” to halt military operations in Iran. He claimed “great progress has been made,” but warned that without a deal and the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for “Open for Business,” America could “blow up and completely obliterat[e]” Iran’s electric generating plants and oil wells, as well as Kharg Island.
Trump justified the potential strikes “in retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime’s 47 year ‘Reign of Terror.’”
These latest remarks build on comments Trump delivered Sunday, where he suggested America might soon reach an accord with Iran. During that speech, he revealed the U.S. is conducting “direct and indirect” talks and characterized the situation as “very good,” stating, “I think we’ll make a deal with them very soon. It may not happen, but I do see an agreement with Iran; it could happen soon.”
In a Sunday interview with the Financial Times, Trump also discussed the possibility of seizing Iranian oil resources. “To be honest with you, my favorite thing is to take the oil in Iran, but some stupid people back in the US say: ‘Why are you doing that?’ But they’re stupid people,” he told the publication.
Trump continued, “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options,” and noted, “It would also mean we had to be there [in Kharg Island] for a while.” He added, “I don’t think they have any defense. We could take it very easily.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. officials have indicated Trump is weighing a specialized ground mission to remove 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran, though no final determination has been reached.
Iraqi military officials report that an Antonov-132 aircraft belonging to the nation’s Air Force was completely destroyed during a pre-dawn rocket assault on Monday at a military installation adjacent to Baghdad International Airport.
According to Iraq’s Defense Ministry, the strike occurred at 1:55 a.m. local time when rockets were fired from Baghdad’s outskirts, obliterating the aircraft while fortunately resulting in zero casualties.
Ministry officials condemned the assault as a “cowardly criminal act” targeting Iraq’s military establishment and defense infrastructure in their official statement. Technical specialists have begun evaluating the extent of damage and are working to identify where the rockets originated.
While no organization has stepped forward to take credit for the attack, and Iraqi officials haven’t publicly named the perpetrators, attention is expected to focus on Iranian-supported Iraqi militant factions. These groups have consistently launched strikes against military installations and facilities connected to U.S. operations around Baghdad’s airport in recent weeks. Such organizations have maintained a presence in Iraq for years and have intensified their offensive activities as regional conflict has expanded following the joint U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran that commenced February 28.
Iraqi leadership has attempted to prevent the nation from becoming more deeply entangled in the broader confrontation, though the country’s territory has historically served as a theater for competing regional powers. Baghdad maintains American personnel on its soil and preserves diplomatic relations with Washington, while simultaneously managing armed factions loyal to Tehran. This delicate diplomatic juggling has become increasingly challenging as Iran and its allied groups have retaliated against strikes on Iranian soil by targeting American and Israeli assets throughout the Middle East.
While the Baghdad airport area attack resulted in no loss of life, it delivered a clear setback to Iraq’s military forces and sparked renewed concerns about the government’s capacity to safeguard defense installations in the capital region. Iraqi leadership has consistently stated their commitment to preventing violations of national sovereignty, yet such incidents continue to highlight the disconnect between official policy and actual security conditions.
Delaware State Police have taken a 55-year-old man from Whitsett, North Carolina into custody on serious drug trafficking charges after a routine traffic stop in Wilmington turned into a major cocaine bust.
James Pyrtle was driving southbound on Interstate 95 near Marsh Road around 11:00 a.m. on March 29, 2026 when a state trooper noticed his Ford Edge had expired registration tags. What started as a simple traffic violation quickly escalated when the officer became suspicious during their conversation with Pyrtle.
The trooper called for backup from a New Castle County Police narcotics detection dog, which immediately signaled the presence of illegal drugs inside the vehicle. When authorities searched the Ford Edge, they discovered a significant drug haul.
Police recovered approximately 2,287 grams of suspected cocaine – that’s more than five pounds of the illegal substance. Officers also found six oxycodone pills, three tramadol pills, and three alprazolam tablets.
Following his arrest, Pyrtle was transported to Troop 1 headquarters and later appeared before Justice of the Peace Court 11 for arraignment. He now faces multiple serious charges including possession of a controlled substance in tier 3 quantity, possession with intent to deliver controlled substances in tier 3 quantity, four additional counts of controlled substance possession, and the original expired tags violation.
Pyrtle is currently being held at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution after being unable to post his $120,801 cash bond.
Multiple Iranian opposition factions organized demonstrations outside Iran over the weekend, displaying their continued resistance to the Islamic Republic as tensions with the United States continue to escalate.
The weekend events saw various anti-regime groups holding meetings in foreign countries as part of their ongoing campaign against Iran’s current government. These international gatherings aimed to showcase the opposition’s organizational capabilities and unity.
However, divisions within the opposition movement became apparent as some critics alleged that certain gatherings were backed by Israeli interests or pro-Israel advocacy organizations.
One notable event was the Iran Freedom Congress held in London, which organizers described as a gathering designed to unite different opposition factions under a republican framework. The congress was promoted as a central meeting point for Iranians living in exile around the world.
These demonstrations come at a time when military confrontation between Washington and Tehran appears increasingly possible, raising hopes among opposition leaders that citizens inside Iran might launch fresh protests against the regime’s control in the near future.
The weekend activities highlight the continued efforts by Iranian exile communities to maintain pressure on their homeland’s government while operating from abroad.
State fire officials are examining the cause of a building fire that erupted early Monday morning in Lewes, according to the Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Emergency crews received the fire report at approximately 7:00 AM on March 30, 2026, at a location in the 16000 block of Coastal Highway in Lewes.
When the Lewes Fire Department and supporting fire companies from neighboring departments reached the scene, they discovered flames had spread to the patio section of the structure.
The investigation into what sparked the fire remains ongoing as officials work to determine the cause of the incident.
The University of Delaware Blue Hens baseball squad is preparing to welcome Rider University to campus for the initial round of the Liberty Bell Classic tournament.
The Blue Hens will serve as the host team for this opening matchup of the multi-team collegiate baseball competition. The Liberty Bell Classic brings together several universities to compete in this tournament format.
This game represents an important early-season opportunity for Delaware’s baseball program as they take the field against Rider in front of their home crowd. The tournament setting provides additional stakes beyond a regular season contest.
Former New York Yankees pitcher Ken Clay, who contributed to the team’s back-to-back World Series victories in 1977 and 1978, has passed away at 71 years old.
The Yankees received notification on Sunday from Dr. Jim Warner, executive medical director at Lynchburg’s Centra Heart & Vascular Institute in Virginia, that Clay had died Thursday at his Lynchburg residence. Warner reported that heart and kidney complications led to Clay’s death.
Primarily working as a relief pitcher throughout his career, Clay first reached the majors in June 1977 and participated in two World Series games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. During the 1978 World Series rematch with Los Angeles, he allowed a three-run home run to Davey Lopes in his sole Game 1 appearance.
Clay’s finest postseason performance occurred in the opening game of the 1978 American League Championship Series versus Kansas City. Entering the game with New York ahead 4-0, Clay took the mound in the sixth inning with one out and runners on all three bases. He delivered 3 2/3 innings without allowing a run and secured the save in the Yankees’ 7-1 victory.
The 1979 season proved difficult for Clay, who posted a 1-7 record and ended the year playing in the minor leagues. While still in the minors, New York dealt him to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Gaylord Perry. Clay started eight games for Texas in 1980, compiling a 2-3 record, before being dealt to the Seattle Mariners following the season. Seattle released him during 1982 spring training.
Throughout his major league tenure, Clay appeared in 111 games, making 36 starts, and finished with a 10-24 record, three saves, and a 4.68 earned run average.
During Clay’s struggles in 1979, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner publicly criticized his performance, infamously labeling him a “morning glory,” comparing him to racehorses that excel during practice sessions but fail to deliver during actual competition.
Clay encountered several legal troubles after his baseball career concluded. In 1987, he entered a guilty plea in Virginia for theft of more than $16,000 from a ring distribution company where he was employed. Five years later, he received a one-year Virginia jail sentence for stealing $550 from an automotive dealership employer. In 2001, Clay admitted guilt to forgery and additional charges in Florida, agreeing to reimburse creditors over $40,000 for fraudulently using his former girlfriend’s identity to deceive three credit card companies.
Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez has emerged as the top performer in Major League Baseball’s new Automated Ball-Strike System during the season’s opening weekend, posting a flawless 4-0 record when disputing umpire calls.
The Royals and Arizona Diamondbacks stand as the only clubs with perfect challenge records, with Kansas City at 4-0 and Arizona at 3-0. Meanwhile, Houston struggled mightily at 0-6, and St. Louis went 0-3 in their appeals.
Among individual batters, San Francisco’s Heliot Ramos and Cincinnati’s Eugenio Suárez were the sole players to achieve 2-0 records on their challenges, with Suárez successfully overturning calls on back-to-back pitches. Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout posted a 3-1 mark, while Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. was the only batter to go 0-2.
Teams are being strategic about when to use their challenges, focusing on critical moments in at-bats.
“1-1 counts. Counts that are going to end the at-bat. Those are big challenge times,” said Phillies manager Rob Thomson, whose team went 4-3.
The challenge system showed a 53.7% success rate across 47 games, with 175 total appeals averaging 3.7 per contest. Catchers proved more effective than batters, winning 59 of 92 challenges for a 64% success rate, while batters succeeded on just 33 of 78 attempts for 42%. Pitchers rarely challenged calls, with only five attempts total.
Cincinnati batters dominated with a perfect 6-0 record, while Atlanta hitters failed on all four of their challenges.
Umpire C.B. Bucknor faced the most scrutiny when six of eight challenges against his calls were overturned during Cincinnati’s 6-5, 11-inning victory Saturday. All six reversed decisions involved strikes being changed to balls.
Boston manager Alex Cora was ejected by Bucknor in that same game for arguing a checked swing ruling.
“I feel bad for them because everybody has a bad day,” Thomson said of the umpires. “The last thing you want to see is somebody get embarrassed. I don’t care who it is, player, coach, umpire. I don’t want to ever see anybody get embarrassed playing this game.”
Minnesota manager Derek Shelton made history Sunday as the first skipper ejected for disputing an ABS-related call, getting tossed in the ninth inning against Baltimore after protesting that pitcher Ryan Helsley took too long to request a review.
The new system, implemented this season, allows teams to contest strike zone decisions through technology utilizing 12 Hawk-Eye cameras that determine whether pitches cross the strike zone with precision within approximately one-sixth of an inch.
BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — President Faustin-Archange Touadéra officially began his third consecutive term in office Monday, taking the oath three months following a controversial December election.
The new term will last seven years under constitutional changes approved in 2023. Those same amendments eliminated presidential term limits and extended the office from five to seven years. Opposition coalition parties refused to participate in the December voting in protest of these changes.
During Monday’s inauguration ceremony in Bangui, which drew attendance from the leaders of Congo-Brazzaville and Comoros, Touadéra outlined his economic vision. “We aspire to build a sovereign economy and ensure transparent management of our natural resources,” he stated.
The Constitutional Council reported that Touadéra secured 77.9% of votes cast, but opposition groups and civil society organizations have dismissed these figures as fraudulent.
Civil society activist Frédéric Godoba expressed strong skepticism about the reported results, saying “You have to be a fool to believe that.”
The nation has experienced ongoing instability since 2013, when predominantly Muslim rebel forces overthrew former President François Bozizé. A 2019 peace agreement between government officials and 14 armed factions helped reduce tensions, though six of those groups have since abandoned the accord.
The Central African Republic became one of the initial African nations where Wagner, the Russian mercenary organization, established operations.
ATLANTA (AP) — As the World Cup approaches, Team USA defender Chris Richards has developed a humorous perspective on what defines American culture.
“Maybe the TSA lines right now, that’s pretty American,” Richards commented on Monday while preparing for a World Cup exhibition match against Portugal.
The Birmingham, Alabama native spends most of his time in London playing for Crystal Palace in the English Premier League. He returned to the United States last week to participate in two international friendly matches scheduled in Atlanta.
Previously, Richards had focused on American cuisine when describing cultural differences. During friendly matches in Texas and Colorado last October, he introduced teammates Cameron Carter-Vickers and Antonee Robinson, both raised in England, to the American dining experience at Chili’s Grill and Bar. The group also included Tim Weah, Weston McKennie, and Mark McKenzie, according to cbssports.com.
“The Triple Dipper you have to get but then I think it’s the endless chips and salsa, but then also there’s sports on TV and also the chocolate molten lava cake and it’s just like you’re sitting there and you’re looking at the ground, the tile,” Richards explained in his earlier comments. “You’re like, this is beautiful. This is nostalgia. This is really America … I think that’s one of the things that makes us American — places like Chili’s are like a staple and I think they finally could have that stamp on their passport now that they’ve had Chili’s so I was happy for them.”
Even France’s national team coach Didier Deschamps experienced America’s stringent airport security measures before his team’s friendly match against Colombia in Landover, Maryland on Sunday.
During a press conference prior to the Colombia match, Deschamps expressed surprise at the extensive security procedures his team encountered upon entering the country.
“At our arrival, we spent an incredible amount of time at the airport, with checks that I’ve never seen in my life,” Deschamps told reporters. “We are adapting.”
Armed gunmen killed at least 20 people during a deadly assault on a Nigerian community Sunday night, according to local residents and government officials.
The violent incident took place in the Gari Ya Waye community located in Jos North area within Plateau state, according to Joyce Lohya Ramnap, the state’s information commissioner. In her official statement, Ramnap confirmed there were fatalities and injuries but did not specify casualty numbers.
Following the deadly assault, state officials enacted a 48-hour curfew aimed at preventing additional violence, Ramnap announced.
While no organization has taken responsibility for the attack, local residents reported to The Associated Press that numerous armed individuals on motorcycles fired randomly throughout the community.
Local resident Ibukun Falodun confirmed that 20 deaths had been verified from the incident.
Such violent incidents in Plateau State represent part of an ongoing pattern of bloodshed across north-central Nigeria, where conflicts over territory and livestock grazing rights between predominantly Muslim Fulani cattle herders and primarily Christian agricultural communities regularly turn fatal. Criminal organizations also operate throughout the region.
For Leslie Sherman-Shafer, who drives for Uber in California’s Bay Area, every work shift begins with filling her gas tank to the brim.
What once cost approximately $25 to fuel her Toyota Corolla now runs close to $40 since the conflict in Iran started, driving up regular gasoline costs across America by $1 per gallon. The retired dental assistant, who transports Uber customers five days weekly, now works additional hours to offset the increased expenses.
“We don’t get reimbursed for gas. We rely on the generosity of the tip,” Sherman-Shafer explained. While some riders have increased their tips to help with higher fuel costs, most passengers don’t tip anything at all, she noted.
Operating cars, vans, or trucks represents a significant component of countless American jobs. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows nearly 27% of civilian employees identified driving as a physical requirement of their work last year. Countless workers depend on personal vehicles for employment, including delivery drivers, rideshare operators like Sherman-Shafer, independent electricians, childcare providers, healthcare workers, and property sales professionals.
With the conflict now in its fifth week and continuing to impact worldwide oil distribution, many of these employees are struggling financially. AAA reports the national gas price average hit $3.99 per gallon Monday, representing a 34% increase from the previous month.
“With everything going up, it’s impossible to save a dime,” Sherman-Shafer stated.
Certain employers provide compensation for workers using personal vehicles, covering fuel expenses. The Internal Revenue Service establishes an annual standard mileage rate for businesses and independent contractors to calculate tax deductions. Alpine Maids, a Denver-based cleaning service, compensates their staff using the 2026 federal rate of 72.5 cents per mile for travel to customer locations.
However, with fuel prices surging, that compensation doesn’t stretch as far, explained Chris Willatt, a former geologist who operates Alpine Maids.
“Our maids drive their own cars, so it’s kind of like their paycheck got smaller,” Willatt noted. “They’re all upset.”
Willatt has reduced mandatory office visits from daily to weekly and reorganized cleaning schedules to minimize travel distances between appointments. Should gas prices continue climbing, he’s considering raising customer rates to increase worker compensation.
Molly Kenefick, who owns Doggy Lama Pet Care Inc. in Oakland, California, recently increased her gas reimbursement to 80 cents per mile for 15 staff members who transport dogs for Bay Area hiking services. This rate increase will remain until local gas prices stay below $5 for at least 30 days, she said.
Kenefick plans to increase service prices in May but wants to avoid excessive increases that might drive away customers. She’s also using personal savings to cover gas expenses.
“The economy is hard for people. Everybody’s under strain,” she observed. “I can take some of the load and the company can take some of the load, provided this doesn’t go on too long.”
Rideshare and food delivery companies that depend on gig workers don’t provide gas reimbursements, though some offer temporary incentives responding to rising fuel costs. DoorDash, Uber, Lyft, and Instacart are providing enhanced cash back on gas purchases for drivers using company debit cards. DoorDash and Instacart offer weekly fuel payments for drivers traveling 125 miles or more during deliveries.
Sarah Noell, who dedicates roughly 20 hours weekly to DoorDash deliveries in Lynchburg, Virginia, said these programs provide some relief. However, she’s observed more customers removing tips from orders as gas prices increase.
Noell now rejects any delivery that won’t average $1 per mile, including the $2.50 per order from DoorDash. This eliminates many non-tipping customers or those providing minimal tips.
“It takes nearly double the cost to fill my tank,” Noell said. “Ten dollars used to get me a decent amount. Now it only gets me 3 gallons.”
Diesel vehicle owners have experienced even sharper fuel price increases since the war began February 28, affecting drivers globally.
Philippine drivers of diesel-powered “jeepneys” staged a two-day strike last week protesting increased operating costs. In France, dozens of buses and trucks moved slowly on Paris ring roads Monday demonstrating concerns about diesel price increases. Drivers and businesses are seeking government assistance to address the impact.
“The major difficulty right now is finding our balance on our business since we sold services with the vehicles at a certain price for diesel that was much cheaper. And we’re not going to ask customers to pay that difference,” Sarah Bahezre, manager of bus company Ulysse Cars, told The Associated Press.
AAA data shows average U.S. diesel prices increased 44% over the past month.
Several weeks ago, Rachel Hunter paid $3.62 per gallon to fuel the single diesel truck for Cactus Crew Junk Removal & Thrift Store, a Phoenix business she co-founded with her husband. AAA reports that same fuel now costs $6.09 per gallon in Phoenix.
The truck hauls various heavy materials, from solid maple bowling lane slabs to concrete paver tile loads. Fuel expenses accumulate rapidly, Hunter explained, especially with a vehicle achieving only 12 or 13 miles per gallon.
Hunter now provides price quotes reflecting the fuel cost increases. She fears being caught in a “vicious circle” that could damage the business if oil prices stay elevated.
“We don’t want to get a bad name for being overpriced,” she says. “I’ll be able to explain it where people can understand, but it doesn’t mean they can afford it.”
MINNEAPOLIS — Federal officials have initiated legal action against Minnesota and its high school sports governing organization, following through on warnings to take action against the state’s policy permitting transgender students to participate in girls’ athletic competitions.
This legal challenge represents part of a nationwide debate concerning transgender youth rights. Over 25 states have enacted legislation preventing transgender women and girls from taking part in specific sports programs, with some also restricting gender-affirming medical procedures for minors. Various court decisions have halted certain policies.
Monday’s federal filing claims Minnesota’s Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League are in violation of Title IX, the federal statute prohibiting sex-based discrimination in educational institutions receiving federal dollars.
“The Trump Administration does not tolerate flawed state policies that ignore biological reality and unfairly undermine girls on the playing field,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement.
State attorney general representatives were working to prepare a response, while league officials had not yet provided comment on the matter.
Federal authorities have pursued comparable legal actions against Maine and California, while also threatening funding cuts to various universities regarding transgender athlete policies, including San Jose State in California and the University of Pennsylvania.
Minnesota leadership has consistently opposed federal efforts to exclude trans athletes from girls’ sports programs. State officials filed their own preemptive legal action last April, arguing Minnesota’s human rights legislation takes precedence over executive orders from President Donald Trump issued last year. Their filing also maintains the state already follows Title IX requirements. A decision remains pending on the federal government’s request to dismiss that case.
Federal prosecutors stated in their announcement that Minnesota breaks Title IX rules “by requiring girls to compete against boys in athletic competitions that are designated exclusively for girls and allowing boys to invade intimate spaces designated exclusively for girls, such as multi-person locker rooms and bathrooms.”
Justice Department records show Minnesota’s Department of Education receives over $3 billion each year in federal support from the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services. Officials say this funding depends on Title IX compliance.
The federal case seeks a court declaration finding Minnesota in breach of Title IX and demands the state ban transgender girls from participating in girls’ high school athletics.
Civil rights divisions at the Education and Health and Human Services departments warned the state and league last September they could face legal consequences unless they ceased violating federal regulations.
WASHINGTON — Legal representatives for The New York Times returned to federal court Monday, claiming the Pentagon continues to defy a judicial ruling that struck down restrictive media access regulations at the Defense Department’s main facility.
Federal Judge Paul Friedman heard additional arguments from both the newspaper’s legal team and Trump administration officials but did not issue an immediate decision from the courtroom. The Times maintains that Pentagon leadership has created an alternative press policy designed to work around the judge’s March 20 decision.
Earlier this month, Friedman ruled in favor of The Times, determining that the Pentagon’s updated credentialing requirements infringed upon reporters’ First Amendment free speech protections and due process guarantees. His ruling mandated the restoration of press credentials for seven Times journalists and emphasized the decision covered “all regulated parties.”
Attorney Theodore Boutrous, representing The Times, told the court that Pentagon officials responded to Friedman’s directive by creating an updated policy featuring “radical new restrictions” on media personnel.
“They’ve only made things worse,” Boutrous stated.
Defense Department lawyer Sarah Welch countered that the military’s updated media access guidelines contain multiple “safe harbors” that protect journalists conducting standard news reporting activities. “The department has fully complied in good faith with that (March 20) order,” Welch informed the judge.
According to a court document filed Sunday, Times national security correspondent Julian Barnes described how Pentagon personnel informed him and fellow reporters last week that their updated credentials would provide entry to a designated press space within the Pentagon library. However, Barnes explained that journalists could only reach the library via a hallway or shuttle service they lacked authorization to use — a situation that drew a sharp reaction from Friedman.
“How weird is that?” the judge questioned. “Is it Catch-22? Is it Kafka? What’s going on here?”
Last October, journalists from major news organizations left the building rather than accept the updated regulations. The Times filed legal action against the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December to contest the policy.
Legal counsel for The Times charged the Pentagon with breaking both “the letter and spirit” of the judge’s March 20 ruling by creating a substitute “interim” policy requiring credentialed journalists to have escorts when entering the facility. The newspaper’s attorneys argue the newest policy also establishes unprecedented guidelines governing when reporters may grant anonymity to information sources.
“The intent is obvious: The Interim Policy is an attempted end-run around this Court’s ruling,” attorneys for the newspaper stated.
Government legal representatives maintained that the Pentagon’s substitute policy completely adheres to the judge’s instructions.
“In effect, Plaintiffs ask this Court to expand the Order to prohibit the Department from ever addressing the security of the Pentagon through a press credentialing policy with conditions that may address similar topics or concerns as the enjoined conditions. The Order does not say that, and this Court should not read it to say that,” Justice Department lawyers argued.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell previously announced the administration’s intention to appeal Friedman’s March 20 ruling.
The Pentagon Press Association, whose membership includes Associated Press journalists, stated that the Pentagon’s temporary policy maintains elements that Friedman ruled unconstitutional while introducing additional restrictions on credential recipients.
“The Interim Policy moves reporters’ workspace to an annex facility outside the Pentagon and prohibits any reporter from moving within the Pentagon itself without an escort, further limiting their ability to actually do journalism in the forum designated specifically for that purpose,” wrote an association lawyer.
The existing Pentagon press corps consists primarily of conservative media organizations that accepted the policy. Reporters from outlets that declined to agree to the updated regulations, including the AP, have maintained their military coverage.
Friedman, appointed by Democratic President Bill Clinton, noted in his ruling that recent U.S. military actions in Venezuela and Iran underscore the importance of public access to information regarding government operations.
The Buffalo Bills have exercised the fifth-year contract option for tight end Dalton Kincaid, securing his services through the 2027 season.
Brandon Beane, the team’s general manager, announced the decision Monday during league meetings taking place in Phoenix.
The contract extension guarantees Kincaid $8.1 million for the 2027 campaign. The 26-year-old player was selected 25th overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Kincaid earned his inaugural Pro Bowl selection in 2025 following a season where he recorded 39 receptions for 571 receiving yards and five touchdowns across 12 games played.
Throughout his professional career spanning 41 games with 24 as a starter, Kincaid has accumulated 156 catches for 1,692 yards and nine touchdown receptions.
SpaceX reported losing communication with one of its Starlink satellites on Sunday after the spacecraft encountered technical difficulties while orbiting approximately 347 miles above Earth. The company emphasized that this malfunction creates no danger to ongoing space operations.
The timing is notable as NASA prepares for the possible April 1 launch of its Artemis II mission, which will mark the first time astronauts have flown on the agency’s ambitious program to return humans to lunar surface within the decade.
In a Monday statement posted on X, Starlink confirmed that their analysis indicates the satellite problem creates no additional danger to the International Space Station, its astronauts, or NASA’s upcoming Artemis II launch.
The company stated it will keep tracking satellite 34343 and any debris that can be monitored, while maintaining coordination with both the U.S. Space Force and NASA.
Starlink announced it is collaborating with SpaceX to actively “determine root cause and will rapidly implement any necessary corrective actions.”
The satellite issue also did not impact Monday morning’s successful Falcon 9 Transporter-16 mission, which was created to place various payloads either above or below where Starlink satellites operate, according to the company.
SpaceX, under the ownership of Tesla billionaire Elon Musk, is preparing for a public stock offering that analysts believe could reach a valuation of $1.75 trillion, potentially setting records as the biggest initial public offering ever completed.
Two United Nations peacekeepers lost their lives Monday when an explosion destroyed their vehicle in southern Lebanon, according to the UN peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL.
The blast, described by officials as having an “unknown origin,” also left a third peacekeeper with severe injuries while a fourth sustained lesser wounds. The deadly incident occurred in the vicinity of Bani Haiyyan municipality.
This marks the second fatal attack on UN peacekeeping forces within a 24-hour period. Just one day earlier, another UNIFIL peacekeeper was killed when an explosive projectile detonated at a UN position in a village in southern Lebanon.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will eventually be separated from the team, but emphasized there’s no specific timeline for his departure.
Speaking to reporters Monday during the NFL league meetings in Phoenix, Shanahan addressed questions about when the organization might cut Aiyuk from the roster. “I don’t have a date,” Shanahan stated. “We’re in no rush to do that.”
The 28-year-old receiver signed a lucrative four-year, $120 million deal in August 2024, but his guaranteed money for 2026 was eliminated after he failed to report to the team facility for rehabilitation following knee injuries. Aiyuk suffered torn ACL and MCL injuries to his right knee during Week 7 of the 2024 season.
The situation represents a dramatic downturn for Aiyuk, who posted impressive numbers in 2023 with a team-leading 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Throughout his five-year NFL career, the former first-round draft selection has recorded 294 receptions for 4,305 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Shanahan reflected on the unusual nature of the contract situation in November, saying: “I’ve been coaching over 20 years and I’ve never been in a situation where a contract’s been voided. It takes a lot of things to get a contract voided. Never dealt with that.”
General Manager John Lynch previously announced in February that Aiyuk would remain on the roster until at least March 11, when the new league year begins.
Rather than simply releasing the receiver, Shanahan expressed optimism about potentially acquiring compensation through a trade. Aiyuk hasn’t appeared in a game since October 2024.
“Eventually, it will resolve itself,” Shanahan commented. “Hopefully, we get something for it.”
With both Aiyuk’s departure looming and 2025 leading receiver Jauan Jennings expected to leave via free agency, San Francisco has already begun reshaping its receiving corps by signing veteran Mike Evans from Tampa Bay and multi-team player Christian Kirk.
Lynch offered praise for the departing Jennings, a 2020 seventh-round selection who compiled 210 catches for 2,581 yards and 22 touchdowns across 75 games with the franchise.
“He’ll find a good home, and Jauan will go play great football for someone,” Lynch told The Athletic. “I can’t say enough for what that guy did; when that guy stepped between the lines, man, he was a presence, and they had to deal with him, and he won us a lot of games.”
Police authorities confirmed Monday that a violent assault in the Haitian community of Petite-Riviere resulted in at least 16 fatalities and left 10 others wounded, as gang warfare continues to plague the nation’s crucial farming areas.
Civil protection officials on the ground provided preliminary casualty figures that were even higher, documenting 17 deaths and 19 people injured in the incident involving the Gran Grif gang.
Reports from regional news outlets indicated the deadly confrontation started within the Jean-Denis neighborhood of the community.
This latest outbreak of violence comes after United Nations officials documented that armed gang raids in the neighboring town of Verrettes recently forced more than 2,000 residents from their homes, causing people in Petite-Riviere to also abandon their residences.
The Artibonite department, which serves as Haiti’s primary agricultural hub, has experienced some of the nation’s most severe gang-related violence as criminal organizations expand their operations beyond the capital city of Port-au-Prince.
Administrative offices throughout Salisbury will shut down on Friday, April 3, with normal business operations set to return Monday, April 6.
Critical city services such as police, fire department, and emergency response teams will continue their regular schedules without interruption.
The Salisbury Zoo will keep its doors open for visitors, maintaining its usual hours from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Garbage pickup that was originally planned for Friday has been moved to Saturday, April 4. City officials recommend residents put their collection bins out Thursday evening to ensure pickup occurs on schedule. Additional details about holiday waste collection schedules can be found at www.salisbury.md/departments/fieldoperations.
Anyone needing immediate city services during the closure should call the Salisbury Police Department’s non-emergency number at 410-548-3165.
Salisbury municipal workers will shut down a section of Truitt Street on Monday, March 30, to install new water infrastructure as the city continues upgrading its aging distribution network.
The water line replacement project will take place in the 100 block of Truitt Street, forcing officials to block vehicle access between East Salisbury Parkway and Grace Street while crews complete the installation.
City officials anticipate the construction will wrap up by approximately 3:30 p.m., assuming favorable weather conditions and no unexpected complications arise during the work.
Utility companies and emergency services have been alerted about the planned infrastructure work, according to city officials.
Salisbury leadership expressed gratitude to area residents for their cooperation during the temporary road restriction.
Across Delaware, military veterans are embracing artistic expression through paintbrushes, drawing tools, and printing plates, finding that creating art with fellow service members offers a uniquely meaningful experience.
The Delaware Division of the Arts has teamed up with the Delaware Office of Veterans Services to launch another series of complimentary eight-week art workshops available throughout the state.
These creative sessions provide veterans with the opportunity to explore various artistic mediums while building connections with others who share similar military experiences. The collaborative nature of the program has proven particularly valuable for participants seeking both creative outlets and community bonds.
The statewide initiative represents an ongoing effort to support Delaware’s veteran community through arts programming, offering accessible creative opportunities at no cost to participants.
Dover Police Department has made available the most recent updates to their registered sex offender database for residents within the city boundaries.
The department’s Sex Offender Enforcement Unit maintains these records as part of ongoing community safety notifications required under state law.
Residents who have questions or need additional information regarding these registry updates are advised to reach out directly to the Dover Police Sex Offender Enforcement Unit for assistance.
The updated information includes photographs and relevant details for individuals currently registered within Dover’s jurisdiction as of March 30, 2026.
American figure skater Ilia Malinin has captured his third consecutive world championship title, taking the top prize at the competition held in Prague on Saturday.
The victory represents a strong comeback for Malinin following his performance at the Olympics earlier in the season, demonstrating his resilience and continued dominance in the sport.
Saturday’s competition in Prague concluded the 2025-2026 figure skating season. With the season now complete, athletes will have the opportunity to participate in touring shows, take time to recover, and develop new competitive programs before the upcoming season begins in July.
Malinin’s third straight world title solidifies his position as one of the sport’s premier competitors and shows his ability to bounce back from setbacks on the international stage.
NASA stands ready to make history by sending astronauts toward the moon for the first time in more than 53 years through its Artemis II mission, marking a pivotal moment in America’s space exploration efforts as the nation works to maintain its leadership position amid increasing competition from China.
Four astronauts – three from the United States and one from Canada – are scheduled to launch Wednesday aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft atop the Space Launch System rocket for a 10-day journey that will take them around the moon and back. This voyage will carry humans farther into space than anyone has traveled before.
This marks the inaugural crewed flight within NASA’s Artemis program, America’s primary initiative to establish routine lunar missions at an estimated price tag of no less than $93 billion since 2012. Humans haven’t set foot on the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, an achievement NASA hopes to replicate by 2028 at the challenging lunar south pole region.
The United States remains the sole nation to successfully land people on another world through its six Apollo moon landings, originally motivated by rivalry with the Soviet Union.
China has emerged as a significant technological competitor to the U.S., making consistent advances in its lunar exploration program through recent years with multiple robotic moon missions and plans to land its own astronauts on the surface by 2030. American officials have emphasized the importance of reaching the moon before China.
NASA astronaut Christina Koch, serving as an Artemis II mission specialist, described the moon Sunday as a “witness plate” documenting our solar system’s origins and a pathway to Mars, “where we might have the most likelihood of finding evidence of past life.”
“Many, many countries have recognized the value that there is in exploring further into the solar system, to the moon and on to Mars,” she told reporters. “They recognize that not only can we gain all these extremely tangible benefits, but that we have the opportunity to answer the question that could be the question of our lifetime, which is, are we alone?”
“Answering that question starts at the moon,” she said. “The question is not should we go, but should we lead, or should we follow?”
Using a sequence of progressively sophisticated Artemis missions spanning the coming decade, America seeks to establish guidelines for how nations will function and collaborate on the moon’s surface, where countries and corporations may eventually harvest lunar materials and prepare for far more challenging Mars expeditions.
NASA has partnered with numerous private companies for its lunar program, hoping to foster future commercial moon-based industries whose potential value remains difficult to predict, according to industry experts.
A January PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis projects $127 billion in lunar surface activity revenues by 2050, with investments potentially ranging from $72 billion to $88 billion during that timeframe.
However, government funding will drive corporate lunar strategies and income for the foreseeable future. Commercial moon-based growth independent of government support remains far in the future, according to Akhil Rao, an economist with analysis firm Rational Futures who previously worked as a research economist at NASA.
“NASA did not see a short-run economic value that companies would be able to derive that would allow NASA to be hands-off,” said Rao, who was among a team of economists and space policy staff laid off last year amid the Trump administration’s sweeping federal workforce cuts.
The Artemis II mission will provide a more rigorous evaluation of NASA’s Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket, which completed a comparable uncrewed mission in 2022. The crew will evaluate essential life-support equipment, crew controls, navigation systems, and communications before NASA advances to more complicated missions in subsequent years.
Launch is planned for April 1, though it may occur any day through April 6, depending on Florida weather conditions and potential last-minute technical issues. Following that, another launch opportunity opens April 30, determined primarily by Earth-moon orbital dynamics.
Artemis III, the subsequent mission scheduled for 2027, will feature the Orion capsule connecting in Earth orbit with NASA’s two lunar landing vehicles – Blue Origin’s Blue Moon system from Jeff Bezos and SpaceX’s Starship from Elon Musk. This complex rendezvous will test how the landers will collect astronauts before traveling to the moon’s surface.
NASA’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, a billionaire private astronaut who has significantly restructured the program with new goals, added this mission to the program in February. His choice delayed the program’s first crewed lunar landing to Artemis IV.
The system is more intricate than the Apollo missions, incorporating multiple NASA-funded companies with the goal of encouraging private competition and commercial activity around the moon. Boeing and Northrop Grumman lead SLS development while Lockheed Martin constructs Orion for NASA.
SpaceX and Blue Origin are creating their own landing vehicles with NASA funding through different contract structures that permit them to market the spacecraft to additional clients.
The dairy sector is witnessing encouraging signs as milk and cheese prices begin to climb back up from previous lows. Industry analysts are reporting measurable gains across various dairy commodities, signaling potential relief for farmers and processors who have weathered challenging market conditions.
This upward trend in pricing represents a significant shift from the volatility that has characterized the dairy market in recent periods. The recovery appears to be broad-based, affecting multiple product categories within the dairy industry.
Market observers suggest this improvement could provide much-needed stability for dairy operations that have struggled with fluctuating revenues. The price increases may also impact grocery store costs for consumers who purchase milk, cheese, and other dairy products regularly.
BEIRUT, LEBANON — The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has driven massive numbers of Lebanese civilians into the capital city of Beirut, where they are finding temporary shelter wherever possible.
Lebanese families evacuating from the country’s southern regions and from Dahiyeh — the southern areas of Beirut where Hezbollah maintains its primary operations — have established temporary housing in various locations throughout the city. These include improvised shelters along Beirut’s waterfront promenade, educational facilities converted into emergency housing, athletic venues, and medical facilities.
Complete neighborhoods have been abandoned as residents flee ongoing bombardments and official evacuation notices that have cleared out towns and residential areas. The massive movement of people into Beirut has converted public areas into emergency housing and put significant pressure on the city’s already limited supplies and services.
The images were compiled by Associated Press photography staff.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Tallahassee Memorial Hospital has withdrawn its legal action against a patient who occupied a hospital room for several months following her official discharge, citing that the woman has finally departed the facility.
The medical center had initiated court proceedings earlier this month, seeking a court order to remove the patient from room 373 and requesting authorization for the county sheriff’s department to provide enforcement assistance if needed. The woman had been formally released from medical care in early October.
Monday’s scheduled court hearing was called off after hospital officials submitted paperwork to voluntarily dismiss the case with prejudice.
Hospital representative Sarah Cannon confirmed Monday that the legal matter is now closed because the patient “is no longer at TMH.”
In their court filing, hospital administrators argued that the woman’s continued presence was pulling resources away from caring for other patients who needed medical attention.
The legal documents revealed that the patient had been receiving medical care at the facility before doctors determined she no longer required intensive hospital services, leading to her discharge order on October 6. Hospital staff made multiple attempts to arrange her departure by working with her family members and even providing transportation options.
HAVANA — Cuban officials prepared Monday to welcome a Russian oil tanker under sanctions that transported approximately 730,000 barrels of crude oil to the Caribbean island, representing the nation’s initial such shipment in 2025.
The delivery occurred one day following President Donald Trump’s statement to media that he had “no problem” with Russian vessels providing fuel assistance to Cuba, a nation severely impacted by American oil restrictions.
Conflicting information emerged Monday regarding the precise whereabouts of the Russian vessel Anatoly Kolodkin. Although Russia’s Transport Ministry and Cuban state media outlet Cubadebate reported the ship had reached its destination, maritime tracking systems indicated the tanker remained in Cuban territorial waters with an anticipated arrival at port on Tuesday.
Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Monday that Moscow had coordinated the fuel delivery with Washington officials beforehand. “Russia сonsiders it its duty not to stand aside, but to provide the necessary assistance to our Cuban friends,” he told reporters.
The vessel is bound for Matanzas port, a crucial facility for the island nation that generates less than 40% of its fuel requirements domestically and depends on foreign imports to maintain electrical power. Energy analysts estimate the incoming cargo could yield approximately 180,000 barrels of diesel fuel, sufficient to meet Cuba’s consumption needs for nine to ten days.
Trump’s administration has pursued more stringent policies toward the Caribbean nation than previous U.S. governments in recent decades, essentially eliminating Cuba’s access to critical petroleum supplies in an attempt to pressure political transformation. The embargo has severely affected Cuban citizens whom Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio claim to support, creating widespread hardship.
Nationwide power failures have disrupted daily life for Cubans already enduring prolonged economic difficulties, while fuel shortages and resource scarcity have paralyzed medical facilities and dramatically reduced public transportation services.
Mexico previously provided oil to Cuba as a gesture of support during the island’s energy shortage, but Washington’s tariff threats effectively ended these shipments. Mexico subsequently shifted to delivering humanitarian supplies, including food items and personal care products.
When questioned during Monday’s press conference about Trump’s remarks regarding the Russian tanker, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum indicated her nation would maintain aid deliveries and that “work was underway” with Cuban officials for future oil transactions.
Sheinbaum, who has carefully managed relations with Trump to avoid tariff penalties and military intervention against drug cartels, offered limited specifics.
She explained that Cuban private businesses, including hospitality companies, “are looking for private entities willing to supply them with fuel,” and have contacted Mexico’s government-owned petroleum corporation about purchasing crude oil, noting these proposals remain under consideration.
Cuba has remained central to strategic competition between America and Russia spanning multiple decades. Trump dismissed Sunday the notion that permitting the vessel to reach Cuba would benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“It doesn’t help him. He loses one boatload of oil, that’s all it is. If he wants to do that, and if other countries want to do it, it doesn’t bother me much,” Trump said on Sunday. “It’s not going to have an impact. Cuba’s finished. They have a bad regime. They have very bad and corrupt leadership and whether or not they get a boat of oil, it’s not going to matter.”
The United States, European Union, and United Kingdom imposed sanctions on numerous ships, including the Anatoly Kolodkin, used for transporting Russian petroleum following the Ukraine conflict.
MEXICO CITY, March 30 – During her Monday morning news briefing, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stood firm on her nation’s authority to deliver fuel supplies to Cuba, citing both humanitarian needs and commercial interests as valid reasons.
Her statement came just one day following President Donald Trump’s modified position on restricting petroleum deliveries to the Communist nation, while a Russian tanker was making its way toward Havana’s port.
When asked about potential fuel deliveries to Cuba, Sheinbaum told reporters that the Mexican government “always seeks (to send) humanitarian aid, and it is in that context that we will make the decision.”
The Mexican leader did not provide specific details or establish any timeline regarding when her administration might move forward with oil deliveries to the island.
Sheinbaum revealed that Cuban private businesses, including hotel operations, have contacted Mexican officials about buying petroleum products from Pemex, the country’s state-run energy corporation.
Pharmaceutical giant Merck announced Monday that its experimental oral medication achieved impressive results in advanced clinical testing, slashing harmful cholesterol levels by 64.6 percent.
The company revealed the late-stage trial outcomes as it searches for its next major commercial breakthrough in the competitive pharmaceutical market.
The oral treatment represents a significant development in cholesterol management, potentially offering patients a new option for controlling dangerous cholesterol levels that contribute to heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announced Monday that the nation’s central banking system is closely monitoring the private credit industry for potential warning signs, though he emphasized that officials don’t currently see threats capable of destabilizing the broader financial system.
Speaking at a Harvard University event, Powell expressed caution about downplaying potential risks. “I’m reluctant to say anything that suggests that we’re dismissive of the risk,” Powell stated. “We’re looking for connections to the banking system and things that might, you know, result in contagion. We don’t see those right now,” he explained.
Regarding challenges currently facing this less transparent banking sector, Powell acknowledged that “there’ll be people losing money and things like that, but it doesn’t, it doesn’t seem to have the makings of a broader systemic event.”
The Fed chairman characterized private credit as “a relatively small part of a very large asset pool, we’re watching it super carefully,” while noting that regulatory agencies are actively addressing the situation.
Powell revealed that officials are gathering comprehensive information from industry leaders. “We’re also getting the back story from the people who run these organizations and from all the banks,” he said, adding that regulators “are well aware of what the banks’ exposure is.”
MILAN – Italian privacy regulators announced Monday they have levied a substantial financial penalty against Intesa Sanpaolo, the nation’s largest banking institution, following a significant customer data security violation.
The data protection authority imposed a 31.8 million euro fine, equivalent to approximately $36.41 million, on the major financial institution. The security breach compromised personal information belonging to roughly 3,500 bank customers and extended across a two-year timeframe.
The substantial penalty reflects Italian authorities’ commitment to enforcing strict data privacy standards for financial institutions handling sensitive customer information.
Duncan Powell, a senior forward on Providence University’s basketball team, was taken into custody Sunday in Cranston, Rhode Island, facing charges of domestic disorderly conduct, law enforcement officials confirmed.
According to WJAR’s reporting, the 23-year-old athlete’s former girlfriend informed police that Powell physically struck her and issued threats directed at both her and her friends.
Court records show Powell was set to appear for arraignment Monday morning.
The Providence Journal reported that university officials did not provide a response when asked for comment regarding the arrest.
During the current 2025-26 season, Powell has appeared in 22 contests for the Friars, starting five of those games. His statistics include 4.6 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, and 16.7 minutes of playing time per contest.
Earlier this year in February, the Big East Conference handed Powell a three-game suspension following a hard foul he committed against St. John’s player Bryce Hopkins, which led to an on-court altercation resulting in six players being ejected from the game.
The 6-foot-8 player from Dallas has transferred multiple times during his college career, beginning at North Carolina A&T from 2021-23, then moving to Sacramento State for the 2023-24 season, followed by Georgia Tech in 2024-25, before arriving at Providence.
Worcester County, Maryland officials have revealed their plans to close all government facilities during the upcoming Easter holiday weekend.
County administrative buildings and offices will be shut down in observance of Good Friday and Easter, giving employees time off for the religious holiday period.
Regular county operations and services are expected to return to normal schedule after the Easter holiday concludes.
Residents should plan accordingly for any county business or services they may need during this closure period.
This Wednesday could mark a pivotal moment in space exploration as NASA’s Artemis II crew prepares for liftoff on humanity’s first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years.
The four-person crew arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on March 27, 2026, ready for their ambitious 10-day journey that will take them around the moon and back to Earth. Commander Reid Wiseman and mission specialist Christina Koch were present as pilot Victor Glover addressed reporters following their arrival.
If successful, this mission will end a decades-long gap in human lunar exploration, as no crew members have traveled to the moon since NASA’s final Apollo missions in the 1970s. The Artemis II flight represents a major milestone in the agency’s broader goal of returning humans to the lunar surface.
The launch window opens Wednesday, weather and technical conditions permitting, as the space agency moves forward with this groundbreaking return to deep space exploration.
BERLIN — Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed the possibility of Syrian refugees returning to their homeland during a meeting Monday with Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, suggesting their skills are crucial for rebuilding efforts following years of devastating civil war.
Syria continues working to reconstruct its economy and infrastructure after a brutal conflict that claimed nearly half a million lives and caused extensive damage before ending with Bashar Assad’s removal from power in December 2024.
The prolonged conflict forced massive numbers of Syrians to seek refuge abroad, with Germany becoming a preferred destination. The country currently houses more than 900,000 Syrian citizens, many of whom have obtained German citizenship in recent years.
Merz’s administration, which assumed power nearly 11 months ago, has prioritized reducing overall migration and increasing deportations of migrants without legal status.
During al-Sharaa’s inaugural visit, Merz stressed Germany’s immediate focus on deporting Syrian criminals. “We have a small group here, but a group that causes us problems, of Syrians who have offended whom we now urgently want to repatriate,” he stated during a press briefing.
“In the longer perspective of the next three years, that … was the wish of President al-Sharaa, about 80% of the Syrians currently living in Germany should return to their homeland,” Merz continued. “We have an interest in those who live here, want to stay and are well-integrated … that these people stay in Germany. But many who are here are needed at home.”
Al-Sharaa did not validate the 80% projection. Instead, he highlighted that Germany’s Syrian population includes “6,000 doctors working in hospitals, and more than a quarter of a million people who pay taxes and contribute actively to the German economy,” calling them “common national assets” for both nations.
“Therefore, we are working with our friends in the German government to establish a circular immigration model that allows skilled Syrians to contribute to the reconstruction of their motherland without giving up their stability and the lives they built here, for those who wish to stay,” al-Sharaa explained.
The Syrian leader also participated in a German-Syrian business roundtable in Berlin while seeking assistance for his nation’s recovery efforts.
“You can count on Germany’s support on the way to a good future,” Merz assured al-Sharaa. “Success is more important than ever in view of the ongoing war in Iran in this region.”
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has thrown his hat into the ring once more, seeking to reclaim the congressional seat he previously held before his political career was derailed by a highly publicized extramarital affair in 2009.
The 65-year-old politician submitted his candidacy documents to state election officials with little time to spare, filing just hours before the cutoff for South Carolina’s 1st District Republican primary scheduled for June 9.
Sanford’s political journey began in this very district, where he emerged as an unknown candidate with minimal public recognition. Despite starting as an underdog, he managed to secure second place in the initial primary before ultimately claiming victory in the runoff election. After serving six years in Congress, he successfully mounted a gubernatorial campaign, once again fighting through a competitive primary field before defeating the final Democratic incumbent governor.
However, his eight-year tenure as governor became infamous due to what became known as the “Appalachian Trail” incident — a euphemism for Sanford’s secret trip to Argentina to meet his mistress. During his absence, his spouse, children, and government staff were left without knowledge of his whereabouts.
Despite facing an ethics investigation and widespread demands for his resignation, Sanford refused to step down and completed his gubernatorial term on his own timeline.
Following his gubernatorial exit in 2013, Sanford successfully reclaimed his former House seat by defeating 15 opponents across the primary and runoff elections. He secured two additional complete terms before losing to a Republican rival in 2018 who enjoyed endorsement from then-President Donald Trump.
The district subsequently changed hands to Democratic control that November for the first time in many years, though current GOP Representative Nancy Mace recaptured it in 2020. Mace is now pursuing the governor’s office this election cycle.
Sanford also made a brief presidential bid in 2020, attempting to challenge Trump for the Republican nomination before withdrawing prior to the New Hampshire primary without participating in his home state’s GOP contest.
Attempts to reach Sanford for comment on Monday were unsuccessful. Following his departure from the House, Sanford has maintained control of more than $1.3 million in federal campaign funds, resources he can now deploy in what is already shaping up to be a competitive primary featuring numerous Republican and Democratic contenders.
WASHINGTON — America has officially restored full embassy operations in Venezuela’s capital city of Caracas, marking the end of a seven-year diplomatic absence that began during Donald Trump’s presidency.
State Department officials confirmed Monday that regular embassy functions have resumed in Caracas following the January removal of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power. The diplomatic facility required extensive renovations, including addressing mold contamination issues, before staff could return.
While a small group of American diplomatic personnel had been operating from neighboring Colombia and working in Caracas for over a month, the embassy building itself remained closed until this week’s announcement.
According to a State Department statement, the embassy’s return to normal operations represents a significant step forward in the administration’s strategy for Venezuela. “The resumption of operations at U.S. Embassy Caracas is a key milestone in implementing the president’s three phase plan for Venezuela and will strengthen our ability to engage directly with Venezuela’s interim government, civil society, and the private sector,” officials stated.
The department characterized the development as beginning “a new chapter in our diplomatic presence in Venezuela.”
Following weeks of disruption at airports nationwide, Transportation Security Administration officials announced that federal workers are receiving their first paychecks in weeks, with payments beginning as early as Monday.
Several major airport security checkpoints, including facilities in Atlanta and Houston, showed notable improvements in processing times during Monday morning operations.
However, uncertainty remains about when security screening delays will consistently return to standard levels, and questions persist about the duration of federal immigration personnel assignments at airports during the ongoing spring break travel period.
The Department of Homeland Security funding lapse has created widespread travel disruptions and raised concerns about potential airport shutdowns as unpaid TSA personnel began calling out from work. These employees were still recovering from financial hardships following an extended federal government closure last fall.
Screening delays continued exceeding two hours at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Monday morning. Baltimore-Washington International Airport maintained its recommendation for passengers to arrive three hours ahead of scheduled flights, cautioning that extended wait periods may persist.
Following bipartisan congressional pressure, President Donald Trump directed the Department of Homeland Security on Friday to immediately compensate TSA officers to address the extensive delays affecting air travel. This decision followed Trump’s rejection of bipartisan legislative proposals to fund TSA operations while ongoing negotiations continue with Democrats, who have demanded restrictions on Trump’s immigration enforcement and deportation initiatives before approving additional funding.
Transportation security personnel have worked without compensation since DHS appropriations expired in February. The department’s closure reached 44 days on Sunday, surpassing the previous record of 43 days set during last fall’s comprehensive federal government shutdown.
The funding gap has generated not only passenger delays but also threats of facility closures as financially strained TSA employees stopped reporting for duty. These same workers had previously endured the nation’s most prolonged government shutdown during the fall. Several airports recorded absence rates exceeding 40%, while nearly 500 transportation security officers among the agency’s approximately 50,000-person workforce resigned during the closure.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel were deployed to select airports one week ago to assist with security operations as TSA employee absences increased across the country. The duration of their assignment, according to White House border czar Tom Homan, will depend on how rapidly TSA staff return to their positions. Agency officials stated that TSA “has immediately begun the process of paying its workforce,” with compensation arriving “as early as Monday.”
Organizations with ties to Russia and Iran are turning to digital currencies to fund purchases of affordable military drones and equipment, according to fresh research from blockchain analytics company Chainalysis.
Affordable commercial drones have emerged as crucial tools in conflicts across Ukraine and Middle Eastern regions, but their widespread availability on online shopping platforms makes it difficult for officials to monitor purchasers and determine their intentions.
Although most drone acquisitions still occur through conventional payment methods, procurement networks are showing growing connections to blockchain technology – the public digital record system underlying cryptocurrencies, Chainalysis discovered. This ledger enables investigators to follow transaction paths from start to finish.
Researchers at Chainalysis successfully tracked cryptocurrency flows from individual digital wallets tied to drone manufacturers or paramilitary organizations to purchases of inexpensive drones and parts from online marketplace sellers.
Following Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022, pro-Russian organizations have collected over $8.3 million through cryptocurrency donations, with drones listed among the specific items bought using these funds, the research revealed.
Andrew Fierman, who heads national security intelligence at Chainalysis, explained the investigative advantage: “On the blockchain, there’s this incredible opportunity, once you have identified the vendor to see the counterparty activity and make assessments that help clarify that utilization and the intent behind the purchase.”
According to Fierman, Chainalysis successfully connected cryptocurrency transactions ranging from $2,200 to $3,500 with exact pricing for drones and drone parts on online platforms.
“We saw everything from the request for the drones and the parts and how much they were looking to get, and then the pictures showing that they had procured those goods,” he explained.
The study also revealed that groups linked to Iran are utilizing cryptocurrency to acquire drone components and distribute military hardware. Researchers specifically identified a digital wallet connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps making drone part purchases from a supplier based in Hong Kong.
While the overall amount of cryptocurrency connected to drone procurement remains minimal compared to total military expenditures, the research suggests blockchain technology could help authorities better monitor purchases that might otherwise go undetected.
“The blockchain can provide a lot of insight that isn’t necessarily traditionally available,” Fierman noted.
WASHINGTON – Global economic recovery efforts face new threats as warfare in the Middle East creates widespread financial instability, according to a warning issued Monday by the International Monetary Fund.
The international financial institution’s leading economists published findings showing that military actions initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28 are generating uneven economic shockwaves across the globe while tightening financial markets.
According to the IMF’s analysis, nations closest to the conflict zone are experiencing severe economic disruption, while countries worldwide that were beginning to emerge from past economic challenges now face dimmed prospects for continued recovery.
The global lender emphasized that the economic impact, while widespread, is affecting different regions and sectors unevenly, creating additional complexity for policymakers trying to maintain financial stability.
Food service giant Sysco announced Monday it will acquire wholesale supplier Jetro Restaurant Depot in a massive $29 billion transaction that includes debt, broadening the nation’s largest food distributor’s access to budget-focused independent restaurants.
Sysco’s stock dropped approximately 12% following news that the company plans to fund the purchase through $21 billion in new and hybrid debt, combined with $1 billion in cash and equity. The food distributor currently holds a market value of $39.2 billion.
This major acquisition joins a wave of significant deals across consumer industries, as companies including Unilever, Estee Lauder and Pernod Ricard pursue mergers to achieve greater scale amid weakening demand and elevated operational costs.
The family-owned Jetro Restaurant Depot runs wholesale cash-and-carry operations where buyers pay immediately for products including food items, drinks and takeout packaging. This business model will complement Sysco’s existing delivery services to restaurants, medical facilities and hotels.
Through this acquisition, Sysco gains entry into the profitable cash-and-carry sector, where Restaurant Depot maintains approximately 166 warehouse facilities spanning 35 states nationwide.
“Sysco and Jetro Restaurant Depot will enhance value for small independent restaurants and the consumers they serve by expanding access to more affordable, fresh food products and delivering more choice and convenience,” stated Sysco CEO Kevin Hourican, emphasizing how the merger would reduce costs for additional customers.
Restaurant Depot stockholders will obtain $21.6 billion in cash plus 91.5 million Sysco shares valued at roughly $7.5 billion based on Friday’s closing price, granting them about 16% ownership in the merged entity.
Previously, US Foods abandoned merger discussions with Performance Food, which would have united the country’s second and third-largest foodservice distributors to compete against market leader Sysco while cutting expenses.
In 2015, a federal judge approved the Federal Trade Commission’s petition to halt Sysco’s $3.5 billion US Foods purchase after regulators claimed the deal would establish a dominant company capable of increasing prices for national clients.
During an analyst conference call, Hourican noted “There is minimal overlap between Sysco and Restaurant Depot’s customers.” The company plans to establish over 125 additional Restaurant Depot sites within the next two decades using its extensive supply network.
Sysco anticipates the deal will increase earnings per share by a mid-to-high single-digit percentage during the first year following completion, expected by the third quarter of fiscal 2027.
Credit agency Fitch assigned Sysco a “rating watch negative” status, while Moody’s initiated a review for potential downgrade after the announcement.
The corporation suspended its share buyback initiative while maintaining its annual projections. Sysco, recognized for providing steaks, fish fillets and frozen products to fast-food chains like KFC and Subway, increased its full-year earnings outlook earlier this year as customer demand remained steady despite economic uncertainties.
Philadelphia Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman maintained his evasive stance when questioned about persistent speculation regarding potential trades involving star wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Speaking to media members on Sunday during NFL league meetings in Phoenix, Roseman acknowledged the widespread attention surrounding the situation.
“I understand that there’s interest in the A.J. Brown story. I, unfortunately, don’t have a home under a rock,” he told reporters Sunday at the league meetings in Phoenix.
“But my answer to any question on A.J. Brown is A.J. Brown is a member of the Eagles. From my perspective, anything you ask me about A.J. Brown, I’m going to go right back to that answer. But I understand the interest. I put on TV and I see that there’s interest, but my answer is A.J. Brown is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.”
This response mirrors Roseman’s cautious approach from January when questioned about the team’s future plans regarding Brown, whose dissatisfaction with Philadelphia’s offensive system has become increasingly apparent during recent seasons.
“It is hard to find great players in the NFL, and A.J. is a great player,” Roseman said two months ago. “I think from my perspective, that’s what we’re going out and looking for when we go out here in free agency, in the draft, just trying to find great players who love football, and he’s that guy.”
Philadelphia faces no immediate pressure to move Brown, despite reports connecting him to the New England Patriots during this offseason. Financial considerations play a significant role, as trading him prior to June 1 would result in a dead salary cap penalty exceeding $40 million, while waiting until after that date reduces the hit to approximately $20 million.
The 28-year-old receiver’s production has declined over the past two seasons, recording an average of 72.5 receptions and 1,041 receiving yards, a notable drop from his impressive 97.0 catches and 1,476 yards per season during his initial two campaigns with Philadelphia from 2022-23.
Multiple reports emerged Monday indicating that NC State University is nearing completion of a deal to bring back alumnus Justin Gainey as the program’s new men’s basketball head coach. Gainey currently serves as associate head coach at the University of Tennessee.
The 49-year-old coach will step into the role vacated by Will Wade, who departed the program last week to return to his previous position at LSU. Wade led the Wolfpack to a 20-14 season record and secured an NCAA Tournament berth during his single year leading the program in Raleigh.
For the last five years, Gainey has been part of Rick Barnes’ coaching staff in Knoxville, where he helped guide the Volunteers to three consecutive Elite Eight appearances in the NCAA Tournament over the past three seasons.
This appointment marks Gainey’s first opportunity as a head coach. The former Wolfpack player suited up for NC State between 1996 and 2000, later building his coaching resume with assistant positions at Elon, Appalachian State, Santa Clara, Arizona, and Marquette before moving to Tennessee in 2021.
Barnes offered high praise for his departing assistant coach when speaking to The Athletic on Saturday. “I hope he gets the job,” Barnes stated. “I don’t think there’s anybody in the country that loves NC State more than Justin Gainey. … A terrific basketball coach. I mean, if you come to our walk-throughs, like today or the other day, he scouted the last game. I don’t say a whole lot because those guys have it.”
The Tennessee coach continued his endorsement, saying, “But Justin has an incredible feel for the game, really understands players. He works at it. Terrific recruiter. Understands the NIL era today. If NC State knew what I knew, they would be begging him to be their next head coach. Because he’s ready not just for NC State, he’s ready to be the head coach of the University of Tennessee or any school in the country. He’s that good.”
During his playing career under coach Herb Sendek, Gainey posted averages of 6.9 points, 2.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals across 128 games, starting 103 of those contests for the Wolfpack.
The final sprint of the NBA regular season is now underway.
As of Monday, just 111 games remain on the schedule, meaning 91% of the regular season has been completed. The field for postseason play has largely been determined: Milwaukee, Chicago, Washington, Brooklyn and Indiana have been knocked out of Eastern Conference contention, while Memphis, New Orleans, Dallas, Utah and Sacramento won’t be participating from the Western Conference.
This leaves 20 franchises using the remaining two weeks primarily to jockey for better playoff seeding.
Detroit, Boston, Oklahoma City and San Antonio have already locked up playoff berths, with New York, Cleveland, the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver appearing mathematically certain to join them soon. Houston and Minnesota are also close to securing their spots.
Portland and Golden State have guaranteed themselves play-in tournament positions.
Several key matchups highlight Monday’s slate:
Philadelphia visits Miami in a game where the victor claims the season series tiebreaker. The contest may mark Kyle Lowry’s final appearance as a player in Miami, where he previously starred. The Heat are coming off a disappointing defeat in Indiana on Sunday.
Boston travels to Atlanta for a rematch after defeating the Hawks by seven points on Friday. The Celtics have already reached 50 victories, while Atlanta has won 12 consecutive home games and 15 of their last 17 overall.
Phoenix faces Memphis in a crucial game for the Suns, who need victories to avoid the play-in tournament’s uncertainty.
Chicago meets San Antonio, where the Spurs have compiled an impressive 24-2 record since February 1st while pursuing the top overall seed.
Minnesota visits Dallas seeking to complete a 4-0 season sweep, having won the first three encounters by double-digit margins.
Other notable games include Cleveland at Utah, Detroit at Oklahoma City in a potential No. 1 seed showdown, Washington at the Lakers, and several matchups with play-in implications.
NBC Sports Network and Peacock will broadcast Philadelphia-Miami and Detroit-Oklahoma City on Monday, with Chicago-San Antonio also streaming on Peacock. Tuesday’s NBC and Peacock games feature New York-Houston and Portland-LA Clippers.
According to BetMGM Sportsbook, Oklahoma City leads championship odds at +140, followed by San Antonio (+550), Boston (+600), Cleveland (+900), Denver (+1100) and New York (+1500). Detroit, despite heading toward the East’s top seed, sits at +2500.
The remaining schedule includes all 30 teams playing their 81st games on April 10th and season finales on April 12th. The play-in tournament runs April 14, 15 and 17, with playoff series beginning April 18-19.
Conference semifinals start May 2-4, followed by the draft lottery and combine on May 10-17. Eastern Conference finals begin May 17 or 19 on ESPN and ABC, while Western Conference finals start May 18 or 20 on NBC and Peacock. The NBA Finals tip off June 3rd on ABC.
This season has featured exceptional scoring margins, with 81 games decided by 30 or more points after Sunday’s action, breaking last year’s record of 80 such contests.
Toronto’s 139-87 victory over Orlando on Sunday exemplified these blowouts, marking the second-largest win in Raptors history and biggest loss in Magic franchise history. The game included a remarkable 31-0 Toronto run spanning just 7½ minutes, during which Orlando missed all eight shots and committed 11 turnovers.
High-definition replay technology has transformed how major sporting events are officiated, with referees and umpires increasingly relying on video screens to examine disputed calls.
This technological shift has created a distinctive visual communication system throughout professional sports.
Basketball fans recognize the circular finger motion that players make when requesting a replay review during NBA contests. Football features coaches hurling red challenge flags onto the field, a gesture frequently copied by spectators in the stands.
International sports have developed their own symbols: Soccer players worldwide draw imaginary rectangles in the air to request VAR (Video assistant referee) reviews. Cricket athletes form a “T” shape with their hands to activate the DRS (Decision review system), while umpires respond by tracing a box in the air, similar to soccer officials.
Baseball has introduced its newest gesture to this growing vocabulary: gentle taps on the head.
The Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System has become an official component of MLB games, utilizing camera technology to monitor each pitch and determine if it passes through the strike zone over home plate. While human umpires continue making initial calls, both teams can contest two decisions per game.
Players including batters, pitchers, and catchers can tap their heads several times while verbally requesting a challenge when they believe an incorrect ball-strike call was made. Fans have quickly adopted this signal, performing the head-tapping motion when they disagree with umpire decisions.
“Everyone understands what touching the top of their hat signifies,” Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo explained with a chuckle. “It’s caught on incredibly quickly. I believe it’s beneficial — we all want accurate calls.”
However, these hand signals can sometimes be interpreted as disrespectful behavior.
Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls received an ejection during a regular season game last year after disputing a call and tapping his helmet while confronting the umpire. The ABS system was tested experimentally during 2025 spring training but wasn’t permitted in regular season contests.
Walls insisted his gesture was harmless. Home plate umpire Nic Lentz viewed it differently and ejected Walls from the game.
Lovullo anticipates fewer miscommunications going forward.
“Players must also give verbal confirmation, which should prevent confusion,” he noted.
Video review expansion across sports has generated new tactical approaches for timing challenges correctly. Quick non-verbal signals often make these systems function effectively.
Numerous NBA franchises assign an assistant coach or staff member to monitor a tablet displaying the television broadcast, enabling rapid play analysis. Players frequently make impulsive choices during intense game moments — spinning their finger in the air when believing their team should challenge a call. (Reality check: Players consistently believe they’re correct.)
However, coaching staffs make the ultimate decisions.
For the New York Knicks, assistant coach Jordan Brink provides guidance to head coach Mike Brown.
“When he signals like this (nodding affirmatively), then you do this (finger twirl). When he signals like this (head shake), then you just think ‘Well…’ and have to apologize to your players,” Brown explained.
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson emphasized that “you must maintain self-control” since replay situations typically involve high emotions. Los Angeles Clippers coach Ty Lue couldn’t explain how the finger twirl became basketball’s standard replay symbol, but in his characteristic dry style, admitted its widespread use can be irritating.
“I’m tired of seeing it. Let’s examine that,” Lue commented, prompting laughter from reporters. “College players are doing it now too, it’s everywhere.”
MLB currently employs two replay signals. Managers request reviews of safe-out calls and other rulings by placing hands over their ears, imitating umpires wearing headsets to communicate with MLB’s replay center. This gesture and the ABS head-tap have emerged as traditional baseball hand signals fade away. For over 100 years, catchers used finger signals to call pitches, sometimes employing complex sequences to prevent opposing teams from deciphering upcoming pitches.
Everything changed after the 2017 Houston Astros cheating scandal was revealed in 2020. A system called PitchCom now transmits pitch calls and defensive positioning instructions without manual signals.
“Previously, dugouts used signals to indicate bunt attempts or delayed steals, but now it’s just pressing a few buttons,” Lovullo said.
Despite technological advances, hand signals remain prevalent in sports. Ironically, sophisticated video replay technology has become a primary reason for their continued importance.
JERUSALEM — Israel’s armed forces have taken the unusual step of suspending an entire military battalion after its soldiers attacked a CNN news team in the occupied West Bank, marking an uncommon instance of disciplinary action for troop misconduct.
Military officials announced Monday they were pulling the Netzah Yehuda battalion from active duty following last week’s filmed assault on the television crew.
The Netzah Yehuda unit, composed primarily of ultra-Orthodox troops, has previously been connected to mistreatment of Palestinian residents, including a 2022 incident that resulted in the death of a 78-year-old Palestinian American following his arrest by battalion members.
Following U.S. government protests over that earlier case, Israeli military leadership described the event as “a grave and unfortunate event,” issued a reprimand to one commanding officer, and transferred two additional personnel. Israel subsequently relocated the entire unit away from West Bank operations later that year.
During last week’s confrontation, CNN staff members were working on a story about settler attacks in the West Bank community of Tayasir. Violence by Israeli settlers in the region has escalated dramatically, with United Nations statistics showing at least nine Palestinian fatalities at settler hands this year. Israeli authorities seldom prosecute settlers for violent acts against Palestinians.
Video footage of the encounter shows battalion troops advancing on the news team with weapons drawn while shouting commands. CNN correspondent Jeremy Diamond reported that military personnel placed a producer in a chokehold during the confrontation. The recording quickly spread across social media platforms.
According to Diamond’s account published on CNN’s platform, soldiers held the journalism team and local Palestinians for two hours while expressing settler viewpoints, claiming Israeli ownership of all West Bank territory and labeling Palestinians as terrorists.
Military leadership stated Monday that Netzah Yehuda would remain suspended from current operations and could only return to service following “a process aimed at reinforcing its professional and ethical foundations.”
Rabbi Shaul Abdiel, who maintains ties with the Netzah Yehuda battalion, condemned the military’s disciplinary response during a radio appearance, describing the punishment as “too fast and too collective.”
Advocacy organizations focused on human rights have consistently maintained that Israeli forces face minimal accountability for Palestinian casualties. The situations involving the Palestinian American citizen and the CNN team seem to have drawn heightened scrutiny due to their connection to American individuals and a prominent media outlet.
Several weeks prior to the CNN confrontation, Israeli officials announced they had opened an inquiry into the shooting deaths of four Palestinians, including two minors, one with visual disabilities, during an Israeli military patrol in the neighboring West Bank community of Tammun.
No disciplinary actions have been revealed by Israeli authorities regarding the officers involved in that incident. Local media reports indicate those personnel have not been interviewed as part of any investigation.
Criminals have successfully stolen three priceless masterpieces from a private art museum located in northern Italy’s countryside, according to police reports released Monday.
The overnight break-in occurred between March 22nd and 23rd at the Magnani Rocca Foundation, situated roughly 12 miles outside Parma. Authorities report the perpetrators broke through the main entrance to gain access to the facility.
Three world-renowned works were taken during the crime: Auguste Renoir’s “Fish,” Paul Cézanne’s “Still Life with Cherries,” and Henri Matisse’s “Odalisque on the Terrace.” The stolen artwork carries a value of several million euros.
According to local news outlets, the criminals executed their plan with remarkable speed, completing the entire operation in fewer than three minutes before making their getaway through the museum’s garden area.
The Magnani Rocca Foundation, which opened its doors in 1977, houses an extensive collection assembled by art scholar Luigi Magnani. The museum’s holdings feature additional works by master artists including Dürer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya, and Monet.
Museum officials suspect the crime was carried out by a well-organized criminal group, according to local media coverage. The theft was cut short when the facility’s security alarm activated.
Attempts to reach the museum for official comment were unsuccessful, as the facility remains closed on Mondays. No public statement regarding the incident has appeared on the institution’s website.
This latest art theft follows a pattern of major museum heists across Europe, including an October robbery at the Louvre in Paris where criminals made off with jewelry and artifacts valued at $101 million.
A delegation of four US senators visiting Taipei on Monday voiced American backing for Taiwan’s proposed $40 billion defense spending package that remains blocked by opposition lawmakers in the island’s parliament.
The bipartisan group – Democrats Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, along with Republicans John Curtis of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina – arrived in Taiwan as part of a broader Asian tour designed to strengthen US partnerships and challenge China’s growing regional influence. The visit comes ahead of a planned May meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The four senators held discussions with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on Monday, beginning a two-day visit aimed at reinforcing the unofficial relationship between Washington and Taipei.
Beijing considers Taiwan a rebellious territory that must eventually be brought under Chinese control, using military force if needed, and forbids countries with diplomatic relations to China, including America, from maintaining official government ties with Taiwan.
Although the US does not formally recognize Taiwan’s sovereignty, America serves as the island’s primary unofficial ally and weapons supplier.
Extensive American arms transfers to Taiwan are anticipated to be a major discussion point during the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting, with Beijing opposing such military sales.
A representative from China’s Foreign Ministry condemned the congressional delegation’s visit on Monday, calling on America to “handle the Taiwan question prudently and properly, stop all forms of official exchanges with Taiwan, and stop sending any wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces.”
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that “China’s position on the Taiwan-related issue is consistent and clear,” adding that “China will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Senator Curtis commended Taiwan’s advancement “on strengthening its defense, whole society preparedness and energy security, especially over the last year” during the meeting with President Lai.
“The seriousness is noticed in Washington D.C., and your efforts on the special defense budget are also noticed and supported,” Curtis remarked.
Taiwan’s administration is working to advance the eight-year, $40 billion military spending plan that would fund development of an advanced missile defense network called the “T-dome,” incorporate artificial intelligence into military operations, and expand Taiwan’s domestic defense manufacturing capabilities.
Opposition political parties in Taiwan’s legislature have proposed alternative, smaller defense spending measures, creating the current parliamentary deadlock.
President Lai urged lawmakers to approve the military budget “without delay.”
“I want to reassure you and all of our friends in the United States that my government’s resolve and commitment to enhancing our self-defense capabilities, strengthening Taiwan-U.S. cooperation and ensuring national security remain unwavering,” Lai told the American delegation.
Meanwhile, opposition leader and KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun announced Monday that she plans to travel to China next month to encourage “peaceful” cross-strait relations. While Cheng has previously shown interest in meeting Xi Jinping, it remains unclear whether such a meeting is scheduled during her upcoming trip.
Chinese officials refuse direct communication with Lai and have characterized him as a separatist seeking to transform Taiwan into a “powder keg.”
China Southern Airlines announced Monday it has achieved profitability for the first time in five years, posting earnings of 857 million yuan ($124.01 million) for 2025.
The airline, headquartered in Guangzhou, saw its annual earnings fall within its projected range of 800 million to 1 billion yuan that company officials forecast in January. This marks a dramatic turnaround from the previous year’s deficit of 1.7 billion yuan in 2024.
Among China’s three major government-owned airlines, China Southern stands alone as the only carrier to achieve positive earnings for the full year 2025.
According to the company’s financial report, the aviation sector continues to navigate difficult market conditions, including supply chain constraints and increasing costs for aircraft purchases, aviation supplies, and engine components. However, China Southern managed to enhance its financial performance through strategic adjustments to passenger and freight capacity distribution while implementing stricter expense management practices.
The Supreme Court is set to examine a fundamental question about American identity: who automatically becomes a citizen by being born in the United States?
Former President Trump has argued that birthright citizenship isn’t constitutionally protected as an automatic right. This constitutional challenge will now face examination by the nation’s highest court.
The upcoming case will test whether Trump’s interpretation of citizenship laws can survive judicial review, potentially affecting how the country defines citizenship for future generations.
Federal immigration authorities announced Monday that a Mexican national passed away while detained at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Los Angeles last week.
The individual died on March 25th, according to ICE officials, bringing the total number of deaths in immigration detention facilities to at least 14 during 2026.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement released the information about the custody death on Monday, though additional details about the circumstances surrounding the fatality were not immediately provided.
Young anglers across Delaware will have special fishing opportunities coming their way as the state’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announces the return of youth-focused fishing events.
The environmental agency plans to host fishing activities for children in all three Delaware counties during early April, timing the events to coincide with Earth Month celebrations. Staff members from DNREC’s Aquatic Resources Education Center will lead these outdoor excursions as part of their Take A Kid Fishing! initiative.
The fishing events are strategically scheduled for the first complete week of April, allowing families to participate while many local schools are on their spring break vacation. Each Delaware county will host one dedicated youth fishing event during this timeframe.
The introduction of reviewable ball and strike calls in Major League Baseball has brought unexpected drama to the opening days of the new season.
Despite teams having limited challenges per game and advanced technology backing the decisions, tensions remain high. This was evident when Minnesota’s manager Derek Shelton was thrown out during the ninth inning of Sunday’s game against Baltimore following a disputed pitch review.
The controversial moment came with Baltimore leading by two runs, one runner on base, and one out. When pitcher Ryan Helsley’s 3-2 delivery to Minnesota’s Josh Bell was ruled a ball, Helsley signaled for a challenge by tapping his cap, then repeated the gesture for emphasis. Video review revealed the pitch caught the outside edge of the strike zone, reversing the call and striking out Bell. Shelton’s heated protest resulted in his ejection, and Baltimore secured an 8-6 victory.
Speaking to media after the game, Shelton claimed Helsley didn’t signal for the challenge fast enough.
Saturday’s matchup between Cincinnati and Boston also drew attention, with the Reds winning 6-5 in a game featuring eight Automated Ball-Strike System challenges with CB Bucknor calling balls and strikes. Six of those challenges resulted in overturned calls. Boston exhausted both their challenges before the third inning concluded, while Cincinnati went five-for-five on successful reviews.
While Detroit sent a two-time Cy Young Award winner to the hill on opening day, rookie Kevin McGonigle stole the spotlight with an outstanding debut performance Thursday.
McGonigle, ranked among baseball’s premier prospects, connected on the very first pitch he faced, delivering a bases-clearing double in the opening frame at San Diego. He continued his hot start with hits in his following two plate appearances. With Tarik Skubal pitching effectively, Detroit cruised to an 8-2 triumph.
St. Louis rookie JJ Wetherholt has also made an immediate impact. In just his second major league contest Saturday against Tampa Bay, he delivered a game-winning two-run single in the tenth inning. This heroic moment followed his home run in Thursday’s debut.
New York Mets newcomer Carson Benge earned a roster spot for the season opener and has already gone deep. Cleveland’s Chase DeLauter connected twice in Thursday’s regular season opener, including on his first swing, though he technically debuted during last year’s postseason.
Toronto established a new benchmark by recording 50 strikeouts through their opening three contests, with both Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease reaching double-digit strikeout totals. The previous mark belonged to whom?
Seattle’s Emerson Hancock delivered six no-hit innings Sunday during an 8-0 shutout victory over Cleveland, fanning nine while issuing just one free pass.
After posting a 4-5 record with a 4.90 earned run average last year, Hancock earned a rotation spot due to Bryce Miller’s injury and made a compelling argument to retain his role with this impressive opening effort.
Thursday’s game between Tampa Bay and St. Louis featured a remarkable sixth-inning turnaround. The Rays plated six runs in the top half to grab a commanding 7-1 advantage, only to trail when the frame concluded.
St. Louis answered with an eight-run explosion in the bottom of the sixth to take a 9-7 lead, which held up for the final margin.
The Cardinals’ rally featured two-run singles from both Nolan Gorman and Nathan Church, followed by sacrifice flies from Wetherholt and Iván Herrera. Alec Burleson, who opened the inning with a base hit, provided the finishing touch with a two-run blast.
Each team sent 11 hitters to the plate during that wild sixth inning.
The answer: Cincinnati’s 2020 squad previously held the strikeout record with 46 through three games, featuring starts from Sonny Gray, Luis Castillo, and Trevor Bauer against Detroit. Ironically, the Reds dropped two of those three contests.
Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has struck a deal to purchase the Connecticut Sun for a record-breaking $300 million, with plans to relocate the franchise to Houston in 2027, according to sources familiar with the transaction.
The WNBA Board of Governors must still give their approval for both the sale and the relocation. A source who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the negotiations confirmed the historic price tag to The Associated Press.
Connecticut will host the franchise for one more season before the team makes its way to Houston, where it will revive the Comets name.
“I would have loved to remain in the region for our fan base and for the fact that I think this region deserves a women’s basketball team,” Connecticut Sun president Jen Rizzotti told the AP. “At the same time, it wasn’t my decision and I’m at a point now where my focus turns to making this the best season we can have and a memorable one for our fans. It’s an opportunity to say thank you to them.”
The sale marks the conclusion of the franchise’s 23-year presence in New England, which began when the team relocated from Orlando in 2003.
Houston had previously shown interest in acquiring the team last year, eventually increasing their offer to $250 million — matching what Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia paid for expansion rights. The final $300 million purchase price sets a new record for WNBA team sales.
A competing bid of $325 million from a group headed by Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca would have brought the franchise to Boston, but the WNBA effectively prevented that transaction. League officials stated that “relocation decisions are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and not by individual teams.”
The league further explained that other cities had already begun the expansion process and held priority over Boston.
“This decision has always sat at the ownership level and we worked hard as a front office to make us New England’s WNBA team,” Rizzotti said. “Playing and selling out two games in Boston shows this is a market that can support a team at a significant level.”
During a press conference announcing three new expansion franchises, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert indicated Houston was next in line for a team.
Following Mark Davis’s acquisition of the Las Vegas Aces in 2021, the league has consistently brought in new ownership with NBA connections. The Golden State franchise, which debuted last season, belongs to the Warriors organization. Portland and Toronto are joining the WNBA this season with ownership groups tied to NBA teams.
The upcoming three expansion franchises — Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia — will all operate under NBA ownership groups from their respective cities.
Last week’s new collective bargaining agreement requires teams to maintain premium facilities comparable to NBA standards.
Making the announcement at this time provides clarity for potential free agents who could join the Sun next month.
“Morgan (Tuck) started last off season with the rebuild after our old roster turned over,” Rizzotti said of the Sun general manager. “She will now have clarity and strategic decisions regardless where it is if we remained in Connecticut or moving. With this new CBA in place, she can really evaluate the salary cap situation and build around the young core we established.”
The original Houston Comets were founding members of the WNBA and captured the league’s first four championships from 1997-2000. The franchise ceased operations following the 2008 season.
“My family and I are thrilled for the opportunity to bring the Houston Comets back to this incredible city,” Rockets alternate governor Patrick Fertitta said. “Houston has a proud championship history in the WNBA, with banners from the Comets’ four historic championship seasons still hanging in the rafters of Toyota Center. We believe the time is right to begin the next great era of Comets basketball, and we look forward to working with the WNBA as we move through this process.”
The Las Vegas Aces were the last WNBA franchise to change cities when they moved from San Antonio in 2017.
“What I don’t want people to forget is the Mohegan Tribe stepped up when nobody wanted a WNBA team and there were NBA owners folding franchises left and right,” Rizzotti said. “I hope that regardless of people’s feelings around this, they’ll remember that we had a really supportive ownership group that poured into the franchise for over two decades.
“The decision they made now doesn’t erase the fact they were there for the WNBA in a time of need and kept them going when it wasn’t as popular as it is now to have a franchise.”
WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, the nation’s highest court examined arguments regarding President Trump’s executive directive that challenges automatic citizenship for certain children born on American soil. The order, issued January 20, 2025, during Trump’s inaugural day back in the presidency, conflicts with the 14th Amendment established after the Civil War and an 86-year-old federal statute that has long been interpreted to grant citizenship to virtually all individuals born within U.S. borders, excluding only children of foreign diplomats and enemy forces. To date, every judicial body that has reviewed this directive has deemed it unlawful and blocked its implementation.
This push to eliminate birthright citizenship represents one component of the Trump administration’s comprehensive immigration enforcement strategy, which encompasses increased deportation operations, reduced refugee admissions, and halted asylum processing at the border.
The matter represents another challenge for the Supreme Court, which has previously permitted certain immigration restrictions to proceed after lower courts initially halted them. The current case originated in New Hampshire, where federal District Judge Joseph N. LaPlante determined the executive order “likely violates” both constitutional principles and existing federal statutes.
The opening language of the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause establishes citizenship for “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” The legal dispute centers on interpreting the concluding phrase regarding jurisdiction, language that also appears in citizenship legislation from 1940 and 1952.
Trump’s position, outlined in his directive called “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship” and supported by certain conservative legal experts, argues that individuals residing illegally or temporarily in the country fall outside U.S. “jurisdiction” and consequently their American-born children should not receive citizenship.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote that the court should utilize this case to correct “long-enduring misconceptions about the Constitution’s meaning.”
Sauer drew parallels between this case and pivotal Supreme Court decisions, including the groundbreaking 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling that ended school segregation and the significant 2008 Heller decision that established an individual constitutional right to possess firearms for personal protection.
BEIRUT (AP) — Tehran has openly refused to comply with Lebanon’s demand to remove its ambassador, declaring Monday that the diplomat will remain in his position despite a weekend deadline for his departure. The defiance adds another layer of strain to a nation already caught in the middle of escalating conflict between Israel and the Iranian-supported Hezbollah militia.
Lebanese authorities had designated Ambassador Mohammad Reza Shibani as “persona non grata” in a move designed to reduce Iran’s diplomatic influence and replace him with a lower-ranking charge d’affairs. The Sunday deadline for his departure has now passed without compliance.
“Our embassy in Lebanon is active,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told journalists. “Our ambassador, following remarks made by relevant Lebanese bodies and the conclusions reached, will continue his mission in Beirut and he is still there.”
Lebanese authorities have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding Iran’s refusal. The next steps Lebanon might take remain unclear, as does the potential impact on diplomatic relations between the two nations. Reports indicate the Iranian ambassador remains within the embassy compound, where diplomatic immunity likely protects him.
The Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah joined the broader Iran conflict by launching attacks against Israel, prompting Israeli forces to invade southern Lebanon and conduct bombing campaigns in parts of Beirut. Lebanese health authorities report more than 1,200 fatalities, with over one million people forced from their homes.
“This morning, the Iranian ambassador is drinking his coffee in Beirut and making a mockery of the ‘host’ country,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Monday on X. “Lebanon is a virtual country that is effectively occupied by Iran.”
Facing mounting international pressure to neutralize Hezbollah, Lebanon announced earlier this month a prohibition on military operations by both the militant group and Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard. The ambassador’s expulsion order followed this announcement.
Hezbollah denounced the expulsion as a “reckless and reprehensible measure” and “a clear capitulation to external pressures and dictates.” The organization staged a demonstration near the Iranian embassy in support of the ambassador.
According to a Lebanese diplomatic source, Iran has applied “extreme pressure” over the past week on both the government and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who maintains close political ties with Hezbollah, attempting to overturn the expulsion decision.
Beirut fears that Iran’s decision to link the Lebanese conflict to its negotiations with Washington could undermine Lebanon’s own efforts to disarm Hezbollah, the official explained, requesting anonymity due to protocol requirements.
Hezbollah maintains that Iran serves as a crucial ally, claiming the group acts as a military deterrent against Israel while delivering social services primarily to Lebanon’s Shiite Muslim population.
However, opponents argue that Hezbollah’s armed presence, which represents the strongest military force in the country, along with its autonomous decision-making, undermines Lebanese sovereignty and damages relationships with other Arab nations and Western countries.
This internal division has hampered Lebanon’s attempts to find a resolution to end the ongoing conflict.
Both President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, despite criticizing Israel’s invasion, have also denounced Hezbollah’s rocket attacks toward Israel in support of Iran, which triggered the current round of fighting.
Prior to the war’s outbreak, Aoun and Salam were working to establish credibility that they could successfully disarm Hezbollah through peaceful means. The militant organization had been weakened by its previous conflict with Israel, creating what many viewed as an opportunity for action. Both leaders assumed power shortly after the last war concluded in November 2024, promising to disarm Hezbollah and all non-governmental armed groups.
Internal Lebanese tensions have intensified, particularly following Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji’s announcement of the Iranian ambassador’s expulsion. Rajji is a strong Hezbollah opponent.
“Don’t play with fire because this fire will burn you, your people, and those behind you,” Mahmoud Qamati, a senior official in Hezbollah’s political bureau, said in a recent fiery address aimed at Rajji, who is a cabinet pick by the Christian Lebanese Forces party, Hezbollah’s bitter rival.
JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — Armed attackers massacred more than 70 people at an illegal gold mining operation near South Sudan’s capital during weekend violence, law enforcement officials reported Monday.
Disturbing footage showing numerous bodies scattered across the ground circulated on social media, while local reporters indicated additional victims likely escaped into surrounding wilderness areas.
The deadly incident occurred at the Jebel Iraq mining location in Central Equatoria State, a site that has previously experienced deadly confrontations between unauthorized miners. South Sudan’s gold extraction industry operates with minimal oversight, allowing regional governments to manage mining operations without federal supervision.
Law enforcement spokesman Kwacijwok Dominic Amondoc promised to provide additional details about the assault once investigators gather more information.
“All I know is that unknown gunmen attacked Jebel Iraq at a gold mine. There are more than 70 dead and many more injured,” he said.
Opposition forces from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army – In Opposition, known as SPLM/A-IO, issued a statement Monday denouncing the violence and pointing fingers at government military units called the SSPDF.
“Jebel Iraq lies within a zone that is entirely under the exclusive control of the SSPDF. Consequently, full responsibility for the massacre rests with the SSPDF forces that control the area,” a statement from the opposition said.
Military officials declined to provide comment when contacted by the Associated Press.
The Nile Institute for the Study of Human Rights and Transitional Justice, a regional advocacy organization, denounced the bloodshed and demanded improved administration of mineral-rich territories.
“This horrific act represents a grave violation of the fundamental right to life and highlights the continued vulnerability of civilians in areas affected by a weak security presence and unregulated resource exploitation,” the group wrote in a statement.
Rights advocate Edmund Yakani called on leadership to tackle growing conflicts over natural resource access.
“My appeal is to the government to intervene and stop this culture of illegal gold mining across the country,” he said.
TORONTO — The chief executive of Air Canada revealed Monday he plans to step down before year’s end, following widespread criticism over his decision to deliver crash condolences exclusively in English.
Michael Rousseau informed the airline’s board of directors that he intends to retire no later than the conclusion of the third quarter, the Montreal-based carrier announced.
The controversy stems from Rousseau’s response to a fatal aviation accident at LaGuardia Airport in New York earlier this month. Two crew members perished when an Air Canada Jazz aircraft traveling from Montreal struck a fire truck during landing operations.
Among the victims was Antoine Forest, a French-speaking pilot from Quebec, along with Mackenzie Gunther. Rousseau’s video statement expressing sympathy was delivered entirely in English, with French translations appearing only as subtitles.
The language choice sparked immediate outrage in Canada, where both English and French hold official status. Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the unilingual message as demonstrating poor judgment and insensitivity. Quebec’s provincial leader François Legault and other officials demanded Rousseau’s resignation.
The federal Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages reported receiving hundreds of formal complaints regarding the incident. This latest controversy adds to previous criticism Rousseau has faced for his limited French language abilities.
When Rousseau assumed the airline’s top position in February 2021, he had committed to learning French. However, his promise remained unfulfilled, creating ongoing tension given that Air Canada operates from Quebec, where approximately 80 percent of residents speak French as their primary language.
The linguistic divide reflects Quebec’s complex cultural identity, which has remained a sensitive issue since British forces conquered New France in the 1760s.
Two Republican candidates with different approaches to implementing former President Trump’s election reform priorities will compete Tuesday for Arkansas’ Secretary of State nomination in a primary runoff.
Army veteran Bryan Norris and state Senator Kim Hammer emerged as the leading vote recipients in the March 3 Republican primary, though neither secured enough support to avoid Tuesday’s runoff contest.
The victorious candidate will challenge Democrat Kelly Grappe, who secured her party’s nomination without opposition.
Arkansas’ Secretary of State manages state business registrations and maintains the capitol building and grounds, though the position is most recognized for supervising federal, state and local elections throughout Arkansas.
While both candidates have promoted their alignment with Trump’s election reform goals, Norris and Hammer hold contrasting positions on election management practices. Norris advocates for complete manual ballot counting without automated tabulation systems. Meanwhile, Hammer crafted 2023 legislation mandating that hand-counted ballots work with state tabulation machinery and requiring counties choosing manual counting to cover related expenses.
Complete manual ballot counting has gained popularity among Trump supporters following the former president’s unsuccessful efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. However, subsequent attempts at comprehensive hand-counting have demonstrated the method’s time-intensive nature, high costs, and susceptibility to human mistakes.
Hammer has secured backing from Arkansas’ Republican leadership, including Senator Tom Cotton, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Lieutenant Governor Leslie Rutledge, Attorney General Tim Griffin, and departing Secretary of State Cole Jester. Norris has gained support from former national security adviser Michael Flynn and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, both prominent figures who disputed the 2020 election and remain Trump allies.
When endorsing Hammer, Jester urged Norris to withdraw from the contest due to the candidate’s history of confrontational and profanity-filled social media content. Speaking with KATV, Norris admitted to using “some salty language from time to time” but promised, “you’re never going to hear me talk or speak that way again.”
Norris narrowly led Hammer in the three-candidate primary, with both receiving approximately 34% of votes. Miller County Judge Cathy Hardin Harrison captured roughly 32% of the vote.
Counties where Trump won with 70% or more support in 2024 contributed slightly over half of all primary votes. Norris showed marginally stronger performance than Harrison and Hammer in these stronghold areas, while Hammer performed somewhat better in other regions.
The state’s largest population centers – Pulaski, Benton and Washington counties – generated the highest vote totals in the March 3 primary. Little Rock sits in Pulaski County, where former Vice President Kamala Harris achieved her strongest Arkansas showing in the 2024 presidential race. Despite Pulaski’s status as the most populous county, Benton County typically wields greater influence in Republican primaries, as demonstrated on March 3.
The eventual Republican nominee will enter the general election with significant advantages. Arkansas hasn’t elected a Democratic secretary of state in two decades, and no Democrat has won any statewide position since 2010.
Several Arkansas districts will also select nominees for state Senate and House positions on Tuesday. Republicans maintain commanding majorities in both legislative chambers.
Voting concludes at 7:30 p.m. local time, which translates to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Participation in Tuesday’s runoff doesn’t require having voted in the March 3 primary. However, voters who participated in the earlier primary must stay within their chosen party’s runoff. Republican primary participants cannot vote in Democratic runoffs and vice versa. Non-partisan primary voters may choose either party’s runoff.
For those who skipped the party primaries, Arkansas Democrats permit any registered voter to participate in Democratic contests, while Republicans prevent registered Democrats from voting in Republican races.
Arkansas had approximately 1.8 million registered voters during the March 3 primary.
The Republican secretary of state primary drew more than 266,000 participants. State Senate District 15’s Democratic primary recorded about 9,300 total votes, while five of six state House districts heading to runoffs each tallied between 4,400 and 5,200 votes. The Democratic primary for state House District 35 was the exception with roughly 1,700 total votes.
During 2022’s statewide office primaries, approximately 52% of Democratic voters and 42% of Republican voters submitted ballots before Election Day.
More than 13,000 statewide Republican runoff ballots were already cast by Thursday.
In March 3’s GOP Senate primary, initial results appeared at 8:32 p.m. Eastern Time, just two minutes after polls closed. The final vote update occurred at 2:04 a.m. Eastern Time with over 99% of votes tallied.
County election administrators across Arkansas typically release complete or nearly complete early and absentee voting results in their first evening update, before reporting any Election Day in-person results.
Following Tuesday’s results, 217 days will remain until the 2026 midterm elections.
WASHINGTON — Courts throughout the nation have consistently rejected President Donald Trump’s directive aimed at eliminating birthright citizenship for babies born to parents who are in the country without legal status or on temporary visas.
The nation’s highest court conducted oral arguments Wednesday regarding the Trump administration’s challenge to a New Hampshire federal judge’s decision, which determined the executive action signed during Trump’s first day back in office “likely violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution” and existing federal statutes.
Trump’s directive represented one component of his administration’s extensive immigration enforcement strategy, although the citizenship limitations have not been implemented.
The central debate revolves around interpreting the opening sentence of the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, which grants citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.”
The Supreme Court’s three liberal justices have expressed clear opposition to Trump’s directive. Justice Sonia Sotomayor declared in June that “With the stroke of a pen, the President has made a ‘solemn mockery’ of our Constitution,” referencing an 1809 opinion by Chief Justice John Marshall. Sotomayor, alongside Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, opposed a ruling by the court’s six conservative members that restricted federal judges’ ability to issue nationwide injunctions during an earlier phase of this citizenship controversy.
After the high court’s ruling, various judges have detailed their reasoning for considering Trump’s birthright citizenship order unconstitutional, inconsistent with established citizenship principles, contradictory to a 126-year-old Supreme Court precedent, and incompatible with the 14th Amendment’s original 1868 meaning.
These jurists have also explained their rationale for blocking the order’s nationwide implementation, despite the Supreme Court’s injunction restrictions.
The following represents excerpts from judicial opinions and the landmark 1898 Supreme Court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which judges reference as the primary precedent supporting their decisions:
Justice Horace Gray authored the majority decision in the 6-2 ruling establishing Wong’s citizenship through American birth: “The real object of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution, in qualifying the words ‘all persons born in the United States’ by the addition ‘and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,’ would appear to have been to exclude, by the fewest and fittest words (besides children of members of the Indian tribes, standing in a peculiar relation to the national government, unknown to the common law), the two classes of cases, — children born of alien enemies in hostile occupation, and children of diplomatic representatives of a foreign state.”
Gray continued: “The fourteenth amendment affirms the ancient and fundamental rule of citizenship by birth within the territory, in the allegiance and under the protection of the country, including all children here born of resident aliens, with the exceptions or qualifications (as old as the rule itself) of children of foreign sovereigns or their ministers, or born on foreign public ships, or of enemies within and during a hostile occupation of part of our territory, and with the single additional exception of children of members of the Indian tribes owing direct allegiance to their several tribes.”
“The amendment, in clear words and in manifest intent, includes the children born within the territory of the United States of all other persons, of whatever race or color, domiciled within the United States,” Gray wrote.
Chief Justice Melville Fuller disagreed, arguing Wong could not claim citizenship because his parents maintained loyalty to the Chinese emperor and weren’t fully “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States. Justice John Marshall Harlan supported this dissenting view.
“Children born in the United States and subject to its laws are United States citizens,” Sotomayor stated.
She observed that the Trump administration departed from its typical approach of seeking nationwide implementation of the citizenship restrictions. “Why? The answer is obvious: To get such relief, the Government would have to show that the Order is likely constitutional, an impossible task in light of the Constitution’s text, history, this Court’s precedents, federal law, and Executive Branch practice,” Sotomayor explained.
Sotomayor referenced an 1865 dictionary to clarify what being “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States means. “To be ‘subject to the jurisdiction’ of the United States means simply to be bound to its authority and its laws,” she wrote, citing the American Dictionary of the English Language’s definition of “jurisdiction” as “power of governing or legislating” or “the power or right of exercising authority.”
She characterized the legal question as straightforward. “Few constitutional questions can be answered by resort to the text of the Constitution alone, but this is one. The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees birthright citizenship,” Sotomayor wrote.
However, only the three liberal justices supported her position. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who penned the majority opinion restricting nationwide injunctions, emphasized the narrow scope of the previous case.
“The principal dissent’s analysis of the Executive Order is premature because the birthright citizenship issue is not before us. And because the birthright citizenship issue is not before us, we take no position on whether the dissent’s analysis is right,” Barrett stated.
U.S. District Judge Joseph N. LaPlante in New Hampshire, whose decision the Supreme Court is reviewing, concluded in July that “The Executive Order likely violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution” and federal statutes. LaPlante extended his ruling to cover all children nationwide born to mothers present in the United States illegally or temporarily. Refusing citizenship to these children, LaPlante noted, “would render the children either undocumented noncitizens or stateless entirely. … The children would risk deportation to countries they have never visited.”
The following month, U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman in Greenbelt, Maryland, maintained her original decision favoring immigrant advocacy organizations challenging the order. “The Court reaffirms here its prior finding that ‘the Executive Order flouts the plain language of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, conflicts with binding Supreme Court precedent, and runs counter to our nation’s 250-year history of citizenship by birth.’ The plaintiffs are extremely likely to succeed on the merits of their claim that the Executive Order is unconstitutional,” Boardman determined.
“Perhaps the Executive Branch, recognizing that it could not change the Constitution, phrased its Executive Order in terms of a strained and novel interpretation of the Constitution. The district court correctly concluded that the Executive Order’s proposed interpretation, denying citizenship to many persons born in the United States, is unconstitutional. We fully agree,” wrote Judge Ronald Gould of the San Francisco-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in July, with Judge Michael Daly Hawkins concurring. Their case involved multiple state plaintiffs.
Gould argued the executive order misinterprets American history. “The Defendants’ proposed interpretation of the Citizenship Clause relies on a network of inferences that are unmoored from the accepted legal principles of 1868. … The Executive Order attempts to qualify and limit the plain language of the Constitution’s citizenship clause, which by its terms only says that a person born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction is a citizen, by adding the notion that the person must be a child of a citizen or lawful permanent resident. … We reject this approach because it is contrary to the express language of the Citizenship Clause, the reasoning of Wong Kim Ark, Executive Branch practice for the past 125 years, the legislative history to the extent that should be considered, and because it is contrary to justice,” he explained.
Judge Patrick Bumatay disagreed, stating he would have dismissed the lower court’s decision because he questioned whether the challenging states had legal standing to sue. Bumatay avoided commenting on Trump’s order’s ultimate constitutionality.
Judge David Barron of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit in Boston authored a comprehensive 100-page opinion for a unanimous three-judge panel in October. “But the length of our analysis should not be mistaken for a sign that the fundamental question that these cases raise about the scope of birthright citizenship is a difficult one,” Barron explained. “It is not, which may explain why it has been more than a century since a branch of our government has made as concerted an effort as the Executive Branch now makes to deny Americans their birthright.”
Referencing the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision that denied citizenship to Black Americans and prompted the 14th Amendment’s adoption, Barron observed, “Our nation’s history of efforts to restrict birthright citizenship … has not been a proud one.”
“The ‘lessons of history’ thus give us every reason to be wary of now blessing this most recent effort to break with our established tradition of recognizing birthright citizenship and to make citizenship depend on the actions of one’s parents rather than — in all but the rarest of circumstances — the simple fact of being born in the United States. Nor does the text of the Fourteenth Amendment, which countermanded our most infamous attempt to break with that tradition, permit us to bless this effort, any more than does the Supreme Court’s interpretation of that amendment in Wong Kim Ark, the many related precedents that have followed it, or Congress’s 1952 statute writing that amendment’s words in the U.S. Code,” he concluded.
A South Korean company specializing in artificial intelligence chip technology announced Monday it has successfully secured $400 million in new investment funding, pushing the firm’s overall value to roughly $2.34 billion as it pursues aggressive growth in American markets.
Rebellions disclosed that Mirae Asset Financial Group and the Korea National Growth Fund spearheaded the investment round, which follows a $250 million Series C funding completed in September 2025. The company’s total accumulated funding now reaches $850 million.
With $650 million collected over the previous six months representing more than three-quarters of all funding received to date, company officials said they are beginning an ambitious growth phase. Their strategy centers on American market penetration, increased manufacturing of the Rebel100 platform, and preparations for a potential public stock offering.
Established in 2020, the company specializes in creating neural processing units designed for artificial intelligence inference operations. Company representatives noted that demand for streamlined AI infrastructure continues climbing among cloud service providers, telecommunications companies, and government-sponsored programs, especially throughout the United States.
The government-backed Korea National Growth Fund contributed 250 billion won, equivalent to $165.45 million, marking the first direct government investment through the “K-Nvidia” program.
This “K-Nvidia” initiative, managed jointly by the Financial Services Commission and the Ministry of Science and ICT, seeks to develop a globally competitive semiconductor company as competition intensifies in an industry currently controlled by American corporations like Nvidia.
The substantial investment highlights increasing investor enthusiasm for companies creating alternatives to established AI chip manufacturers, driven by worldwide demand for cost-effective and practical artificial intelligence systems.
Notable investors backing Rebellions include Aramco’s Wa’ed Ventures, Arm, KT, Samsung, SK Hynix, and SK Telecom. The company maintains its primary headquarters in South Korea while operating additional facilities in the United States.
Mirae Asset’s investment portfolio also features SpaceX among its holdings.
High-net-worth investors are discovering lucrative opportunities in women’s professional sports, where franchise values are climbing rapidly while still offering more affordable entry points than established men’s leagues like the NFL or Premier League.
What was once viewed as an underdeveloped sector is now attracting serious financial backing as media contracts, corporate partnerships, and fan engagement create a perfect storm of affordable valuations paired with explosive growth prospects.
According to McKinsey consulting firm projections, the women’s sports industry in America will expand at a 16% yearly rate through 2030 – nearly triple the growth pace of men’s athletics – potentially reaching $2.5 billion in annual revenue for rights holders.
This remarkable expansion, bolstered by breakout stars like Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark, is capturing attention from sophisticated investors looking for superior long-term gains.
“Valuations are growing very rapidly and there is still plenty of room to grow,” explained Jason Wright, an Ariel Investments partner and former NFL executive.
Wright’s firm has invested in the National Women’s Soccer League’s Denver Summit, which launched its inaugural season this year.
The surge in investor interest becomes clear when examining franchise costs. NWSL expansion fees have skyrocketed from $2 million for Los Angeles’ Angel City FC in 2020 to a staggering $165 million paid by Atlanta’s ownership group for a team launching in 2028, according to Navigate consulting.
Existing teams are experiencing similar value appreciation. Sports analytics platform Sportico now values Angel City at $335 million, representing a 34% increase from just over a year ago when former Disney CEO Bob Iger and journalist Willow Bay acquired controlling interest at a then-record $250 million valuation for women’s sports.
Tommy Nordam Jensen, who leads New York-based women’s sports investment platform Pitch15, believes “well-executed investments in the sector could potentially deliver roughly 2–5x over five to 10 years as the market matures” – returns that are increasingly rare in established men’s leagues.
Broadcasting agreements are strengthening the investment thesis, with the WNBA securing an 11-year media deal worth approximately $200 million per year – more than triple their previous contract, Navigate reports.
The NWSL has experienced similar momentum, with their 2023 broadcasting rights generating around $60 million annually.
Despite this growth, significant valuation disparities remain between men’s and women’s sports. Sportico estimates average WNBA franchise values at roughly $269 million, while NBA teams command about $5.5 billion, even though WNBA playoff viewership rivals NBA regular season numbers.
The Golden State Valkyries leads women’s sports valuations at approximately $500 million, yet this figure pales next to the Dallas Cowboys’ $12.8 billion worth.
“A lot of people talk about women’s sports being ahead of valuations that are justifiable, yet at the same time, if viewership and fan attention are the biggest drivers of value, there is a mismatch in valuation that the market has not yet caught up with,” Wright observed.
Corporate sponsorship dollars are fueling additional growth, with combined WNBA and NWSL partnerships jumping 32.7% year-over-year to reach a record $195 million in 2025, according to SponsorUnited. Major financial institutions including JPMorgan Chase, CashApp, and Ally have become prominent supporters.
This sponsorship expansion is outpacing men’s leagues by more than three times, driven by marketable athletes like Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, who have attracted dozens of brand partnerships.
Nevertheless, McKinsey projects women’s sports will represent only about 2% of America’s total sports market by 2030, creating vast untapped potential at a time when Citi Wealth’s sports finance head Ivo Voynov describes men’s team valuations as essentially “fully priced.”
“The number of people globally who can write multi-billion dollar checks to acquire these (men’s sports) assets is not expanding at the same rate as team valuations,” Voynov noted, highlighting the scale of opportunity remaining in women’s athletics.
Microsoft announced significant enhancements to its artificial intelligence assistant on Monday, introducing technology that enables users to harness several AI models working in tandem during a single task, marking the company’s continued effort to strengthen its AI capabilities and increase user adoption.
The tech giant introduced a new capability called “Critique,” which allows Copilot’s Researcher agent to draw from both OpenAI’s GPT and Anthropic’s Claude models when generating each response, moving away from dependence on just one model.
Under this system, GPT creates the initial response while Claude examines the output for precision and quality before users see the final result, according to Microsoft. The company plans to eventually make this process work both ways, enabling GPT to also review responses generated by Claude.
“Having various different models from different vendors in Copilot is highly attractive – but we’re taking this to the next level, where customers actually get the benefits of the models working together,” Nicole Herskowitz, corporate vice president of Microsoft 365 and Copilot, said in an interview with Reuters.
According to Herskowitz, this multi-model strategy will accelerate user workflows, reduce AI hallucinations where systems create incorrect information, and deliver more dependable results, ultimately enhancing both productivity and quality for customers.
The company is simultaneously introducing “model Council,” which enables users to view and compare responses from various AI models displayed alongside each other. These improvements accompany Microsoft’s broader rollout of its new Copilot Cowork agentic AI tool to participants in its “Frontier” program, which gives customers early access to cutting-edge AI capabilities.
Microsoft had previously introduced Copilot Cowork in testing phase earlier this month, a tool inspired by Anthropic’s popular Claude Cowork product, as the company seeks to capitalize on rising interest in autonomous AI agents.
The software giant continues working to enhance its Copilot assistant to increase user adoption while facing fierce competition from competitors like Google’s Gemini and independent agents such as Claude Cowork.
Motorists traveling on Interstate 95 northbound are facing major delays after a traffic accident forced authorities to shut down the three right lanes of the highway.
According to DelDOT traffic officials, the lane closures are causing significant backups as emergency crews respond to the crash scene. Drivers are being advised to use alternate routes or expect extended travel times in the area.
Traffic information is being updated as the situation develops, with crews working to clear the roadway and restore normal traffic flow as quickly as possible.
A leading figure in the United Methodist Church is taking a public stance against state legislation that restricts gender transition medical procedures for minors. Bishop Julius Trimble, who leads the denomination’s General Board of Church and Society, has written an article criticizing these legislative measures.
In his statement, Trimble expressed opposition to what he views as government overreach in medical decisions. “As United Methodists, we are called to stand with transgender people, rejecting laws that allow politicians to dictate their health care decisions,” Trimble stated in his article.
The bishop is encouraging United Methodist Church members to back Democratic legislative efforts aimed at reversing the restrictions on gender transition treatments for young people.
A Finnish parliamentarian has been convicted by her country’s highest court following a years-long legal battle over statements she made about homosexuality based on her Christian faith. Paivi Rassanen was found guilty by Finland’s Supreme Court in a narrow 3-2 decision that resulted in approximately $2,000 in fines. The conviction stems from public comments Rassanen made expressing her religious views on homosexuality, which prosecutors argued violated Finland’s hate crime statutes. The case has wound through the court system for several years, with Rassanen mounting multiple appeals. Her legal team indicates they may pursue further action by taking the matter to the European Court of Human Rights.
Global oil markets are experiencing significant turbulence as Middle Eastern conflicts intensify, with Iran’s strategic actions creating ripple effects felt around the world.
The Islamic Republic’s targeting of regional energy facilities, combined with its control over the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, has caused petroleum prices to climb dramatically across international markets. Energy analysts warn that these developments could trigger a worldwide shortage crisis.
The Associated Press has compiled visual documentation showing how these Middle Eastern tensions are impacting energy sectors globally, illustrating the far-reaching consequences of regional conflicts on worldwide fuel supplies.
Houston-based Sysco, America’s biggest food distribution company, has announced plans to purchase Restaurant Depot in a massive transaction valued at more than $29 billion.
The purchase would strengthen connections between Sysco and clients who depend on Restaurant Depot for immediate supply needs through what’s called the “cash-and-carry wholesale” business model.
Sysco currently provides food service to over 700,000 establishments including restaurants, medical facilities, educational institutions, and hotels, delivering everything from dairy products and produce to paper goods. These customers typically place regular orders for items they know they’ll consistently require.
Restaurant Depot operates on a membership basis, allowing independent restaurants and small businesses to access warehouse facilities stocked with products for emergency situations when their regular supply orders fall short.
This rapidly expanding, profitable market sector could result in thousands of dining establishments becoming more dependent on Sysco for their daily operational requirements.
Under the agreement terms, Restaurant Depot stockholders would receive $21.6 billion in cash plus 91.5 million Sysco stock shares. Using Sysco’s March 27, 2026 closing price of $81.80 per share, the total transaction value reaches approximately $29.1 billion.
Restaurant Depot began operations in Brooklyn during 1976. Originally called Jetro Restaurant Depot, this family-owned enterprise has grown into America’s top cash-and-carry wholesale operation.
While leadership teams from both corporations have given their approval to the merger, federal regulators must still sign off on the transaction.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials are alerting drivers to expect delays on a busy stretch of Broadkill Road today due to ongoing construction work.
Traffic flaggers are currently directing vehicles along State Route 16 in the area between Jefferson Road and Coastal Highway. The flagging operation began earlier today and is expected to wrap up by 3 PM this afternoon.
Motorists should plan for potential delays and consider alternate routes if possible while crews complete their work in the area.
Worcester County officials have announced that the Technical Review Committee will hold its next session on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, beginning at 1:00 p.m.
The meeting will take place in the Commissioners Meeting Room located on the first floor of the Worcester County Government Center at 1 West Market Street in Snow Hill, Maryland.
County staff posted the meeting notice on March 30th, and residents can access the official agenda through the county’s website. The agenda document is available as a PDF file for those who wish to review the items that will be discussed during the session.
Members of the public who want to attend can find additional meeting information and return to the county’s full events calendar through the Worcester County government website.
