Global financial markets showed a restrained response Friday after President Donald Trump announced he would postpone planned military action against Iranian power facilities for an additional 10 days, marking the second such delay amid ongoing Middle East tensions.
While investors had anticipated this development, the market reaction fell short of expectations. Oil prices declined modestly, with Brent crude dropping less than 1% to $107.24 per barrel, barely reversing the nearly 6% overnight spike. U.S. stock futures managed only a 0.4% increase, a far cry from Tuesday’s rally when Trump first extended his original 48-hour ultimatum to five days.
European markets fared slightly better, with EUROSTOXX 50 futures climbing 0.5%, while Treasury bonds and the dollar remained largely unchanged.
Market analysts suggest investors may be becoming desensitized to Trump’s repeated assurances. Many believe the dual deadline extensions represent a temporary solution that fails to address the underlying four-week conflict, indicating the crisis remains far from resolution.
Concerns deepened following reports that an additional 10,000 American military personnel could be deployed to the Middle East region, raising fears of potential ground operations. Experts warn of escalation risks that could draw the United States into a comprehensive military engagement, with no guarantee that the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping lane would reopen soon.
These uncertainties contributed to cautious trading heading into the weekend. The MSCI Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan fell 2.4% for the week and has dropped over 11% from its late February high. Japan’s Nikkei similarly declined 10% from its February peak, while South Korea’s KOSPI lost 1.5% Friday, bringing weekly losses to a substantial 7%.
Adding to market pressures, central banks are signaling potential interest rate increases to combat emerging stagflation concerns reminiscent of the 1970s. Norway’s central bank surprised markets Thursday with a dramatic policy reversal, indicating possible rate hikes this year after previously forecasting three cuts through 2028.
At the Federal Reserve, Governor Michael Barr and Vice Chair Philip Jeffers both expressed concerns about persistent inflation. Three additional Fed officials are scheduled to speak later today, with markets closely monitoring for any hawkish commentary.
The stakes remain elevated given recent dramatic shifts in market expectations, with September rate hike odds now at approximately 50% despite Fed officials previously projecting rate reductions this year.
Key market factors to watch Friday include ongoing Middle East developments, UK February retail sales data, and speeches from Fed officials Thomas Barkin, Anna Paulson and Mary Daly.
Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly held a private meeting with the nation’s wealthiest business leaders this week, seeking financial contributions to help stabilize government finances amid escalating costs from the ongoing Ukraine conflict, according to reports from The Bell media outlet on Thursday evening.
The online publication, citing anonymous sources, indicated that Putin conducted the closed-door session with prominent Russian businesspeople on Thursday. The Financial Times published a corresponding report the same day, referencing three individuals with knowledge of the situation.
According to The Bell’s sources, Putin addressed military financing and the war’s continuation during the meeting. The conflict has now entered its fifth year since Russia launched its comprehensive invasion in February 2022.
Putin reportedly stated that Russia would continue fighting until it gains control over the remaining portions of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region currently outside Russian authority, the publication noted.
The Bell also reported that billionaire Suleiman Kerimov committed to contributing 100 billion roubles (approximately $1.23 billion) during his meeting with Putin.
Reuters was unable to independently confirm these reports immediately. Attempts to reach Kerimov’s office at Russia’s Federation Council went unanswered during Friday’s non-business hours.
The extended Ukrainian conflict has created significant financial pressure for Russia, combining reduced budget income from energy exports with economic deceleration that impacts tax collections from various economic sectors.
Earlier this month, sources informed Reuters that Russian government officials have been considering potential 10% reductions to all “non-sensitive” budget expenditures for the current year, though final decisions depend on whether oil price increases related to Iranian conflicts remain stable.
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal’s incoming prime minister has scheduled his inauguration ceremony for Friday afternoon using precise timing determined by Hindu religious traditions and numerological beliefs.
At exactly 12:34 p.m., Balendra Shah will be officially sworn into office on the same day Nepal observes Ram Navami, a celebration honoring the birth of the beloved Hindu deity Rama.
According to Hindu religious leaders, 12:34 p.m. represents the most favorable moment on Friday based on astrological interpretations. The timing also creates a sequential “1-2-3-4” numerical arrangement. Shah has additionally planned to arrive at his new workplace at 14:15 p.m., creating another “14-15” sequence that Hindu clergy view as spiritually beneficial.
Spiritual beliefs and astrological guidance hold significant influence in Nepal, where over 80% of citizens practice Hinduism and commonly consult favorable timing for launching businesses, wedding ceremonies, and sacred observances.
Shah’s birthplace is the capital city Kathmandu, though his ancestry traces to Nepal’s Terai area, a Hindu-majority region bordering India.
The inauguration will occur before President Ramchandra Paudel during an elaborate ceremony featuring Hindu customs, including “shankhnaad” – the ceremonial sounding of conch shells – along with sacred recitations performed by Hindu clergy and Buddhist religious leaders.
Shah intends to take his official pledge alongside his newly selected Cabinet members while government officials and foreign diplomatic representatives observe.
The incoming leader, Balendra Shah, worked as a structural engineer and gained recognition as a rap performer before serving as Kathmandu’s mayor. His political organization, the Rastriya Swatantra Party, secured approximately two-thirds of the 275 positions in Parliament’s influential lower chamber, the House of Representatives.
The 35-year-old political newcomer, commonly called Balen, will oversee a government facing the challenge of addressing widespread citizen dissatisfaction with Nepal’s traditional political establishments, which voters heavily criticized for corrupt practices and ongoing governmental instability.
Shah became a notable figure during the violent youth-driven demonstrations in September that brought down the previous administration in this nation of 30 million residents, unrest that resulted in multiple fatalities.
While Shah did not personally join the street protests, he openly endorsed the primarily Generation Z activists who spearheaded the movement.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced he will issue an executive order directing the Homeland Security secretary to provide immediate payment to Transportation Security Administration workers, as senators engaged in overnight negotiations to break a funding deadlock that has disrupted air travel and caused financial strain for federal employees.
The president revealed his decision through a social media announcement, stating his intention to rapidly address the “Chaos at the Airports.”
As the 42-day funding standoff for the Department of Homeland Security intensifies, lawmakers and White House officials rushed toward a resolution in the final hours before TSA employees would miss yet another Friday paycheck.
The administration had considered the unprecedented step of declaring a national emergency to compensate TSA workers, a strategy fraught with political and legal complications. Instead, Trump’s executive action will provide TSA employee compensation through funding from his 2025 tax legislation, according to a senior administration official who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak publicly.
Meanwhile, senators continued their all-night efforts on legislation that would provide funding for other department components, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Coast Guard. Democratic lawmakers have insisted on restrictions regarding Homeland Security personnel involved in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations before approving funding for those agency divisions.
“The president is doing absolutely the right thing,” stated Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the GOP whip, following his conversation with Trump. “The TSA agents are going to be paid.”
The funding crisis has caused travel disruptions and prompted warnings about potential airport shutdowns as unpaid TSA employees have stopped reporting to work.
Several airports are experiencing absence rates exceeding 40% among TSA staff, and nearly 500 of the agency’s approximately 50,000 transportation security officers have resigned during the shutdown. On Wednesday alone, more than 11% of scheduled TSA employees nationwide failed to report for duty, according to DHS data. This represented over 3,120 employee absences.
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, expressed appreciation that TSA workers will receive payment but emphasized that Congress must remain in session to approve an agreement “that funds DHS, pays all DHS workers, and keeps these vital agencies running.”
At George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, traveler Melissa Gates missed her flight to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after waiting over 2½ hours without reaching the security checkpoint. No alternative flights were available until Friday.
“I should have just driven, right?” Gates remarked. “Five hours would have been hilarious next to this.”
On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., presented what he called a “last and final” proposal to Democratic colleagues.
Thune withheld specifics about the new framework but indicated it built upon a previous weekend offer, before negotiations between the White House and Democrats collapsed.
“Enough is enough,” he declared.
However, as senators withdrew for private discussions about the new proposal, progress stagnated.
Democratic lawmakers contended that Republican proposals have inadequately addressed oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, Customs and Border Protection agents, and other federal personnel conducting immigration operations, particularly following the deaths of two Americans protesting these actions in Minneapolis.
Democrats are seeking requirements for federal agents to display identification, remove face coverings, and avoid conducting operations near schools, churches, or other sensitive locations. They have also advocated for eliminating administrative warrants, demanding judicial approval before agents search homes or private property — a concept new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has indicated willingness to consider, though senators want written commitments.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York emphasized the need for substantial reforms.
Trump had primarily deferred the matter to Congress but warned of potential intervention, threatening to deploy National Guard forces to airports alongside ICE agents currently verifying traveler identification.
“They need to end this shutdown immediately or we’ll have to take drastic measures,” Trump stated during Thursday morning’s Cabinet meeting.
The Republican tax reduction legislation Trump enacted last year allocated billions to DHS, including $75 billion for ICE operations, ensuring immigration officers continue receiving pay during the shutdown.
Any resolution will likely require compromise as lawmakers from both progressive and conservative factions express opposition. Conservative Republicans have criticized their party’s proposals, demanding complete funding for immigration operations.
Advanced satellite technology has provided scientists with an unprecedented look at how tsunamis form and spread across the ocean, following observations made after a powerful earthquake struck near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula last year.
The breakthrough research could enhance scientists’ ability to predict future tsunamis and earthquakes in subduction zones, where oceanic plates slide beneath continental plates and often generate the most devastating tsunami events.
An 8.8 magnitude earthquake occurred on July 29, 2025, creating a tsunami that traveled throughout the Pacific Ocean. Tsunamis form when massive seafloor movements during underwater earthquakes or landslides displace enormous volumes of water, creating sequences of extremely long and powerful ocean waves.
The SWOT satellite, jointly operated by NASA and the French space agency CNES, captured detailed measurements just 70 minutes after the earthquake began. Scientists observed both the primary tsunami wave and a distinctive series of smaller waves following behind it. While computer simulations had long predicted these trailing wave patterns, researchers had struggled to document them through actual observations until now.
“I believe SWOT represents a new lens for observing and studying tsunamis and their generation,” stated Ignacio Sepúlveda, a coastal engineering professor at San Diego State University who led the research published in Science journal this week.
“It is also likely to improve our understanding of the physical mechanisms that generate tsunamis, including earthquakes,” Sepúlveda continued.
Existing monitoring systems, including deep-sea pressure sensors and older satellites, have significant gaps in coverage and measurement capabilities that prevent scientists from capturing complete wave structures, particularly near oceanic trenches. The SWOT satellite surveys broad ocean areas and creates detailed two-dimensional maps showing sea surface elevation, enabling researchers to examine tsunami wave shapes, movement patterns, and spacing with unprecedented clarity.
Tsunamis rank among nature’s most powerful and devastating phenomena, sending massive waves outward from their origin point in every direction. These waves can produce catastrophic coastal flooding with deadly consequences.
While the July 2025 tsunami did not result in major casualties, other events have caused enormous loss of life, including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that claimed approximately 230,000 lives.
Researchers determined that the July 2025 tsunami began within roughly 10 kilometers (six miles) of the oceanic trench where two tectonic plates meet on the seafloor. Previous monitoring methods using land-based equipment or limited seafloor sensors could not pinpoint this precise location.
The planet’s surface consists of massive plates that shift very slowly through the geological process known as plate tectonics.
Scientists discovered that when earthquake-related movement reaches close to the trench, it creates shorter waves that move more slowly and disperse over time, forming the trailing pattern behind the main tsunami wave. This phenomenon means various wave sections travel at different velocities, with longer waves moving faster and arriving first while shorter waves follow behind.
The research also demonstrated that trailing wave intensity increases when earthquake movement extends nearer to the trench, indicating these waves are connected to the location and method of tsunami formation near the trench.
“This opens a new window to understand in a better way what happens with earthquakes and tsunamis near the trench,” Sepúlveda explained regarding the SWOT observations. “In the future, this knowledge will allow us to improve models we use to evaluate tsunami hazards in coastal communities and make them more resilient.”
During the week of March 20-26, 2026, significant events unfolded across Latin America and the Caribbean region.
In Colombia’s capital of Bogotá, military personnel conducted a memorial ceremony honoring those who perished in a cargo aircraft accident that occurred in Puerto Leguizamo, located in the nation’s southern territory.
Meanwhile, world-renowned soccer player Lionel Messi participated in practice sessions in Buenos Aires as Argentina’s national team prepared for an exhibition match against Mauritania.
In Mexico, groups of migrants traveled through Chiapas state to demonstrate against extended delays in processing their documentation and to seek permission to relocate to regions offering better job opportunities.
The photo collection highlighting these events was assembled by photographer Martín Mejía, who works from Lima, Peru.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Bruce Springsteen will take center stage at a massive anti-Trump demonstration this Saturday in Minnesota, where tensions remain high following the president’s immigration enforcement actions and the shooting deaths of two local residents by federal agents.
The “No Kings” movement has organized over 3,100 demonstrations across the nation, anticipating participation from more than 9 million Americans. Many of these events will take place in suburban areas that have become key battlegrounds in the resistance against Trump’s policies.
Event coordinators have chosen the Minnesota gathering at the State Capitol in St. Paul as their primary demonstration for Saturday. Officials have informed state agencies that as many as 100,000 protesters could gather at the Capitol grounds, surpassing last June’s turnout of approximately 80,000 participants.
According to Ezra Levin, who helped establish Indivisible, the organization leading these demonstrations, the movement has gained international momentum. Similar protests are scheduled across more than a dozen nations, he explained during an interview, spanning Canada, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden, Mexico and Australia. In nations with royal governments, organizers are calling their demonstrations “No Tyrants.”
The St. Paul event will showcase not only Springsteen but also folk singer Joan Baez and actress Jane Fonda, both recognized for their decades of political activism dating back to the Vietnam conflict. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a progressive movement icon, will also appear alongside numerous other national and local activists, union representatives and government officials.
National organizers selected Minnesota due to what Levin described as experiencing “some of the most horrific, sadistic behavior you can imagine” under the Trump presidency.
“At the same time, in the Twin Cities earlier this year, we saw some of the most inspiring, neighborly, brave organizing that we’ve seen anywhere in the country, and it serves as an inspiration to all of us,” Levin added.
Saturday marks the third installment of “No Kings” demonstrations, which typically maintain a celebratory atmosphere similar to street festivals. A diverse alliance of organizations opposed to what they characterize as Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and his efforts to concentrate and expand presidential authority coordinates these events. Previous rallies drew more than 5 million participants at over 2,100 locations last June, followed by more than 7 million people at over 2,700 gatherings in October.
Organizers revealed Saturday’s protest plans in January, following the Minneapolis killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. While preparations were already underway, their deaths during the deployment of approximately 3,000 federal officers to Minnesota gave the movement renewed purpose.
Levin indicated that opposition to the Iran conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on February 28, is likely to increase attendance at the protests.
Trump has responded to earlier “No Kings” rallies by declaring “I’m not a king” and claiming participants were “not representative of the people of our country.”
Springsteen traveled to Minnesota after writing “Streets of Minneapolis” as a tribute to Good, Pretti and other residents who showed bravery in opposing federal enforcement actions. He debuted the song at a benefit concert at the legendary First Avenue venue. The rock star is expected to perform it again at Saturday’s Capitol rally and during Tuesday’s show at Target Center, where he and the E Street Band will launch their Land of Hope & Dreams American Tour.
Springsteen and Trump have maintained a long-standing public disagreement, with the president previously dismissing the New Jersey musician as “overrated.”
The concert tour’s branding incorporates the “No Kings” message. Springsteen has stated they’re performing to protect “American democracy, American freedom, our American Constitution and our sacred American dream — all of which are under attack by our wannabe king and his rogue government.”
“The No Kings movement is of great import right now,” Springsteen told the Minnesota Star Tribune ahead of the rally. “When you have the opportunity to sing something where the timing is essential and if you have something powerful to sing, it elevates the moment, it elevates your job to another level.”
WASHINGTON (AP) — Following President Donald Trump’s sharp criticism of NATO allies regarding their reluctance to support U.S. military action in Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to France Friday to meet with his Group of Seven diplomatic counterparts amid growing international skepticism about the conflict.
The diplomatic mission faces significant challenges as Rubio attempts to convince other G7 foreign ministers to back America’s Iran strategy, which has drawn objections from nearly all partner nations. Trump’s harsh remarks about NATO during Thursday’s Cabinet meeting have complicated Rubio’s diplomatic efforts even further. Among G7 members beyond the United States, five nations — Britain, Canada, France, Germany and Italy — belong to the transatlantic defense alliance, with only Japan remaining outside the organization.
Rubio departed Washington for the G7 gathering near Paris shortly after Trump expressed strong frustration with NATO countries for failing to support the United States and Israel in the Iran conflict.
“We are very disappointed with NATO because NATO has done absolutely nothing,” Trump said.
The Secretary of State faces the challenge of repairing relationships with European allies who have endured criticism and direct threats from Trump’s administration. European leaders continue to feel stung by Trump’s previous demands for Denmark to surrender Greenland, while also harboring concerns about continued American support for Ukraine against Russia. The Middle Eastern conflict has created an additional source of diplomatic friction.
“Frankly, I think countries around the world, even those that are out there complaining about this a little bit, should actually be grateful that the United States has a president that’s willing to confront a threat like this,” Rubio said at the Cabinet meeting.
When questioned by journalists about the expected response from allies, Rubio expressed optimism before departing for France, stating he anticipated productive discussions with his G7 colleagues and predicted “we’re going to have great meetings.”
He subsequently shared on X that he would engage with “world leaders about the security concerns we share around the world and opportunities to address the situation in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war.”
Trump has expressed frustration over his inability to build coalition support for his chosen military campaign against Iran, with NATO and most other allies declining his requests to help maintain security in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian interference has disrupted petroleum transport and elevated energy costs worldwide.
“We’re there to protect NATO, to protect them from Russia. But they’re not there to protect us,” Trump said Thursday. He later added: “I never thought we needed them. I was more doing a test.”
Prior to the American president’s statements, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte highlighted increased defense expenditures by alliance members — something Trump has consistently demanded — acknowledging that Europe and Canada had previously relied too heavily on American military strength, though a “shift in mindset” has emerged.
Rutte emphasized NATO’s position that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons and noted the alliance has “long recognized the threat Iran’s missile program posed to allies and their interests. And what the United States is currently doing is degrading those capabilities, both the nuclear and the missile.”
France, which is hosting the G7 discussions at a historic abbey near Versailles, has expressed considerable doubt about the military campaign. French defense chief Gen. Fabien Mandon criticized American officials this week for failing to notify allies before beginning combat operations.
“They have just decided to intervene in the Near and Middle East without notifying us,” Mandon said. “We acted immediately, surprised by an American ally, who remains an ally, but who is less and less predictable and doesn’t even bother to inform us when it decides to engage in military operations. This affects our security. This affects our interests.”
Nevertheless, 35 nations participated in military discussions led by Mandon regarding plans to restore access to the Strait of Hormuz “once the intensity of hostilities has sufficiently decreased,” according to France’s Defense Ministry.
Rubio argued that with Iran threatening international maritime commerce, nations committed to international law “should step up and deal with it.”
Other allies have voiced concerns similar to Mandon’s while also questioning America’s dedication to Ukraine as the Iran conflict approaches its fourth week.
“We must avoid further destabilization, secure our economic freedom and develop perspectives for an end of and the time after the hostilities,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Thursday. “Our joint support for Ukraine … must not crumble now. That would be a strategic mistake with a view to Euro-Atlantic security.”
Wadephul indicated his expectation “that we can define a joint position” regarding the Middle Eastern situation.
“Of course, this is about ending this conflict as quickly as possible, but also ending it sustainably, and that means bringing about security in the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring overall that the Iranian regime, which in the past has behaved negatively enough, is also curtailed in the future,” Wadephul said.
GRAPEVINE, Texas — Conservative activists meeting in Texas this week revealed a stark age-based disagreement regarding President Donald Trump’s military strikes against Iran, with conference organizers calling for Republican unity during what promises to be a difficult midterm election cycle.
Young conservative attendees expressed frustration and feelings of abandonment regarding Trump’s Iranian military operations, telling The Associated Press in interviews that the president’s decisions contradict his repeated promises to avoid overseas military involvement.
Conversely, older conservative participants dismissed Trump’s previous campaign statements criticizing foreign military interventions, contending that the Iranian conflict represents a necessary response to legitimate threats against America.
This clear generational schism became apparent through discussions with twelve conference participants from different age groups attending the annual conservative gathering near Dallas. Such disagreement may signal declining Trump support among younger Republican voters, presenting potential challenges for the party in upcoming midterm races and for conservative leadership planning beyond Trump’s presidency.
“We did not want to see more wars. We wanted actual America-first policies, and Trump was very explicit about that,” said Benjamin Williams, a 25-year-old marketing specialist for Young Americans for Liberty. “It does feel like a betrayal, for sure.”
Williams, an Austin, Texas resident, expressed concern for his military friends, particularly his brother serving as an Air Force officer. He views the conflict as unnecessary disruption to Middle Eastern stability that may harm America’s economic interests long-term.
“Trump’s rhetoric was very important for people of my generation,” Williams said.
Auburn University student Sean O’Brien indicated his Trump support has weakened, particularly regarding potential troop deployments to the Middle East. “I’m not happy,” he said.
Regarding potential Iranian troop deployment, he stated, “would be full betrayal.”
Given military preparations to send at least 1,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East soon, O’Brien said, “That’s what keeps me up at night.”
Senior CPAC attendees showed much greater tolerance, characterizing Trump as appropriately responding to Iranian threats. Multiple participants argued Trump didn’t start the conflict, claiming Iran initiated hostilities decades earlier.
“I don’t believe he started a new war. He was acting in response to a 40-year-old war by Iran,” said 70-year-old retired defense contractor Joe Ropar of McKinney, Texas. “How long were we supposed to wait? I think he did what he had to do when he had to do it.”
“Do nothing? I’m not on board with that,” Ropar said.
Reflecting sentiments from other senior attendees, Kelle Phillips described Trump’s choice as a realistic response to genuine threats that supersedes campaign promises.
“You campaign on what you want to do and then the world’s dynamics happen,” said Phillips, a 61-year-old author and religious instructor from Frisco, Texas. “I think the difference is if you have someone in the Iranian regime who wants to destroy America. You can’t reason with them.”
James Scharre believes Trump’s Iranian objectives remain short-term and shouldn’t worry those opposed to extended overseas conflicts.
Scharre, 61, views Trump’s earlier campaign opposition to regime change as preference rather than absolute commitment.
“I think he said he was against it,” he said. “Trump is a wise leader. He does what works. And I’m for it.”
Conservative unity began fracturing early in the conflict, with prominent voices like podcaster Tucker Carlson leading opposition.
Recently, Joe Kent, director of the Center for Counterterrorism at the Department of Homeland Security, resigned from his Trump administration position, stating in his resignation letter that “I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran” and that “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation.”
Conservative podcaster Steve Bannon, scheduled to address CPAC, has publicly worried that extended Middle Eastern military involvement could cost Republicans support by causing some conservatives to skip November’s midterm elections.
These concerns arise as Republicans face potential House losses and their narrow Senate control appears less secure than previously.
Recent polling from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that while Trump’s approval ratings remain stable, the Iranian situation may become a significant political burden for his administration. Approximately 59% of Americans consider U.S. military actions in Iran excessive, according to the survey.
CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp recognized conservative divisions over Iran and announced the convention’s annual preference poll will address the issue. Results will be announced Saturday during the convention’s closing day.
“Any consensus is still to be determined. I think people trust President Trump, so I don’t think there’s been any shaking of his support,” Schlapp told the AP. “But I think underneath there’s concern about where does this lead.”
Tiffany Krieger, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh sophomore, reported her maximum Trump support has dropped to half due to the conflict.
“It seems like the love for him is plateauing. We see our party splitting apart and we’re supposed to be united,” said Krieger, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “I think this issue with the war has put a line through the conservative movement.”
Almost directly responding to Krieger’s concerns, Mercedes Schlapp, senior fellow for the CPAC foundation, began Thursday’s Texas conference session with a unity appeal.
“We cannot divide from within,” she addressed hundreds of attendees from the convention center stage. Referencing political opposition, she continued: “Let’s stay united. They want us divided.”
Early Friday morning, Israeli military forces carried out attacks in central Tehran, according to military officials, as smoke clouds were visible over Beirut following President Donald Trump’s decision to postpone his ultimatum regarding Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli forces have deployed thousands of soldiers into Lebanese territory, with government officials stating their intention to secure control over all territory south of the Litani River, located approximately 20 miles north of the Lebanese border.
With stock markets in turmoil, Trump announced Thursday that he was pushing back his deadline for the strait’s reopening to April 6, claiming Iran had requested additional time and describing negotiations as progressing positively. However, Iranian officials continue to deny any diplomatic engagement with Washington regarding a 15-point peace proposal.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in devastating casualties, with over 1,900 fatalities reported in Iran and nearly 1,100 deaths in Lebanon. Israeli losses include 18 civilians and three military personnel killed during operations in Lebanon. Additionally, 13 American service members have lost their lives, along with numerous civilians throughout the Gulf area. The violence has forced millions to flee their homes across Lebanon and Iran.
In related developments, New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced Friday a comprehensive four-stage framework to address potential fuel shortages. The most restrictive phases would impose purchasing limits on gasoline and prioritize distribution for essential services.
Willis explained that specific benchmarks, including export limitations and national fuel reserve levels, would determine transitions between the four stages.
The minister emphasized that New Zealand currently operates under the first phase, representing minimal restrictions, but stressed the importance of public awareness regarding potential future limitations.
No fuel purchasing or usage restrictions are currently in effect within New Zealand.
ATLANTA (AP) — A federal judge is scheduled to hear arguments Friday regarding Fulton County officials’ demand that the FBI return confiscated ballots and election materials from the 2020 presidential race.
U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee indicated in a scheduling document that the hearing became necessary after both parties were unable to reach a settlement during court-mandated mediation.
The January 28 confiscation from a storage facility near Atlanta focused on the election center in Georgia’s largest county, which leans heavily Democratic and encompasses most of Atlanta. Fulton County has been the focal point of unsubstantiated allegations by President Donald Trump and his supporters claiming extensive election fraud led to his defeat.
The FBI’s action represents one of multiple moves by the Trump administration that have concerned Democrats and numerous election administrators who worry it is leveraging law enforcement to advance the president’s personal complaints and preparing methods to disrupt this year’s midterm contests. The FBI also employed a subpoena this month to acquire documents connected to a disputed review of the 2020 presidential election in Arizona’s Maricopa County, another competitive state Trump lost.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department is battling multiple states in court for access to voting records containing sensitive personal details. Election administrators, including some Republicans, have stated that providing such information would breach state and federal privacy regulations.
Fulton County attorneys contended in a court document that seizing their records was “improper and unjustified” and shows “callous disregard” for Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. The Justice Department aims to “set a precedent that would grant the federal government unchecked power to interfere with the local administration of elections,” they stated.
Justice Department lawyers countered that creating a comprehensive affidavit and submitting it to a judge “is the exact opposite of ‘callous disregard’” for those constitutional protections. “Their goal to disrupt an ongoing federal criminal investigation is clear,” they responded regarding Fulton County officials.
The Justice Department indicated it is examining “irregularities that occurred during the 2020 presidential election in the County” and identified two statutes that may have been broken. One mandates election records be preserved for 22 months, while another forbids obtaining, casting or counting false, fictitious or fraudulent ballots.
The document stated the FBI is investigating whether Fulton County adequately preserved ballot images; whether certain ballots were scanned and tallied multiple times; whether unfolded, unmailed ballots were counted as mail-in absentee votes; and possible irregularities involving tabulator tapes from scanning machines used to count ballots.
Fulton County’s attorneys stated that the “deficiencies” or “defects” in the county’s 2020 election management mentioned in the affidavit represent typical human mistakes that frequently happen without deliberate misconduct and cannot establish probable cause.
To bolster their arguments, Fulton officials provided a sworn statement from Ryan Macias, an election technology and security specialist who counseled the county during the 2020 election. He stated the affidavit includes “a multitude of false or misleading statements and omissions” and provided explanations for the alleged “deficiencies.”
Reviews by the Georgia secretary of state and independent examinations contradict the primary claims of the affidavit, which is “rife with statements from witnesses lacking credibility, with extraordinary and undisclosed biases,” Fulton’s attorneys maintained.
Georgia’s ballots in the 2020 presidential contest were tallied three times, including once manually, and each recount confirmed Democrat Joe Biden’s victory.
Federal government attorneys dismissed the notion that the FBI agent who prepared the affidavit “intentionally or recklessly misled” the judge, stating that “the supposed misrepresentations and omissions flagged by Petitioners are illusory and/or immaterial.” They also claimed that expiration of the statute of limitations on potential crimes does not eliminate probable cause.
Justice Department lawyers contend they don’t believe the documents were “properly retained and preserved” and noted that Fulton County officials “can hardly claim a meaningful interest” in the records since the clerk of courts previously requested judicial permission to destroy them.
The department also emphasized that a federal magistrate judge examined the FBI affidavit and approved the search warrant. Fulton County attempted to have the FBI agent who prepared the affidavit appear at Friday’s hearing, but the Justice Department opposed this and the judge supported the federal government and dismissed the subpoena.
A former architect facing charges in the notorious Gilgo Beach serial murder case plans to enter a guilty plea next month, according to two sources with knowledge of his intentions.
Rex Heuermann, 62, who stands accused of killing seven women across a 17-year period, will reportedly reverse his previous not guilty plea during his scheduled April 8 court appearance, the sources told The Associated Press.
Both individuals, who have direct involvement in the case, requested anonymity since the plea change hasn’t been formally submitted to the court. One source revealed that both the victims’ relatives and Heuermann’s family members have received advance notice of this decision.
Heuermann’s legal team has not yet responded to requests for comment.
However, circumstances could still shift before the scheduled hearing. Heuermann retains the option to reconsider his decision, and any guilty plea must receive judicial approval.
The defendant has remained in jail since his July 2023 arrest and had maintained his innocence in previous court proceedings. His trial was originally set to begin in September. Newsday first broke the story about his planned plea change.
According to prosecutors, genetic evidence, mobile phone records, and materials discovered during a search of Heuermann’s Massapequa, New York residence link him to the victims, all young women who worked in the sex trade.
Investigators discovered multiple victims’ remains along a secluded section of shoreline parkway, while other remains were located in additional remote locations.
The seven victims have been identified as Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Sandra Costilla, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor and Megan Waterman.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney refused to provide comment when contacted Thursday evening, as did Gloria Allred, the California-based attorney representing several victims’ families.
The case first gained public attention in 2010 when officers searching for a missing person uncovered multiple sets of human remains in brush along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach.
Throughout subsequent years, investigators employed genetic testing and additional evidence to identify victims. In several instances, they successfully connected these remains to others found previously across Long Island.
Identifying Heuermann as a suspect required years of investigative work.
A revived examination of the cold case first flagged him as a possible perpetrator in 2022. Investigators connected Heuermann to a pickup truck that a witness reported observing when one victim vanished in 2010.
Subsequently, surveillance teams obtained a discarded pizza crust from Heuermann’s garbage, which enabled them to match his DNA to hair evidence found on one victim’s remains.
Mobile phone records further demonstrated that Heuermann had communicated with several victims shortly before they disappeared, while examination of his internet activity revealed a pattern of viewing violent pornographic content and researching details about the murder investigation.
In the previous year, investigators obtained computer files from Heuermann that they characterized as a planning document for the murders, featuring multiple checklists with instructions to minimize sound, clean victims’ bodies and eliminate evidence.
During recent proceedings, the presiding judge denied defense requests to exclude specific DNA evidence from trial proceedings and to separate the case into individual trials.
A sightseeing helicopter went down Thursday on a secluded stretch of beach along Hawaii’s Kauai island, leaving multiple people hurt, according to local fire officials.
The aircraft was transporting five people total — one pilot and four passengers — when it went down at Kalalau Beach, according to the Kauai Fire Department. The crash site sits along the island’s northern coastline on the Na Pali Coast.
Fire officials have confirmed that people were hurt in the incident, though the exact number of injured individuals and the extent of their injuries remains unknown at this time.
Aerial tours by helicopter have become a favored method for visitors to view the dramatic coastline of the Na Pali Coast, with its towering cliffs, pristine beaches and cascading waterfalls. The rugged terrain can only be reached on foot through challenging hikes or by watercraft.
Montana’s political landscape has been turned upside down following the unexpected announcement that Republican Senator Steve Daines will not pursue reelection after serving two terms in office.
The shocking decision has created new opportunities for alternative candidates, including Seth Bodnar, who previously served as president of the University of Montana and is now mounting an independent campaign for the Senate seat.
Democratic party officials are expressing concern that Bodnar’s independent candidacy could divide votes that might otherwise go to their nominee, potentially complicating their strategy to capture the seat.
Daines’ withdrawal from the race has fundamentally altered the dynamics of what was expected to be a closely watched Senate contest in the Big Sky State.
MANILA – Despite ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will move forward with its scheduled May leadership summit, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced Friday.
The summit will be streamlined to concentrate on critical regional concerns including energy supply chains, rising food costs, and the welfare of migrant workers throughout the region, Marcos explained.
After discussions with fellow leaders from the 10-member Southeast Asian bloc, Marcos said he had inquired whether they would prefer delaying the gathering due to the Middle Eastern crisis.
“The consensus that we came to is that it is precisely now that we must coordinate our efforts,” Marcos told reporters.
The decision reflects the regional group’s commitment to addressing pressing economic and humanitarian challenges affecting Southeast Asia, even as global attention remains focused on conflicts elsewhere.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio conducted a telephone conversation with Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday, according to a State Department announcement.
During the discussion, Rubio thanked Kurdish leadership for their role in facilitating the flow of Iraqi oil, including petroleum from the Kurdistan region, to international markets. The State Department noted that “The secretary also expressed his gratitude to the Kurdistan Regional Government for enabling oil from Iraq, including from the Iraq Kurdistan Region, to reach global markets.”
Oil market volatility has increased due to the ongoing conflict with Iran, affecting global energy prices.
Rubio also conveyed sympathy regarding recent casualties, as the State Department reported he “offered his condolences to the families of the Peshmerga killed in an Iranian missile attack on March 24 and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.”
The deadly incident occurred when Iranian forces launched a missile assault on a Kurdish military installation located north of Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. According to Peshmerga officials, the Tuesday morning attack resulted in at least six Kurdish fighters losing their lives and left 30 others wounded.
Kurdish military leadership described Iran’s actions as a “treacherous attack,” stating that six Iranian ballistic missiles targeted the Peshmerga military headquarters facility north of Erbil during the early morning hours.
The broader conflict with Iran commenced on February 28 when American and Israeli forces initiated strikes against Iranian targets. Iran retaliated with its own military operations against Israeli territory and Gulf nations hosting American military installations. The escalating violence, including continued joint American-Israeli operations in Iran and Israeli military action in Lebanon, has resulted in thousands of casualties.
President Donald Trump has provided varying objectives and timeframes for the military campaign, from regime change in Iran to dismantling the country’s military and missile infrastructure. During Thursday’s remarks, Trump again claimed victory in the ongoing conflict.
INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA suffered a legal setback Thursday when a federal court rejected their emergency request to prevent DraftKings from utilizing trademarked phrases connected to college basketball tournaments.
The lawsuit for trademark violation, submitted to the Southern District of Indiana court last week, sought to prohibit DraftKings from employing ‘March Madness,’ ‘Final Four,’ ‘Elite Eight,’ and ‘Sweet Sixteen,’ along with similar variations, in their marketing efforts.
Judge Tanya Walton Pratt determined the NCAA failed to demonstrate that the sports betting company’s usage of these phrases would result in irreparable damage.
‘With further discovery the NCAA may be able to show they are entitled to a preliminary or permanent injunction, and those claims remain pending,’ Pratt wrote.
In court documents filed Wednesday responding to the NCAA’s lawsuit, DraftKings argued they have utilized ‘March Madness’ and related terminology when referencing the NCAA Tournament for over five years and possess the legal authority to continue doing so.
The NCAA maintains it deliberately distances itself from any association with gambling activities and argued in their legal filing that DraftKings’ usage of the trademarked terms creates customer confusion by suggesting NCAA endorsement.
Agricultural producers across the globe are confronting mounting challenges as the ongoing conflict involving Iran disrupts critical supply chains. Energy costs have surged while fertilizer availability has diminished significantly following Tehran’s substantial restrictions on traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, implemented as a response to military strikes by the United States and Israel.
This fertilizer crisis threatens to compound existing hardships for agricultural producers in developing nations, who already face challenges from climate change and unpredictable weather patterns, potentially resulting in increased food costs for consumers worldwide.
Agricultural producers in the Northern Hemisphere who depend heavily on fertilizer imports from Gulf region suppliers are particularly vulnerable as the growing season commences, according to Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program.
“In the worst case, this means lower yields and crop failures next season. In the best case, higher input costs will be included in food prices next year,” Skau explained.
In Punjab, India, rice producer Baldev Singh, age 55, expressed concern that small-scale agricultural operations — which represent the majority of the nation’s farming operations — face an uncertain future without government fertilizer subsidies when demand reaches its peak in June.
“Right now, we are waiting and hoping,” Singh stated.
Tehran has significantly curtailed commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway that typically facilitates approximately one-fifth of global petroleum shipments and nearly one-third of worldwide fertilizer commerce.
Essential plant nutrients nitrogen and phosphate face immediate supply disruptions due to the maritime blockade.
Nitrogen-based products, including urea — the most commonly traded fertilizer that promotes plant development and increases crop production — experience the most severe impact from transportation delays and escalating liquefied natural gas costs, which serve as a crucial component in production.
The regional conflict has affected roughly 30% of international urea commerce, according to Chris Lawson from CRU Group, a commodities consulting firm based in London.
Several nations already confront severe supply shortages, reports Raj Patel, a food systems economist from the University of Texas. Ethiopia, for instance, obtains more than 90% of its nitrogen fertilizer from Gulf suppliers via Djibouti, a supply chain that experienced strain even before hostilities commenced in February.
“The planting season is now,” Patel observed. “The fertilizer isn’t there.”
Phosphate availability, which supports plant root systems, also faces constraints. Saudi Arabia manufactures approximately one-fifth of global phosphate fertilizer, while the region exports more than 40% of the world’s sulfur — a vital component and byproduct of petroleum and gas processing, Lawson noted.
Following the conclusion of hostilities, Gulf region producers would require substantial security assurances before resuming normal shipping operations through the strait, with insurance expenses likely to increase significantly, said Owen Gooch, an analyst with London-based Argus Consulting Services.
India’s government has made domestic urea supplies a priority and provides fertilizer manufacturers with approximately 70% of their natural gas requirements. However, some facilities continue operating below full capacity, resulting in reduced production.
“The food system is fragile, and it depends on stable fertilizer supply chains to ensure farmers can produce the food the world relies on,” stated Hanna Opsahl-Ben Ammar from Yara International, a major global fertilizer manufacturer.
Agricultural producers typically apply fertilizers immediately before or during planting, meaning crops lose crucial early development opportunities and production can decline when deliveries experience delays, regardless of later supply improvements.
The consequences are already apparent in the United States and Europe during their primary planting period, with similar effects anticipated across much of Asia in upcoming months.
“Our crops out in the field need nitrogen now — the sooner the better — so they can get off to a good start, helping them establish themselves and build up reserves for the harvest later this summer,” explained Dirk Peters, an agricultural engineer operating a farm near Berlin.
While fertilizer costs remain below the highs experienced following Russia’s Ukraine invasion, grain prices were elevated then, enabling producers to manage expenses, said Joseph Glauber from the International Food Policy Research Institute. Current lower grain prices mean reduced profit margins, potentially forcing producers to select crops requiring less fertilizer — such as soybeans in America — or reduce fertilizer applications, decreasing yields. Reduced production can result in higher consumer costs.
Alternative suppliers are unlikely to compensate for the deficit. China, the world’s leading nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer manufacturer, focuses on domestic requirements, with urea exports unlikely to restart until May, Lawson indicated. Russian facilities, representing another major producer, already operate near maximum capacity.
The supply disruptions are already affecting Africa, where numerous agricultural producers depend on fertilizer imports from Middle Eastern and Russian sources.
Unusually heavy early rainfall in East Africa has provided producers with approximately one week of dry conditions to prepare fields and apply fertilizer, said Stephen Muchiri, a Kenyan maize producer and CEO of the Eastern African Farmers Federation, representing 25 million small-scale operators.
Fertilizer shortages and cost increases severely impact agricultural producers, compelling them to use reduced quantities and resulting in diminished yields. Brief delays alone can decrease maize production by approximately 4% per season, Patel noted, referencing Zambian research.
Government intervention options include implementing subsidies, encouraging domestic production, and regulating exports.
India currently subsidizes fertilizer to reduce financial pressure on agricultural producers, though these subsidies reduce funding available for long-term agricultural investments. The nation has allocated $12.7 billion this year specifically for urea subsidies, according to the U.S.-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.
Domestic urea production efforts have increased India’s reliance on imported gas, while excessive urea application has damaged local soil quality, said Purva Jain of IEEFA, who advocates for organic fertilizer alternatives.
Reduced dependence on imported fertilizers could shield agricultural producers and consumers from energy price fluctuations and climate-related disruptions, said Oliver Oliveros, executive coordinator of the Agroecology Coalition.
“This could be a turning point,” Oliveros concluded.
HONG KONG — Financial markets throughout Asia experienced widespread declines Friday morning following Wall Street’s steepest single-day drop since the Iran conflict commenced, as investors expressed growing skepticism about potential peace talks.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 benchmark declined 1.2% to reach 52,982.86 during morning trading sessions. South Korea’s Kospi experienced a more severe drop of 3.1%, falling to 5,293.26.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index decreased 0.1% to 24,825.50, though China’s Shanghai Composite managed a slight gain of 0.1% to 3,893.21.
Thursday’s trading session on Wall Street marked the most significant decline since the Iran war’s beginning, with the S&P 500 dropping 1.7% to 6,477.16 — its steepest fall since January. The Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased 1% to 45,960.11. The Nasdaq composite experienced a 2.4% decline to 21,408.08, placing it 10% beneath its recent peak, which qualifies as a market “correction.”
Market volatility this week has been driven by speculation regarding potential diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Following Thursday’s market close, President Donald Trump announced he would delay a planned strike on Iran’s energy infrastructure and extended until April 6 his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global oil and gas shipments.
Skepticism about a potential conflict resolution intensified after Iran declined a U.S. ceasefire offer and presented an alternative proposal, while the United States continued deploying additional military personnel to the region.
Energy prices continued their downward trend Friday despite earlier increases. Brent crude futures, the global benchmark, dropped 1.1% to $100.77 per barrel after trading above $102 on Thursday.
U.S. benchmark crude oil fell 1.3% early Wednesday to $93.30 per barrel.
Precious metals saw gains in early Friday trading, with gold prices rising 1% to $4,420.70 per ounce. Silver increased 1.6% to $69.04.
Currency markets showed the U.S. dollar weakening to 159.56 Japanese yen from 159.81 yen. The euro strengthened to $1.1539 from $1.1527.
THORNTON, Colo. — A mother from Colorado is praising recent court decisions against major tech companies after losing her teenage son to a deadly drug purchased through social media platforms.
Kimberly Osterman’s 18-year-old son Max passed away in 2021 after taking what he believed was Percocet, which he had arranged to buy from a dealer he met on Snapchat. The pill contained a lethal amount of fentanyl, and Max died the following morning.
“The truth is out, and it’s time that they are held accountable for the design of the platforms,” Osterman stated. “They put profits over safety.”
This week brought two significant legal victories that Osterman believes will pave the way for holding social media companies responsible for child safety. On Wednesday, a Los Angeles jury ruled that both YouTube and Meta — the parent company of Instagram and Facebook — are liable for creating platforms specifically designed to captivate young users in harmful ways. Both companies have expressed disagreement with the rulings and are considering appeals.
Meanwhile, a separate jury in New Mexico concluded that Meta deliberately damaged children’s mental health while hiding information about child sexual exploitation occurring on its platforms. Meta has announced plans to appeal this decision as well.
Before the Los Angeles trial commenced in January, Snapchat’s parent company Snap Inc. reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount. TikTok also agreed to settle, with terms kept confidential.
Looking through family photo albums at her Colorado residence Thursday, Osterman reminisced about “the days before social media. The days before the infinite scrolling lured him in.” Pictures of Max surrounded by heart decorations and angel wings filled the shelves around her home.
Osterman described her son as academically gifted with a passion for lacrosse and wrestling. While she knew he used Snapchat to stay in touch with friends, she was unaware of the potential dangers he faced.
The drug dealer who sold the fatal pill to Max, Sergio Guerra-Carrillo, received a six-year prison sentence in 2023 on two distribution charges.
Currently, Osterman is pursuing her own wrongful death lawsuit, which is separate from the cases decided this week. She has joined Parents for Safe Online Spaces (ParentsSOS), an organization of parents who have experienced online-related child harm and push for stronger regulations.
The group supports the Kids Online Safety Act, proposed federal legislation that would mandate social media platforms take reasonable measures to prevent harm on sites likely to be used by minors.
Osterman advocates for stringent protective measures, including age verification technology to block anyone under 18 from accessing these platforms.
“You think your kids are safe in their home, in their bedroom, but that’s not the way it is with the current status of social media,” she explained.
When contacted Thursday, Snapchat did not provide immediate comment regarding Osterman’s situation. The company has previously stated it employs advanced technology to actively locate and eliminate drug dealers’ accounts while blocking search results for drug-related keywords.
While it remains uncertain whether these recent legal victories will result in significant changes, the verdicts signal an increasing readiness to hold major social media corporations accountable and demand substantial reforms. Technology oversight experts anticipate these decisions will encourage additional lawsuits and regulatory measures.
HONG KONG – Chinese education officials unveiled new guidelines on Friday designed to safeguard student wellbeing by implementing restrictions on excessive homework assignments and protecting student break periods.
The Education Ministry’s new framework prohibits educational institutions from overwhelming students with too many tests or adding to their “academic burden,” according to an official statement released through the ministry’s WeChat platform.
This policy shift reflects government efforts to address mounting academic stress and support student mental health, marking a significant change from China’s long-standing educational philosophy that emphasized rigorous study habits and high academic achievement.
Educational experts note that overwhelming homework assignments have become standard practice in Chinese schools, resulting in sleep deficits and rising rates of anxiety and depression among students.
Previous regulations announced by China last November required schools to “strictly control” homework volumes while ensuring primary and secondary students receive “at least” two hours of daily physical activity during school hours.
The new guidelines also mandate that kindergartens cannot implement elementary school teaching approaches or advance elementary curriculum content.
Additionally, primary and secondary educational institutions are forbidden from conducting entrance examinations for student selection purposes, and schools cannot reward or penalize educators for “hyping up” students who achieve top scores on college entrance examinations.
The ministry emphasized that schools must not “encroach on students break time in anyway, or prohibit students from leaving the classroom during breaks.”
These measures follow China’s recent announcement introducing spring and autumn school holidays to supplement existing summer and winter vacation periods.
The Sichuan Southwest Vocational College of Aviation recently announced through its official WeChat that their six-day spring break from April 1-6 will focus on helping students “see the flowers and enjoy romance,” as government officials explore innovative approaches to encourage future marriages and stimulate domestic spending.
Markets across Asia plunged Friday, continuing a worldwide selloff as investors grappled with the economic fallout from escalating Middle East tensions that have sent energy costs soaring and pushed interest rates higher.
President Donald Trump provided some relief by extending his deadline for potential strikes against Iranian power facilities by an additional 10 days, after already pushing back his original 48-hour timeframe by five days. Oil prices responded with Brent crude dropping 1% to $107.07 per barrel, though it had spiked nearly 6% the previous night.
Despite the modest oil price retreat, concerns persist about the conflict expanding into ground warfare, particularly as reports suggest Trump may deploy additional military personnel to the region. The critical Strait of Hormuz shipping route remains uncertain for reopening.
Iran rejected a U.S. peace proposal, calling it “one sided and unfair.”
Wall Street futures managed a slight 0.2% rebound during Asian trading hours. The previous day saw the Nasdaq Composite crash 2.4%, putting it nearly 11% below its October 29 peak and officially confirming a correction phase.
ITC Markets senior foreign exchange analyst Sean Callow warned of continued volatility ahead. “The Middle East headlines won’t stop for the weekend so the weight of money leans towards assuming another risk-off week ahead as the U.S. continues to add military resources to the region,” Callow stated.
“Many see the Iranian regime as holding the upper hand and doubt that there are indeed productive negotiations with the U.S. in process… Underlying pressure towards higher oil prices, USD and yields along with weaker equities appears intact,” he added.
Regional markets showed widespread declines Friday. The MSCI Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan dropped 1.4% and appeared headed for a 3% weekly decline. Japan’s Nikkei fell 1.3%, down 0.9% for the week.
South Korea experienced particularly severe losses with the KOSPI diving 3%, resulting in a devastating 8.5% weekly drop. Chinese blue-chip stocks declined 1%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 0.4%.
Citi analysts warned that more severe conflict scenarios could push global economic growth below 2% this year while driving inflation above 4% and increasing recession risks.
“Asia, particularly Korea, Japan, and India, faces the most intense headwinds due to heavy reliance on imported fuel and direct exposure to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz,” the analysts noted in their client advisory.
Bond markets worldwide faced significant pressure as rising oil costs intensified inflation worries. Norway’s central bank joined other institutions in signaling potential rate increases, reversing earlier projections of three cuts through 2028 and instead anticipating hikes this year.
Government bond yields climbed sharply, with Japan’s 10-year rate rising 4 basis points to 2.31% and Australia’s benchmark 10-year yield surging 7 basis points to 5.076%.
The two-year U.S. Treasury yield remained steady at 3.9714% Friday after jumping 10 basis points overnight as traders increased bets on Federal Reserve rate hikes this year to approximately 50%.
Currency markets reflected the risk-averse sentiment, with the U.S. dollar strengthening for a third consecutive session as investors sought safety. The Australian dollar, sensitive to risk sentiment, fell 0.2% to a two-month low of $0.6872 after declining 0.8% overnight.
The euro held steady at $1.1533 following a 0.3% overnight decline, while the yen traded near 159.70 against the dollar. Market observers expect potential intervention if the yen reaches 160.
Gold prices recovered 0.6% to $4,405 per ounce after falling nearly 3% the previous session.
Federal maritime officials are keeping close watch on an extraordinary increase in ship detentions by Chinese authorities, which appears linked to an ongoing dispute over control of key Panama Canal ports.
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission announced Thursday it’s monitoring the situation after Panama’s highest court struck down the legal basis for a 1997 agreement that allowed Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s Panama Ports Company to run the Balboa and Cristobal terminals. These facilities sit on opposite sides of the Panama Canal.
After the court decision in late January, Panama’s government named American subsidiaries Maersk APM Terminals and Mediterranean Shipping Company’s Terminal Investment Limited as temporary operators through 18-month contracts.
The port takeover came after growing pressure from Washington to reduce Chinese control around the vital waterway, which handles roughly 5% of worldwide shipping traffic.
FMC Chair Laura DiBella noted that China’s detention of Panama-registered vessels has far surpassed typical levels, with Lloyd’s List Intelligence reporting almost 70 ships held since March 8.
“These intensified inspections were carried out under informal directives and appear intended to punish Panama after the transfer of Hutchison’s port assets,” DiBella said in a statement.
She warned that since Panama-flagged vessels transport a substantial portion of U.S. containerized cargo, the detentions “could result in significant commercial and strategic consequences to U.S. shipping.” DiBella added that the FMC has authority to examine whether foreign government actions might damage American trade interests.
Chinese transport officials have also called Maersk and MSC representatives to Beijing for senior-level meetings, according to DiBella.
CK Hutchison, which ran the ports for almost three decades, has firmly disputed Panama’s court decision and accused the country’s officials of illegally confiscating assets. The company has initiated international arbitration proceedings against Panama, seeking more than $2 billion in compensation.
The conflict has also created complications for CK Hutchison’s proposed $23 billion deal to sell a controlling interest in its worldwide port operations to a group headed by BlackRock and MSC.
China’s Ministry of Transport has not yet provided a response to requests for comment on the situation.
For the third consecutive year, Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has claimed the number one position in Major League Baseball jersey sales as teams prepare for opening day, according to an announcement from MLB on Thursday.
Fellow Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto secured second place in the rankings, while New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge landed in third. Seattle’s catcher Cal Raleigh took fourth position, with Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts rounding out the top five.
The last player besides Ohtani to claim the sales crown was Atlanta’s outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., who held the top position during the 2023 All-Star break. However, Ohtani regained his dominance by season’s end and has maintained his streak for three years.
Completing the top ten were Arizona third baseman Nolan Arenado, Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, Baltimore first baseman Pete Alonso, Boston outfielder Roman Anthony, and Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Both Raleigh and Anthony achieved their first appearances in the top ten rankings.
The sales data comes from Fanatics’ online platforms, including MLBShop.com, tracking purchases made following the conclusion of last season’s World Series, where the Dodgers captured their second consecutive championship.
JACKSON, Miss. — Federal investigators have determined that two fatal natural gas explosions that leveled homes in Jackson, Mississippi during January 2024 occurred when underground utility lines became disconnected from their joints due to shifting clay soil conditions, according to a report released Thursday by federal safety officials.
The initial blast claimed the life of 82-year-old Clara Barbour.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined that Atmos Energy Corp., the Dallas-based gas utility serving the area, had identified the gas leaks prior to the explosions but failed to classify them as requiring immediate attention. Federal investigators also concluded that the company inadequately assessed pipeline risks, delayed necessary repairs, and provided insufficient training to community members and emergency responders regarding gas leak protocols. The board called for enhanced regulatory scrutiny of the utility.
“Atmos has had significant safety shortfalls in recent years,” investigators stated. “Thus, Atmos’s multistate operations require broader oversight.”
Company representative Bobby Morgan responded that safety continues to be “our highest priority.”
“We will work diligently in the coming days and weeks to evaluate the findings as part of our ongoing safety efforts to further our vision to be the safest provider of natural gas services,” Morgan stated.
Atmos Energy provides natural gas service across Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
The January 24 explosion and resulting fire in southern Jackson killed Clara Barbour and caused minor injuries to her spouse, Johnny Barbour. A second blast occurred three days afterward, approximately three-quarters of a mile from the first incident, completely destroying one residence and damaging an adjacent home. That explosion resulted in no casualties.
Federal investigators determined that both incidents involved gas supply lines that had become detached from their connections as surrounding soil shifted, creating hazardous gas accumulations that triggered the explosions.
The Jackson region sits above Yazoo clay, a soil type that swells during wet periods and shrinks during dry conditions. This soil movement not only damages building foundations and roadways but can also cause pipeline disconnections. The pipe connections installed by Atmos’s predecessor company lack resistance to separation forces, investigators found. The safety board recommended that Atmos locate and replace all such vulnerable connections.
The gas leak at the Barbour residence was first identified on November 17, 2023, when residents detected the chemical additive mixed into natural gas for safety purposes. An Atmos worker classified the leak as non-threatening, placing it on a repair schedule that could extend beyond one year. The leak at the second explosion site was discovered December 1 but received an even lower priority rating, with repairs scheduled within three years.
Following the explosion, the company reassessed Jackson-area leaks and identified several that posed greater risks than originally determined, the report noted.
Safety investigators criticized Atmos for inadequate threat assessment regarding expansive soil conditions, pointing out that regulators had issued warnings about this hazard since 2008. The NTSB had previously identified expanding soil as a contributing factor in a 2018 Atmos explosion in Dallas that resulted in one death and four injuries.
Investigators noted that Atmos maintained varying safety protocols across different states, and that implementing the more rigorous standards used in Kansas could have prevented the Mississippi explosions.
“Atmos’s siloed state operations, including leak monitoring procedures that differed by state, demonstrate that Atmos has not applied lessons learned in one state to the other states it operates in,” the board concluded.
SHANGHAI/BEIJING – Financial sector stocks in China showed stronger performance compared to the overall market on Friday, following reports that government regulators are exploring changes to investment restrictions that could expand funding opportunities for banking institutions.
According to sources who spoke with Reuters on Thursday, China’s banking oversight authority is considering modifications that would permit certain bank investors to acquire major ownership positions – classified as 5% or greater stakes – in one to two more banking institutions beyond the current maximum of two.
When contacted by Reuters on Thursday, the banking regulatory agency did not provide a response regarding any possible modifications to existing rules.
Friday morning trading showed China’s CSI Banks Index dropping 0.3% at the opening bell before stabilizing near even levels during early sessions. Meanwhile, the broader CSI300 Index started the day down 1%.
According to Citi analysts in a client advisory, the proposed regulatory adjustment “has a positive impact on China banks.”
Citi noted that such changes would support faster expansion of bank lending activities, create stronger management motivation to improve profits and stock values, and encourage additional purchases from institutional investors such as insurance companies.
JPMorgan analysts echoed this sentiment in their research report, stating the development “could broaden the investor base for China banks, and would thus be positive for the sector in general.”
Taiwan’s foreign ministry announced Thursday that the island nation will skip an upcoming World Trade Organization conference in Cameroon due to severely flawed travel documentation provided by the African host country.
The controversy began when Cameroon initially listed Taiwan as “Taiwan, province of China” in pre-conference paperwork, prompting formal complaints from Taiwan’s government to both the WTO and Cameroon officials.
When Cameroon attempted to resolve the issue by offering visa exemptions for Taiwan’s delegation, the replacement documents contained numerous mistakes, including misspelled names and incorrectly identifying nearly all delegation members as female.
“This shows that the Cameroonian side handled the matter carelessly and without sincerity,” Taiwan’s foreign ministry stated.
“If our personnel were to enter Cameroon carrying documents full of errors, there would be an even greater risk of being obstructed or humiliated upon arrival. After a comprehensive assessment, we have therefore decided not to attend.”
Cameroon’s foreign ministry has not responded to requests for comment on the matter.
A WTO representative confirmed that corrected visas were issued on March 20 following intervention by the organization’s director general, though they declined to provide additional details.
This absence represents a historic first for Taiwan, which has participated in every WTO ministerial conference since becoming a member in 2002 under the designation “Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.”
The WTO remains one of the limited international organizations where Taiwan, a major semiconductor producer, maintains membership despite China’s claims over the island.
Beijing has intensified efforts to limit Taiwan’s global participation, particularly in Africa where China maintains strong economic and political relationships. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian accused Taiwan of “engaging in political manipulation despicably under the pretext of participation in the WTO conference to create disruption and serve their ‘Taiwan independence’ agenda.”
Taiwan has expressed particular frustration over Chinese pressure preventing its participation in World Health Organization activities, even in observer roles, despite not holding United Nations membership.
Taiwan’s democratically elected leadership maintains that Beijing lacks authority to represent or speak for the island.
MANILA – A new military cooperation agreement between the Philippines and France will enable both countries to conduct joint training exercises on each other’s soil, as the Philippines seeks to strengthen defense partnerships while facing increased tensions with China over South China Sea territorial claims.
The visiting forces pact was formalized on March 26 when Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro met with French Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans Catherine Vautrin in Paris. During their discussions, both officials addressed regional security concerns and emphasized their commitment to maintaining international law and order.
Both nations stressed the importance of “the peaceful resolution of disputes” and highlighted the necessity of building stronger supply chain networks during times of crisis.
According to a statement from the Philippine defense department, “The agreement will greatly bolster bilateral cooperation and offer an adequate level of legal protection to the joint activities between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the French Armed Forces.”
France now joins the Philippines’ network of military partnership agreements, which already includes similar arrangements with the United States, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand.
The timing of this military agreement is significant, occurring just one day after Philippine military officials reported that a Chinese missile frigate “executed an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre” against a Philippine Navy ship operating near Thitu Island, a crucial Philippine military position in the contested waters.
China maintains territorial claims over nearly all of the South China Sea, a vital shipping corridor that handles over $3 trillion in annual trade.
The regional powerhouse continues to reject a significant 2016 international court decision that declared its expansive territorial claims in the waterway invalid.
HONG KONG – The U.S. dollar climbed toward multi-month highs Friday as global investors flocked to safe-haven assets while Middle East conflicts intensified and diplomatic solutions appeared increasingly elusive.
Financial markets experienced another volatile week after President Donald Trump extended his moratorium on strikes targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure through April. However, Washington and Tehran presented contradictory narratives about progress in diplomatic negotiations.
Adding to investor concerns, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Pentagon officials are considering deploying as many as 10,000 additional ground forces to the Middle East region. This development further diminished market optimism about a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict.
The uncertainty drove investors toward the dollar as a secure asset while increasing expectations for a potential U.S. interest rate increase before year’s end, driven by inflationary pressures from sustained high energy costs.
Currency markets reflected the dollar’s strength, with the Japanese yen approaching 160 per dollar at 159.61, while the euro declined slightly by 0.03% to $1.1525. The British pound dropped 0.05% to $1.3325.
“It doesn’t look like the conflict will end anytime soon,” said Carol Kong, a currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. “The dollar is king while this conflict lasts.”
“If we’re right about this conflict being protracted, I think oil prices will just keep rising and it will push the dollar higher, at the expense of net energy importers like the Japanese yen and the euro,” she added.
Market pessimism pushed risk-sensitive currencies lower, with the Australian dollar falling to a two-month low of $0.68722. The New Zealand dollar similarly struggled near January lows, trading down 0.15% at $0.5754.
Measured against a basket of major currencies, the dollar rose marginally to 99.93, positioning for a 2.3% monthly gain that would represent its strongest performance since July of last year.
Market participants now assign a 46% probability to a 25-basis-point Federal Reserve rate increase by December, according to the CME Fedwatch tool. This marks a dramatic shift from expectations of more than 50 basis points of rate cuts that existed before the conflict began.
Both the Bank of England and European Central Bank are also anticipated to implement tighter monetary policies, with this hawkish shift in rate expectations pressuring bond markets and driving yields upward.
“A more prolonged disruption to energy supplies would deliver a larger hit to activity that would meet most definitions of a global recession and prompt a broader monetary tightening cycle,” said analysts at Capital Economics in a note.
U.S. Treasury yields remained stable Friday following sharp overnight increases, with two-year yields at 3.9776%. The benchmark 10-year yield decreased slightly to 4.4097%.
Federal education officials are preparing for a significant relocation this summer as the department undergoes major downsizing efforts.
Come August, workers from the Education Department will pack up and move to a more compact office space located approximately one block from their current location. Meanwhile, the Energy Department, which requires more space, will take possession of the education agency’s former headquarters building.
The office swap represents part of broader changes affecting the federal education agency as it operates with reduced staffing levels. The transition will see the larger facility handed over to accommodate the Energy Department’s expanded operations.
Iran’s struggling economy faces complete breakdown as weeks of ongoing conflict drive food costs skyward, with some essential items climbing 50% beyond pre-war prices and others doubling entirely.
The economic devastation extends far beyond rising grocery bills. Internet disruptions have crippled online services, manufacturing plants cannot secure necessary raw materials, and government operations have been severely hampered. One resident of Tehran expressed their desperation to The Media Line, stating: “It has become impossible to endure this situation any longer.”
Statistics from government-linked organizations and economic experts reveal that over 40% of Iran’s population currently exists below the absolute poverty threshold, with the capital city seeing rates exceed 50%. Economic analysts caution that actual poverty levels may have surged past 60% across the entire nation.
The disappearing middle class has created a stark divide between those making under 50 million tomans monthly (approximately $320) and higher earners bringing in over 200 million tomans per month (roughly $1,280).
Most workers and skilled laborers in Tehran earn no more than 25 million tomans monthly (about $160), placing them well below what economists consider necessary for basic living standards – at least double that amount.
The timing compounds these difficulties, as the Persian New Year traditionally brings increased household spending on food, clothing, and celebrations. This year’s seasonal price increases have been dramatically amplified by wartime conditions.
In the previous year, 180 Iranian economists published a warning about impending economic collapse caused by uncontrolled inflation and currency policies that provided special advantages to government-connected organizations, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Official attempts to stabilize currency exchange rates have proven unsuccessful. The US dollar’s value nearly doubled within seven months, causing Iran’s national currency to plummet.
Last summer’s initial war impact destabilized Iran’s oil-reliant economy, leading to mounting tensions that exploded into countrywide protests in January. These demonstrations quickly became political in nature, with millions participating in cities and rural communities alike in unprecedented shows of dissent that authorities eventually crushed through violent suppression.
Currently, despite Central Bank efforts to strengthen the currency, the introduction of one-million-toman banknotes signals further economic deterioration in a system largely dominated by the IRGC and other leadership-connected institutions.
The International Monetary Fund has identified Iran among nations experiencing severe economic decline in 2025, estimating that real household income values have dropped 31% from the previous year amid extremely high inflation.
Economic journalist Arezoo Karimi explained to The Media Line: “One month before the war began, official statistics showed inflation in Iran had reached its highest level since World War II.” She noted that internet shutdowns have directly harmed online businesses while indirectly impacting the broader economy.
Karimi warned that continuing these conditions will further destabilize the war-torn economy and increase unemployment. She characterized Iran’s economy as a fragile combination of high inflation, stagnant financial markets and economic activity, and increasing instability – all worsened by warfare.
She observed that escalating food costs have forced lower and middle-income families to eliminate certain foods from their meals, with the economic crisis hitting these groups hardest.
Even if Iran’s government and the United States reached an agreement, Karimi suggested the immediate economic benefits would likely be minimal, as underlying issues like poor growth, excessive liquidity, and ongoing inflation would persist without sanctions relief and new fiscal policies.
Before January’s protests, Iranian website Rouydad 24 reported food inflation exceeding 66% and presented a grim forecast. The site wrote: “What we see today in economic charts and data is the erosion of the middle class, widespread despair, depression, rising suicide rates, and the collapse of a nation’s hopes,” adding that most economists believe “this is only the beginning, and a harsh winter lies ahead for Iran.”
This prediction came true weeks later when the national currency’s collapse against the US dollar effectively destroyed private businesses competing in a market controlled by state-connected entities, including IRGC-linked networks. Small protests grew into nationwide demonstrations. The situation has continued, with the war’s start effectively extending that “harsh winter” into economic chaos this spring.
Mahtab, a senior office employee in central Tehran, shared with The Media Line: “Prices are rising every day, and some food items have increased by 70 to 80% since the war began.” Earning approximately 40 million tomans monthly, she struggles to afford basic food and household necessities. Traditional Nowruz holiday gatherings with extended family were reduced to immediate relatives only due to soaring expenses. Living in constant fear of missile, bomb, or drone attacks on her home, she believes the deteriorating economic situation has pushed citizens to their limit and could spark new protests.
Government officials have promised worker wage increases up to 60%. While authorities claim oil production and exports continue, further war escalation could worsen budget deficits during wartime when the government already faces pressure to expand subsidies to prevent renewed unrest that could seriously threaten its survival in coming weeks.
Describing wartime price increases before Nowruz, Mahtab noted food costs rising 70% to 80% compared to pre-conflict levels. “Some items like cooking oil have actually doubled in price,” she explained, adding: “Every time we go to the store, we’re shocked.” Many families initially relied on stored supplies like pasta and canned tuna, but these reserves are now exhausted and unsustainable for daily needs.
“Yesterday, I bought three loaves of bread, a few oranges, a tray of eggs, and one bottle of milk—it cost 700,000 tomans ($4.6). If I want to buy meat, chicken, rice, and oil tomorrow, I’d have to spend half my monthly salary,” Mahtab explained as air defense sounds could be heard nearby.
She mentioned that Persian New Year visits were reduced due to war and warned that prices might not decrease even after fighting ends. “Even if the war ends tomorrow, there’s no guarantee prices will go back down.” Government efforts to inject dollars to maintain exchange rates below 150,000 tomans have not reduced food costs.
Daily existence has been severely disrupted with internet outages, mostly inactive markets and industries, and widespread fear. “Every night we lie awake in fear, wondering when it will be our turn to be hit by a missile. People have reached their breaking point.”
ATLANTA – A University of Delaware swimmer has etched his name in the record books after achieving a historic first for the Blue Hens men’s swimming and diving program.
Senior Matvei Namakonov earned All-American status at the NCAA Championships on Thursday, marking the first time any athlete from UD’s men’s swimming and diving team has received this prestigious honor. The achievement also represents the first occasion a Blue Hen swimmer has advanced to an NCAA finals race.
Namakonov delivered what may have been his most determined showing during his four years competing in Newark, rising to the occasion on his final day as a collegiate swimmer. The milestone performance caps off his career with the Blue Hens in memorable fashion.
The historic achievement in Atlanta represents a breakthrough moment for the University of Delaware men’s swimming and diving program, with Namakonov setting a new standard for future Blue Hen swimmers to aspire toward.
A Gold Alert that was issued for Jill McLaughlin has been lifted after she was successfully found by authorities.
Officials confirmed that McLaughlin has been located and is safe, prompting the immediate cancellation of the alert that had been issued to help find her.
Gold Alerts are typically issued for missing adults who may be vulnerable due to various circumstances, helping to mobilize public assistance in locating individuals who have disappeared.
A California judge has decided that the individual found guilty of killing an elderly Thai man in a 2021 San Francisco attack that sparked nationwide anti-Asian hate crime awareness will not serve additional prison time.
Antoine Watson, now 25, received an eight-year manslaughter sentence Thursday for causing the death of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee. However, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Linda Colfax granted Watson credit for the five years he has already served while awaiting trial, and ruled the remaining three years could be suspended provided he complies with probation terms.
The victim’s daughter, Monthanus, shared her family’s frustration through a statement released by Justice For Vicha, the organization established in her father’s memory.
“We respect the court process. However, this is not about revenge — it is about accountability,” she said. “When consequences do not reflect the seriousness of the harm, it raises concerns about how we protect our seniors and public safety.”
Vicha Ratanapakdee was taking his regular morning walk through the peaceful neighborhood where he resided with his wife, daughter and her family when Watson rushed toward him and shoved him to the pavement. The elderly man lost consciousness and passed away two days afterward.
During his testimony, Watson told the court he was experiencing mental confusion and rage during the unprovoked incident, according to KRON-TV. He claimed he acted impulsively and was unaware that Ratanapakdee was Asian or elderly.
San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju, whose team represented Watson, stated during proceedings that his client is “fully remorseful for his mistake.”
The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding Watson’s sentencing.
Security camera footage from a nearby residence recorded the assault and quickly circulated on social media platforms, sparking widespread advocacy efforts addressing the increase in anti-Asian violence linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, hundreds gathered in multiple American cities to honor the anniversary of Ratanapakdee’s death, demanding justice for Asian Americans facing harassment, attacks and killings at disturbing rates.
Although Asian Americans have historically faced prejudice and discrimination, such incidents intensified dramatically following COVID-19’s initial emergence in Wuhan, China in late 2019. The Stop AAPI Hate coalition documented over 10,000 hate incidents targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders between March 2020 and September 2021.
Despite the Ratanapakdee family’s belief that racial motivation drove the attack, prosecutors did not pursue hate crime charges and avoided presenting that argument during trial. Legal officials noted that hate crime cases require substantial evidence beyond circumstantial factors, often needing explicit statements from defendants.
Authorities in New Castle County are actively searching for a 67-year-old Newark woman who vanished Thursday afternoon after visiting family members.
Police have activated a Gold Alert for Jill McLaughlin, who disappeared from the Nonantum Drive area in Newark. According to the New Castle County Division of Police, McLaughlin departed from a relative’s home in the 200 block of Nonantum Drive around 4:12 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
The missing woman failed to return to her residence, prompting family members to contact authorities. A Gold Alert is typically issued for missing persons who may be vulnerable due to age or other circumstances.
Police are asking anyone with information about McLaughlin’s whereabouts to contact the New Castle County Division of Police immediately.
The indoor golf league TGL is experiencing remarkable financial growth following the completion of its second season.
According to a Thursday report from Sportico, one TGL franchise recently sold a minority ownership share valued at $100 million, while several other teams have completed transactions exceeding $90 million.
The season concluded this week when Los Angeles Golf Club claimed the SoFi Cup championship, defeating Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links team in a decisive 2-0 series. LAGC’s roster features Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, and British golfers Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose.
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian leads LAGC’s ownership group alongside tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams. Now, Ohanian has expanded his golf investments by acquiring a franchise in WTGL, the planned women’s version of the league.
“All it takes is a couple of generational talents on a big enough stage to change the entire perception of the sport,” Ohanian told Sportico. “Golf is one of those sports that is so on the precipice. You can see it online. You can see the creator economy telling the story of this sport. This format of TGL is so perfect for the online generation. Again, I say this as a Reddit guy. Take my word for it. It is perfectly built for the social media age.”
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank became the first investor to secure a WTGL franchise, with Ohanian following as the second buyer. Sportico reports both entrepreneurs paid approximately $20 million for their teams.
The indoor golf concept debuted in January 2025, created through a partnership between Woods, Rory McIlroy, and media executive Mike McCarley. The league plans to expand from its current six teams to seven in 2027 when Motor City Golf Club joins representing Detroit.
While WTGL is scheduled to begin play sometime this year, additional details about the women’s league remain limited.
WASHINGTON – David Sacks, who has served as the White House’s top official overseeing artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency policy, announced Thursday that he is departing his current position after hitting the maximum time allowed for special government employees.
Speaking during a Bloomberg Television interview, Sacks explained that his tenure as a special government employee has reached its conclusion. Federal regulations restrict such positions to no more than 130 working days within a 12-month span, with the limitation based on actual days worked rather than the total appointment duration.
The Silicon Valley veteran will now take on the role of co-chair for President Donald Trump’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, a federal advisory group made up of experts from industry and academia. In this new capacity, Sacks indicated he would have the opportunity to provide guidance on a wider spectrum of technology matters extending beyond artificial intelligence.
Sacks has maintained a prominent presence in the White House throughout Trump’s second presidential term. The longtime technology entrepreneur and investor serves as a partner at Craft Ventures, the investment firm he helped establish in 2017. His appointment to the AI czar role came in December 2024.
Throughout his tenure leading AI policy, Sacks oversaw the relaxation of restrictions implemented during the Biden administration regarding AI chip exports to China. He stated in the Bloomberg interview that he plans to continue supporting Trump’s artificial intelligence policy framework that was unveiled last week.
Earlier this month, Sacks made headlines when he suggested the United States should “declare victory and get out” of the Iran conflict, representing an unusual public call from a high-ranking Trump administration official to withdraw from the ongoing situation.
Boston College has selected a championship-winning assistant from the University of Connecticut to take over their men’s basketball program, announcing Thursday that Luke Murray will become their new head coach as the school looks to revitalize their struggling program.
The 40-year-old Murray has served on the UConn coaching staff since 2021 and is recognized within the program as a key developer of the offensive system that led the Huskies to consecutive national titles in 2023 and 2024.
Athletic director Blake James described the appointment as a comprehensive program overhaul for the modern era.
“Today marks a turning point in Boston College Men’s Basketball,” James said. “In Luke Murray, we have found a leader who does not just understand the modern landscape of college basketball – he has helped define it. His role in building a national championship caliber program, his sophisticated offensive vision, and his relentless pursuit of excellence make him the perfect fit to lead our student-athletes.”
Murray happens to be the son of famous comedy actor Bill Murray, who has become a familiar face at UConn basketball games over the past few years.
“I am deeply honored and incredibly grateful to lead the Boston College men’s basketball program,” Murray said. “Boston College alumni and fans will find our program defined by a standard of excellence, and our team will play an unselfish, tough and highly competitive brand of basketball.”
Murray brings extensive assistant coaching experience from multiple programs, including Louisville from 2018 to 2021 and Xavier from 2015 to 2018. He also worked alongside current UConn head coach Dan Hurley during earlier stops at Rhode Island from 2013 to 2015 and Wagner from 2010 to 2011. Murray will continue with the Huskies through their current NCAA Tournament run, as the second-seeded team prepares to take on third-seeded Michigan State in Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup in Washington, D.C.
Delaware State University’s softball squad delivered an impressive performance in their midweek doubleheader, sweeping Thomas Jefferson University in both contests.
The Hornets demonstrated strong offensive and defensive play throughout the twin bill, never allowing their opponents to gain the upper hand in either game. Delaware State’s consistent execution on both sides of the ball proved to be the difference-maker in securing the sweep.
The doubleheader victories add valuable wins to Delaware State’s season record as they continue their campaign. The team’s ability to maintain control from the opening innings through the final outs showcased their preparation and competitive focus.
Delaware State’s softball program continues to build momentum with these decisive wins against Thomas Jefferson, setting a positive tone for upcoming matchups on their schedule.
President Trump announced his intention to issue an executive order guaranteeing payment for Transportation Security Administration workers as lawmakers continue wrestling with a funding agreement that has created widespread airport disruptions.
The unprecedented decision emerged while senators examined what officials described as a final proposal to resolve the budgetary standoff that has caused significant delays at airports across the nation and severely impacted travel operations.
TSA employees were scheduled to miss another paycheck on Friday as the funding crisis persists, adding urgency to the situation affecting air travel nationwide.
The funding dispute has created substantial problems at airports, with passengers experiencing longer wait times and operational challenges as the impasse drags on without resolution.
WASHINGTON – Military experts are raising serious concerns about a potential ground operation against Iran’s most critical oil export facility, warning that American forces could face significant dangers despite the strategic value of the target.
President Trump is currently considering whether to deploy ground troops to capture Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil shipping hub located 16 miles off the Iranian coastline in the northern Persian Gulf. The island sits approximately 300 miles northwest of the Strait of Hormuz in waters deep enough to accommodate large oil tankers that cannot reach Iran’s shallow coastal ports.
The facility processes 90% of Iran’s petroleum exports, making its capture potentially devastating to Tehran’s economy. Iran ranks as the third-largest oil producer within OPEC, giving the island enormous strategic importance.
Earlier this month, American forces conducted airstrikes against military installations on Kharg Island. Trump stated they “totally obliterated” all military targets and indicated oil infrastructure could be the next objective.
According to Reuters sources, administration officials are evaluating options for a ground invasion. Two Marine units may deploy to the region by month’s end, while the Pentagon reportedly plans to send thousands of airborne soldiers to provide Trump with additional military choices.
However, defense analysts warn that capturing the island could create more problems than it solves. Ryan Brobst and Cameron McMillan from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies cautioned that occupying Kharg Island would more likely escalate and prolong the conflict rather than achieve decisive results.
“A seizure and occupation of Kharg Island is more likely to expand and extend the war than it is to deliver any sort of decisive victory,” the analysts wrote.
American troops stationed on the island would face constant threats from missile strikes and unmanned aircraft attacks, including sophisticated camera-equipped drones similar to those extensively used in Ukraine. These small but deadly “first-person view drones” pose particular risks to ground forces.
“Upon any successful strikes, the Iranian regime would be expected to release videos of those attacks online, using the graphic deaths of American service members as propaganda,” the experts warned.
While Trump hopes that controlling Kharg Island would pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and create negotiating leverage, Tehran could respond by deploying additional naval mines throughout the waterway. Such defensive measures would make the already disrupted shipping lanes even more hazardous for commercial vessels.
Joseph Votel, former commander of US Central Command, told TWZ.com that approximately 800 to 1,000 troops would be required to hold Kharg Island, but they would need extensive logistical support that would also require protection.
Votel emphasized the extreme vulnerability of forces stationed on the island and questioned whether capturing it would provide meaningful tactical benefits.
“It would be kind of an odd thing to do… But we could certainly do it if we had to,” Votel stated.
MEXICO CITY — Mexican officials revealed Thursday that a major oil contamination event in the Gulf of Mexico during early March extended across more than 373 miles of ocean, reaching seven protected wildlife areas and stemming from both an unknown ship and two natural oil seepage sites.
Despite the massive scope, government representatives maintained that the incident off Veracruz state’s coastline did not cause catastrophic environmental harm.
The disclosure of these initial investigation results follows several weeks of public criticism over the government’s lack of openness regarding the incident.
Navy Secretary Admiral Raymundo Morales explained that satellite imagery and field investigations pinpointed three contamination sources: an anchored ship near Coatzacoalcos port in Veracruz state, a natural oil seepage formation called a “chapopotera” located five miles from that port, and another geological seepage point in Campeche Bay.
During a news briefing, Morales acknowledged that investigators have yet to determine which vessel caused the pollution because 13 ships were operating in the region during early March and inspections remain incomplete.
The admiral also confirmed that contamination “continues to occur” and identified the primary source as “natural seepage points in Cantarell, located in Campeche Bay.”
“While these geological oil releases happen continuously in nature, we’ve observed increased contamination levels over the past month,” Morales stated.
This incident occurred five months after severe weather and flooding damaged a pipeline in Veracruz, creating an oil spill that contaminated five miles of the Pantepec River.
According to Morales, the March contamination affected approximately 373 miles of ocean area, including 125 miles of shoreline across Veracruz and Tabasco states. Cleanup crews have recovered “430 tons of petroleum products” to date.
Environment Secretary Alicia Bárcena confirmed that the spill reached seven protected nature reserves in both states but emphasized that “severe environmental destruction has not been observed.”
Wildlife officials documented contamination in six species, including marine turtles, various bird species, and fish populations.
The National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp) announced Wednesday that petroleum cleanup operations occurred at Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, Veracruz Reef System National Park, Lechuguillas Sanctuary, Totonacapan Beaches Sanctuary, Lobos Tuxpan Reef System Flora and Fauna Protection Area, and areas south of Rancho Nuevo Beach Sanctuary in Veracruz. Additional cleanup work took place at Centla Wetlands Biosphere Reserve in Tabasco.
Ocean conservation group Oceana reported this week that local communities within the Gulf of Mexico Reef Corridor Network documented deaths of sea turtles, a manatee, and multiple fish species, along with damage to 17 coral reef systems.
Federal investigators announced Thursday they are examining correctional policies in California and Maine that place transgender women in facilities alongside female inmates, citing potential constitutional violations.
The inquiry targets three facilities: two California women’s correctional institutions in San Bernardino and Madera counties, plus Maine’s correctional center in Windham. Both states maintain policies requiring inmates to be placed in facilities matching their gender identity rather than biological sex.
Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated the department “will not allow women incarcerated in jails or prisons to be subject to unconstitutional risks of harm from male inmates.”
Maine’s Democratic Governor Janet Mills rejected the federal probe through spokesman Ben Goodman, who characterized it as “yet another politically motivated, predetermined investigation designed to target states that stand up to the Trump Administration and its abuses.”
California’s corrections department defended its approach, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining safe conditions for all inmates. “Any suggestion that all transgender women be assigned to men’s institutions as a matter of policy is a suggestion to violate federal law,” the department stated.
Governor Gavin Newsom enacted legislation in 2020 mandating that California house inmates according to their gender identity rather than birth-assigned sex, with exceptions for security concerns.
Federal officials claim this policy has resulted in “allegations of sexual assaults, rape, voyeurism and a pervasive climate of sexual intimidation due to the presence of males in the women’s prison,” though specific details were not provided.
One notable case involves a transgender woman facing rape charges at the Madera County facility. This individual entered the women’s prison in January 2021 after identifying as female but was subsequently transferred to a men’s facility following the criminal charges.
Maine faces similar allegations involving a transgender woman accused of assaulting or harassing female inmates. The federal government previously withdrew some funding from Maine’s corrections department over transgender housing policies, though the current status remains unclear.
Jill O’Brien from Maine’s Department of Corrections emphasized that officials take safety concerns seriously and “follows state and federal law in our practices regarding transgender residents.”
STARKE, Fla. — A former Florida police officer who was set to be executed Tuesday for the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl has received a temporary reprieve from the state’s highest court.
The Florida Supreme Court issued an execution stay Thursday for James Aren Duckett, 68, who was scheduled to die by lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. Duckett received a death sentence in 1988 following his conviction on charges of first-degree murder and sexual battery.
During his appeals, Duckett requested DNA testing that his legal team believes might prove his innocence. A lower court approved the testing request, but results are still outstanding. The state Supreme Court has given prosecutors until 5 p.m. Friday to provide an update on the DNA testing progress.
Should the execution stay remain in place beyond Tuesday, it remains uncertain when or if Duckett’s execution would proceed.
Under Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration, Florida executed a record-breaking 19 individuals in 2025 — more than any Florida governor has overseen in a single year since capital punishment resumed in 1976. The previous high was eight executions in 2014.
Court documents show Duckett served as a police officer in Mascotte, a small community located west of Orlando. On the evening of May 11, 1987, while Duckett was on duty, 11-year-old Teresa McAbee vanished after witnesses saw her enter his patrol vehicle at a local convenience store.
Authorities discovered McAbee’s body the following morning in a nearby lake, less than a mile from the convenience store. An autopsy revealed she had been sexually assaulted before drowning. Physical evidence including blood and hair connected her to Duckett. Investigators also found tire impressions at the lake scene that matched those used on Mascotte police vehicles. Both Duckett’s and McAbee’s fingerprints were discovered on his patrol car’s hood.
During the trial, three teenage girls provided testimony that Duckett had previously offered them rides and made inappropriate sexual overtures toward each of them.
Nationwide, 47 individuals were executed in 2025, with Florida leading all states due to numerous death warrants signed by DeSantis. Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas each carried out five executions, tying for second place.
Florida conducts all executions through lethal injection, using a three-drug protocol that includes a sedative, a paralytic agent, and a substance that stops the heart, according to state corrections officials.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump postponed his ultimatum to Iran on Thursday, granting the nation additional time to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as financial markets experienced significant turbulence over the escalating crisis.
The president extended his deadline until April 6, stating that diplomatic discussions were progressing favorably, even though Iranian officials continue to publicly deny participating in negotiations with Washington regarding a 15-point peace proposal transmitted through Pakistani intermediaries.
“They asked for seven (days),” Trump revealed during his appearance on Fox News Channel’s “The Five” after announcing the extension on social media. “And I said, ‘I’m going to give you 10.’”
The announcement came following another volatile trading session on Wall Street, marking the steepest decline since the Iranian conflict began. The S&P 500 plummeted 1.7%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 469 points or 1%, and the Nasdaq composite tumbled 2.4%, dropping more than 10% from its peak earlier this year.
Trump initially issued his warning to strike Iranian energy infrastructure on Saturday but has repeatedly wavered on the timeline. His original ultimatum provided Tehran with 48 hours to clear the strategic waterway, but he postponed action on Monday, adding five more days after Asian markets fluctuated wildly. Thursday’s market instability prompted yet another delay.
This pattern mirrors previous instances where Trump has modified policy decisions in response to market reactions. Last April, following the implementation of tariffs that caused the S&P 500’s worst two-day decline in five years, Trump announced a 90-day suspension of the harshest tariffs for most nations except China.
However, Trump rejected suggestions that his administration lacks a clear strategy for resolving the conflict. During a Cabinet meeting with reporters present, he maintained that Iran had already suffered a “decisive defeat.”
“We have very substantial talks going on with respect to Iran — with the right people,” Trump declared.
Iran has challenged Trump to execute his threats, warning of retaliation against regional infrastructure, including water desalination plants, if the United States or Israel targets its power facilities. The nation has also strengthened its control over the strait, establishing what resembles a checkpoint system for vessels navigating the narrow passage.
Market uncertainty surrounding Trump’s ultimatum has complicated the White House’s efforts to control the conflict’s messaging, with international investors concerned about whether and how the president can end the war and restore access to the vital shipping lane, through which approximately 20% of global oil flows daily.
Earlier Thursday, Trump indicated he remained undecided about granting Iran additional time to fully reopen the waterway. He said his decision would depend on reports from his negotiating team — envoy Steve Witkoff, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Vice President JD Vance — regarding broader peace discussions.
Trump also claimed Tehran was “begging” for an agreement while simultaneously criticizing Iranian negotiators to “get serious soon, before it’s too late.”
Witkoff emphasized the administration’s efforts to persuade Iran “that this is the inflection point with no good alternatives for them other than more death and destruction.”
The former New York real estate executive turned diplomat informed Trump’s Cabinet that the administration had received “strong signs” indicating peace was achievable, noting that “Iran is looking for an off-ramp” following Trump’s power plant threats.
Meanwhile, Trump and senior officials attempted to minimize the impact of rising fuel costs affecting consumers across Asia, Europe, and the United States.
“I thought the oil prices would go up more and I thought the stock market would go down more,” Trump commented. “Hasn’t been nearly as severe as I thought. I think they have confidence in maybe the American president and maybe the people sitting around this table.”
Trump dismissed the significance of building international partnerships to protect tanker traffic through the strait, arguing the United States possesses “so much oil — our country is not affected by this.”
Although the United States doesn’t depend on resources transiting the strait, global oil pricing has elevated fuel costs worldwide, including domestically, where average gasoline prices have increased by more than a dollar from the previous month.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Iran, by limiting oil and natural gas shipments through the strait, is “trying to take control of the global economy through a chokepoint that we believe does not exist.”
Bessent’s statement was misleading, as the strait remains crucial, particularly for Asian nations, and energy costs have risen since the Iranian conflict commenced.
He expressed confidence that additional tankers would navigate the Strait of Hormuz successfully. “I am confident that shipping traffic will continue to increase on a daily basis, even before we secure” the strait, Bessent said.
Despite White House assertions of diplomatic progress, Trump continues expanding military presence in the Middle East.
The Pentagon is preparing to deploy at least 1,000 soldiers from the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division to support Iranian operations, according to earlier AP reporting this week. This deployment would supplement approximately 5,000 Marines being relocated to the region, adding to the 50,000 U.S. forces already stationed there.
The military buildup has sparked speculation that Trump is positioning forces for limited ground operations to secure the strait’s coastlines or capture Kharg Island, a vital component of Iran’s oil infrastructure.
Defense analysts acknowledge U.S. ground forces could successfully capture Kharg and help secure the strait, but warn of potential prolonged conflict with significant costs in American lives and resources.
“Yes, we could do it, but the question isn’t can we do it?” explained Mick Mulroy, former deputy assistant secretary of defense now with the Middle East Institute in Washington. “It’s — should we do it? And the best route out is going to be diplomacy. I know it’s easier said than done, but diplomacy and negotiations only work if both sides are willing to compromise.”
Trump also announced Thursday that Iran is permitting several Pakistan-flagged tankers to pass through the strait, which he optimistically interpreted as a positive gesture for ongoing negotiations.
“Well, I guess we’re dealing with the right people,” Trump concluded.
Health authorities are investigating an E. coli outbreak that has affected nine individuals, including several young children, with cases linked to unpasteurized dairy products manufactured by Raw Farm, a dairy operation based in Fresno, California.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday that two additional cases in California have expanded the outbreak, which was initially disclosed on March 15. California now accounts for seven of the total cases, while Texas and Florida each report one illness. More than half of those affected are children under age 5, with three patients requiring hospitalization and one developing a serious kidney complication.
Health officials confirm no fatalities have occurred in connection with this outbreak.
The popularity of unpasteurized milk products has grown significantly in recent years, driven by social media promotion and advocacy from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again initiative. Unlike pasteurized milk, raw milk retains harmful bacteria including E. coli, salmonella, listeria and campylobacter that the pasteurization process eliminates.
Cases emerged between September and mid-February. Among eight patients interviewed by investigators, seven confirmed consuming products bearing the Raw Farm label, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Two individuals in 2025 reported drinking the company’s raw milk, while five people in 2026 consumed or were served the company’s unpasteurized cheddar cheese.
Laboratory analysis of E. coli samples from affected patients reveals closely matching genetic patterns, confirming that outbreak victims “share a common source of infection,” FDA officials stated.
Federal regulators previously recommended that Raw Farm voluntarily remove its raw milk cheddar cheese from retail shelves, but the company declined to comply. Testing of Raw Farm products has not detected E. coli contamination, the agency reported.
Connecticut Representative Rosa DeLauro, along with other Congressional Food Safety Caucus members, has called on the FDA to exercise mandatory recall powers to remove Raw Farm products from stores. Federal officials have not indicated whether they plan to take such action.
Regulatory inspectors from the FDA and state health departments have conducted facility evaluations at Raw Farm locations. The CDC is advising consumers to “consider not eating this cheese while the investigation continues.”
SAN FRANCISCO — An artificial intelligence company has won a temporary legal victory against the Pentagon after a federal judge stepped in to halt the military’s attempt to classify the firm as a security threat.
U.S. District Judge Rita Lin issued a ruling Thursday that prevents the Defense Department from designating Anthropic as a supply chain risk. The judge’s decision also stops President Donald Trump’s order that would have banned all federal agencies from utilizing the company’s AI chatbot known as Claude.
The judge criticized what she called “broad punitive measures” implemented by the Trump administration and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, describing them as seemingly arbitrary and potentially devastating to Anthropic’s business. Lin specifically questioned Hegseth’s deployment of unusual military powers normally reserved for foreign enemies.
“Nothing in the governing statute supports the Orwellian notion that an American company may be branded a potential adversary and saboteur of the U.S. for expressing disagreement with the government,” Lin wrote.
The judge’s decision came after a 90-minute court session in San Francisco on Tuesday, where Lin questioned the administration’s drastic response following failed contract negotiations. The dispute arose when Anthropic sought to restrict its AI technology from being used in fully autonomous weapons systems or for surveillance of American citizens.
The San Francisco-based company had requested emergency judicial intervention to eliminate what it characterized as unjustified stigma resulting from an “unlawful campaign of retaliation.” This prompted Anthropic to file suit against the Trump administration earlier this month. Pentagon officials maintained they should have the authority to deploy Claude for any purpose they consider legal.
Lin emphasized that her decision focused on the government’s response rather than the underlying policy disagreement.
“If the concern is the integrity of the operational chain of command, the Department of War could just stop using Claude. Instead, these measures appear designed to punish Anthropic,” Lin wrote.
The company has also initiated a separate, more limited legal challenge that remains under review by the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C.
Lin specified that her order takes effect after a one-week delay and does not compel the Pentagon to purchase Anthropic’s services or restrict the military from switching to alternative AI providers.
MINNEAPOLIS — A federal judge in Minnesota has made permanent her directive that immigration officials must provide detained immigrants with immediate access to legal representation following their arrest and prior to any out-of-state transfers.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel issued the preliminary injunction Thursday, mandating that Immigration and Customs Enforcement guarantee detainees at a Minneapolis holding center can quickly contact attorneys and speak with them confidentially throughout their legal proceedings.
“Due process is not a game of keep-away,” Brasel stated in her ruling. “ICE recognizes detainees’ right to access counsel in theory and written policy, but not in practice. Instead, it has placed obstacle after obstacle in front of detainees and their attorneys, blocking communication between clients and counsel.”
The decision builds upon a temporary restraining order Brasel implemented on February 12, when she determined the federal agency appeared unprepared to safeguard constitutional protections for individuals detained during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement initiative called Operation Metro Surge.
“The Constitution does not permit the government to arrest thousands of individuals and then disregard their constitutional rights because it would be too challenging to honor those rights,” the judge previously wrote in February.
Thursday’s ruling reinforces Brasel’s original mandate requiring officials to guarantee every non-citizen detained at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building receives the chance to reach an attorney within 60 minutes of detention.
The order continues the 72-hour restriction on interstate transfers, providing sufficient time for detainees to secure legal counsel and for attorneys to potentially prevent relocations.
The Advocates for Human Rights initiated the legal challenge in January, asserting that detained immigrants possess a basic right to legal representation. The organization praised Thursday’s decision, which remains effective during ongoing legal proceedings.
“The ability to speak freely and privately to an attorney is crucial to due process and essential to protecting people from unjust rulings, coercive detention, and life-threatening deportation,” stated Michele Garnett McKenzie, the public interest law firm’s executive director.
Department of Homeland Security and ICE representatives did not immediately provide responses to requests for comment regarding the court decision.
During last week’s court hearing, plaintiff attorney Jeffrey Dubner informed the judge that government adherence to her temporary order had been “fitful at best.”
Brasel issued her initial directive on the same date border czar Tom Homan officially ended Operation Metro Surge. Government representatives report that new detentions have decreased since then, with ICE personnel in Minnesota dropping from approximately 3,000 officers to their previous levels of just over 100. Officials indicate the Whipple facility sometimes holds no detainees currently.
Government lawyer Christina Parascandola argued to the judge that ICE had been following her directive and that extending it through a preliminary injunction was unwarranted. She claimed conditions at Whipple had “returned to a more manageable pace” as the surge operation concluded.
However, local immigration lawyers testified they frequently could not contact clients at Whipple, even during in-person visits, or obtain information about whether clients remained there or had been moved to larger Texas facilities.
Attorney Hanne Sandison testified that during her court-ordered visit to assess facility conditions, she could not operate the phones properly. In the single location where phones functioned, she noted that ICE personnel would have overheard all conversations.
The former chairwoman of Ben & Jerry’s independent board has filed a defamation lawsuit against Unilever and its newly created ice cream division, claiming the companies destroyed her reputation because of her stance on Palestinian rights.
Anuradha Mittal, who lost her position as board chair in December, filed the legal action Thursday in federal court in Oakland, California. She alleges that Unilever and its spun-off Magnum ice cream company deliberately damaged her credibility following her vocal support for Palestinian rights and calls for a Gaza ceasefire.
The legal battle intensifies an ongoing conflict between Ben & Jerry’s leadership and Unilever over what the ice cream brand describes as corporate interference with their independence and progressive values, including the previous removal of former CEO Dave Stever.
Representatives from both Unilever and Magnum dismissed Mittal’s allegations as “unfounded” in separate public statements, expressing confidence that the court proceedings will vindicate their position.
According to Mittal’s court filing, her advocacy for Palestinian causes and ceasefire efforts “rankled” Unilever executives, with tensions intensifying after the company announced the Magnum spinoff last March.
The lawsuit details various allegedly false accusations against Mittal, including claims of financial misconduct, accepting inappropriate benefits, misusing nonprofit foundation resources, fostering workplace toxicity, and being unsuitable for leadership following company investigations.
“Defendants achieved their goal of thoroughly humiliating and discrediting Ms. Mittal,” the complaint states, describing damage to her professional standing and personal health effects including depression and sleep disorders.
Following December’s corporate restructuring, Unilever maintains a minority 19.9% ownership in Magnum, which now oversees multiple ice cream brands including Breyers, Klondike and Wall’s.
Mittal seeks both compensatory and punitive financial awards, arguing that Unilever and Magnum demonstrated “actual malice” by knowingly spreading false information or showing reckless disregard for accuracy.
The plaintiff, originally from Kanpur, India, currently leads the Oakland Institute, a research organization advocating for farmers, indigenous populations, forest communities and pastoral groups.
Ben & Jerry’s has maintained its commitment to social causes since Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield established the company in 1978, continuing this mission after Unilever’s 2000 acquisition.
The corporate relationship deteriorated significantly in 2021 when Ben & Jerry’s announced it would cease ice cream sales in Israeli-occupied West Bank territories.
Last November, Ben & Jerry’s initiated separate litigation against Unilever, seeking to prevent what they characterize as systematic efforts to eliminate their independent board and suppress their progressive activism, which has included criticism of President Donald Trump.
That earlier lawsuit continues in the courts, with the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation recently receiving judicial approval to join as an additional plaintiff last week.
Magnum has characterized the ongoing litigation as “regrettable” while maintaining their commitment to supporting the Ben & Jerry’s brand.
China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao has expressed his country’s interest in enhancing economic partnerships with the United States during discussions with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, according to an official statement from China’s Commerce Ministry.
The conversation took place Thursday at a World Trade Organization conference in Cameroon, ministry officials reported.
During the meeting, Wang emphasized that economic and commercial relationships should serve as the foundation of US-China relations, stating that both nations must “properly handle the relationship between competition and cooperation.”
The Chinese minister advocated for enhanced mutually beneficial partnerships while urging both countries to “avoid vicious competition” and work together to “look forward” toward establishing healthy and stable bilateral trade relationships.
Wang also voiced “serious concern” about America’s Section 301 trade investigations targeting multiple countries, including China.
Earlier this month, the US Trade Representative’s office announced it had launched a new round of Section 301 investigations examining unfair trade practices across 60 nations, focusing on what officials described as inadequate responses to forced labor issues.
Federal health regulators have given the thumbs up to a new insulin treatment designed to help adults with type 2 diabetes better control their blood sugar levels.
Novo Nordisk announced Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration has granted approval for their insulin injection called Awiqli. The medication is specifically intended for adult patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who need help managing their glucose levels.
The pharmaceutical company’s announcement came on Thursday following the federal agency’s decision to clear the treatment for use in the United States.
A cargo vessel flying under Thailand’s flag has become stranded near Iran’s Qeshm Island after being struck by unidentified projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency reporting Friday.
The vessel, named Mayuree Naree, suffered an explosion in its rear section that sparked a fire in the engine compartment. Omani naval forces successfully rescued 20 crew members from the damaged ship, though Thai officials report three crew members remain unaccounted for.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for global oil transport.
A federal judge on Thursday issued a temporary halt to the Pentagon’s ban on AI company Anthropic, marking a significant development in the company’s legal battle with the military over artificial intelligence safety concerns.
The artificial intelligence firm behind the Claude chatbot filed a lawsuit in California federal court, claiming Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth exceeded his authority by labeling Anthropic as a national security supply-chain threat. This designation allows the government to identify companies that could potentially expose military operations to enemy interference or sabotage.
The company argued that federal officials violated its First Amendment free speech protections by taking retaliatory action against its stance on AI safety protocols. Anthropic also claimed the government denied its Fifth Amendment due process rights by failing to provide an opportunity to challenge the designation.
U.S. District Judge Rita Lin, who was appointed by former Democratic President Joe Biden, sided with the company in her 43-page decision, though she delayed implementation for seven days to allow the administration time to file an appeal.
The Defense Secretary’s unusual action came after Anthropic declined to permit military officials to utilize its Claude AI system for domestic surveillance operations or autonomous weapon systems. The blacklisting prevented Anthropic from pursuing certain defense contracts, with company leadership estimating potential losses in the billions of dollars plus significant damage to their reputation.
The AI company maintains that current artificial intelligence technology lacks the reliability necessary for safe deployment in autonomous weapons systems and argues that domestic surveillance programs violate civil liberties. Pentagon officials counter that private corporations should not have the authority to limit military operations.
In her Thursday decision, Judge Lin determined that the administration’s response appeared motivated by a desire to penalize Anthropic rather than address legitimate national security concerns.
“The record supports an inference that Anthropic is being punished for criticizing the government’s contracting position in the press,” Lin wrote.
“Punishing Anthropic for bringing public scrutiny to the government’s contracting position is classic illegal First Amendment retaliation,” the judge added.
Anthropic spokesperson Danielle Cohen expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling.
“While this case was necessary to protect Anthropic, our customers, and our partners, our focus remains on working productively with the government to ensure all Americans benefit from safe, reliable AI,” Cohen said in a statement.
This marks the first instance of an American company being publicly classified as a supply-chain risk under an obscure procurement law designed to shield military systems from foreign interference.
Anthropic’s March 9 legal filing characterized the decision as unlawful, lacking factual support, and contradicting the military’s previous positive assessments of Claude.
The Justice Department responded that Anthropic’s unwillingness to remove usage restrictions could create operational uncertainty for the Pentagon regarding Claude’s deployment and potentially compromise military systems during active operations, according to court documents.
Government attorneys maintained that the designation resulted from Anthropic’s rejection of contractual terms rather than its position on AI safety issues.
The company faces a separate legal proceeding in Washington, D.C., challenging another Pentagon supply-chain risk designation that could result in exclusion from civilian government contracts.
A groundbreaking California court decision this week held Meta and YouTube accountable for causing mental health damage to young users, marking the first successful lawsuit of its kind focused on social media addiction.
The landmark ruling has energized medical professionals and child advocates who believe it could trigger sweeping reforms across the social media industry.
“I am excited about the outcome of the litigation, in part because we’ve had basically seen these platforms sort of go unregulated for many years … and they didn’t really consider, that much, the effects on children,” Carol Vidal, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, told The Associated Press.
Mental health professionals view this legal milestone as an ideal time for families to reassess their approach to social media usage. Here’s expert advice for parents on discussing social platforms with their children and implementing protective measures.
Countless families now grapple with screen time conflicts, concerns about online dangers, and the challenge of getting children to stop endless scrolling as part of managing today’s digital childhood environment.
Despite years of available articles, studies, podcasts and social media content offering screen time guidance, specialists emphasize that simply communicating with children remains the most effective parental strategy.
Inquiring about what children find appealing online, which content creators they follow, their interaction patterns, and their feelings about various apps can provide valuable insights into their digital experiences and prove more effective than imposing strict regulations.
Jenny Radesky, the division director of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School, said the best way to begin conversations is with open-ended questions and “leaving space for teens to share their opinion.”
“By listening as a parent, it lets you peek under the hood to understand how your child is thinking about things. It’s way easier to solve a tricky problem when you really understand your child’s perspective, instead of just trying to force a new limit,” Radesky said.
Radesky recommends starting discussions by asking children about content they encounter — material they find amusing, engaging, disturbing, interesting or annoying. Parents can then explore whether their child encounters unwanted content and discuss solutions like adjusting their feed, viewing only friends’ posts, or taking platform breaks.
However, establishing social media boundaries requires individualized approaches. Radesky suggests structuring guidelines around a child’s wellness and requirements rather than restrictions that may seem punitive, helping children learn healthy social media habits.
“As the parent, you know your kid best,” Radesky said. “You’ve seen their anxious days. You’ve seen those days when they’re out of control. You know what really grabs their attention and what calms them down. So think of all of your solutions centered around who your kid is.”
Professionals recommend implementing timers, establishing device-free areas, or taking multi-day social media breaks as effective strategies.
“It helps teens be more intentional about getting what they want out of their phone or out of that social media site — not it turning into this mindless, ‘Oh, I’ve got nothing else to do so I’ll just keep scrolling,’” Radesky said.
Understanding each child’s particular requirements, usage habits, and difficulties remains essential for developing effective solutions.
Does social media disrupt their sleep schedule? Keep devices downstairs overnight. Do they scroll continuously for hours? Use 20-minute timers as reminders to disconnect. Do they browse out of boredom? Plan weekly family activities as alternatives.
Parents frequently wonder about the appropriate age for children to begin using social media platforms.
Most major social media companies require users to be at least 13 years old, mainly because of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act that limits data collection from younger users. Yet enforcement remains weak since verifying ages during app registration proves difficult.
Some states have also enacted laws preventing children — sometimes up to age 16 — from creating accounts without parental approval.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against social media use before age 13; “That doesn’t mean you need to start an account at age 13. Many kids benefit from waiting longer,” Radesky said.
Beyond platform registration, growing numbers of parents, teachers, and technology specialists advocate delaying smartphone access until children mature. Some families have embraced the “Wait Until 8th” initiative, committing to withhold smartphones until eighth grade, typically around ages 13 or 14.
Regarding social media behavior, experts stress that parents must demonstrate positive examples.
“The most powerful thing that parents can do is actually model good behaviors, because kids sometimes respond more to what they see than what they’re told,” Vidal said.
While phone use sometimes becomes necessary, professionals suggest parents explain their device usage around children. Rather than mindless browsing, parents might be checking work messages, researching dinner recipes, or handling bills.
Ultimately, if parents want children to modify their social media habits, they should collaborate together. Vidal recommended using the American Academy of Pediatrics’ family media plan — a complimentary online resource that generates personalized social media recommendations.
“This is not just a problem that teens experience. The designs are in everyone’s feeds and everyone’s social media,” Radesky said. “So try to make a change together.”
Aviation disruptions across the United States may escalate far beyond lengthy security queues and canceled flights unless Congress resolves how to compensate Transportation Security Administration workers. Federal transportation leaders have cautioned that personnel shortages could force temporary shutdowns of smaller airports nationwide.
Although no particular facilities have been publicly identified as closure candidates, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and TSA leadership anticipate additional airport security personnel will resign or skip work shifts following Friday’s deadline, when TSA staff were scheduled to miss their second consecutive full paycheck since mid-February.
TSA employees have been mandated to report for duty without compensation since Department of Homeland Security funding expired on February 14.
“This level of disruption is unprecedented,” said Ha Nguyen McNeill, the agency’s acting administrator, referring to the financial pressure on TSA employees that has resulted in elevated absence rates. “We are being forced to consolidate lanes, and may have to close smaller airports if we do not have enough officers.”
During Wednesday’s House committee testimony, McNeill declined to specify when potential closures might begin. She characterized the TSA workforce shortage as “a fluid, challenging and unpredictable situation.”
The head of the TSA workers’ union revealed Thursday that the agency compiled a roster of approximately 75 airports that could face closure to redistribute personnel to major transportation hubs experiencing extended security delays. This strategy could impact smaller facilities located near large airports, not exclusively tiny locations with minimal staffing operating single checkpoints.
“The agency has to look at it as, ‘Wow man, at the end of the day, we still have to do essential work and protect the American people.’ It becomes very difficult to do when you have this going on,” explained Johnny Jones, secretary and treasurer for Council 100 of the American Federation of Government Employees.
Approximately 11% of security officers across the country failed to report for scheduled duties this week, though certain airports experienced absence rates exceeding 40% on particular days, according to DHS data. Travelers waiting in enormous security queues have packed terminal areas and extended beyond building entrances at various times in Houston, New Orleans and Atlanta.
Thursday brought White House consideration of declaring a national emergency as an exceptional measure to compensate TSA employees, though specific implementation details remained uncertain.
Aviation security specialist Sheldon Jacobson, whose research helped develop TSA PreCheck, suggested that Trump administration officials appear to be raising airport closure possibilities as leverage to push Congress toward a DHS funding agreement.
“This is a situation that, once again, the politicians are trying to move the needle to get people to compromise by making threats. Are these threats realistic? Yes. Are they a good idea? No,” Jacobson stated.
Jacobson and fellow aviation analysts indicated this messaging also implies that deploying federal immigration agents to assist airports with security staffing challenges has proven unsuccessful.
White House representatives claimed ICE personnel helped decrease wait times through crowd monitoring and identification verification. TSA union representatives and other critics dismissed this approach as ineffective, contending that immigration agents lack necessary training and background.
Major airports employing hundreds of officers can shut down certain checkpoints and TSA PreCheck lanes while maintaining operations. The smallest among 440 U.S. airports with security screening lack this flexibility.
Smaller facilities operating only one checkpoint might require temporary closure if insufficient officers are available to staff them. This scenario could occur when multiple personnel fail to appear for any particular shift.
Small airports have “a smaller pool of people that you can draw from to keep the airport open,” noted Eric Chaffee, a Case Western Reserve law professor specializing in risk management, including aviation industry analysis. Larger facilities, conversely, are typically “much better able to absorb a handful of people calling out.”
These airport shutdowns would likely occur “unevenly,” Chaffee predicted — potentially affecting facilities from those with few gates to small regional centers. However, he cautioned that any temporary closure of small airports could create cascading effects throughout the broader air traffic network because it represents a “highly interconnected web.”
Aviation specialists emphasized consequences for the entire transportation system.
“Every airport, no matter its size, has some impact to the National Airspace System,” stated airport security expert Jeff Price.
University of Illinois professor Jacobson noted that airlines depend on passengers from small airports to complete their flight capacity at major hubs.
Others highlighted broader community impacts from smaller airport disruptions.
“Despite the fact that we’re talking about small regional airports, this is a big deal,” Chaffee emphasized, citing disruptions for businesses and travelers alike. “Ultimately, if this does occur, having to drive a half hour to an airport is a lot different than having to drive three hours to an airport.”
Should flight operations cease at smaller airports, nearby communities and their economies could suffer significantly, particularly hospitality and tourism businesses. Airport employees including custodial staff and restaurant and retail workers serving travelers could also face job losses.
Meanwhile, financial hardships would continue mounting for unpaid TSA officers.
Given numerous potential economic consequences from air travel disruptions, Jacobson warned “We are playing with fire right now when we are threatening such a large contributor to our GDP.”
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minneapolis resident who witnessed federal immigration agents fatally shoot Alex Pretti during a January confrontation joined other potential plaintiffs Thursday in speaking out about alleged excessive force during immigration enforcement activities in Minnesota.
Georgia Savageford, who goes by Wynnie, told reporters at a press conference that she watched from inside an officer’s vehicle as federal agents opened fire on Pretti.
“That day has changed me forever,” she said. “The trauma will haunt me for the rest of my life, and I will never be the same.”
Savageford explained she had been lawfully monitoring federal officers’ activities in Minneapolis following the January 7 shooting death of Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. On January 24, she was conducting similar observation when an agent shoved her twice, causing her to fall.
“As I was going down, three agents proceeded to tackle me and drag me face-down into the middle of the street. They knelt on my back, twisted my arms and my legs to the ground, and handcuffed me. The cuffs were so tight I lost feeling in my hands, which resulted in temporary nerve damage,” she recounted.
The Department of Homeland Security and ICE officials did not respond to requests for comment Thursday. Minnesota state officials filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration Tuesday seeking access to evidence needed for independent investigations into the fatal incidents.
According to Savageford, Pretti filmed her arrest and shouted at agents to stop their actions against her.
Officers placed her in a vehicle’s back seat, where she witnessed agents fatally shoot Pretti across the street.
“At that moment, I thought I was going to die too. I pleaded with the agents to understand why another life was taken, and to not take mine,” she said.
She described how agents told her to be quiet and stop acting hysterically. They transported her to an ICE detention facility, where she spent 12 hours in a cold cell with limited access to food, water, or restroom facilities before being released without charges.
“I did not know him, but I knew he had my back,” she said of Pretti. “I know the kind of heart he had. One that loves and protects without limits.”
Savageford’s testimony came during a press conference where civil rights lawyer John Burris of Oakland, California, and other attorneys outlined their preparation for potential class-action litigation over alleged excessive force against protesters and observers.
Burris, who focuses on police misconduct cases, previously secured an $11 million settlement from the Oakland Police Department in 2003 and helped obtain a $3.8 million civil jury award for Rodney King, who was beaten by Los Angeles police in 1991.
He announced that his team has submitted complaints to federal agencies involved in Minnesota’s enforcement operations on behalf of 10 individuals, including Savageford, marking the initial phase of what will likely become a broader class-action case.
“We have many others that are under investigation that have not completed the process. But I thought it was important for us to start this process now. Put the government on notice that we’re here,” Burris said.
Commemorative events honoring deceased farmworker advocate César Chávez face widespread cancellations, name changes, and delays following recent sexual misconduct accusations against the United Farm Workers Union’s former leader.
Labor advocate Dolores Huerta disclosed last week that she numbered among those alleging abuse by Chávez, who passed away over thirty years ago.
These accusations have triggered immediate consequences, with the United Farm Workers announcing they will avoid participating in any commemorations bearing their former leader’s name.
Multiple states had previously established observances around Chávez’s March 31 birth date as official holidays, and in 2014 President Barack Obama issued a proclamation designating March 31 as César Chávez Day.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation Thursday transforming César Chávez Day into Farmworkers Day. The state Senate had passed this measure earlier that day with support from both parties.
Minnesota legislators pursued comparable measures Thursday, forwarding a bill to Governor Tim Walz that would eliminate Cesar Chavez Day from the state’s official calendar.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared last week his state would skip the holiday observance this year, instructing all state department leaders to follow this directive. Abbott additionally stated he would collaborate with legislators to eliminate the holiday from state statutes.
Colorado legislators are reviewing a bill to rebrand their voluntary state holiday as Farm Workers Day. Denver changed its yearly celebration to “Si Se Puede Day” while removing a Chavez sculpture from a municipal park. Grand Junction, Colorado, officials rechristened their event the “Si, Se Puede Celebration.”
“Sí, Se Puede” represents the farmworkers movement’s battle cry — Yes We Can.
Denver’s César Chavez Peace and Justice Committee scrapped a celebration scheduled for April 11.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson’s administration announced the state will not acknowledge Cesar Chavez Day, instead emphasizing Dolores Huerta Day on April 10, marking her birthday.
Utah maintains Cesar Chavez Day recognition, but the state’s legislative session concluded in early March, prior to the sexual abuse revelations. Removing or renaming the holiday would necessitate statutory changes.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has chosen not to acknowledge March 31 as César Chavez Day as she had done the previous two years, according to spokesperson Liliana Soto last week. Though not a state holiday, some Arizona communities observe it by closing schools or government facilities. Phoenix officials voted unanimously Wednesday to rename the city holiday Farmworkers Day.
Lansing, Michigan canceled its Legacy of César Chavez Dinner scheduled for March 25. The planned keynote speaker was Chavez granddaughter Julie Chavez Rodriguez, who served as campaign manager for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in 2024.
“We remain committed to honoring the Latino community, and the service, dignity, and rights of farmworkers. We will be working on further events and celebrations in the future,” the city stated.
Milwaukee also scrapped its yearly celebration.
Arizona’s Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council delayed an annual César E. Chavez Community Breakfast, planning to reschedule it to highlight contributions and accomplishments of Hispanic county residents.
Tucson, Arizona rechristened its yearly celebration the “Comunidad y Labor Unity Fair.”
San Jose, Northern California’s largest city, is scrapping its César Chavez celebration, the mayor announced March 18. Matt Mahan stated the city would find ways to honor the farmworker movement’s legacy without celebrating “individuals who caused such profound harm to the community.”
The Hispanic Advocates and Business Leaders of Austin, Texas, announced that an annual march honoring Chavez scheduled for March 28 would not proceed. Several Austin city leaders also declared their support for renaming César Chavez Street.
AFL-CIO officials called the allegations shocking and stated the union federation would not participate in or endorse any César Chavez Day activities.
“Our thoughts are first and foremost with any victims of assault and abuse who have described experiencing what no one — especially children — should ever have to survive,” AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler and secretary-treasurer Fred Redmond stated. “No legacy can excuse it.”
The organization maintains its farmworker support and said the rights they have secured “cannot be erased by the horrific actions of one person.”
Numerous schools, streets and other locations throughout the United States bear Chavez’s name, including the César E. Chávez National Monument in Keene, California.
Dennis Arguelles, director of the National Parks Conservation Association in Southern California, explained that renaming the national monument would require congressional action. He stated the site should continue honoring the farmworker movement and leaders who advocated for dignity, improved working conditions and fair compensation.
The Los Angeles Unified school board approved plans Tuesday to rename schools and recognize Farmworkers Day on March 31 instead of César Chavez Day. The Los Angeles County Board of Commissioners approved similar measures.
The Lubbock Democratic Party in Texas called Wednesday for city leaders to rename César Chavez Drive to honor Dolores Huerta.
In Wisconsin, Milwaukee City Alderperson JoCasta Zamarripa said discussions will soon begin regarding a street named after Chavez.
Portland, Oregon city councilor Candace Avalos announced she would initiate a petition to rename a city boulevard after Huerta. City regulations require 2,500 signatures to begin a renaming process, Avalos wrote on social media, urging constituents to watch for ways to assist the effort.
U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján, a New Mexico Democrat, issued a statement Wednesday declaring abuse of any nature, particularly against children, is inexcusable and betrays the values Latino leaders have promoted for generations.
“His name should be removed from landmarks, institutions and honors,” Luján said regarding Chavez. “We cannot celebrate someone who carried out such disturbing harm.”
Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson expressed concerns Thursday about climbing energy costs, warning that prolonged price increases could present a dual challenge by both driving up inflation and reducing consumer and business expenditures.
Speaking at a Dallas Federal Reserve event, Jefferson described the Fed’s current monetary policy as “appropriately positioned” for the economic environment.
“The current policy stance should continue to support the labor market while allowing inflation to resume its decline toward our 2 percent target as the effects of tariff pass-through are completed,” Jefferson stated in his prepared remarks.
According to Jefferson, the job market has achieved relative balance, and he anticipates unemployment will hover around its present 4.4% rate through the remainder of 2024. However, he cautioned that the employment sector remains vulnerable to negative disruptions due to historically low hiring rates, with forecast risks “skewed to the downside.”
The Fed official indicated he anticipates inflation progress to pick up momentum once last year’s tariff impacts work through the economic system. He also pointed to deregulation and productivity improvements as factors that should help reduce inflationary pressures.
“Ongoing trade policy uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, however, pose upside risk to my inflation forecast,” Jefferson warned. “At least in the short term I expect overall inflation to move higher, reflecting a rise in energy prices stemming from the conflict in the Middle East.”
While Jefferson noted that temporary energy price spikes typically affect the economy for just one or two quarters, he emphasized that prolonged elevated oil costs could create more significant economic impacts.
The Federal Reserve maintained its benchmark interest rate between 3.50% and 3.75% earlier this month, with Chair Jerome Powell indicating rate reductions won’t occur without measurable inflation improvements. Jefferson endorsed this approach.
Looking ahead, Jefferson projected U.S. economic growth at approximately 2% or slightly higher for this year, supported by artificial intelligence investments, federal deregulation efforts, and increased business creation. Nevertheless, he acknowledged potential obstacles and uncertainty stemming from Middle Eastern conflicts.
President Donald Trump has declared a temporary halt to strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure for 10 days following Tehran’s request, while asserting that diplomatic negotiations are proceeding “very well.” However, an Iranian official has rejected the American peace proposal as “one-sided and unfair.”
The ongoing conflict has claimed thousands of lives, expanded into neighboring countries, and severely impacted the global economy through skyrocketing energy costs since the United States and Israel began military operations on February 28, following unsuccessful negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.
During a White House cabinet meeting Thursday, Trump warned of escalating pressure on Iran without a deal, then later announced on social media his decision to suspend strikes on Iranian energy facilities for 10 days, lasting until April 6, 2026 at 8:00 PM EDT.
“Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Speaking later on Fox News’ “The Five,” Trump revealed that Iranian officials had requested a seven-day suspension. Tehran has not immediately responded to these claims.
According to peace negotiation mediators cited by the Wall Street Journal, Iran has not actually requested a 10-day suspension of energy facility strikes.
The conflict has severely disrupted global shipping routes, driving crude oil prices up approximately 40% and causing liquefied natural gas shipments to Asia to surge by roughly two-thirds. Nitrogen-based fertilizer prices, essential for food production, have increased by about 50%.
Despite Trump’s optimistic outlook, Iran has continued retaliatory strikes against U.S. and Israeli targets, hitting Israel and American military bases while also attacking Gulf nations and effectively shutting down Middle Eastern fuel exports through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Pentagon confirmed to Reuters that the United States has deployed unmanned drone speedboats for patrol operations against Iran, marking the first time Washington has acknowledged using such technology in active combat.
Trump warned that America would become Iran’s “worst nightmare” if Tehran fails to meet U.S. demands, which include reopening the strait and dismantling the nuclear program. He mentioned seizing control of Iranian oil as a possibility but provided no specifics.
An Iranian official informed Reuters that senior Iranian leaders and a representative of Iran’s supreme leader thoroughly examined a 15-point American proposal on Wednesday, which Pakistan had delivered to Tehran. While they viewed it as serving only U.S. and Israeli interests, diplomatic efforts continue, the official noted.
Combat operations have persisted despite diplomatic efforts. Thursday saw Iran launch multiple missile attacks against Israel, targeting Tel Aviv, Haifa, and other locations, including a Palestinian community in central Israel.
Israeli military sources confirmed at least one ballistic missile struck Tel Aviv, while others deployed cluster munitions that scattered smaller explosives, causing damage to residential properties and vehicles. Israel’s emergency services reported one fatality in Nahariya following a Hezbollah rocket attack on the northern city.
Within Iran, strikes targeted the southern port city of Bandar Abbas and a village near Shiraz. Reports indicate a university facility in Isfahan was also hit.
Trump proposed Thursday that Iran allow 10 oil tankers, including some flying Pakistani flags, to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a diplomatic gesture during negotiations.
The president has deployed thousands of military personnel to the Middle East region, with some already arriving, fueling speculation about a potential ground invasion, though specific details remain limited.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, confirmed that the U.S. has presented a “15-point action list” as the foundation for war-ending negotiations. Sources and reports indicate the demands range from dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities to restricting its missile program and essentially surrendering control of the strait.
Pakistan’s foreign minister described “indirect talks” between Washington and Tehran occurring through messages relayed by Islamabad, with Turkey and Egypt also supporting mediation initiatives.
Any diplomatic resolution appears extremely challenging. Iranian sources indicate the country has taken a harder position since hostilities began, demanding assurances against future military action, financial compensation for damages, and official control over the strait.
Regional sources report that Iran has also informed intermediaries that Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement.
Trump has not disclosed which Iranian officials the U.S. is negotiating with, as many high-ranking leaders are among the thousands killed in the widespread Middle Eastern conflict.
Financial markets took a beating Thursday as Middle East tensions intensified, driving oil prices sharply higher while stocks, bonds, and gold tumbled amid renewed concerns about inflation.
The broad selloff reflected investor anxiety over diminishing prospects for peace in the region, creating a somber atmosphere as the trading quarter draws to a close.
Despite the challenging environment of ongoing conflict, $100 oil prices, and significant economic uncertainty, some Wall Street analysts remain optimistic about U.S. stock prospects. Barclays strategists recently increased their S&P 500 projections, joining other firms maintaining bullish outlooks.
Market Performance Overview
Asian markets led the decline, with South Korea’s KOSPI index dropping 3.5%. European markets fell 1% or more across major indices, while U.S. markets saw the Dow Jones down 1%, the S&P 500 declining 1.7%, and the Nasdaq falling 2.4% into correction territory from its October peak.
Nine of eleven S&P 500 sectors posted losses, with communications services leading the decline at -3.5%, followed by technology at -2.7% and industrials at -2.3%. Energy was the lone bright spot, gaining 1.6%.
Individual stock movements included Meta dropping 8%, Nvidia falling 4%, while Brown-Forman surged 9.5% and Valero climbed 8%.
The dollar strengthened 0.4%, with the USD/JPY pair approaching the significant 160.00 level. Emerging market currencies including the Thai baht and Chilean peso posted notable declines, while the Swedish krona and Australian dollar led losses among developed market currencies. Bitcoin retreated 4%, falling back below $70,000.
Bond Market Struggles
U.S. Treasury yields jumped to their highest closing levels since mid-2025, with the yield curve continuing to flatten. Thursday’s $44 billion auction of 7-year Treasury notes performed poorly, showing weak demand and leaving dealers holding a substantial portion of the offering. Similar weakness appeared in Wednesday’s 5-year auction and Tuesday’s 2-year sale.
The poor auction results reflect investor concerns about energy prices, Middle East conflict, and inflation pressures. Foreign central bank holdings of Treasuries at the Federal Reserve have also declined significantly, adding to market nervousness.
Commodity Markets
Oil prices jumped 5% on geopolitical tensions, while precious metals suffered steep losses with gold falling 3% and silver dropping 5%.
Conflicting Signals
Market volatility has been exacerbated by conflicting reports about potential diplomatic progress. President Trump’s administration claims to have presented Iran with a peace plan and established communication channels, though Tehran has rejected this characterization, calling any proposal “one-sided.”
The contradictory information has left investors struggling to interpret developments, with markets swinging dramatically on similar headlines from day to day.
Technical Concerns Mount
Beyond fundamental challenges, technical indicators are also deteriorating. All three major U.S. stock indices have broken below their 200-day moving averages, a chart level closely watched by traders for long-term market direction.
As legendary investor Paul Tudor Jones reportedly observed, “Nothing good ever happens below the 200-day moving average,” though market bottoms and recoveries can eventually emerge from such levels.
Looking Ahead
Friday’s market drivers will likely include further Middle East developments, energy market movements, and speeches from European Central Bank officials including board members Anneli Tuominen, Patrick Montagner, and Isabel Schnabel.
Economic data releases include UK retail sales for March and the final University of Michigan consumer sentiment and inflation expectations surveys for March. Federal Reserve officials scheduled to speak include Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin, San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly, and Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson.
American tennis sensation Coco Gauff powered her way into the Miami Open championship match Thursday, overwhelming Karolina Muchova with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 victory that showcased her elite-level dominance.
The world’s fourth-ranked player will now compete in her sixth WTA 1000 final when she takes the court Saturday for the title match.
Despite falling behind early when Muchova captured the opening game with an immediate service break, Gauff quickly turned the tables on her Czech opponent. The 20-year-old American answered back by breaking serve to even the score, then went on an incredible tear by claiming every remaining game in the opening set without surrendering a single point in the final games.
Muchova entered Thursday’s semifinal riding high after claiming the Doha championship earlier this year and defeating Victoria Mboko in Miami’s quarterfinal round – a rematch of their Doha title bout. However, the 29-year-old’s strong recent form crumbled under pressure as mistakes mounted throughout the second set.
Gauff capitalized on her opponent’s struggles by securing three service breaks in the final set, wrapping up her comprehensive win while maintaining her flawless 6-0 career record against Muchova in head-to-head matchups.
Saturday’s final opponent will be determined when either Aryna Sabalenka or Elena Rybakina emerges victorious from Thursday evening’s second semifinal clash between the two tennis powerhouses.
WASHINGTON — Federal education officials announced Thursday they will vacate their main Washington headquarters and move to a smaller office location as the Trump administration continues its effort to eliminate the department.
Since President Donald Trump returned to office, the agency has experienced significant staff reductions through widespread layoffs, leaving the current headquarters building mostly empty at 70% vacancy, according to department officials. The Energy Department will take over the building lease once Education vacates the premises.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon described the move as a significant step forward in the administration’s plan to close the department entirely, an order Trump issued one year ago.
“Thanks to the hard work of so many, we have made unprecedented progress in reducing the federal education footprint, and now we are pleased to give this building to an agency that will benefit far more from its space than the Department of Education,” McMahon stated in a written announcement.
The department’s transition to its new Washington office location is set to occur in August.
Federal officials indicated the relocation will reduce taxpayer costs by eliminating unused office space and preventing the need for costly repairs required at the Energy Department’s existing headquarters facility.
NEW YORK (TV Delmarva) — A Ukrainian skeleton athlete who was barred from Olympic competition found himself addressing the United Nations instead — an opportunity he never anticipated.
Vladyslav Heraskevych was prohibited from participating in the Milan Cortina Games due to his intention to compete wearing a helmet that honored victims of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On Thursday, he addressed a panel at the U.N., explaining why he remains convinced his choice was correct.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of Change the World Model United Nations, an educational program for thousands of students, Heraskevych emphasized the broader purpose of athletics. “I think it’s important that we use this stage and talk about important things,” he stated. “Sometimes it feels like, in all these hours of training, we really forgot about the overall mission of sports. It is not only about the medals, but it’s also about values that we represent.”
The athlete shared the stage with Shiva Amini, a former Iranian women’s soccer player now living in exile in New York. Amini received asylum in Switzerland in 2017 after facing government threats for being photographed playing soccer with men without wearing the required hijab.
“We can save lives with sport,” Heraskevych declared during his presentation. “Sport gave people some hope.”
Olympic officials determined that his determination to wear the commemorative helmet violated “the Olympic Charter and Guidelines on Athlete Expression,” resulting in his competition ban. While Heraskevych used the helmet during practice sessions, the International Olympic Committee requested he switch to different headgear for actual races. Officials proposed alternatives, including wearing a memorial armband or displaying the helmet after leaving the ice.
During Thursday’s session, organizers read the names of the Ukrainian athletes featured on Heraskevych’s “memory helmet,” prompting applause from the audience.
Although his Olympic dreams ended with the competition ban, Heraskevych’s athletic career continues. He plans to participate in several World Cup events during the upcoming season, including a race at the Cortina d’Ampezzo track where he was previously denied the chance to compete. He’s also setting his sights on the 2030 Olympics.
The United Nations invitation caught him off guard. “It wasn’t part of my bucket list,” he admitted with a smile.
Since the Olympics concluded, Heraskevych has maintained a busy schedule. Together with his father, he’s operating a foundation supporting Ukrainian individuals and organizations, with generator distribution being a key focus due to widespread power outages and electrical grid instability. He continues seeking ways to commemorate the two dozen athletes and coaches represented on his banned helmet, while using his physics background to help address war-related challenges in his homeland.
Cultural promotion has also become part of his mission. He appeared at Thursday’s event wearing a vyshyvanka, Ukraine’s traditional embroidered shirt, and plans to showcase his country’s cuisine internationally.
“My goal is to get support and get awareness for Ukraine,” Heraskevych explained, “and not only about the war in Ukraine.”
Despite multiple opportunities for reflection over recent weeks, he maintains confidence in his decision to insist on wearing the helmet, despite knowing it could cost him his Olympic participation. He expresses no second thoughts about his choice.
“I believe I had the full right to wear this helmet, and to me, not wearing it would be like a betraying of my principles,” Heraskevych stated. “The people pictured on the helmet were victims of the war. It’s not right to betray them, too. … No, these people sacrificed their lives. They were not afraid. It’s not right to betray them. So, I don’t feel any regret. I regret that I could not participate, but it was not my fault.”
SALT LAKE CITY — A Republican-backed campaign to eliminate Utah’s redistricting protections has come up short of the signature requirements needed to appear on this November’s ballot, leaving in place congressional boundaries that could help Democrats capture a House seat in the Salt Lake City region.
The initiative, which received backing from former President Donald Trump, sought to overturn redistricting reforms that Utah voters approved in 2018. Those reforms created an independent commission for drawing district lines and prohibited maps designed to give unfair advantages to either political party.
A state court determined that Republican legislators violated these principles following the 2020 census when they created boundaries that split Salt Lake City’s Democratic-leaning voters across all four congressional districts. Judge Dianna Gibson implemented replacement maps that provide Democrats with a strong chance to gain a seat as they work to regain control of the House.
Had the repeal succeeded, it would have enabled Republicans to implement more advantageous congressional districts before the 2028 elections. However, their expensive petition drive failed to meet ballot requirements after anti-gerrymandering supporters successfully convinced thousands of signers to withdraw their names, according to election data made public Thursday.
Better Boundaries, the organization that spearheaded the signature withdrawal campaign, praised Thursday’s results.
“A majority of Utah voters approved Prop 4 in 2018, and we look forward to the day when Utah voters can finally pick their politicians, not the other way around,” said Executive Director Elizabeth Rasmussen.
Utah Republican Party Chair Rob Axson indicated that efforts to eliminate the law are “not over, but just beginning.”
“We have significant concerns about the practices utilized by the opposition and continue to review the signature validation and removal process,” he said in a statement.
The unexpected Democratic gains in heavily Republican Utah reflect the ongoing nationwide redistricting battles between the parties.
Following Trump’s call for Texas Republicans to redraw House districts in their favor last year, Democrats responded with new congressional maps in California, sparking redistricting conflicts across multiple states.
Republican-controlled legislatures in Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio have all approved new congressional boundaries they hope will help secure additional seats in midterm races. Virginia voters will determine on April 21 whether to authorize mid-decade redistricting that could benefit Democratic House candidates. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has scheduled a special legislative session on congressional redistricting for mid-April.
Legislative bodies in various other states, including Democratic-controlled Maryland and Republican-led Indiana and Kansas, have also explored congressional redistricting options without enacting new maps.
WASHINGTON — In an unprecedented move, the Treasury Department revealed Thursday that President Donald Trump’s signature will be featured on all newly printed American paper money.
This decision breaks with centuries of tradition, as U.S. bills have historically only displayed the signatures of the Treasury Secretary and the Treasurer of the United States, never including a sitting president’s name.
Vanity Fair was the first outlet to break this story.
This announcement represents another example of Trump incorporating his identity into various American institutions, similar to his previous decisions to rebrand the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Kennedy Center for performing arts, and a new generation of naval warships, among other commemorative actions.
The currency initiative coincides with concurrent efforts to feature Trump on commemorative coinage.
Just weeks ago, a federal arts panel gave final approval to a design for a 24-karat gold commemorative coin featuring Trump’s portrait, created to mark America’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebration on July 4th.
According to Treasury Department documentation, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s signature will continue to appear alongside Trump’s on the new bills.
In an official statement, Bessent declared that placing Trump’s name on U.S. currency represents “the most powerful way to recognize the historic achievements of our great country.”
U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach also issued a statement supporting the decision, saying that including Trump’s signature on American money “is not only appropriate, but also well deserved.”
The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing handles all paper currency production, while coin manufacturing falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Mint.
RALEIGH, N.C. — A federal judge has ruled that North Carolina may continue enforcing its photo identification requirement for voters, dismissing claims from civil rights organizations that the law was designed to discriminate against Black and Hispanic voters.
U.S. District Judge Loretta Biggs delivered the Thursday ruling, handing Republican state legislators a major courtroom win for the measure they implemented in late 2018, just weeks following voter approval of a constitutional amendment supporting the concept.
In a statement following Biggs’ ruling, North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger declared that “we can put to rest any doubt that our state’s Voter I.D. law is constitutional.”
The judge oversaw a bench trial during spring 2024 regarding a challenge brought by the state NAACP, which contended the identification mandate violated both the U.S. Constitution and federal Voting Rights Act. During proceedings, the NAACP claimed Republican legislators implemented the voter ID measure to solidify their political control by deterring traditionally Democratic-leaning voters from participating in elections.
However, attorneys representing the state and defending Republican lawmakers countered that Republicans would not have enacted such a permissive identification law if their goal was political entrenchment. They maintained the statute is racially neutral and permits significantly more qualifying identification types compared to a 2013 voter ID measure that courts previously invalidated.
Defense attorneys also contended the General Assembly had valid state purposes in enhancing public confidence in elections and deterring voter fraud, though experts note that nationwide voter impersonation fraud occurs infrequently.
State NAACP President Deborah Dicks Maxwell described the court’s latest decision as “deeply disappointing and ignores the real and documented barriers” that identification requirements create for certain voting groups. The organization has not yet determined whether to file an appeal.
Despite ongoing federal court battles, the 2018 identification law has been operational since 2023 municipal elections, following a separate state Supreme Court ruling that upheld the measure. Recent elections under the law include the March 3 primary, with nearly all results certified this Wednesday.
In her extensive 134-page ruling, Judge Biggs, an Obama administration appointee, acknowledged that trial evidence indicated the burden of obtaining identification disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic voters. Consequently, a disproportionate number of racial minority voters will be among thousands lacking required identification on Election Day, and “for many their vote will not count when the election is certified.”
Biggs noted that the state’s documented history of racial discrimination and voter suppression supports finding discriminatory intent behind the law. However, she explained that subsequent court decisions since the lawsuit’s filing, including rulings from a federal appeals panel, require “this Court to assign less weight to the historical background” and provide “almost impenetrable deference to the presumption” that legislators acted in good faith.
The judge had initially blocked the 2018 law’s implementation through a 2019 preliminary injunction, arguing it was compromised because the earlier 2013 voter ID statute was invalidated on similar racial bias grounds.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently overturned her injunction, determining she had given excessive weight to the General Assembly’s previous actions when assessing the 2018 legislation.
Based on the “preliminary injunction record, the limited evidence presented at trial, and the arguments of counsel,” Biggs wrote Thursday that the court “concludes that it is compelled by controlling case law” to rule in favor of the state and legislative leadership.
North Carolina’s voter identification statute provides free identification cards through the Division of Motor Vehicles and county election offices across the state. Voters without photo identification at polling locations can still have their ballots counted by completing an exception form or presenting their identification to election officials before final vote tallies.
In the parallel state court challenge, the 2018 measure was initially struck down. However, after the state Supreme Court shifted from Democratic to Republican control, the justices agreed to reconsider the issue and ultimately upheld the photo identification requirement.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 36 states currently have laws requesting or mandating identification at polling places, with 23 of those specifically requiring photo identification.
SALISBURY, Md. – Salisbury University’s baseball squad, currently ranked seventh in the nation, delivered a dominant performance Thursday afternoon, shutting out Stockton University 10-0 in an eight-inning contest at Donnie Williams Sea Gull Baseball Stadium.
The Sea Gulls made quick work of the visiting Ospreys, extending their current winning streak to five consecutive games – tying their longest stretch of victories this season.
The convincing victory showcased Salisbury’s offensive power and pitching prowess as they controlled the game from start to finish, wrapping up the contest in just eight innings due to their commanding lead.
Good evening, Delmarva! We’re tracking an active weather pattern moving through our region tonight and into Friday.
This evening starts mostly cloudy with temperatures holding steady around 57 degrees. However, don’t be surprised if you need to grab an umbrella later tonight! We’re expecting a slight chance of rain showers between midnight and 3am, followed by possible thunderstorms. Southwest winds will be gusty at 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, so secure any loose outdoor items. The good news? Rainfall amounts should stay light at less than a tenth of an inch.
Friday brings steady rain with temperatures climbing to 61 degrees, so plan for a wet commute. The weather story takes a dramatic turn Friday night as temperatures plummet to just 33 degrees with light rain likely – that’s quite a temperature swing!
Saturday rebounds beautifully with sunny skies and a more comfortable 47 degrees.
Stay weather-aware tonight and keep that umbrella handy tomorrow. I’m your TV Delmarva meteorologist – stay safe and dry out there!
A group of Delaware State University students has embarked on an international educational adventure, traveling to China for a comprehensive study abroad program.
The immersive learning opportunity provides DSU students with direct exposure to Chinese culture, language, and academic practices through hands-on experiences in the country.
This international exchange program represents Delaware State University’s commitment to providing students with global educational opportunities that expand their academic horizons beyond traditional classroom settings.
The study abroad initiative allows participating students to develop cross-cultural understanding while pursuing their educational goals in an international environment.
Motorists traveling across the Reedy Point Bridge should expect delays today as construction crews conduct work requiring traffic control measures.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that a flagging operation is currently in place at the bridge crossing over the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. The traffic control is scheduled to remain active until 3:30 PM this afternoon.
Drivers are advised to plan for additional travel time and exercise caution when approaching the work zone area.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed Thursday that his country continues facilitating secret communications between the United States and Iran, even after Tehran publicly dismissed a 15-point American ceasefire proposal on Wednesday.
Writing on X, Dar stated that Pakistan is actively serving as a conduit for messages between Washington and Tehran, with the U.S. having presented a 15-point framework that Iran is now reviewing. He criticized what he called “unnecessary speculation” in media reports about the peace negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict.
Dar emphasized that other nations including Turkey and Egypt are also backing the diplomatic initiative. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to fostering peace through all available means, stating that conversation and diplomatic solutions represent the only viable path forward.
The foreign minister’s social media post tagged key officials including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East.
Speculation about U.S.-Iran negotiations first surfaced Monday when Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that discussions were ongoing between the two nations and that plans for potential strikes against Iranian power facilities had been postponed.
Shortly afterward, reports emerged indicating that indirect communications were occurring through Pakistani mediation.
On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted on X: “Subject to concurrence by the US and Iran, Pakistan stands ready and honored to host and facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict.”
President Trump subsequently shared Sharif’s statement on Truth Social, sparking speculation that Washington might be receptive to Pakistani-facilitated negotiations.
According to sources, Pakistani officials have conducted phone conversations with both Iranian and American presidents within the last 72 hours.
The White House acknowledged to the BBC that Trump spoke with Pakistan’s Asim Munir, though no additional information was released.
Prime Minister Sharif also held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, stressing the importance of lowering tensions “through dialogue and diplomacy.”
The Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that Iran has officially responded to the American 15-article proposal, with Tehran’s answer delivered through intermediaries Wednesday night. Iran now awaits Washington’s reaction.
According to Tasnim, Iran’s response outlined several demands: an end to assassination operations, concrete measures to prevent future warfare, guaranteed compensation and war reparations, and cessation of hostilities across all fronts involving regional resistance groups.
Iran also insisted that its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz represents a natural and legal right that must be acknowledged, Tasnim reported.
Experts suggest Pakistan’s strong relationships with both Washington and Tehran make it an effective and reliable mediator for resolving the dispute.
Diplomatic sources in Islamabad characterize Iran’s rejection of the U.S. 15-point ceasefire plan as merely a diplomatic strategy. Within hours, an Iranian Foreign Ministry statement acknowledged receiving the American proposal, followed by reports that Iran had transmitted its own requirements to Washington through intermediaries.
This has positioned Islamabad as the center of diplomatic efforts seeking an immediate ceasefire and lasting global peace. Following Pakistan’s formal offer to host negotiations, regional experts shared their perspectives on Islamabad’s role and the rapidly changing regional dynamics.
Political analyst Sajjad Azhar from Rawalpindi explained to The Media Line: “The Iranian regime now seeks both a seat at the negotiating table and face-saving, because at stake is not only its authority within Iran but also its influence over the global Shia population, including in the Middle East and Pakistan, which idealizes it.”
Azhar suggested that President Trump isn’t being completely transparent, conscious of his weakening domestic credibility, while Netanyahu aims to keep Israeli citizens uninformed.
“This creates an extremely delicate situation, with slim prospects for peace and a higher likelihood that, should negotiations fail, all three parties could drag the entire region into a survival struggle. There is also the danger—albeit uncertain—of prohibited weapons being used against Iran,” Azhar emphasized.
He observed that while Pakistan maintains neutrality, the United States seeks to involve it in the conflict.
“Even a minor misstep by Iran could make Pakistan a party to the dispute. With a defense agreement in place with Saudi Arabia, Islamabad faces a highly sensitive and precarious situation.”
Colorado-based security analyst Steven Radil told The Media Line that “Pakistan is well-positioned for the current moment for several reasons.”
“Despite its defense ties with Saudi Arabia, it is still viewed as relatively neutral among the warring parties, while its large Shia population creates a cultural linkage with Iran that few other potential mediators—such as Turkey, Egypt, or Gulf states—can match,” Radil explained.
“Pakistan also has its own economic incentives to press for an end to the war, which has disrupted its oil and natural gas supply chains,” Radil added.
Regarding regional signaling, Radil noted: “Pakistan’s reported strikes on the former US Bagram air base in Afghanistan could indicate [more] strategic alignment with Washington.”
He concluded: “More importantly, Islamabad may see mediation in the Iran conflict as a way to strengthen its position with the US, potentially gaining leverage in any future confrontation with India.”
Retired Colonel Asad Mehmood, an Islamabad-based security and geopolitical analyst, told The Media Line that “America of February 28 is not the same as the Washington of today and that the attack on Iran was a clear violation of international laws and principles, even during the negotiations that preceded the current war.”
Mehmood added that “the situation has changed dramatically, even within the US, opposition is growing among Trump and his closest allies. Unlike in Afghanistan, NATO is not backing the United States this time.”
He noted that observers suggest President Trump, apparently coordinating with Israel, may have taken this extreme step to divert attention from the Epstein Files scandal. Consequently, he said, the U.S. now stands largely isolated globally, with Israel appearing as its sole ally.
Mehmood further observed that “the Iranian people have never wanted to remain in a constant state of war, and for the first time, their nationalism is visible worldwide. Few expected such resilience, which has surprised the international community.”
Meanwhile, American citizens are questioning President Trump about the cost of his policies. While Iran hasn’t “won,” he noted, it has sustained significant losses and will need billions for reconstruction.
He stressed that “the key question now is what comes next. Pakistan holds a pivotal role as a mediator between Tehran and Washington.” According to Colonel Mehmood, the coming days will clarify the situation, and the U.S.-brokered ceasefire “is expected to be extended.”
He emphasized that Pakistan’s role is essential in ending the conflict and ensuring regional stability.
Reuters reported, citing a Pakistani official, that Israel had removed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf from its target list.
The report indicated Pakistan had urged Washington not to target these individuals.
The official told Reuters that “Israel had their coordinates and intended to eliminate them. We conveyed to the United States that if they were also taken out, there would be no one left to negotiate with. Subsequently, the US asked Israel to step back.”
When asked whether Araghchi and Ghalibaf had been removed from an Israeli target list following Pakistani requests, Israeli military spokesman Nadav Shoshani said the military “has a rigorous process before every operation and every strike,” but added: “I’m not going to go into specific potential targets.”
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut – A top Federal Reserve official expressed concerns Thursday that military operations in Iran are creating greater inflation pressures for the U.S. economy.
Speaking at Yale School of Management, Fed Governor Lisa Cook explained that the ongoing conflict has altered the central bank’s outlook on balancing price stability with employment goals.
“I see the balance of risks as being largely, on net, in balance, but I would argue that the inflation risk is greater right now as a result of the Iran war,” Cook stated during the event.
Regarding employment conditions, Cook noted: “With respect to the labor market, I see it as being in balance, but precariously so.”
Cook joins other Federal Reserve officials who have expressed worry that the military campaign launched February 28 by the United States and Israel against Iran could drive inflation rates higher than the Fed’s 2% goal.
According to Cook, tariffs implemented under President Donald Trump had already slowed progress toward reaching inflation targets over the past year, and the current conflict “takes us even further away.”
International oil markets have experienced significant volatility, with prices climbing from approximately $75 per barrel in late February to over $100 this month. The surge follows Iran’s effective blockade of roughly one-fifth of global petroleum shipments through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
The Federal Reserve maintained its key interest rate between 3.50%-3.75% at last week’s meeting, with most officials previously anticipating a possible quarter-point reduction by year’s end. However, rising oil costs and uncertainty about the conflict’s duration have prompted bond markets to push interest rates higher, with futures markets now indicating virtually no possibility of rate cuts this year.
Israeli military officials confirmed Thursday that a young tank officer died during combat operations in southern Lebanon when Hezbollah militants targeted his unit with anti-tank missiles.
Military authorities identified the fallen soldier as Lt. Aviaad Elchanan Volansky, a 21-year-old Jerusalem resident who served as a tank crew member with the 77th Battalion of the Armored Corps. At the time of the deadly strike, Volansky was deployed alongside a Golani Brigade combat team.
Israeli Defense Forces reported that militants launched two anti-tank missiles at the military unit. While defensive systems successfully intercepted the first projectile, the second missile struck Volansky’s tank directly. Four additional service members, including two officers, received minor wounds during the engagement. Israeli troops responded by directing gunfire and artillery strikes toward the location where the missiles originated.
The deceased officer came from a distinguished military family – his father, Brig. Gen. (res.) Yair Volansky, currently holds the position of defense establishment comptroller and previously led the same battalion where his son served. Volansky was also the grandson of Rabbi Oded Volansky, a well-known leader within the religious Zionist movement.
Defense Minister Israel Katz honored the fallen soldier, stating that Volansky “fell in heroic combat in southern Lebanon defending the State of Israel and its citizens.” Katz noted that the young officer’s father works closely with him and praised the elder Volansky as “a man of mission, dedication and integrity.”
This deadly incident occurred in the same operational area where another soldier, Staff Sgt. Ori Greenberg, 21, a Golani reconnaissance specialist from Petah Tikva, lost his life during overnight close-range fighting with Hezbollah operatives. In related incidents, one officer received moderate wounds from Israeli military fire, while 14 soldiers required hospital treatment for suspected cold-weather exposure.
Advanced satellite technology has uncovered a network of 28 previously unknown ancient stone circles surrounding the famous Rujm el-Hiri monument in the Golan Heights, according to new research from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
The breakthrough study, released last week in PLOS One journal, overturns decades of thinking about the prehistoric site commonly known as “Israel’s Stonehenge.” Rather than standing as a solitary structure, the research shows Rujm el-Hiri served as the centerpiece of an extensive regional network of similar monuments.
Scientists used cutting-edge satellite imaging and remote sensing equipment to survey hard-to-reach areas across different seasons and lighting conditions. The technology allowed them to spot field walls, enclosures, and circular formations that had never been recorded before.
“By combining satellite imagery and environmental analysis, Rujm el-Hiri—once perceived as an almost isolated monument—is revealed as the most impressive and magnificent example of a regional phenomenon,” explained Dr. Michal Birkenfeld from Ben-Gurion University’s Department of Archaeology. “These circles, identified through remote sensing and contextualized through geophysical data, invite a reinterpretation of significant proto-historic monuments in the region, recognizing them as integral parts of broader social and economic systems.”
Co-researcher Prof. Lev Appelbaum from Tel Aviv University and Azerbaijan University noted the potential for future discoveries. “The territory of Israel still contains many archeological secrets, which can be revealed through integrated analysis using advance Remote Sensing, surface geophysical methods, and tectonic-morphological methodologies,” he stated.
The newly discovered stone circles display remarkable similarities, featuring circular designs typically spanning more than 50 meters across and built using local basalt rocks. Many contain internal dividing walls and sit close to seasonal water sources.
According to the research team, the positioning and architecture of these circles indicate they played important roles in ancient farming and herding communities, potentially functioning as meeting places, boundary markers, or seasonal gathering spots.
“Our analysis may have implications for previous interpretations of Rujm el-Hiri’s function,” Birkenfeld added. “While traditional archaeological methods remain essential, this landscape-based perspective allows us to reach a fuller understanding of these monuments within our shared human past.”
The Israeli Defense Forces announced Thursday they successfully eliminated Alireza Tangsiri, the naval commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, during a targeted military operation in Bandar Abbas. Israeli officials characterized the strike as part of their continued campaign against Iranian military leadership involved in regional aggression and maritime interference.
According to Israeli military statements, Tangsiri had overseen naval operations for eight years and was directly responsible for orchestrating attacks against commercial vessels, damaging shipping containers, and interfering with maritime traffic through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. The IDF also accused him of playing a key role in missile launches throughout the Middle East amid ongoing conflicts with Israel and the United States.
The same military operation also resulted in the death of Behnam Rezaei, who led the IRGC Navy Intelligence Directorate, according to an announcement from the Israeli military spokesperson posted on social media platform X.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Tangsiri bore direct responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz blockade, which has caused significant disruptions to international shipping and threatens to spark wider economic instability.
During a security briefing with officials, Katz noted, “This is also an important development for our American partners, as it reflects the IDF’s role in helping to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized Tangsiri as an individual who had “a great deal of blood on his hands” and stated he had “led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.”
Netanyahu further declared, “We continue to strike the targets of the Iranian terror regime with force.”
A 21-year-old Israeli military member died Thursday during what officials describe as the first direct ground combat encounter between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, according to Israeli military authorities.
Military officials identified the fallen serviceman as Sergeant Ori Greenberg of the Golani Brigade, a resident of Petah Tikvah. The Israeli Defense Forces reported that Greenberg sustained injuries during the battle and was transported from the combat zone for emergency medical care, but medical personnel declared him deceased while en route to a medical facility.
The engagement occurred when a Golani Brigade unit conducting operations in the Galilee Panhandle region, operating under Division 36 command, encountered a group of no fewer than five Hezbollah operatives at short range. Military officials said the confrontation evolved into an extended gun battle spanning multiple hours. Israeli forces reported neutralizing multiple Hezbollah combatants during the encounter.
This deadly confrontation occurs amid Israel’s expanding ground military activities in Lebanon, part of a comprehensive strategy to establish a wider security buffer zone designed to halt cross-border attacks launched by Hezbollah forces.
The previous day, Wednesday, military reports indicated one soldier suffered wounds from mortar shell impacts, while additional personnel sustained injuries in unrelated incidents. Military sources also confirmed an officer received injuries in an accidental friendly fire event.
Hezbollah became involved in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran after the March assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Following that event, the organization has consistently fired rockets toward Israeli territory, causing both civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructure.
Thursday’s deadly encounter represents a notable change in combat dynamics, as Israeli ground units advance further into regions where Hezbollah militants maintain an active presence.
Warning sirens wailed across Israel Thursday morning as waves of Iranian missiles and Hezbollah rockets struck multiple locations, leaving at least seven people injured and causing significant damage in several cities.
The most serious casualty was an 11-year-old girl in Safed who went into cardiac arrest when rocket warning sirens began sounding. Medical responders found her without vital signs and administered emergency treatment, including defibrillation, successfully restoring her heartbeat. She remains in critical condition.
Magen David Adom emergency services reported treating several other victims throughout the morning. A woman in her 60s sustained moderate injuries after falling while rushing to a shelter and was transported to Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer. In Petah Tikva, two people received minor injuries when a car collided with parked vehicles during an alert, requiring evacuation to Beilinson Hospital.
The city of Kafr Qasim bore the brunt of direct missile impact, with video footage revealing a large crater in a roadway and overturned cars. A man and woman, both approximately 55 years old, suffered minor injuries from the explosion’s shock wave and received treatment at the scene. Magen David Adom later confirmed that five people in Kafr Qasim and one person in Sha’ar Shomron sustained light wounds from debris.
During mid-morning attacks, a bus operator in Krayot received minor injuries from a blast wave after a fragmented missile targeted the northern region. Debris from intercepted missiles damaged a shopping center, affecting multiple retail stores.
The coordinated assault triggered emergency alerts throughout Gush Dan, the Sharon region, the Lowlands, and Samaria as Iranian launches targeted these areas. Additional projectiles were detected heading toward central Israel and Jerusalem, while Hezbollah forces simultaneously fired missiles that set off sirens in Safed.
The barrage continued in rapid succession throughout the morning hours, with Iran launching multiple rounds targeting central regions and Jerusalem, while Lebanon contributed a separate wave of attacks.
The Pentagon has acknowledged for the first time that American forces are utilizing unmanned speedboat drones in military operations targeting Iran, marking a significant milestone in modern naval warfare.
Pentagon officials confirmed the deployment of autonomous watercraft for patrol duties, representing the initial instance where Washington has publicly acknowledged employing such technology in active military engagement.
These robotic vessels – capable of conducting surveillance missions or executing kamikaze-style attacks – have gained international attention following Ukraine’s successful use of explosive-equipped speedboats against Russian naval forces in the Black Sea.
Tim Hawkins, speaking for Pentagon Central Command, revealed that autonomous boats manufactured by Maryland-based BlackSea, designated as Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC), have been conducting patrols during the U.S. military campaign against Iran, known as “Operation Epic Fury.”
“U.S. forces continue to employ unmanned systems in the Middle East region, including surface drone assets like the GARC. This platform, in particular, has successfully logged over 450 underway hours and more than 2,200 nautical miles during maritime patrols in support of Operation Epic Fury,” Hawkins stated.
Iranian forces have employed similar drone technology to target oil tankers in Gulf waters on at least two occasions since American and Israeli military strikes commenced nearly a month ago. Pentagon officials provided no evidence suggesting U.S. forces had utilized their unmanned boats for offensive operations.
The American military has spent years attempting to develop a fleet of autonomous surface and underwater craft as a more economical and rapid alternative to traditional manned vessels, particularly to address China’s expanding naval presence in the Pacific region. However, this initiative has experienced delays and encountered numerous obstacles including technical malfunctions, budget concerns, and testing failures.
Previous reporting revealed that the GARC – an angular speedboat measuring approximately five meters in length – has experienced multiple operational and safety complications, including a high-speed collision with another vessel during military testing.
Sources familiar with recent operations indicated that another GARC unit became non-functional during a failed test in the Middle East within recent weeks.
When asked about these setbacks, Hawkins declined to provide details but emphasized the technology’s evolving nature.
“The GARC is an emerging capability and part of a fleet of surface drones operated by U.S. 5th Fleet to enhance awareness of what’s happening in regional waters,” he explained.
BlackSea, the Maryland-based manufacturer, declined to provide comments regarding their involvement in the operations.
A vehicle collision has resulted in the closure of the left lane on southbound Interstate 95 at the Christina River Bridge, according to Delaware Department of Transportation officials.
The crash is causing traffic delays for drivers heading south on the major interstate corridor. DelDOT is advising motorists to exercise caution while passing through the affected area and to expect slower travel times.
No additional details about the severity of the accident or potential injuries have been released at this time. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible or allow extra travel time when using this stretch of I-95.
A groundbreaking mortgage program will soon allow potential homeowners to leverage their digital currency investments as security for down payments without having to sell their cryptocurrency assets.
Better Home & Finance Holding Co. announced Thursday they will launch this innovative crypto-collateralized mortgage within the next three months through a collaboration with digital currency exchange Coinbase.
“Better was founded to make homeownership more accessible for all Americans, and this partnership with Coinbase introduces a new pathway to realizing the American Dream for the 52 million Americans who own digital assets,” Better CEO Vishal Garg stated in the announcement.
Currently, cryptocurrency usage in home purchases remains minimal. According to National Association of Realtors survey data covering home buyers from July 2024 to June 2025, just 1% of respondents who made down payments reported using funds from cryptocurrency sales.
The new mortgage product differs significantly because borrowers won’t need to liquidate their digital currency investments for down payment funds. Instead, qualifying applicants will pledge their cryptocurrency holdings and transfer them to Coinbase as down payment security.
This structure enables cryptocurrency investors to maintain exposure to potential future appreciation in their digital assets rather than converting them to cash.
Even if cryptocurrency values decline, mortgage conditions stay the same without requiring additional security, according to the companies’ announcement. Nevertheless, borrowers risk having their cryptocurrency collateral liquidated if mortgage payments become 60 days delinquent.
The mortgage program will accept only Bitcoin and USDC as acceptable collateral types. USDC represents a stablecoin cryptocurrency that typically maintains a $1 value, the companies explained.
Better emphasized their crypto-collateralized mortgage follows “Fannie Mae guidelines,” enabling mortgage giant backing and qualification for “significantly lower interest rates” compared to alternative crypto-secured lending products.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, operating under government oversight since the Great Recession, purchase qualifying mortgages from financial institutions, supplying housing market liquidity.
Financial institutions creating mortgages for purchase by these mortgage entities have traditionally only recognized borrowers’ cryptocurrency assets after conversion to dollars.
In June, the Federal Housing Finance Agency director, who supervises Fannie and Freddie, directed both agencies to develop proposals considering cryptocurrency as reserve assets when evaluating single-family mortgage loan risks.
Better Homes & Finance Holding stock climbed 5.4% Thursday, while Coinbase shares declined 4.3%.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Federal prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against United Parks & Resorts, the company that operates SeaWorld and Busch Gardens theme parks, alleging discrimination against disabled visitors through a policy that prohibits wheeled walkers with seats.
The Justice Department’s civil rights attorneys filed the complaint Thursday in Orlando federal court, requesting a jury trial to determine whether the theme park operator violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. The legal action demands policy changes regarding rollators — the technical term for wheeled walkers — and seeks monetary compensation for guests who have been denied entry with the devices since the restriction took effect last November at facilities in Orlando and Tampa.
United Parks & Resorts rejected the federal allegations Thursday and indicated it would defend itself in court.
“The policy at issue was implemented to address repeated safety incidents involving misuse of rollators with seats and was designed to enhance guest safety while continuing to provide accessible options for all guests,” the company said in an emailed statement.
The theme park operator emphasized that its facilities provide alternative mobility assistance to guests at no charge.
According to the federal complaint, multiple guests using wheeled walkers — including two military veterans with mobility impairments — were turned away at security checkpoints and barred from entering the parks with their devices.
WASHINGTON — Federal authorities have launched probes examining racial considerations in admissions processes at three major medical schools, escalating the Trump administration’s broader campaign targeting higher education institutions.
The Justice Department initiated these investigations Wednesday, focusing on potential discriminatory practices at medical programs at Stanford University, Ohio State University, and the University of California, San Diego. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon made the announcement via social media.
This latest move represents part of President Trump’s intensified examination of universities, which he claims are dominated by liberal ideology. His administration has previously scrutinized undergraduate admissions at competitive institutions, requiring them to provide documentation proving compliance with a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that prohibited affirmative action in college admissions.
The New York Times first reported these investigations.
In correspondence to Ohio State, Dhillon requested all documentation concerning “the use or lack of use of race” when evaluating candidates. The letter also demanded comprehensive applicant data and any internal assessments examining admission patterns or results based on racial demographics.
A detailed five-page document outlines the specific records being requested by federal officials. The materials include standardized testing results, racial and ethnic information either collected or assumed, and admission decisions for every candidate since the incoming class beginning in 2019.
Ohio State representative Benjamin Johnson stated the institution follows all state and federal guidelines and court decisions regarding admissions procedures. “We’ve received the attached letter and will respond appropriately,” Johnson commented.
UC San Diego issued a statement saying it was examining the Justice Department’s notice. “UC San Diego is committed to fair processes in all of our programs and activities, including admissions, consistent with federal and state anti-discrimination laws,” the university stated in writing.
Stanford School of Medicine representative Cecilia Arradaza confirmed they were reviewing the correspondence. “Stanford School of Medicine prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law,” Arradaza said in a prepared statement.
The reasoning behind selecting these particular three medical institutions remains unclear.
The Supreme Court decision eliminating affirmative action in admissions specified that institutions could still evaluate how racial experiences have influenced students’ lives when applicants discuss such matters in application essays. Trump has expressed concern that colleges might be using personal narratives and alternative methods to factor in race, which he considers unlawful discrimination.
This month, a group of 17 Democratic state attorneys general filed legal action challenging a Trump administration requirement forcing higher education institutions to provide data proving they don’t factor race into admissions decisions. A federal judge in Massachusetts is currently considering their petition to halt this requirement.
NEW YORK, March 26 – Wall Street experienced another difficult trading session Thursday as the Nasdaq Composite index officially entered correction territory, marking a drop of more than 10% from its record high reached on October 29.
The technology-heavy index’s decline represents the most recent blow to American financial markets as the Middle East conflict approaches its one-month mark. Thursday’s trading saw all major U.S. stock indices fall by at least 1%, with the Nasdaq suffering the steepest losses at 2.4%. The S&P 500 appears headed for its fifth straight week of declines.
Meta Platforms contributed significantly to the market’s troubles, plummeting 7.9% following this week’s court decisions that found the Facebook owner failed to properly safeguard young users or provide adequate warnings. These rulings have raised investor fears about potential multi-billion dollar penalties from additional lawsuits and related legal action.
Meanwhile, U.S. crude oil prices jumped 4% as expectations for a quick resolution to Middle Eastern hostilities continued to diminish.
Market experts offered their perspectives on the ongoing volatility:
Steve Sosnick, a market strategist with Interactive Brokers in Greenwich, Connecticut, noted: “We’ve kind of gotten out of the habit of big drops, so this is a meaningful wakeup call to remind people that stock market risk still exists in a world where everyone has become accustomed to the rewards of investing. I’m not freaking out that this particular index is in correction territory, but it’s true that across the board, we’re seeing lower lows and lower highs. There definitely has been an erosion in market enthusiasm since hostilities broke out, and it’s unrealistic to expect that to reverse itself overnight, even if the conflict ends tomorrow.”
Jim Carroll, senior wealth advisor and portfolio manager at Ballast Rock Private Wealth in Charleston, South Carolina, emphasized the market’s unpredictable nature: “This has not been a straight line downwards: this week alone, in four trading days, we saw up days on Monday and Wednesday and retreats today and Tuesday. It’s reminiscent of 2022, when we had a pretty orderly retreat amid acceptable volatility.”
Carroll added: “However, this back and forth movement is enough to make people seasick. You think you know what is going to happen, make a change in your trading or portfolio, and you get punched in the face the next day when the market moves in the opposite direction. And I think we’re only one headline from the market ripping 10% higher.”
Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley Wealth Management in Boston, pointed to underlying technology sector weakness: “We entered this with softness in technology writ large, which makes up most of the Nasdaq to begin with. So, you flash back four weeks ago before this all started, and you had software-mageddon, you had AI CapEx concerns, and a lot of the big names in the Nasdaq had already rolled over, and then just add this fuel to that fire, and it’s not hard to get to a place where a 10% from peak to trough kind of makes sense. Just knowing full well that coming into this, tech was pretty washed out, and that makes up a big slug of the Nasdaq.”
Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group in Omaha, Nebraska, observed broader market trends: “This is further confirmation that the weakness we’ve been seeing across the board continues. You know the large cap tech which did so well over the last two years has obviously peaked and weakened on a relative basis since late October and the Mag 7 is no longer the leaders they once were. You know, some call them now the ‘Lag 7’ as again the selling is indiscriminate really.”
Peter Tuz, president of Chase Investment Counsel in Charlottesville, Virginia, offered historical context: “After three good years for markets, a sell-off of 10%-20% should not surprise anyone. We had one last year during the tariff proposals. Bad technical indicators might, however, encourage selling and discourage buying until the situation clears up a bit.”
WASHINGTON, March 26 – As the United States continues military operations with Israel against Iran one month into a conflict that has created unprecedented energy market disruptions, President Donald Trump held a cabinet meeting Thursday that featured his characteristic conversational diversions, touching on everything from writing utensils to eyewear fashion.
The following highlights showcase the Republican leader’s speaking approach, which he calls “the weave”:
MARKER PREFERENCES
The president’s distinctive, bold signature style is widely recognized, and during Thursday’s meeting he dedicated considerable time discussing his preferred writing tools – Sharpie markers – which he favors over expensive ballpoint pens costing up to $1,000.
“See this pen right here? This pen is an interesting example. So this pen is very inexpensive. But it writes well; I like it … I don’t want to give them too much publicity but they do treat me well – Sharpie,” he said, displaying a large black marker. “I love the government like I love myself economically. I want to save money. So I’m saying this is crazy. And I had another problem – they didn’t write well. … There’s no ink in the pen and it costs a thousand dollars.”
KENNEDY CENTER RENAMING
Following his typical pattern during public events, the former property developer spent considerable time discussing Washington construction initiatives he has launched, including demolishing the White House East Wing for ballroom construction, proposing a victory arch near Arlington National Cemetery, and plans to reconstruct the Kennedy Center performing arts venue. A board dominated by Trump appointees has rechristened the facility honoring the assassinated President John F. Kennedy as the “Trump-Kennedy Center.”
“I was honored when the board changed the name a little bit. Actually it shows that the Republicans and the Democrats they work together – it’s really something. We work together,” Trump stated, despite his repeated calls for Republicans in Congress to use their slim majority to overrule Democrats, including altering rules that protect minority party influence.
Ohio Representative Joyce Beatty, among the few Democrats remaining on the Kennedy Center board, has filed legal action to prevent the name change, pointing out that Congress established the Kennedy designation in the original legislation creating the center.
TREASURY SECRETARY’S EYEWEAR
Trump frequently comments on his cabinet members’ physical appearance, both men and women, and Thursday focused his attention on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
“I’m looking at this guy; he’s central casting. Even the glasses are perfect. Where’d you get those glasses? I think I’m going to get glasses like that. Great job,” Trump remarked about Bessent’s rimless silver-framed spectacles, despite Trump not typically wearing glasses himself.
VENEZUELA PRESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS
The president made lighthearted comments about potentially seeking office in Venezuela against Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed leadership after President Nicolas Maduro was captured by U.S. forces during a rapid early-January military operation.
“I’m the highest-polling person – in other words, after the presidency I think I may go to Venezuela and run for president – against Delcy. I may run against Delcy. They love me in Venezuela. It’s an option for me. It’s a wonderful option.”
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT REFERENCE
When journalists inquired about his strategy for the Iranian conflict, he mentioned the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, which outlines procedures for removing a president deemed unable to perform their duties.
“I can’t say what we’re going to do because if I did, I wouldn’t be sitting here for long. They probably, what is it called, the 25th Amendment,” Trump said. Speaking about his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, he added, “They institute the 25th Amendment, which they didn’t do with Biden, which is shocking.”
A new gender testing policy from the International Olympic Committee has sparked fierce debate Thursday, with advocates on both sides presenting vastly different views on its impact for competitive athletics.
Those backing the IOC’s decision argue the policy provides much-needed protection for women’s competitions and offers clear guidance to sports organizations globally.
Fiona McAnena, who leads campaigns for the UK advocacy organization Sex Matters, praised the decision as “extremely welcome.”
“Women’s sport can only be for those who are female,” McAnena stated during a Reuters interview. “The IOC sets the standard for sport worldwide. It’s very welcome that the IOC has recognised that the only way to have fair sport for women and girls is to have a protected female category.”
McAnena emphasized the importance of IOC leadership rather than forcing individual sports to handle these complex issues independently.
“Their influence is enormous,” she explained. “Many sports used the IOC’s previous policies to justify not protecting the female category. That’s why I’m really pleased the IOC has called this policy ‘protecting the female category’.”
She disputed claims that broader inclusion automatically boosts participation rates.
“We know that women and girls drop out of sport when they are forced to compete with boys, or when they find that changing rooms or playing fields are not single-sex when they thought they would be,” she said.
Despite her general support, McAnena identified shortcomings in the policy. She criticized the IOC’s choice not to apply the rules retroactively, arguing this fails to correct previous inequities.
“We know that three women were cheated of medals in the Rio Olympics, deprived let’s say, by male athletes with disorders of sex development in the 800 metres,” she said. “It seems a shame that that cannot be put right for those three women.”
During the 2016 Olympics, Caster Semenya, Francine Niyonsaba and Margaret Wambui won medals in the women’s 800 meters, with all three having differences of sexual development (DSD).
Since 2019, all three have been banned from women’s 800-meter competition after World Athletics implemented stricter eligibility rules for events between 400 meters and one mile.
These regulations mandate that DSD athletes medically lower their naturally elevated testosterone levels to participate in those events.
Semenya declined to comply, contending the rules were discriminatory and infringed on her rights. Wambui hasn’t competed since the regulations took effect seven years ago, while Niyonsaba moved to longer distances.
McAnena also criticized an exception in the policy for athletes diagnosed with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS), stating it still permits some male advantages, though diminished.
Critics of the IOC’s decision contend it lacks scientific foundation and threatens athlete welfare, especially young competitors.
Dr. Payoshni Mitra, who founded the advocacy organization Humans of Sport, called the ruling “a safeguarding disaster” and suggested political motivations rather than scientific evidence drove the decision.
“It’s not science-based, it’s stigma-based,” Mitra told Reuters. “It’s more under political pressure rather than really what is required in women’s sport.”
Mitra expressed alarm that the policy covers minor athletes, as it will apply to all competitors in female events at the Olympics, Youth Olympics and qualifying competitions.
“As far as I know, there were about 14 minor athletes competing in the Paris Olympics,” Mitra noted.
The youngest participant was 11-year-old Chinese skateboarder Zheng Haohao.
She also raised questions about the decision’s timing, suggesting political factors surrounding the upcoming Summer Olympics in Los Angeles influenced the choice.
“(The U.S.) is a country where we are very aware that things are going in a direction which is not what progressive-minded people expected,” she said.
“The IOC could have focused on robust, independent research. But they rushed into this decision, which tells me this is all because of where the Summer Olympics is going to be hosted next.”
Mitra noted that sex-based eligibility requirements have historically affected women from Africa and Asia disproportionately.
Two-time Olympic champion Semenya joined eight other African women athletes with alleged sex variations in writing to IOC president Kirsty Coventry on Wednesday. Semenya had previously sent a similar letter to the President in June 2025.
“When I was asked to be consulted, I made one thing clear: I will not be used as a token voice,” Semenya said. “Consultation means nothing if you have already decided. It means nothing if you have not sat with our stories, our pain, what our bodies have been put through in the name of sport.
“If the IOC had truly listened — if President Coventry had done what evidence-based policy demands — this policy would not exist. It does not smell of science. It smells of stigma. It was not born from care for athletes. It was born from political pressure.
“As a woman from Africa, I had hoped President Coventry would be different. I had hoped she would listen to all of us — not just the powerful, not just the comfortable. She failed us.”
In 2023, World Athletics prohibited transgender women who experienced male puberty from competing and strengthened its DSD regulations, reducing acceptable testosterone levels and requiring sustained medical suppression for eligibility.
Female competitors at last year’s world championships underwent mandatory genetic testing to meet the requirements.
“We have led the way in protecting women’s sport over the last decade,” a World Athletics spokesperson stated Thursday.
“Attracting and retaining more girls and women into sport requires a fair and level playing field where there is no biological glass ceiling. This means that gender cannot trump biology. A consistent approach across all sport has to be a good thing.”
While discussions about making social media safer for young people typically focus on Washington D.C. and European Union headquarters, a courtroom in Santa Fe, New Mexico now holds significant influence following a major legal victory.
A jury on Tuesday determined that Meta violated New Mexico’s consumer protection laws and put children at risk by allowing sexual exploitation to occur on its social media platforms, resulting in a $375 million judgment against the tech giant. The case will now proceed to a second phase scheduled for May, where Judge Bryan Biedscheid will conduct a bench trial regarding the state’s allegations that Meta created a “public nuisance” that damaged residents’ health and safety. This upcoming proceeding could lead to court-mandated modifications to Facebook, Instagram and other applications popular with teens.
The authority to require product modifications distinguishes New Mexico’s lawsuit from thousands of individual lawsuits filed against Meta claiming its services caused harm, including a significant social media addiction case in Los Angeles where Meta and Google suffered defeats this week.
New Mexico’s victory also strengthens other states’ efforts to force tech company reforms while federal action remains stalled, including proposed legislation requiring stronger age verification systems and limiting algorithmic content feeds for minors.
During an interview, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez outlined numerous potential modifications to Meta’s products that the state might seek. These include requesting court orders to limit content types recommended to minors, reduce frequency and timing of notifications encouraging teenagers to log in, eliminate “infinite scroll” features for children, and strengthen age verification processes.
The state also plans to propose measures addressing harm already caused to New Mexico residents by Meta’s products.
“It’s not out of the realm of possibility that we ask for and receive an even greater award” during the trial’s second phase compared to the first, Torrez stated. “But my perspective has been to focus on the changes of the product itself.”
Torrez, a Democrat, indicated the state would likely request that Biedscheid assign an independent monitor or special master to oversee Meta’s compliance with New Mexico consumer protection law for several years.
“I’m not sure at the initial stage we’re going to be articulating a super specific path in terms of what the court would do,” he explained.
State attorneys general have increasingly utilized public nuisance law, which permits governments to sue over conduct they claim unreasonably interferes with public health or safety, to target industries accused of causing widespread social harm, including opioid manufacturers.
Despite potential success, New Mexico’s campaign faces significant challenges ahead. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone announced the company would appeal the jury’s decision and “we will continue to defend ourselves vigorously.”
The appeal will likely challenge Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, federal legislation that has historically protected tech companies from liability regarding user-created content.
Stone pointed out that Meta has implemented numerous safety improvements to its platforms since the lawsuit began – some overlapping with features Torrez seeks. The company has introduced specialized accounts for teen users with nighttime notifications disabled by default, added age verification tools and announced plans to filter inappropriate content for minors.
Meta recently announced it was eliminating end-to-end encryption from Instagram’s messaging feature. Although Meta cited low usage as the reason, child safety advocates praised the change.
The company confirmed it would maintain encrypted messaging on WhatsApp, while remaining silent about Facebook Messenger plans.
Max Willens, an eMarketer analyst, expressed doubt that New Mexico could successfully force changes to content recommendation systems central to Facebook and Instagram operations.
“Algorithm modification is not a likely remedy, but it is among the list of possible changes that could be required,” he stated. “The second phase of this trial may be more consequential to social media platforms than the first.”
Court-ordered remedies prove even more challenging for individual plaintiffs, noted Matthew Bergman from the Social Media Victims Law Center, who represents the plaintiff in the Los Angeles case alleging Meta, YouTube and other social media companies negligently designed products that harmed users’ mental health.
On Wednesday, a jury awarded the woman $6 million combined damages against Meta and Google, widely considered a test case for thousands of similar harm allegations.
Torrez acknowledged that regulating global social media platforms’ youth policies through state courts was “probably not the most efficient” approach to addressing social media product design, but said he refused to “wait any longer for a system to deliver what it should have 15 years ago.”
He noted that while New Mexico’s case centers on child predation and grooming, dozens of state attorneys general pursuing cases against Meta for broader youth mental health damage also seek to force product changes. Since the verdict, Torrez said his office has received inquiries from other states and international regulatory agencies.
“I have an expectation that Meta is in for a wave of litigation,” he said. “I’ve been real clear with colleagues that they could set up undercover investigations on these platforms right now and yield the same results.”
Duke basketball point guard Caleb Foster may take the court Friday night when the Blue Devils face St. John’s in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 round.
Head coach Jon Scheyer announced Thursday that Foster’s availability will be determined just before tip-off as the top-seeded Blue Devils (34-2) square off against Rick Pitino’s fifth-seeded Red Storm (30-6) in East Region action in Washington, D.C.
The junior guard broke his foot during Duke’s final regular season matchup with North Carolina at home, sidelining him for the entire ACC tournament and the Blue Devils’ opening two NCAA Tournament contests.
According to Scheyer, Foster took part in Wednesday’s practice on a restricted basis, with team medical staff continuing to evaluate his condition leading up to game time.
“He’s going to give it everything he has to go (Friday) night,” Scheyer said.
Meanwhile, center Patrick Ngongba II is anticipated to be available for action.
Ngongba, who has been dealing with his own foot injury, sat out five contests but returned to play in Duke’s commanding 81-58 second-round victory over TCU last Saturday. The typical starter came off the bench for 13 minutes, contributing four points, four rebounds and four assists.
Foster has been a key contributor this season, starting 30 of 31 games while averaging 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest. He has connected on 39 of 97 three-point attempts for a 40.2% success rate.
Ngongba has posted averages of 10.5 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 60.7% from the floor across 30 games with 28 starts. His 33 blocked shots lead the team.
Starting with the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the International Olympic Committee has announced that genetic testing will be mandatory for all competitors seeking to participate in women’s athletic categories.
The decision represents a significant shift in Olympic policy regarding athlete eligibility and has sparked widespread debate about fairness and inclusion in competitive sports.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry addressed the new requirements during a live-streamed news conference from Lausanne, Switzerland on Thursday, outlining the committee’s rationale for implementing the testing protocols.
The policy change comes amid ongoing discussions within international sports organizations about how to balance competitive equity with athlete participation rights.
Athletes and advocacy groups are expected to respond to the announcement as the sports community prepares for the implementation of these new eligibility standards ahead of the Los Angeles Games.
Motorists traveling on Withams Road should plan for potential delays as ongoing construction work is causing periodic lane restrictions through this evening.
The lane closures are affecting traffic along the section of Withams Road that runs from Ingleside Road to Stafford Avenue. Delaware Department of Transportation officials report these restrictions will remain in place until 6PM today.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and consider alternate routes if possible while construction crews complete their work in the area.
In a Thursday interview, legendary quarterback Tom Brady disclosed that he has explored the possibility of returning from retirement, though the league made it clear such a move would not be welcomed.
During his conversation with CNBC, the seven-time Super Bowl winner and current minority stakeholder in the Las Vegas Raiders addressed whether he had researched league policies about owners returning to active play.
“I actually have inquired, and they (the NFL) don’t like that idea very much, so I’m going to leave it at that,” Brady said. “We explored a lot of different things, and I’m very happily retired. Let me say that, too.”
This wouldn’t mark Brady’s initial attempt at unretiring. The three-time MVP previously stepped away from football following the 2022 offseason after spending two seasons with Tampa Bay. However, he reversed course just 40 days later, returning for one final campaign before officially hanging up his cleats in February 2023.
Brady made headlines recently during his appearance in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, taking the field with stars like Jalen Hurts, Devonta Smith, Stefon Diggs, and Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty. The event also saw him reconnect with longtime teammate Rob Gronkowski, his partner for 11 seasons and four Super Bowl victories.
Senators are currently weighing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, commonly known as the SAVE America Act, but conflicting statements from lawmakers have created confusion about how the legislation would affect voter registration processes.
Illinois Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth posted on social media platform X that “Under the SAVE Act, you cannot use your driver’s license to register to vote. Republicans want you to buy a passport instead. If you can afford one. This is a modern-day poll tax.” Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee responded by calling her statement “a lie” and pointed to provisions in the bill allowing states to create alternative processes for applicants unable to provide citizenship documentation.
The reality falls between these competing claims, according to election law experts.
The proposed legislation would mandate that federal election registration require “documentary proof of United States citizenship.” While most standard driver’s licenses would not qualify, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDLs) that verify citizenship status could be accepted in the limited states that issue them.
“Most driver’s licenses, the purpose of it is to license you to drive,” explained Pamela Smith, president and CEO of Verified Voting, a nonpartisan organization. “It’s not designed to prove your citizenship. And so the requirement to prove your citizenship is sort of separate and beyond.”
Currently, only Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington issue enhanced driver’s licenses that are REAL ID-compliant and verify both identity and citizenship, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Some states including Montana, South Dakota, Florida, and Iowa have enacted or are considering laws requiring citizenship markers on licenses.
The bill would accept various forms of documentation including REAL ID-compliant identification confirming citizenship, valid U.S. passports, military identification cards, or other government-issued photo IDs showing place of birth. Additional citizenship documentation might be needed in certain situations.
“For the vast majority of Americans, a REAL ID would not be sufficient to register to vote under the SAVE Act,” said Eliza Sweren-Becker, deputy director of the voting rights and elections program at the Brennan Center for Justice. “That’s because most REAL IDs do not have any affirmative indication of U.S. citizenship, which is a part of what the bill would require if a REAL ID were to be used for registration.”
Republican supporters, including President Donald Trump, contend the legislation is necessary to prevent noncitizen voting, which already carries federal criminal penalties and can result in deportation. Such cases occur infrequently. Critics argue the citizenship documentation requirements would create significant barriers for many eligible voters due to costs and delays in obtaining passports and other government documents like birth or marriage certificates. Recent research indicates over 9 percent of voting-age Americans—approximately 21.3 million people—lack easy access to citizenship documentation.
Neither Senator Duckworth nor Senator Lee provided responses to requests for comment.
The House approved the SAVE America Act in April 2025, and Senate consideration is ongoing. Negotiations to resolve a Homeland Security shutdown causing major travel disruptions have stalled as Trump has tied any agreement to passage of this voter registration legislation.
The University of Delaware men’s tennis team experienced a setback in their latest competition, falling to Florida Atlantic University in a recent match.
The Blue Hens were unable to overcome their opponents from Florida Atlantic, marking another challenging contest for the Delaware squad this season.
Details about specific match scores and individual player performances were not immediately available following the competition.
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware women’s lacrosse squad pulled off a thrilling comeback victory Thursday afternoon, overcoming a deficit to edge Jacksonville 14-13 at Delaware Stadium.
The Blue Hens dominated the game’s final stretch, outscoring their opponents 7-2 during the last 22 minutes of play to secure the dramatic turnaround win.
The victory keeps Delaware’s perfect record intact in Atlantic Sun Conference play this season, as the team continues its strong campaign on home turf.
The comeback performance showcased the Blue Hens’ resilience and ability to execute under pressure, rallying from behind to claim the narrow one-goal triumph in front of their home crowd.
Delaware transportation officials are planning a controlled burn at a popular nature area in Middletown over the next two weeks.
DelDOT’s Environmental Stewardship team will conduct the prescribed fire at Dove’s Nest, though the specific timing will depend on weather conditions. Officials say they will announce the exact date once it’s determined.
The burn will take place across Dove’s Nest’s 43-acre meadow, which DelDOT maintains as wildlife habitat. The area features diverse wildflowers and indigenous shrubs that benefit from periodic controlled fires.
Prescribed burns are a common land management practice used to maintain healthy ecosystems and prevent dangerous wildfires by reducing accumulated vegetation.
NEW YORK — The Pittsburgh Pirates’ opening day turned into a nightmare as their ace pitcher Paul Skenes couldn’t make it through the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on Thursday.
The defending National League Cy Young Award winner surrendered five runs while recording just two outs, matching his career-worst performance for runs allowed. Manager Don Kelly was forced to remove the 23-year-old right-hander after he threw 37 pitches during a disastrous inning that saw the Mets send nine batters to the plate.
Skenes struggled with his control, issuing two walks and hitting a batter while allowing four hits in what became the briefest appearance of his 56 major league starts. Poor defensive play from center fielder Oneil Cruz significantly contributed to the meltdown.
The Pirates had taken an early 2-0 advantage thanks to Brandon Lowe’s two-run home run, but everything unraveled quickly in the bottom half of the first inning. Skenes began by walking leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor, then allowed a soft single to Juan Soto before Bo Bichette lifted a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit in half.
After Jorge Polanco managed an infield single and Skenes walked Luis Robert Jr. on 10 pitches, pitching coach Bill Murphy made a mound visit. The situation deteriorated when Cruz badly misplayed Brett Baty’s line drive, initially moving forward before watching the ball sail over his head for a bases-loaded triple.
Marcus Semien followed with a pop-up to shallow center field, but Cruz lost the ball in the sun and it dropped beside him for an RBI double, giving New York a 5-2 advantage. Cruz, originally a shortstop, transitioned to center field in 2024 before becoming a full-time outfielder last season.
Carson Benge struck out on three consecutive fastballs ranging from 96-98 mph in his first major league at-bat, but Skenes hit ninth-place hitter Francisco Alvarez with an 0-1 sinker, ending his afternoon. Mets supporters cheered loudly as the dejected pitcher made his way to the dugout.
Relief pitcher Yohan Ramírez entered and limited the damage by getting Lindor to fly out with runners on second and third base.
This marked Skenes’ second opening day assignment as he enters his third season in the majors. His performance made him just the eighth starting pitcher since 1906 to surrender five or more runs while failing to complete an inning in a season opener. The two-time All-Star had previously allowed five runs in a game on April 8, 2025, against St. Louis, though he pitched six innings in that contest.
A California-based food distributor has announced a recall of organic black bean products after discovering they contain pesticide residues.
Falcon Trading Company, Inc., headquartered in Royal Oaks, California, is pulling three specific organic black bean items from store shelves. Company officials say they’re recalling every lot number of these products because the beans are distributed in bulk containers where different production batches can become combined.
The recall affects all quantities of the three identified organic black bean varieties. Since retailers typically display these products in open bulk bins, customers may have purchased beans from mixed lots, prompting the company to take the broader precautionary step.
The Food and Drug Administration has been notified of the recall action. Consumers who have purchased organic black beans from Falcon Trading Company are advised to check their products and dispose of any items covered by this recall notice.
Tehran is positioning itself as the controller of the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical oil shipping passage, establishing what experts describe as a payment system for vessel transit through the strategic waterway.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps now requires ships to enter Iranian territorial waters for inspection and approval, with evidence suggesting at least two vessels have made payments for safe passage, according to maritime intelligence sources.
Since March 1st, vessel movement through the strait has plummeted by 90% due to ongoing regional conflicts, causing oil prices to surge worldwide and creating severe supply shortages for Asian countries dependent on Persian Gulf petroleum.
Lloyd’s List Intelligence reports only approximately 150 ships, including both tankers and cargo vessels, have successfully navigated the passage since early March – representing just over one day’s typical pre-conflict traffic volume.
Despite the dramatic reduction in overall shipping, Iran’s Kharg Island facility maintained its oil loading capacity at 1.6 million barrels during March, matching pre-war monthly totals. The primary buyers remain small Chinese refineries that disregard U.S. sanctions.
While most successful transits initially involved various international vessels, Iranian-affiliated ships now comprise roughly 90% of recent passages, compared to 60% during earlier stages of the conflict.
Approximately half of all vessels disable their tracking systems before entering the strait, reactivating them only after reaching the Gulf of Oman. This cautious behavior stems from legitimate safety concerns, as the International Maritime Organization reports at least 18 ship attacks and seven crew member deaths, though the attacking nation remains unspecified.
“Iran’s IRGC has imposed a de facto ‘toll booth’ regime in the Strait of Hormuz,” Lloyd’s List Intelligence stated.
Rather than using the traditional central shipping lanes, vessels increasingly navigate northward around Larak Island, placing them within Iranian territorial boundaries and closer to the Iranian shoreline.
Ship operators seeking safe passage must provide detailed information to Revolutionary Guard-approved intermediaries, including cargo manifests, ownership details, destinations, and complete crew rosters. Approved vessels receive identification codes and Revolutionary Guard escorts, with oil shipments receiving priority treatment through “geopolitical vetting.”
“While not all ships are paying a direct toll, at least two vessels have and the payment is settled in yuan,” Lloyd’s List reported, referencing Chinese currency.
Some vessels have gained passage through diplomatic intervention, including two Indian ships carrying liquid petroleum gas.
Iranian officials sent correspondence to the International Maritime Organization on Tuesday, stating they had “implemented a set of precautionary measures aimed at preserving maritime safety and security,” claiming compliance with international legal principles.
Iranian parliamentary members are reportedly developing legislation to officially establish fees for strait passage. Lawmaker Mohammadreza Rezaei Kouchi told Fars and Tasnim news agencies that “parliament is pursuing a plan to formally codify Iran’s sovereignty, control and oversight over the Strait of Hormuz, while also creating a source of revenue through the collection of fees.”
The International Maritime Organization has denounced vessel attacks and advocated for coordinated international efforts to maintain navigation freedom while ensuring safe passage.
United Arab Emirates official Sultan al-Jaber, who heads Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, delivered sharp criticism during a Middle East Institute event in Washington.
“Weaponizing the Strait of Hormuz is not an act of aggression against one nation,” al-Jaber declared. “It is economic terrorism against every consumer, every family that depends on affordable energy and food. When Iran holds Hormuz hostage, every nation pays the ransom, at the gas pump, at the grocery store and at the pharmacy. No country can be allowed to destabilize the global economy in this way.”
The United Nations Law of the Sea Treaty’s Article 19 mandates countries permit “innocent passage” for peaceful, law-abiding vessels through their territorial waters.
“There’s no provision in international law anywhere to set up a toll booth and shake down shipping. … This is Iran using the element that they have right now, which is control of the Strait of Hormuz,” explained Sal Mercogliano, a maritime historian at Campbell University in North Carolina.
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi characterized Iran’s fee collection as “an aggression and a violation of the United Nations agreement on the law of the sea.”
These payment arrangements likely violate American and European sanctions targeting the Revolutionary Guard, a powerful Iranian institution controlling ballistic missiles and involved in suppressing recent domestic protests.
The Trump administration is invoking national security concerns to request a waiver from endangered species protections for expanded petroleum operations in the Gulf of Mexico — a decision that has conservation advocates concerned about establishing a harmful precedent for future energy developments.
Conservation groups contend the federal government has bypassed required procedures and are working to prevent the action before Interior Secretary Doug Burgum assembles the Endangered Species Committee on Tuesday. This panel, dubbed the “God Squad” by critics who believe it holds power over species survival, consists of six senior federal officials and a state representative.
While the administration’s specific Gulf plans remain unclear, specialists note officials must demonstrate a military necessity that would threaten a particular species to justify the national security waiver. Conservation organizations fear a broad exemption could allow energy projects to proceed without consideration for multiple species, including the Rice’s whale, with approximately 50 individuals remaining in Gulf waters.
“There’s no imaginable justification to sacrifice them,” said Steve Mashuda, Earthjustice managing attorney for oceans. “It’s beyond reckless even to consider greenlighting the extinction of sea turtles, fish, whales, rays, and corals to further pad the oil industry’s pockets at the public’s expense.”
The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit last week to prevent the committee gathering, claiming multiple requirements for such meetings were not satisfied. These include submitting applications within 90 days after completing a biological assessment declaring a species faces jeopardy. The group also maintains the proceeding must be open to the public with an administrative law judge overseeing.
District of Columbia District Judge Rudolph Contreras, an Obama nominee who has previously ruled against the Trump administration, will hear the center’s motion Friday.
Congress created the committee in 1978 to provide exemptions from the Endangered Species Act, which prohibits harming or killing protected species unless no alternatives exist that would deliver equivalent economic benefits regionally or serve national interests.
The panel has convened just three times in its 53-year existence, granting only two exemptions. The initial approval came in 1979 for dam construction on Wyoming’s Platte River, habitat for whooping cranes. Its final meeting occurred in 1992, permitting logging in Oregon’s northern spotted owl territory, though that exemption was subsequently withdrawn.
Upon returning to office in January, President Donald Trump directed the committee to convene quarterly as part of his domestic energy development initiative. However, Tuesday’s session would mark the committee’s first meeting under this directive.
In Wednesday evening court documents, the U.S. Department of Justice stated that legal requirements don’t apply because Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is utilizing national security authorities.
In his committee meeting request to Burgum, Hegseth stated he “found it necessary for reasons of national security to exempt from the (Endangered Species Act’s) requirements all Gulf of America oil and gas exploration and development activities” under federal agency oversight, according to DOJ filings.
The filing argues the Center for Biological Diversity cannot pursue legal action before any potential committee decisions. It also indicates relevant documents will be released Tuesday, and livestreaming the meeting satisfies public access requirements.
The Department of Defense has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Specialists emphasized that national security exemptions were designed for exceptional emergency situations.
“The Endangered Species Act is not stopping oil and gas development, period. It’s not. So why do you need an exemption?” said Patrick Parenteau, an emeritus professor at the Vermont Law and Graduate School who helped write criteria for the committee.
He suggested the administration is using national security claims “just to basically say, we don’t want the Endangered Species Act interfering with fossil fuel development, and we’re going to take every action we can to ensure that that doesn’t happen.”
Specialists also questioned an exemption’s effectiveness in addressing oil market disruptions following the U.S.-Iran conflict.
“I think this is mostly about messaging because drilling new offshore oil and gas wells takes years,” said Michael Gerrard, director of the Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. “It’s not clear whether this will enable new wells to be drilled that haven’t yet been drilled. … It’s hard to imagine that this would address the Iranian crisis unless that one drags on for a long time.”
MADRID — A 25-year-old Spanish woman who became the center of a highly publicized legal dispute over her right to die received life-ending medication Thursday in Barcelona, concluding an 18-month battle with her family over her decision to pursue euthanasia.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story discusses suicide. Those needing support can find international resources at www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts.
Noelia Castillo spent a year and a half fighting for her right to end her life after her father launched an extensive court challenge when Catalonia’s medical review board granted her euthanasia request in 2024.
The family dispute captivated Spain, which enacted legislation in 2021 establishing the right to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide for qualifying patients. Castillo’s youth, her family’s public campaign against her choice, and the events leading to her euthanasia request sparked widespread debate as courts consistently upheld her right to die.
“At last, I’ve managed it, so let’s see if I can finally rest now,” Castillo said during a television interview with Spanish network Antena 3 that broadcast Wednesday, one day before her death. “I just cannot go on anymore.”
Her parents remained opposed to her choice until the end, working with Abogados Cristianos, a conservative Catholic legal organization, in their efforts to prevent their daughter’s euthanasia. The Catholic group confirmed her death Thursday.
Legal representative Polonia Castellanos said Castillo’s family felt devastated by the result and believed Spain’s government had failed their daughter by permitting her death.
“Death is the last option, especially when you’re very young,” Castellanos stated.
Before her euthanasia Thursday, Castillo had attempted suicide twice, she revealed, with the second attempt occurring after she experienced sexual assault. The injuries from her October 2022 suicide attempt left her paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair.
In April 2024, Castillo petitioned for euthanasia through Catalonia’s independent review panel, composed of physicians, legal experts, and bioethics specialists who evaluate applications under Spain’s euthanasia statute.
The panel granted Castillo’s petition after determining her condition was severe and untreatable, and that the young woman endured intense, ongoing, and debilitating pain.
Spain authorized physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in 2021 for patients suffering from terminal illnesses and individuals experiencing unbearable permanent conditions. The approval process requires patients to submit two written requests followed by evaluations from medical professionals not previously treating the patient.
Castillo’s father challenged the Catalan panel’s ruling, which temporarily halted the euthanasia approval in August 2024 during deliberation. Through Abogados Cristianos, her family contended she had mental health issues that prevented her from competently deciding to end her life.
After Barcelona’s court sided with Castillo’s euthanasia rights, her father’s attorneys filed another appeal with Spain’s Supreme Court, which confirmed Castillo’s rights in January. Abogados Cristianos attempted one final intervention by petitioning the European Court of Human Rights, which rejected their request for a stay earlier this month.
Thursday, Castellanos reiterated her client’s position that Castillo suffered from a personality disorder and cited her case as evidence of legal shortcomings.
“It is a person whose will (was) altered by that disorder,” Castellanos explained. “I think this is proof of the failure of the law and that it has to be urgently repealed.”
During her Wednesday television appearance, Castillo expressed her wish for family members not to be present at her death, saying she felt misunderstood. She recognized the intense media attention her situation had generated.
“None of my family is in favor of euthanasia, obviously, because I’m another pillar of the family,” she explained, adding, “but what about the pain that I’ve suffered all of these years?”
Spain joins eight other European Union nations with laws permitting assisted dying for those experiencing unbearable suffering, according to Dignity in Dying, a United Kingdom advocacy organization supporting euthanasia and medically assisted death. Assisted dying allows patients to consume lethal medication prescribed by doctors for qualifying individuals. Requirements differ between countries.
Euthanasia differs by having medical professionals actively administer lethal injections to qualifying patients who request it, under stringent guidelines.
Since implementing its euthanasia law, Spain has provided life-ending medication to 1,123 individuals through the end of 2024, Spain’s Health Ministry reports.
Castillo maintained she never doubted her choice despite having to reconfirm her desire to die throughout the past year and a half. Her reasoning remained straightforward.
“The happiness of a father or a mother should not take precedence over the happiness or the life of a daughter.”
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — Slovenian officials announced Thursday that their national intelligence service has definitively verified outside interference in the parliamentary elections held over the weekend.
Following a National Security Council session, the government released a statement indicating that the Slovenian Intelligence and Security Agency (SOVA) “presented concrete activities of a foreign para-intelligence agency as well as contacts with Slovenian entities.”
“The evidence collected, both domestically and abroad, has in the meantime already been handed over to the competent law enforcement authorities, the prosecutor’s office, and the police,” the statement said.
Officials did not identify which foreign intelligence operation was involved in Thursday’s announcement.
Sunday’s election results showed no decisive victor. After tallying over 99% of ballots, Prime Minister Robert Golob’s liberal Freedom Movement secured 29 seats in the 90-seat parliament, barely ahead of the opposition right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) with 28 seats.
Campaign season was marked by online videos that appeared to capture covert recordings of government-connected individuals discussing their political influence. Activist groups and media professionals claimed these recordings were deliberately released to manipulate voter behavior, prompting an official investigation.
Intelligence reports allegedly connected the SDS party and an international private intelligence firm to these recordings. SDS head Janez Jansa has admitted to interactions with a consultant from the Black Cube private intelligence company while denying any misconduct.
National and international security secretary Vojko Volk revealed last week that Black Cube representatives made four visits to Slovenia over recent months, including to a street in Ljubljana where Jansa’s party maintains its offices.
Prime Minister Golob has called on the European Union to launch its own probe into the matter.
In an email response to the Associated Press, Black Cube stated that “Black Cube is an intelligence firm which provides services exclusively to clients engaged in business activities worldwide, supporting litigations, arbitrations and white-collar crime cases. Black Cube obtains legal advice in every jurisdiction in which it operates to ensure legality of its activities.”
“Corruption is a phenomenon that harms economies and impedes legitimate business activity. Black Cube will continue uncovering fraud, corruption and asset dissipation in all its cases globally as it has consistently done in the past 15 years,” the agency said.
In a March 20 statement, Slovenia’s government detailed how SOVA director Josko Kadivik provided “a full account of events that took place between 10 and 11 December 2025, along with material evidence of connections of three representatives of the private intelligence corporation Black Cube (Giora Eiland, Liron Tzur and Dan Zorella) to the visit at Trstenjakova ulica 8 in Ljubljana, where the SDS party has its headquarters.”
Kadivik also “presented findings regarding Black Cube’s activities in the territory of Slovenia and abroad, which likewise demonstrate counterintelligence operations against the Republic of Slovenia and foreign interference in Slovenian elections,” according to the statement.
