A defense technology startup will launch production of advanced combat drones within days at its newly constructed Ohio manufacturing facility, as military demand for unmanned aircraft continues to rise following their proven effectiveness in overseas conflicts.
Anduril Industries announced that its $1 billion Arsenal-1 manufacturing campus, located in rural farmland approximately 20 miles south of Columbus, will begin producing the company’s FURY combat drone system. Company officials revealed Thursday that the facility is projected to create jobs for more than 4,000 workers over the coming decade, with approximately 250 positions expected to be filled by year’s end.
The company represents part of an emerging wave of smaller defense contractors seeking to secure valuable Pentagon contracts for advanced military systems. The current administration anticipates these newer companies will revolutionize weapons development by providing state-of-the-art technology faster and more cost-effectively than traditional methods.
According to Matt Grimm, who serves as Anduril’s co-founder and chief operating officer, the company’s manufacturing philosophy represents a significant departure from conventional defense industry practices.
The firm prioritizes production feasibility from the initial design phase rather than addressing manufacturing concerns after product development. This strategy includes selecting standard materials like aluminum instead of titanium, implementing manufacturing techniques adapted from recreational boat construction, and choosing a commercial aircraft engine for the FURY system specifically due to its established supply network and service infrastructure.
The FURY autonomous aircraft represents Anduril’s submission for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft initiative, which forms part of the Air Force’s strategy to develop next-generation military systems. This program aims to pair crewed fighter aircraft with unmanned platforms that can operate alongside human pilots.
“From the very first prototype, we’ve been working with our engineers on every single build, thinking, how do we design it for production?” Grimm stated.
The company indicated that production of its Roadrunner interceptor system, Barracuda missile series, and an undisclosed classified project are all scheduled to begin at the new facility before the end of this year.
Anduril currently operates manufacturing locations across multiple states including Mississippi, Rhode Island, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, and California, as well as an international facility in Australia.
The Securities and Exchange Commission is establishing a specialized enforcement division focused on accounting violations while simultaneously reducing personnel at an external oversight organization created following major corporate scandals two decades ago, based on employment listings and insider information.
These developments indicate the SEC may be consolidating responsibilities typically handled by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, an entity that has lost favor among Republican leadership in Washington.
Online job postings reveal the SEC is recruiting for a specialized unit designed to monitor violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, legislation enacted after widespread accounting fraud and audit failures that resulted in the collapse of major corporations like Enron and WorldCom.
This new “SOX” division will “investigate and litigate matters involving potential violations of auditing and related professional standards and provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other relevant federal securities laws,” according to the SEC’s job posting.
While the SEC currently handles similar responsibilities alongside the PCAOB, a nonprofit entity established under the same 2002 legislation, uncertainty surrounds the board’s future under Republican control, which has consistently criticized the watchdog organization.
Under Chairman Paul Atkins’ leadership, the SEC has significantly reduced the PCAOB’s funding. Although acknowledging the necessity of its primary responsibilities, Atkins has characterized the organization as an expensive obstacle to free market operations and has openly considered transferring the PCAOB’s duties to the SEC.
Last year, Republican legislators explored potential legislation that would have essentially dissolved the PCAOB, though the organization gained renewed importance as U.S. officials demanded stricter oversight of Chinese corporations accused of violating accounting regulations.
On Thursday, an SEC representative emphasized that auditors serve as “critical gatekeepers” for maintaining financial market integrity and preventing fraudulent activity.
“Additional hires in the enforcement division will continue the commission’s longstanding efforts to crack down on bad actors in the profession,” the spokesperson stated.
Sources indicate the PCAOB has extended voluntary departure packages to certain employees.
PCAOB representatives chose not to provide comments on the matter.
The SEC has undergone significant staff reductions under Atkins’ leadership, implementing notable modifications to enforcement practices and organizational structure while abandoning several high-profile cases. His enforcement director unexpectedly stepped down this past Monday.
SYDNEY – Officials across Australia’s northeastern coastline issued urgent shelter warnings Friday as a powerful tropical cyclone approached the region, threatening to bring catastrophic winds, torrential rainfall, and widespread flooding.
Tropical Cyclone Narelle was positioned approximately 19 miles offshore in the Coral Sea and was forecast to strike land Friday morning as a Category 4 system, according to Australia’s meteorological agency. The storm ranks just one level below the most dangerous Category 5 classification.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Angus Hines warned ABC News that the cyclone could generate wind speeds reaching 155 miles per hour, powerful enough to tear trees from the ground and turn loose objects into dangerous projectiles.
“Winds of that speed are pretty hard to imagine if you haven’t experienced them before. They are just so, so strong,” Hines said during his ABC News interview.
“Obviously that puts a lot of branches and debris into the air flying around that can become really dangerous,” he added.
Weather officials predicted the cyclone would reach shore before 9 a.m. local time Friday and then lose intensity as it moves inland across the Cape York Peninsula during the following 18-hour period.
The storm is anticipated to regain strength, however, after moving over the warm waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria, where it will likely rebuild into a severe tropical cyclone before striking the Northern Territory on Saturday, according to Hines.
Emergency alerts have been issued along a 370-mile section of Far North Queensland, an area where roughly 300,000 people live. Weather authorities also cautioned that heavy precipitation could impact popular tourist destinations near the Great Barrier Reef.
A University of Maryland Eastern Shore basketball player has received national recognition for her exceptional performance on the court this season.
Senior guard Ashanti Lynch has earned a spot on BOXTOROW’s Division I Second Team HBCU All-American roster, marking a significant achievement for both the player and the Hawks women’s basketball program.
The honor recognizes Lynch’s standout contributions throughout the season as a key player for UMES. The All-American selection places her among the top performers across historically black colleges and universities nationwide.
BOXTOROW’s annual All-American teams celebrate the most outstanding student-athletes competing at HBCU institutions across the country. Lynch’s inclusion on the second team demonstrates her impact and skill level among elite college basketball players.
The Trump administration has revealed a comprehensive plan to relocate substantial oversight of the nation’s federal student loan program from the Education Department to the Treasury Department.
Officials outlined a three-stage transition process that will ultimately transfer management responsibilities for the majority of federal student loans to Treasury. The restructuring will also include relocating oversight of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as FAFSA.
This organizational shift represents another step in reducing the scope and responsibilities of the Education Department under the current administration’s policies.
The transition plan aims to consolidate financial operations under Treasury’s umbrella, potentially affecting millions of borrowers who rely on federal student aid programs to fund their higher education.
Good evening, Delmarva! We’re wrapping up this Thursday with pleasant spring-like conditions across the peninsula. Tonight will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to a comfortable 35 degrees. With light south winds at 0 to 5 mph, it’s perfect weather for those evening walks or outdoor dinner plans.
Looking ahead to Friday, we’re in for a beautiful day! Expect mostly sunny skies with temperatures climbing to a delightful 62 degrees – perfect weather to get outside and enjoy what spring has to offer. However, don’t put that umbrella away just yet. Rain showers are likely to move in Friday night as temperatures dip to around 48 degrees.
The weekend kicks off with a slight chance of morning showers on Saturday, but conditions should clear quickly. We’ll see mostly sunny skies return with highs reaching 65 degrees – ideal for any weekend outdoor activities you’ve been planning.
Overall, it’s shaping up to be a gorgeous stretch of weather for our Delmarva communities. Stay dry Friday night, and enjoy the sunshine bookending our forecast! I’m your TV Delmarva meteorologist – have a wonderful evening!
A man from upstate New York has entered a guilty plea to federal cyberstalking charges after admitting he made threatening phone calls to a relative of murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Shane Daley, 40, acknowledged in federal court Thursday that he left multiple harassing and menacing voicemail messages for a Thompson family member following the executive’s December 2024 shooting death.
Federal prosecutors charged Daley in August, alleging he made numerous phone calls to a Thompson relative right after the insurance CEO was gunned down, during which he celebrated the killing.
The healthcare executive was shot and killed outside a Manhattan hotel by an individual who was reportedly motivated by anger over perceived corporate greed, prosecutors said. Luigi Mangione, the alleged shooter, has entered a not guilty plea and is facing both state and federal trials.
During his guilty plea, Daley confessed to making repeated calls to a business phone number used by a Thompson family member in the immediate aftermath of the murder. In the voicemails, he used threatening and harassing language, celebrated Thompson’s death, and stated that the family member and Thompson’s children should suffer the same violent fate, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of New York.
“Shane Daley celebrated the cold-blooded murder of Brian Thompson and senselessly tried to maximize the Thompson family’s suffering,” first assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone said in a prepared release.
Daley lives in Galway, located approximately 40 miles north of Albany, and is scheduled for sentencing on July 17. He could receive up to five years behind bars and face fines reaching $250,000.
Thompson served as the leader of one of America’s largest health insurance companies, and his murder sparked widespread public anger about the nation’s healthcare system. Some individuals have praised Mangione as a vigilante figure.
LOS ANGELES — In an unprecedented move, ABC has pulled the plug on an entire season of “The Bachelorette” featuring Taylor Frankie Paul just days before its Sunday premiere, following the emergence of a 2023 video.
The network made the extraordinary decision to cancel the reality show season that had already completed filming, marking an unusual last-minute reversal for the long-running series.
“In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of ‘The Bachelorette’ at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” Disney Entertainment Television announced in a statement.
The network’s decision appears connected to footage of a confrontation between Paul and Dakota Mortensen from 2023 that TMZ published Thursday. Paul faced arrest in 2023 on charges including aggravated assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child. She entered a guilty plea that August to a reduced misdemeanor aggravated assault charge, while other charges were dropped.
According to People magazine, a Draper City, Utah police representative confirmed an ongoing domestic violence investigation involving Paul and her former partner Mortensen, with accusations coming from both parties. Mortensen is the father of one of Paul’s three children.
Neither Paul nor Mortensen’s representatives responded to requests for comment. ABC has not revealed plans for filling the show’s time slot.
Paul had been actively promoting Season 22 as recently as Wednesday, appearing on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and walking the red carpet at Sunday’s Oscars ceremony. The 31-year-old represented an unconventional choice for the show’s lead role, breaking from tradition by not having previously appeared on the “Bachelor” franchise — which typically selects leads from past season contestants.
Her casting did create corporate synergy, as Paul also appears on Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” reality series. Disney owns both networks. ABC’s October casting announcement praised Paul for “igniting ‘MomTok’ and going viral for pulling back the curtain on Salt Lake’s soft-swinging scene.”
Paul gained prominence as a social media influencer within the #MomTok movement, where members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints share their experiences on TikTok. She generated headlines in 2022 when she revealed she had violated an agreement with her husband regarding relationships with other couples, leading to their divorce.
“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” debuted in 2024. Although Season 4 launched last week, production on Season 5 had already been suspended due to the investigation.
“It was a decision that all of us girls came up with,” co-star Mikayla Matthews explained Wednesday on Instagram when asked about the production halt. “We didn’t feel comfortable filming with everything that was happening.”
Paul announced on Instagram in December that “The Bachelorette” filming had concluded. Jesse Palmer serves as the show’s host.
Television industry expert Kate Casey, a former crisis communications professional who hosts the “Reality Life with Kate Casey” podcast, described Paul’s casting as “essentially an experiment gone wrong by Disney.”
“I think they were trying to shake things up, and it makes sense because the ecosystem is saturated with dating shows like ‘F-Boy Island’ and ‘Love Island’ that push the boundaries and ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘The Bachelorette’ historically have been saccharine,” explained Casey, who has produced over 1,500 podcast episodes.
Casey believes network executives likely hoped Paul’s casting would attract both “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” viewers and her 6.1 million TikTok followers.
“The thinking was probably, ‘We’re going to get a new audience’ and the new audience is really the most coveted in all of entertainment,” she noted.
HAVANA (AP) — Two Russian oil tankers are navigating toward Cuba, bringing the island nation’s first fuel deliveries in three months as the country grapples with widespread power outages and a deteriorating electrical infrastructure.
The Russian vessel Anatoly Kolodkin is currently positioned approximately 3,000 nautical miles away in the Atlantic and should arrive within 10 days, according to Jorge Piñón, a specialist with the University of Texas Energy Institute who spoke to The Associated Press.
This delivery would represent Cuba’s first oil arrival from any nation during a three-month period marked by a U.S. energy embargo.
The sanctioned tanker holds 730,000 barrels of fuel and appears on sanctions lists maintained by the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom due to the Ukraine conflict, Piñón explained.
A second ship, the Hong Kong-registered Sea Horse, is also reportedly transporting Russian petroleum to Cuba with roughly 200,000 barrels of diesel aboard, Piñón noted.
He pointed out that Cuba’s daily diesel consumption reaches about 20,000 barrels, meaning the Sea Horse’s cargo won’t fully meet overall diesel needs considering the nation’s depleted storage reserves.
Piñón expects the fuel will primarily serve “critical sectors of the economy,” including transportation and agricultural operations.
The Sea Horse could reach Cuba within four days if that destination is confirmed, he said.
Piñón observed that the vessel remained stationary for 20 days in Atlantic waters before resuming its west-southwestward course. It currently sits roughly 958 nautical miles from Matanzas, Cuba.
Tracking these ships proves challenging because some vessels disable their satellite monitoring systems to avoid detection amid international sanctions and potential U.S. seizure threats, according to experts.
Should either vessel’s arrival be verified, it would mark 2025’s first Russian oil delivery to Cuba. The last detected shipment arrived via the Ocean Mariner carrying 85,000 barrels from Mexico’s Pajaritos port on January 9.
During Thursday Senate testimony, General Francis Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command, stated his personnel are monitoring a Russian destroyer accompanied by a fuel “replenishment ship” scheduled for a Cuban port visit. He indicated the oiler’s cargo, even if unloaded, would unlikely significantly impact Cuba’s oil situation.
When questioned by senators, Donovan clarified his command isn’t currently practicing military intervention scenarios in Cuba and focuses solely on safeguarding the U.S. Embassy and Guantanamo Bay military installation, though it can address Caribbean migration or humanitarian emergencies if necessary.
Cuba generates merely 40% of its petroleum needs domestically, relying on Russia, Mexico, and Venezuela for the remainder.
However, essential Venezuelan shipments ceased after the U.S. targeted the South American nation in early January and detained its former president, Nicolás Maduro — a crucial commercial and ideological ally of Cuba.
In late January, President Donald Trump warned of imposing tariffs on any nation selling or providing oil to Cuba. That same month, Mexico suspended its oil exports to the island.
These developments have intensified Cuba’s energy and economic difficulties, resulting in 10-hour power failures, reduced work schedules, limited transportation options, and declining tourism revenues — formerly a primary income source.
The deteriorating conditions have also triggered minor demonstrations.
Cuba has endured a serious economic downturn since this decade’s start due to stricter U.S. sanctions, COVID-19 pandemic effects, and domestic financial reforms that sparked inflation.
Food and medication scarcities have become commonplace for Cuban citizens. These crises have also accelerated emigration, especially among youth and skilled professionals, to the United States, Mexico, and Europe.
This week, European activists participating in an ongoing international assistance convoy delivered over four tons of medical supplies to the island. Additional aid is anticipated Friday by aircraft and Saturday through a large flotilla bringing solar panels, medical equipment, and preserved food gathered by Mexican activists. British Parliament member Jeremy Corbyn and Irish hip-hop group Kneecap are expected among the flotilla passengers traveling to Cuba.
Trump has declared readiness to take Cuba through any necessary means, while the Cuban government, despite acknowledging U.S. discussions, has maintained its sovereign position.
MEDINA, Ohio — Treasure hunters are spreading across Ohio communities this week, searching for pieces of a massive 7-ton space rock that exploded over Earth after creating a spectacular light show visible from hundreds of miles away.
The space object disintegrated around 9 a.m. Tuesday above Valley City, located about 30 minutes south of Cleveland, traveling at approximately 45,000 miles per hour through Earth’s atmosphere. The explosion created powerful sound waves that shook buildings and alarmed residents who feared something had exploded nearby. The brilliant fireball was spotted from Wisconsin all the way to Maryland, with NASA verifying the meteoroid measured nearly 6 feet across.
One Medina resident, December Harris, didn’t need to search far — her cousin and housemate, Ambra Sinclair, discovered a small dark rock they believe came from space while heading to work. The pair had heard the thunderous boom Tuesday morning but assumed it came from aircraft activity at a local airport.
Harris explained that her roommate discovered the rock late Wednesday morning in a 4-foot space between their garage and home. She characterized it as triangular in shape, measuring under 2 inches across and described it as “very, very black,” featuring surface pits, grooves and an exterior with a melted appearance.
Space rocks travel at extremely high velocities when they suddenly encounter Earth’s atmospheric gases, creating enormous pressure as they compress the air ahead of them. This process heats the rock, causing it to melt and fragment.
The dark rock was clearly out of place at Harris’ property.
“I’ve got a cleaned-off driveway,” explained Harris, a 70-year-old retired business owner. “There’s nothing like this around.”
Having heard advice about not handling meteorites directly, they used a napkin to collect it and stored it in a jar. Harris is now seeking ways to verify its authenticity — though NASA’s phone line went unanswered despite seven attempts.
“To us, me and my cousin, we have a strong faith in God,” Harris explained. “We’re like, ‘God just dropped it out of heaven.’”
When meteorite collector and dealer Roberto Vargas learned about the meteor sightings, he immediately began a multi-hour drive from his Bristol, Connecticut home to Ohio.
He traveled through the night and began his hunt shortly after Wednesday’s sunrise. Although it took until nearly sunset, he eventually discovered a suspected meteorite. By Thursday noon, he had located a second fragment, which he described as “100% fusion crusted,” calling it a museum-quality specimen he intends to keep.
The discovery inspired the 40-year-old former mental health therapist to speak enthusiastically about the event.
“It was a massive event — the shock waves, the sonic booms,” he explained during a phone interview while taking a break from searching. “This is a beauty of a fall.”
Throughout nearly ten years of collecting, Vargas had discovered only about 20 meteorites in natural settings. He joins other hunters who theorize that a much larger fragment might still be out there — possibly weighing 20 pounds or more.
Vargas noted that several factors will determine how long he continues searching in the region.
“It depends on how many stones are found,” he said. “Do they continue to be found? And what the situation is like with huntable ground. There’s a lot of private property around here.”
Gabe Leidy initially thought something had struck his North Ridgeville home when he heard the explosion, then began searching for fragments after finishing work Wednesday afternoon.
The 39-year-old supply chain management professional went to the Sharon Center vicinity, reasoning that a dark space rock would be easily spotted. That’s where he found “something that looks very, very, very much like a meteorite.”
Although some people have already offered him hundreds or thousands of dollars for his find, Leidy prefers to keep it. Currently stored in a kitchen cabinet, he envisions it eventually being displayed in a museum.
“My goal here was just to find a memento that I can remember this probably once-in-a-lifetime event by,” he said.
NEW YORK (AP) — Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York City announced Thursday the establishment of a new community safety office, marking an initial move toward delivering on a significant campaign commitment to minimize police involvement in mental health crisis situations.
The mayor had originally proposed creating a $1 billion annual program that would send civilian responders rather than law enforcement to handle non-criminal emergency situations. However, his current plan is much more limited in scope, beginning operations with just two employees and no immediate changes to how the city handles 911 emergency calls.
The office will expand over time and eventually “ushering in a new era for our city’s crisis response,” Mamdani declared while signing the executive order at City Hall, surrounded by criminal justice reform advocates.
“Officers have to handle 200,000 mental health calls a year,” stated the Democratic mayor. “That is not a system that is working. Today marks the end of it.”
Initially, Mamdani explained his administration plans to increase funding and resources for B-HEARD, a current program that sends mental health professionals to respond to 911 calls involving people experiencing emotional crises.
B-HEARD began operating in 2021 as part of a nationwide trend toward similar programs. However, a recent audit revealed the initiative has struggled in New York due to insufficient funding and administrative support.
“We are going to find out,” Mamdani said Thursday, “what it looks like when someone is willing to invest, not just financially, but also politically in this method of response.”
Supporters of the mayor’s initiative argue that law enforcement officers frequently make situations worse when dealing with individuals in emotional crisis, who would receive better assistance from qualified mental health specialists.
Mamdani pointed to the recent fatal police shooting of Queens resident Jabez Chakraborty, whose relatives contacted 911 due to his erratic behavior, as a case that could have benefited from mental health worker intervention. Police officials stated that Chakraborty attacked officers with a knife.
Opponents of Mamdani’s approach claim he minimizes the complexities involved in the city’s extensive emergency dispatch operations while underestimating how many situations actually need police involvement.
During a City Council session Wednesday, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch projected that roughly 2% of service calls would be transferred away from police jurisdiction. “You need to send the police when there’s a call for a violent person,” she explained.
Establishing a community safety department represented a central campaign commitment for Mamdani, who distinguished himself from other candidates by opposing any expansion of the police force.
The Office of Community Safety will also oversee current city initiatives including violence prevention programs using community mediators, hate crime response efforts, and support services for sexual assault survivors, among other programs.
Renita Francois will direct the office, bringing experience from her previous role managing former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s violence reduction efforts in public housing developments.
Mamdani made his announcement with supporters and elected officials present, who praised the initiative while asking New Yorkers to be patient during implementation.
“There will be some mistakes,” cautioned Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. “That happens in the police department, too.”
Delaware Department of Transportation crews are currently performing maintenance work along a busy stretch of Route 7 in the Christiana area this morning.
The rolling operation is taking place on the right shoulder of southbound Stanton Christiana Road between Exit 165B and Exit 164A. DelDOT officials indicate the work will wrap up by 11:30 AM today.
Motorists traveling through the area should expect possible delays and are advised to use caution when passing the work zone. Drivers may want to consider alternate routes or allow extra travel time during the morning commute.
Toronto delivered a dominant offensive showcase Thursday afternoon, overwhelming a New York Yankees split squad 11-0 in spring training action from Dunedin, Florida.
George Springer provided the highlight with a bases-loaded home run during the fourth inning, capping off a stellar three-hit day at the plate for the Blue Jays outfielder.
The Blue Jays’ power surge began early when Daulton Varsho connected for a solo blast in the opening frame. Varsho matched Springer’s output with three hits as Toronto accumulated 14 total hits in the lopsided victory.
The offensive barrage continued in the fifth inning as Andres Gimenez drove a two-run homer over the fence. On the mound, Cody Ponce dominated Yankees hitters, surrendering only one hit while recording five strikeouts across 5 2/3 innings of work.
New York managed just three hits in the defeat, with Amed Rosario accounting for two of them.
Yankees Split Squad 5, Orioles 4
A different Yankees squad staged a dramatic comeback victory over Baltimore in Tampa, Florida, with Garrett Martin delivering a crucial ninth-inning solo homer before Roderick Arias drove in the winning run on a sacrifice fly.
Giancarlo Stanton contributed both a solo home run and a sacrifice fly for New York’s offense.
Baltimore received strong contributions from Coby Mayo, who launched a two-run homer, while RJ Austin connected for an RBI double and Adley Rutschman added a run-scoring single.
Phillies 8, Rays 2
Philadelphia powered past Tampa Bay in Clearwater, Florida, behind a three-homer attack led by Otto Kemp’s three-run blast.
Bryson Stott added a two-run homer for his third spring training long ball, while Adolis Garcia also went deep for the Phillies.
Tampa Bay’s offense was limited to solo homers from Ryan Vilade and Alfonzo Martinez, both connecting in the fifth inning.
Cardinals 5, Nationals 1
St. Louis controlled their matchup against Washington in Jupiter, Florida, with Dakota Harris driving in two runs during the third inning before scoring on Trey Paige’s two-run homer in the eighth.
Nelson Velazquez contributed an RBI single in the first inning and joined Alec Burleson with two hits each as the Cardinals collected 10 total hits.
Washington’s offense was held to two hits from Brady House, with Luis Garcia Jr. scoring their lone run on a groundout in the second inning.
Financial markets across the globe experienced dramatic swings Thursday as investors grappled with the possibility of widespread interest rate increases designed to combat inflation stemming from the Middle East energy crisis.
The volatile session saw massive fluctuations in stock prices, bond yields, and oil markets as traders adjusted their expectations for monetary policy responses to rising energy costs and supply disruptions.
Market analysts are increasingly predicting that incoming Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh may begin his tenure with a rate increase rather than the reduction many had anticipated.
The day’s market performance painted a grim picture across multiple regions. Asian and European markets suffered significant declines, with Japan, India, and South Korea dropping 3% or more. British and German markets, along with broader European indices, fell by at least 2%. While U.S. markets recovered from earlier losses, the three major indices still closed down between 0.3% and 0.4%.
Within specific sectors, eight of the S&P 500’s categories declined, led by materials which dropped 1.6%. Consumer staples and discretionary sectors each fell 0.8%. Energy stocks bucked the trend, gaining 1.5%, with Baker Hughes surging 5.6% and Chevron rising 1.4%. However, Newmont Mining tumbled 7% and Micron Technology declined 4%.
Currency markets saw the dollar retreat 1% in its largest single-day decline since April of last year, as central banks outside the Federal Reserve adopted more aggressive stances. The euro, yen, and British pound all posted substantial gains following their respective policy meetings.
Bond markets reflected growing uncertainty, with U.S. yields climbing as much as 12 basis points. The spread between two-year and ten-year Treasury notes compressed to just 40 basis points, marking the flattest curve since August. Two-year British government bond yields jumped 30 basis points.
Oil prices settled 1% higher despite retreating from earlier peaks that saw Brent crude approach $120 per barrel. Gold, traditionally a safe haven during geopolitical turmoil, paradoxically fell 4%.
The ongoing Middle East conflict continues to raise fundamental questions about U.S. strategy and international coordination. Demonstrating the pressure from $100 oil and market instability, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated Thursday that sanctions on Iranian oil might be lifted, following similar easing of restrictions on Russian oil the previous week.
Central banks face a challenging balancing act between addressing immediate inflationary pressures through rate hikes while managing potential long-term economic damage from reduced consumer spending and energy supply disruptions.
The dramatic flattening of yield curves illustrates these competing pressures. Two-year U.S. yields have climbed to 3.90%, the highest level since August, narrowing the gap with ten-year yields to create what analysts describe as a policymaker’s nightmare scenario.
Gold’s decline represents a particularly striking development given the current environment of war, geopolitical instability, energy shocks, and rising inflation. The precious metal has dropped 8% this week, potentially marking its worst weekly performance since March 2020. Monthly losses of 13% would represent the worst showing since 2008 and the second-worst in over four decades.
Market observers attribute gold’s weakness to investors liquidating speculative positions built during the rally that pushed prices above $5,500 per ounce in January, as market participants seek cash and liquidity amid the current uncertainty.
Looking ahead, market movements will likely depend on developments in the Middle East, energy market fluctuations, and various economic data releases from New Zealand, Taiwan, China, the United Kingdom, Germany, the eurozone, and Canada.
The shipping giant FedEx announced Thursday it’s boosting its annual profit projections after delivering stronger-than-anticipated third-quarter financial results, powered by robust holiday season package volumes.
The Memphis-headquartered company, which specializes in overnight air delivery services, watched its stock price surge 8% in extended trading hours. Earlier this month, FedEx achieved a milestone by surpassing UPS in total market capitalization for the first time, reaching a valuation of approximately $82.23 billion by Wednesday’s market close.
The delivery company now projects its adjusted earnings for the fiscal year concluding May 31 will fall between $19.30 and $20.10 per share. This represents a significant increase from December’s guidance of $17.80 to $19.00 per share. Wall Street analysts had been expecting annual profits of $18.69 per share, according to LSEG data.
However, FedEx cautioned that its optimistic projections assume no further geopolitical disruptions. The company noted that ongoing conflicts involving the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran have elevated air freight costs and forced flight rerouting, potentially impacting fourth-quarter results. Stifel analysts pointed out that roughly 8% of FedEx’s international export shipments move through regional hubs in affected areas.
The company’s Express division showed marked improvement during the third quarter, benefiting from enhanced pricing on both domestic and international packages, increased U.S. shipping volumes, and continued expense reduction efforts.
Evercore ISI analyst Jonathan Chappell noted the quarterly “results were lifted by much higher yields, but this time much stronger U.S. ground volume also helped the top line.”
“The cost savings from the network reorganization also continue to help expand margins, and all 3 added up to a very surprising beat,” Chappell added.
Despite these gains, FedEx acknowledged that some benefits were diminished by increased employee wages and bonus payments, elevated transportation expenses, global trade policy impacts, and the grounding of its MD-11 aircraft fleet.
For the critical winter holiday period, adjusted earnings reached $5.25 per share, significantly exceeding analyst projections of $4.14 per share. This performance came despite absorbing millions in unexpected replacement costs for trucks and aircraft to compensate for the grounded MD-11 fleet following a fatal UPS crash in November 2025.
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the grounding of FedEx’s 28 Boeing MD-11 cargo aircraft after the crash that claimed 14 lives, including three pilots. Company leadership previously indicated they anticipate the MD-11 fleet’s return to service by late May.
FedEx also revised its full-year revenue expectations upward, now anticipating growth of 6.0% to 6.5% year-over-year, compared to previous estimates of 5% to 6% growth.
The company continues implementing a comprehensive multi-year transformation plan involving billions in cost reductions, merging its separate Ground and Express delivery services, increasing operational automation, and preparing to spin off its Freight trucking division on June 1.
Quarterly revenue for the period ending February 28 totaled $24 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $23.43 billion.
MEXICO CITY – Mexican naval officials reported Thursday that eleven individuals suspected of criminal activity died during a military security operation conducted in the northern state of Sinaloa.
The deadly confrontation occurred as part of ongoing security efforts in the region, according to statements released by Mexico’s navy forces.
No additional details about the specific circumstances of the operation or the identities of those killed were immediately provided by authorities.
SALISBURY, Md. – Despite a stellar pitching performance on the mound, Salisbury University’s nationally-ranked baseball squad fell short in a tight contest against McDaniel College on Thursday.
The Sea Gulls, currently ranked fifth in the nation, dropped a 2-1 decision to the surging Green Terror at Donnie Williams Sea Gull Baseball Stadium. Pitcher Aidan Brinsfield delivered an outstanding effort over eight innings, but Salisbury’s offense failed to provide adequate run support.
The loss came against a McDaniel team that has been playing exceptional baseball recently, proving too much for the Sea Gulls despite Brinsfield’s impressive showing on the pitcher’s mound.
The University of Delaware Blue Hens baseball squad is gearing up to host Dallas Baptist University this weekend in a Conference USA series at home.
The Blue Hens will take on the Patriots in what marks another key conference matchup for the Delaware program as they continue their Conference USA campaign.
The weekend series represents an opportunity for the Blue Hens to compete against Dallas Baptist on their home field, with fans expected to turn out for the conference play.
Both teams will be looking to gain momentum in Conference USA standings as the season progresses.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Delaware women’s lacrosse squad made an impressive debut in Atlantic Sun Conference play, overwhelming Austin Peay with a commanding 19-3 victory on Wednesday.
The Fightin’ Blue Hens dominated from the opening draw, putting up an explosive 14 goals in the first half alone. Ten different Delaware players contributed to the scoring effort in what became a complete team performance.
The victory extends Delaware’s current winning streak to three games, bringing their overall record to 4-4 and marking a perfect 1-0 start in ASUN Conference competition. Meanwhile, Austin Peay drops to 4-6 overall and begins conference play at 0-1.
Delaware’s balanced offensive attack proved too much for the Governors to handle, as the Blue Hens controlled the pace throughout the contest. The team’s depth was on full display with the diverse scoring contributions across the roster.
This historic first ASUN Conference game represents a new chapter for the Delaware program as they continue building momentum in their latest winning streak.
WASHINGTON – A federal arts commission consisting entirely of Donald Trump appointees gave unanimous approval Thursday for a commemorative gold coin that will feature the president’s likeness, marking another step in the administration’s efforts to honor Trump.
Opposition voices, including Democratic lawmakers and members of a separate federal arts committee, argued that placing a current president’s image on currency contradicts democratic principles, particularly as America marks its 250th anniversary and the end of monarchical British control.
During the Commission of Fine Arts meeting, where a U.S. Mint representative made the presentation, commissioners discussed the appropriate diameter for the 24-carat coin, with options reaching up to three inches.
Chamberlain Harris, a 26-year-old White House staff member whom Trump named to the commission this year, indicated the president would favor the maximum size option.
“The larger the better,” Harris stated just before the panel gave its full approval to the coin.
The U.S. Mint will now determine final specifications for the coin. Trump has already given his approval to the design, and expectations are that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a Trump supporter, will authorize production.
The White House directed inquiries to the Treasury Department. Neither Treasury nor the U.S. Mint provided immediate responses to requests for comment.
The proposed coin will show Trump with a serious expression, leaning forward over a desk while looking ahead. The design draws from a photograph housed at Washington’s National Portrait Gallery.
“Monarchs and dictators put their faces on coins, not leaders of a democracy,” Democratic U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley stated to Reuters.
“Trump’s administration moving to put his face on a commemorative coin is his latest effort to distort the meaning of America’s 250th birthday.”
The administration has also put forward plans for a separate $1 coin bearing Trump’s image to commemorate America’s 1776 break from British rule.
Donald Scarinci, who serves on the bipartisan Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee – a different federal panel that declined to review the gold coin proposal last month – explained that the dollar coin would clearly violate existing law prohibiting any sitting or former president’s image on dollar coins until three years following their death.
However, a potential legal exception may exist for the gold coin since it would be a non-circulating collector’s item, unlike the dollar coin intended for general use.
Scarinci noted that federal law requires both his committee and the Commission of Fine Arts to approve coin designs.
“But we still fully expect them to plough ahead and mint both coins,” Scarinci said.
This gold coin initiative represents the administration’s newest attempt to attach Trump’s name and image to public institutions and American currency.
Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has placed his name on major Washington buildings, a planned series of Navy vessels, an investment visa program for wealthy foreigners, a government prescription drug website, and federal children’s savings accounts.
Strong opposition emerged over renaming Washington’s main performance venue as the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.
Trump’s selected Kennedy Center board members voted Monday to shut down the facility for two years while undergoing renovations.
Along the Potomac River, the U.S. Institute of Peace, a congressionally-established government-funded research organization focused on preventing conflicts, was renamed the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace by the State Department on December 3, three months before Trump initiated military action against Iran.
A Planned Parenthood affiliate in Illinois has agreed to pay half a million dollars to resolve federal allegations of workplace discrimination, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The EEOC announced that Planned Parenthood of Illinois will provide $500,000 in compensation to settle an investigation that determined the organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies violated federal employment laws.
The federal agency’s probe concluded that the healthcare provider’s DEI initiatives discriminated against employees based on their race, creating an unlawful work environment that violated civil rights protections.
Under the settlement agreement, the Illinois chapter will modify its workplace practices and provide monetary relief to affected staff members. The organization has not admitted wrongdoing as part of the resolution.
This case highlights ongoing legal challenges facing employers as they navigate diversity programs while complying with federal anti-discrimination statutes that protect all workers regardless of race or ethnicity.
Federal health officials announced Thursday they have initiated conversations with drug manufacturers regarding legislation to implement President Donald Trump’s most-favored-nation pricing proposal.
Chris Klomp, chief counselor for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, stated the administration has started briefing pharmaceutical companies on the initiative. The plan would bring American prescription medication prices in line with costs seen in other developed nations worldwide.
The most-favored-nation approach represents the Trump administration’s effort to reduce prescription drug expenses for American consumers by matching international pricing standards.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Wearing a dark hoodie and carrying his glove, Tony Vitello moves around the practice field like he belongs among the Giants players.
The San Francisco Giants’ new skipper grabs some gum from the dugout container before stepping onto the field at Scottsdale Stadium to begin his work. He spends time observing from right field, taking in the full view, then moves to the indoor batting facility. Later, he positions himself near home plate on the cage’s right side, offering fist bumps to left fielder Heliot Ramos following batting practice rounds. Vitello shifts a few steps over to watch additional hitters take their swings.
“He’s everywhere,” said shortstop Willy Adames. “He has a lot of energy. He likes to be watching everybody, making sure that everybody is working right and doing the right things. He’s just trying to push the guys to work hard and to be better and I think that’s something that’s going to help the guys a lot and I think that’s something we needed.”
The spotlight focuses intensely on Vitello as he assumes control of one of baseball’s most legendary organizations despite lacking any professional baseball background. Giants executive and former catcher Buster Posey made this unusual selection, placing trust in someone without major league experience either playing or coaching.
Everyone will be watching closely when Vitello makes his highly anticipated managerial debut as the Giants welcome the New York Yankees for baseball’s opening day on March 25.
“As ready as I’ll be if you ask me that question before the season starts,” Vitello commented before the team’s Cactus League opener. “I don’t think you’re ever really ready to do something until you get to do it. … Inevitably something pops up in where you’re like, ‘I wish I could go back in time and know that.’”
A dedicated swimmer who hopes to someday tackle the challenging swim from Alcatraz in San Francisco, Vitello monitors his different baseball areas similar to a lifeguard keeping watch, staying alert to everything and everyone around him.
He has also made a commitment to absorbing knowledge from experienced former managers he has brought into his circle, including Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy, along with new Giants infield coach Ron Washington.
“I’ve talked with those guys, they’ve been awesome,” Vitello explained. “A lot of little things. When Boch says it, not only do you hear it but you hear it in that thunderous voice. I’ve taken notes from all those guys. I don’t think there’s been one drastic thing said to me, like, ‘Holy cow, reinvent the game’ or anything like that. It’s just been a lot of consistent help.”
Moving between different practice fields during spring training has presented one of the most significant adjustments for the 47-year-old Vitello.
During his first team meeting, Vitello focused on staying authentic — “hopefully it didn’t sound like a speech, more of a conversation,” he noted.
While everyone understands there will be substantial challenges ahead, Vitello has already created a positive impact on his players.
“Tony’s passion for baseball is something else,” said outfielder Jung Hoo Lee. “Just being around him, I feel like my passion grows more with him. It’s really nice being around Tony.”
During a recent spring training session, Vitello crouched down with his hands on his knees, observing Washington work with Adames.
“That’s going to help him a lot,” Adames commented about all the mentorship. “He’s got Bochy that’s going to be around and Dusty that’s going to be around and Buster is always around. We’ve got a lot of people who have a lot of experience in baseball and have a lot of people who have a lot of experience being a manager, and I think that’s going to help him a lot.”
Former Padres manager Jayce Tingler serves as both Vitello’s close friend and current bench coach. Vitello waited until spring training began to reveal his coaching staff — well after most other teams — demonstrating how carefully he considered who he wanted supporting him.
Learning to delegate responsibilities has been an ongoing process. In his previous role, he handled recruiting, organizing travel, overseeing academics, and numerous other college baseball responsibilities.
“I think get more comfortable with delegating, but about nine years ago I definitely warmed up to it with the group of people that I was around,” he said.
First-year San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen recognizes the questions surrounding inexperience and accepts that scrutiny accompanies the position.
“He’s a baseball guy, so I’m going to respect him the same way I respect somebody that played 20 years in the big leagues,” Stammen said regarding Vitello. “I think he’s earned the right to be a manager in the big leagues. Some people will question me if I earned the right to be a manager in the big leagues. His track record in college is very successful, so he’s going to have the opportunity to bring that track record to MLB.”
Vitello admits there have been some initial challenges — and expects many more throughout the journey. He takes over from three-time Manager of the Year Bob Melvin, a 22-year managerial veteran who was dismissed after two seasons and the Giants’ fourth consecutive year missing the playoffs.
“I don’t think it’s been too wild. I think everything that was a precursor to here was the key,” he said. “FanFest, just how welcoming everybody is. It might sound silly, but just interacting with the 49ers group a few different times and other people in the Bay Area, it made you feel like you were in high school instead of a freshman. I still remember freshman year in high school was kind of nerve-wracking.
“So I think there was a little bit of momentum for myself coming in. Seamless is a high standard. I think there’s been some snags, but it’s kind of been like, ‘OK, I get how this goes now.’”
NEW YORK — The head of Live Nation Entertainment became the central figure in a New York courtroom Thursday, taking the witness stand to defend his company’s market dominance while attorneys representing 33 states painted the concert industry leader as a monopolistic force that harms consumers.
Michael Rapino, who has served as CEO since the company’s inception two decades ago, appeared in court as part of an antitrust lawsuit initially filed by the U.S. Justice Department against Live Nation and its Ticketmaster division two years ago.
“I’m very proud,” Rapino declared when discussing how his organization transformed what he described as a scattered industry 20 years ago, creating a more organized system to serve performers and fans that competitors now attempt to copy. The company acquired Ticketmaster through a merger in 2010.
While federal authorities reached a settlement agreement last week that includes measures designed to boost competition and potentially reduce concert ticket costs, with six states joining that resolution, 33 states plus the District of Columbia have chosen to pursue their legal challenge.
State attorney Jeffrey Kessler spent the day questioning Rapino, attempting to demonstrate that the company eliminates rivals and inflates prices for music fans.
During one particularly tense exchange, Kessler referenced 2022 internal communications where a Live Nation ticketing executive called customers “so stupid” and bragged about “robbing them blind, baby” in messages to a colleague.
Rapino condemned the language as “disgusting” and “not the way we operate,” stating he only discovered these communications the previous week and intended “to deal with it this week.”
When Kessler pressed about potential disciplinary action, Rapino responded that his company typically chooses to “give employees a break” and noted that “I heard he’s apologized.”
Live Nation representatives have stated the company first became aware of these private messages when they surfaced in court documents last week. Company lawyers characterized the exchange as “off-the-cuff banter, not policy” between two employees who maintain a personal friendship.
Benjamin Baker, the employee who sent the messages and currently serves as head of ticketing for Venue Nation, which oversees the company’s amphitheater operations, called his communications “very immature and unacceptable” during his earlier testimony this week.
Rapino maintained his composure throughout Thursday’s proceedings, calmly addressing what he characterized as misleading or inaccurate claims from Kessler.
When confronted about a Ticketmaster executive’s explanation during the notorious 2022 Taylor Swift ticket sale disaster that blamed outdated systems for the problems, Rapino offered a different account.
“We thought demand overloaded the system,” Rapino testified. “It turned out not to be true.”
He explained that a cyberattack was actually responsible for the technical failures.
Addressing Kessler’s suggestion that Live Nation prohibits personal lawn chairs at its 40 nationwide amphitheaters to force customers to rent company chairs, Rapino disagreed with the characterization.
“It was a safety issue, for sure,” Rapino explained, describing how concertgoers became frustrated with each other when fans brought different-sized chairs that sometimes blocked sightlines.
Kessler also raised a 2024 incident involving complaints from Adele fans regarding Ticketmaster’s presale ticket procedures.
Rapino clarified that the situation involved competing ticketing companies posing as fan organizations to “get tickets for free we had to acquire.”
When asked whether Live Nation declined Adele’s offer to cover ticketing fees for her supporters, Rapino was emphatic.
“We would never say no to Adele,” Rapino stated. “We said no to the ticketing company.”
WASHINGTON — Delaware has joined a coalition of 24 states filing a federal lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency, challenging the agency’s decision to eliminate a crucial scientific determination that served as the foundation for regulating greenhouse gas emissions nationwide.
The legal action, filed Thursday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, targets the EPA’s recent elimination of a 2009 scientific determination that classified carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases as threats to public health and safety. This Obama-era determination provided the legal framework for virtually every climate regulation implemented under the Clean Air Act, affecting vehicles, power plants, and other sources of emissions contributing to global warming.
Eliminating this finding removes all emissions standards for automobiles and trucks and may lead to the dismantling of additional climate regulations affecting stationary facilities like power plants and oil and gas operations.
This marks the second significant legal challenge to the rule reversal, following an earlier lawsuit filed by environmental and public health organizations last month.
The coalition’s legal filing argues that the EPA’s decision to abandon the endangerment determination represents a failure of the agency’s fundamental duty to protect Americans.
“Rather than assisting Americans in confronting our current reality, the Trump administration has opted for denial, eliminating essential protections that form the cornerstone of federal climate change response,” stated New York Attorney General Letitia James, who spearheaded the lawsuit alongside top legal officials from Massachusetts, California, and Connecticut.
The legal challenge includes participation from 24 states, 10 municipalities, and five counties, all under Democratic leadership.
“Climate change represents a real threat that is already impacting our citizens and economic stability,” declared Massachusetts Attorney General Joy Campbell. “When federal authorities turn their backs on legal requirements and scientific evidence, ordinary citizens bear the burden.”
Campbell added that Massachusetts “has consistently pioneered efforts to shield our communities from greenhouse gas emission hazards and we take pride in stepping forward once more to champion this battle for our collective future.”
The U.S. Supreme Court established in a groundbreaking 2007 ruling that carbon dioxide and similar greenhouse gases qualify as “air pollutants” under Clean Air Act provisions. Following this high court decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, courts have consistently dismissed legal attempts to overturn the endangerment determination, including a 2023 ruling by the D.C. appeals court.
EPA representative Brigit Hirsch characterized the recent lawsuit as unrelated to “legal principles or substantive arguments.” She claimed the plaintiffs “are obviously driven by political motivations.”
Hirsch explained that the EPA “thoroughly examined and reassessed the legal basis” of the 2009 determination considering recent court rulings, including a 2022 Supreme Court decision that restricted how clean air legislation can be applied to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power facilities.
Beyond New York, Massachusetts, California, and Connecticut, the legal action includes attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin, plus the District of Columbia and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection has also joined, along with municipalities including Albuquerque, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, plus five counties across California, Colorado, Texas, and Washington state.
Legal experts expect this dispute will ultimately reach the Supreme Court again, which now maintains a significantly more conservative composition than during its 2007 decision.
WASHINGTON — A longtime personal lawyer for Jeffrey Epstein appeared before a House committee Thursday, claiming he had no awareness of his deceased client’s sexual crimes against minors while they were occurring, adding his name to a growing list of Epstein associates making similar denials.
Darren Indyke, who served as Epstein’s legal counsel for approximately twenty years, stated in his opening remarks to the House Oversight Committee that he possessed “no knowledge whatsoever” regarding Epstein’s criminal behavior and would have terminated their professional relationship had he been aware of the trafficking activities involving women and underage victims.
Multiple individuals within Epstein’s circle, including former accountant Richard Kahn, major client Les Wexner, and former President Bill Clinton, have similarly testified under oath to the committee that they remained ignorant of Epstein’s abusive conduct.
Committee Democrats expressed their dissatisfaction during a recess in Indyke’s testimony, characterizing the attorney’s responses as overly “defensive” when faced with their inquiries.
Both Indyke and Kahn serve as administrators of Epstein’s estate, and congressional members had anticipated they might reveal important information about Epstein’s criminal activities that could lead to accountability measures. However, legislators have found it challenging to extract meaningful information about Epstein’s network of associates since his death in a New York detention facility in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
“Similar to every other witness we’ve heard from, they all maintain they possessed no prior knowledge before public disclosure that Mr. Epstein engaged in inappropriate behavior with young women,” stated Rep. James Comer, who leads the House Oversight Committee.
The Kentucky Republican noted that Indyke faced questions about why he maintained his professional relationship with Epstein after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. According to Comer, Indyke explained that Epstein portrayed the incident as an isolated error and expressed regret.
However, Democratic members accused both Indyke and Kahn of concealing Epstein’s activities. “What has become absolutely clear through these recent testimonies is that these individuals will continue to deceive us repeatedly,” declared Rep. Dave Min, a Democrat from California.
Both estate executors have consistently maintained their ignorance regarding Epstein’s crimes. In their roles managing his estate, they reached a settlement agreement earlier this year in a class action case filed by Epstein’s victims for up to $35 million, which alleged their assistance in “Epstein’s illegal conduct” for monetary benefit. The settlement included no admission of guilt.
Democratic committee members are advocating for additional document releases from Epstein’s estate. They reported that Indyke suggested he awaits further direction from the Republican-led committee regarding the provision of materials related to a legal case filed by prominent Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre against his former associate Ghislaine Maxwell, along with other business-related documentation.
However, Comer argued that the committee had already sought those materials from other sources and obtaining them through the estate would result in “overlapping information.”
Democratic representatives also pressed regarding an unverified allegation made against President Donald Trump by a woman in 2019 during the Epstein investigation. Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the oversight panel, noted that Indyke refused to confirm whether this individual had reached any agreement with Epstein’s estate.
Trump has repeatedly rejected any misconduct allegations related to Epstein, and Comer argued that this questioning demonstrated Democrats’ obsession with the president despite the investigation failing to produce credible evidence implicating Trump.
“They have constructed a false story suggesting Donald Trump represents some kind of liability in this matter,” he commented.
The House investigation into Epstein began with bipartisan support but has devolved into an increasingly acrimonious political battle. Democrats walked out of a Wednesday evening briefing with Attorney General Pam Bondi, claiming she appeared on Capitol Hill solely to avoid her scheduled April 14 deposition.
Comer described the incident as a “low point in the Epstein investigation” and criticized the Democratic legislators for “acting like low-IQ fools.” He indicated plans to proceed with Bondi’s deposition but would consult with Republican committee members about their continued support.
Democratic lawmakers announced their intention to conduct a public hearing featuring Epstein’s survivors and others knowledgeable about his crimes, regardless of Republican participation.
WASHINGTON — A pair of former FBI agents have filed a federal lawsuit claiming their terminations last year were directly connected to their involvement in investigating former President Donald Trump’s attempts to challenge the 2020 election results.
The agents, referred to as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2 in court documents filed Thursday, allege they were dismissed exclusively due to their work on the election investigation called Arctic Frost. Their case represents the most recent legal challenge against a wave of personnel dismissals under FBI Director Kash Patel’s administration, targeting agents connected to Trump-related investigations or those viewed as conflicting with current leadership priorities.
According to the lawsuit, both agents received abrupt termination notices in November despite maintaining clean disciplinary histories and receiving outstanding performance evaluations. The agents claim no reasons were provided for their dismissals, which occurred shortly after Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley published unredacted Justice Department materials that revealed one agent’s identity. Grassley and other Trump supporters have characterized Arctic Frost as politically driven.
Filed in Washington’s federal court, the legal action demands job reinstatement and a judicial ruling declaring the firings illegal.
FBI officials have refused to provide comment on the matter.
The lawsuit describes how one terminated agent received his dismissal notice while preparing to take his children trick-or-treating on Halloween at the FBI’s Washington field office where he was employed. Several days afterward, the second agent — described as either the sole case agent or most senior agent handling active local corruption investigations — received similar termination orders during a comparable meeting.
“In Arctic Frost, as in all other investigations to which they were assigned, Plaintiffs fully adhered to DOJ policies and procedures, including applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, and executed their law enforcement duties without bias or political motive,” the lawsuit says.
Court documents reveal one dismissed agent brought over two decades of FBI experience, focusing on white-collar crime, public corruption, and fraud investigations while earning a Medal of Excellence for outstanding work. The second agent completed FBI Academy training in 2018 and was handling public corruption cases at the time of his firing, having personally briefed Patel on specific investigations.
Both agents served in supporting capacities during the investigation into Trump’s post-2020 election activities aimed at maintaining power after losing to Democrat Joe Biden.
Attorney Margaret Donovan, representing the fired agents, stated that Patel broke his commitment not to terminate agents based on their case assignments. She described her clients as being “among the Bureau’s finest, and they deserve better.” Fellow attorney Elizabeth Tulis added: “These agents did exactly what they were trained to do: they accepted an assignment from their supervisors and carried it out professionally and apolitically.”
Additional lawsuits have emerged from agents dismissed after being photographed kneeling during 2020 racial justice demonstrations and from senior leadership, including a former acting FBI director, who were terminated last summer. The dismissals have accelerated, with Patel recently removing Washington field office agents who investigated Trump’s handling of classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago Florida property following his presidency.
During Thursday testimony before a House committee, Patel dismissed Democratic lawmakers’ concerns that firing counterintelligence specialists with Iran expertise could compromise national security amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions.
“There’s 36,000 people employed at this FBI. And I reject the notion wholeheartedly that the termination of those that were weaponizing law enforcement are the only ones that can do the mission,” Patel said.
WASHINGTON — Federal officials announced Thursday that the Treasury Department will assume control of a massive portion of student debt from the Education Department, marking the initial phase of the Trump administration’s plan to eliminate the federal education agency.
The Treasury will now oversee approximately $180 billion in student loans where borrowers have fallen into default status, representing 11% of the nation’s total $1.7 trillion student debt portfolio. Default occurs when borrowers haven’t made payments for over 270 days.
This transfer represents the first of three planned phases designed to eventually shift complete student loan oversight to Treasury. The second phase, which has no set timeline, would transfer “operational responsibility” for performing loans to Treasury “to the extent practicable,” according to the 17-page agreement.
Officials assured borrowers they won’t need to take any action during this transition. Students will continue working with their current loan servicers and making payments through existing channels.
The arrangement represents a dramatic restructuring of federal student loan operations, which have remained under Education Department control since the agency’s establishment more than four decades ago.
Trump administration officials defended the shift by claiming the Education Department lacks the capability to manage such an extensive loan program. They criticized the previous Biden administration for prioritizing loan forgiveness initiatives instead of helping borrowers resume regular payments. Current statistics show less than half of all borrowers are actively making payments, with nearly 25% in default.
This action advances President Trump’s pledge to eliminate the Education Department, which he characterizes as dominated by liberal ideology. While congressional approval is required to officially close the department, Trump’s team is systematically transferring its functions to other federal agencies through inter-departmental agreements.
The destination for the government’s substantial student loan portfolio had remained unclear. During her Senate confirmation process, Education Secretary Linda McMahon described Treasury as a “natural” home for student loans, though Trump later suggested the Small Business Administration would handle oversight.
Conservative groups have previously attempted to relocate federal student loans. During Trump’s initial presidency, his education secretary explored creating a semi-private banking entity to manage student debt. The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 blueprint similarly advocated for a new “government corporation with professional governance and management.”
While Treasury has often been considered for this role, student loans present unique complexities, raising questions about the agency’s technical capabilities. A 2015 trial run where Treasury attempted to collect payments from defaulted borrowers produced lower success rates than private collection companies used by the Education Department.
Currently, 9.2 million Americans are in default on federal student loans, according to recent Education Department figures. Default status severely damages credit ratings and allows the government to garnish wages and Social Security payments.
This operational overhaul comes at a critical time, with approximately 12 million Americans currently behind on federal student loan payments. The lending industry anticipates a potential wave of defaults as pandemic-era payment protections expire.
Earlier this year, Trump officials delayed plans to resume involuntary collections on defaulted loans, which could have resulted in wage garnishment for millions of Americans. The issue remains politically sensitive as affordability concerns dominate voter priorities.
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Democrats are expressing growing confidence about their chances of seizing legislative control after a second top GOP leader announced Thursday he’s stepping away from politics this fall.
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu joined Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in declaring he won’t pursue reelection, marking the departure of Wisconsin’s two most powerful Republican lawmakers. The announcements follow the implementation of redrawn legislative districts that provide Democrats with better electoral opportunities.
LeMahieu, who has served since 2014 and led the Senate GOP caucus since 2020, stated his intention to step down after three terms. “The time has come for a new chapter in my life,” LeMahieu declared in his retirement statement, though he didn’t reveal his future plans. Vos, Wisconsin’s longest-tenured Assembly speaker, made a similar announcement last month.
The wave of Republican departures extends beyond legislative leadership. Multiple GOP lawmakers have opted against seeking reelection in what political observers expect will be a difficult cycle for the party nationwide.
Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Devin Remiker characterized the leadership exodus as a cautionary tale for remaining Republicans. “All potential Republican candidates should take note: Both of your leaders have abandoned you,” Remiker stated.
The political landscape shifted dramatically after liberals secured a Wisconsin Supreme Court majority in 2023. By December of that year, the court struck down Republican-drawn legislative boundaries, paving the way for new maps signed by Democratic Governor Tony Evers in 2024.
Republicans had maintained legislative dominance since 2011, when then-Governor Scott Walker approved district lines that strengthened GOP majorities for over a decade. During that period, Wisconsin became a conservative policy laboratory, with Republicans eliminating collective bargaining rights for most government employees, reducing taxes, and implementing voter ID requirements.
Under the revised maps, Democrats need to gain just two Senate seats and five Assembly seats to claim majorities in their respective chambers.
Will Karcz, representing the Democratic Senate campaign committee, suggested LeMahieu’s departure reflects Republican pessimism about their electoral prospects. “There are no two ways about it: Senate Republicans see the writing on the wall,” Karcz observed, calling the Wisconsin Senate “the most flippable chamber in the country.”
The gubernatorial race is also wide open for the first time in 16 years due to Evers’ retirement decision. Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany, backed by President Donald Trump, appears positioned as the GOP nominee, while seven prominent Democrats are competing in the August primary.
Despite partisan tensions, Evers commended LeMahieu’s collaborative approach, praising his “patience and persistence” and ability to prioritize “doing the right thing” over politics.
Recent bipartisan achievements under LeMahieu’s leadership include expanding Medicaid coverage for new mothers, enhancing cancer screening coverage for women with dense breast tissue, funding PFAS chemical cleanup efforts, increasing state support for local governments, and securing the Milwaukee Brewers’ continued presence in Wisconsin.
However, LeMahieu’s tenure also saw setbacks, including the collapse of Wisconsin’s flagship land conservation program due to funding shortfalls and the failure of a bipartisan agreement to maintain the state’s public affairs television network.
Stock prices for American liquefied natural gas companies skyrocketed Thursday after Qatar reported that Iranian military strikes could eliminate approximately one-fifth of its LNG production for as long as five years.
Cheniere Energy reached a record-breaking peak during trading and closed the afternoon session up roughly 7% at $285 per share. Venture Global initially jumped as much as 13% before giving back most of those gains later in the day, though the company’s stock has climbed about 50% over the past month.
The market surge came after QatarEnergy’s chief executive Saad al-Kaabi informed Reuters that Iranian bombardments had eliminated 17% of the Gulf state’s LNG shipping capabilities.
According to al-Kaabi, the attacks damaged two of Qatar’s 14 LNG production trains along with one of its two gas-to-liquids facilities. The repairs will remove 12.8 million metric tons annually of LNG production from global markets for three to five years. Qatar leads the world in LNG exports, with the United States ranking second.
Cheniere operates facilities capable of exporting over 51 million metric tons of LNG annually, while Venture Global can handle shipments exceeding 37 million tons, based on recent company earnings reports.
The military conflict that erupted late last month has created chaos in worldwide energy markets after the Strait of Hormuz was essentially closed, cutting off roughly 20% of global oil transportation and forcing QatarEnergy to halt LNG deliveries. Market experts initially predicted temporary price swings but now caution that continued attacks on energy facilities could create permanent changes in LNG and natural gas pricing.
Cheniere operates under long-term contracts for 94% of its production, while Venture Global reserves approximately 30% for immediate market sales.
Following the start of U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran on February 28, American gas prices have risen about 12% compared to dramatic increases of 91% in Europe and 88% in Asia. Natural gas is currently trading at 37-month peaks near $21 per million British thermal units at Europe’s Dutch Title Transfer Facility benchmark and close to $20 at Asia’s Japan-Korea Marker.
Prior to the recent attacks, consulting firm Wood Mackenzie had projected that Qatari LNG production could resume full operations within four to six weeks after a temporary shutdown. That forecast will now be pushed back based on the extent of the infrastructure damage, the company stated Thursday.
“The damage to the two LNG trains at Ras Laffan will inevitably mean that suppliers elsewhere around the world will have more business for the coming few years. But the higher European and Asian gas prices we have seen in recent weeks are now likely to remain elevated for longer, which undoubtedly will result in fuel-switching in both the power and industrial sectors,” said Wood Mackenzie Europe Gas & LNG director Tom Marzec-Manser.
Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy fellow Ira Joseph noted that some of Qatar’s lost production could be replaced by new American facilities expected to begin operations, including the Golden Pass LNG plant owned by Exxon Mobil and QatarEnergy in Texas, plus three additional facilities under development by Sempra, NextDecade and Venture Global.
Joseph emphasized that the critical issue going forward involves whether Qatar’s massive North Field expansion project will also face disruption.
“If it is impacted, then structurally we have to adjust our LNG prices higher,” he said. “But if we do that, we also have to weaken our demand growth outlook.”
Jefferies analysts cautioned that extended outages could result in persistently higher prices, though some demand reduction and switching from coal to gas may occur. They noted that buyers are increasingly focusing on supply diversification and geopolitical stability rather than simply seeking the cheapest LNG available.
Drivers nationwide are feeling the pinch at gas stations as fuel costs have skyrocketed more than 30% throughout March, approaching the $4 per gallon mark despite President Donald Trump’s efforts to address supply chain disruptions linked to ongoing Middle East conflicts.
The nationwide average for regular gasoline has risen approximately 90 cents per gallon since late February when the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran, according to American Automobile Association data. Thursday’s average price hit $3.88 per gallon.
Energy market experts anticipate further increases as crude oil costs continue their upward trajectory. West Texas Intermediate crude futures have surged nearly $30 per barrel, representing a 43% jump from $67.02 to $96.14 during the same timeframe.
GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan posted on X that “It now looks like gasoline will hit $4/gal next week and could head toward $4.10/gal and beyond.”
Reaching the $4 per gallon threshold, last seen in August 2022, will add financial stress to Americans already dealing with broader inflationary pressures. Rising fuel costs present a significant political challenge for Trump and Republican lawmakers facing upcoming November midterm elections where they’re defending narrow congressional majorities.
The president had promised to reduce energy costs and boost domestic oil and gas output. However, his second term has been characterized by market instability, policy changes including tariffs, and international tensions.
Military actions by the U.S. and Israel against Iran have restricted oil supplies from a crucial global production region, with Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz hampering Middle Eastern export operations.
Gasoline prices at retail locations have climbed alongside crude oil costs due to higher raw material expenses.
The Trump administration this week approved a temporary 60-day suspension of Jones Act shipping regulations, permitting foreign vessels to transport fuel, fertilizer and other commodities between American ports. Industry experts believe this measure will provide minimal relief from price increases.
An unnamed fuel trading professional explained that “Oil prices are set independently of transportation costs. The waiver will only allow additional ships to carry supplies.” The source added, “I don’t think it will dramatically lower prices.”
De Haan cautioned that “Motorists hoping for a plummet at the pump from the Jones Act waiver are probably going to be disappointed.”
Officials are also expected to announce temporary suspension of summer gasoline standards, which would remove federal environmental requirements for summer-grade fuel blends.
According to De Haan, this regulatory waiver could reduce retail gasoline prices by 10 to 20 cents per gallon, with the greatest savings likely in metropolitan areas like Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C., where reformulated gasoline is mandated.
California legislators are moving quickly to strip Cesar Chavez’s name from their state holiday following disturbing sexual assault allegations against the late labor leader.
State Assembly members from both parties introduced legislation Thursday to rename the March 31 holiday “Farmworkers Day” instead of honoring Chavez individually. A vote could happen as early as Monday, according to Republican Assembly member Alexandra Macedo.
“Due to the outrage, this is coming up fast,” Macedo said in an interview. “But this holiday has never been about one man. It’s about all the farmworkers who feed and clothe the world, not just California or our nation, but the world.”
The controversy erupted after Dolores Huerta, who helped establish the United Farm Workers union alongside Chavez, publicly accused him Wednesday of sexually assaulting her during the 1960s. Her revelation coincided with a New York Times investigation spanning multiple years that documented a pattern of sexual misconduct allegations against Chavez, including accounts from women who say he molested and raped them as children.
Huerta revealed she had concealed her experiences with Chavez, including bearing two of his children, because she feared damaging the labor movement they built together.
Chavez gained national recognition during the mid-1960s for organizing agricultural workers throughout Central and Southern California, fighting for improved wages and working conditions. He passed away in 1993 at age 66.
President Barack Obama designated Chavez’s birthday as a federal commemorative holiday in 2014. California became the first state to establish it as a state holiday in 2000, with several other states following suit. Traditional observances have included community marches, volunteer service activities, and educational programming.
The United Farm Workers union has already cancelled its planned Chavez celebrations in response to the allegations. Municipal governments are also taking action to remove his name from educational institutions and streets while cancelling or renaming events held in his honor.
While most of these changes will require time to implement, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass moved swiftly Thursday, signing an executive order immediately renaming March 31 as Farmworkers Day within the city.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot will make an unexpected diplomatic trip to Israel on Friday following discussions in Beirut on Thursday, as France works to ease Middle Eastern tensions and broker a Lebanese ceasefire.
According to the French foreign ministry, Barrot plans to address regional security concerns, humanitarian assistance matters, and efforts to calm ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts with Israeli officials.
Sources close to the situation indicate Israel has dismissed Beirut’s proposal for direct negotiations, viewing the offer as insufficient and overdue from a Lebanese government that opposes Iran-supported Hezbollah but worries that confronting the group could trigger internal warfare.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who held talks with Barrot on Thursday, has shown openness to starting direct discussions with Israel. These talks come after Israel launched aerial attacks on Lebanon in response to Hezbollah’s March 2 assault on Israel. Despite diplomatic overtures, Hezbollah has refused the negotiation proposal and continues fighting.
Given France’s longstanding relationship with Lebanon, the country has joined the United States in attempting to mediate the dispute. Barrot coordinated with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio prior to his Lebanese visit.
“We call on the Israeli and Lebanese representatives to conduct constructive negotiations with a view to finding a lasting political solution, and we are ready, if necessary, to welcome them,” foreign ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux told reporters earlier on Thursday.
Last week, France offered alternative suggestions to American proposals aimed at ending the conflict, according to two diplomatic sources.
Three diplomatic officials revealed that Washington has shown limited enthusiasm for France’s recommendations, though conversations between the two allies continue. They also noted that Israel has turned down the French proposals.
Multiple media sources confirmed Thursday that Penn State has selected Tanisha Wright, a former Lady Lions standout who currently serves as an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky, to lead their women’s basketball program.
The 42-year-old Wright made her mark at Penn State between 2001 and 2005, capturing three Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors while earning first-team all-conference recognition three times as a shooting guard.
Wright steps in to replace Carolyn Kieger, who was dismissed from her position two weeks ago following a seven-year tenure that produced an 84-123 overall record. The Nittany Lions struggled this past season, finishing 11-18 overall and 4-14 in conference play.
Following her collegiate career, Wright became the 12th overall selection in the 2005 WNBA Draft when the Seattle Storm picked her in the first round. Her professional playing career spanned 14 seasons, during which she averaged 7.3 points, 3.1 assists, and 2.6 rebounds across 457 games with 304 starts for three different franchises. Wright earned seven WNBA All-Defensive team selections and captured a championship with Seattle in 2010.
Most recently, Wright served as head coach for the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream from 2022 through 2024, posting a 48-68 record while guiding the team to two playoff berths.
Wright began her coaching journey in college basketball, working as an assistant at Charlotte from 2017 to 2021, before transitioning to the professional ranks as an assistant with the Las Vegas Aces from 2020 to 2021.
Motorists traveling on eastbound Fast Landing Road are encountering lane restrictions today as construction crews continue their work in the area.
DelDOT reports that the right lane remains blocked between North DuPont Highway (US Route 13) and East Dennys Road as part of an ongoing construction project. The mobile construction operation is expected to wrap up by 5:00 PM this evening.
Drivers are advised to plan for potential delays and consider alternate routes if possible during the remainder of the afternoon commute.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials have implemented a right shoulder closure on Marsh Road as construction crews continue their work in the area.
The affected stretch runs between Naamans Road and Chestnut Street, with the closure expected to last until 3 PM today.
Motorists traveling through the area should expect potential delays and are advised to use caution when passing through the construction zone.
Maryland Natural Resources Police conducted widespread enforcement operations during the winter months of 2025-26, leading to multiple arrests and citations for violations of hunting, fishing, and firearm laws across the state.
Officers addressed numerous infractions from December 2025 through February 2026, including illegal spotlighting, out-of-season hunting, weapons violations, improper oyster harvesting, and crimes committed on public lands.
West Virginia Resident Faces Gun Charges at C&O Canal
A routine patrol on February 13 in Washington County led to serious charges for a West Virginia man. Officers discovered a vehicle parked after hours at the C&O Canal in Williamsport with three occupants inside. A handgun was visible near the console, and investigation showed the 27-year-old Martinsburg resident lacked proper permits to carry firearms in Maryland. He now faces charges including handgun possession in a vehicle, carrying a loaded weapon illegally, and trespassing, with potential penalties of 20 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
Hollywood Teen Cited for Roadway Shooting
Officers responded to gunfire reports on January 28 near Lewis Wharf Road and Elliott’s Island Road in Dorchester County. They located a vehicle with three individuals, one of whom confessed to firing a shotgun from the passenger window. The 19-year-old Hollywood man was cited for having a loaded weapon in a vehicle and shooting from a public road, facing up to $3,000 in fines. Police confiscated a Browning 12-gauge shotgun.
Preston Hunter Used Wrong Weapon During Archery Season
An investigation began January 28 when officers found an eight-point deer carcass at a Caroline County processor that showed rifle wounds despite being registered as a crossbow kill. The probe revealed a 33-year-old Preston man had used a Remington .270 rifle during archery season, outside the permitted firearm dates of November 29-December 13, 2025, and January 9-11, 2026. He faces charges for hunting during closed season, falsifying harvest reports, and using improper weapons, with potential fines reaching $6,000.
Frederick County Reporting Violations Uncovered
Data analysis led to citations on January 24 for improper deer harvest reporting in Frederick County. An 18-year-old Thurmont resident failed to report his deer within the required 24-hour window and registered a nine-point buck as a muzzleloader kill without purchasing the necessary stamp. Officers seized an eight-point deer head and hide plus a nine-point European mount, with the hunter facing up to $3,000 in penalties.
Pennsylvania Hunter Exceeds Bag Limits
A 25-year-old Greencastle, Pennsylvania man was cited January 18 for surpassing deer harvest limits at Indian Springs Wildlife Management Area in Washington County. He had already taken an antlered deer during archery season but checked in another on January 17, violating Deer Management Region A regulations. The violation carries a maximum $1,500 fine.
Oyster Storage Scheme Discovered in St. Mary’s County
Dockside inspections on January 14 revealed 21 bushels of oysters being illegally stored underwater at an Island Creek dock in St. Mary’s County. The oysters, harvested between December 12, 2025, and January 9, 2026, belonged to a 67-year-old Piney Point man who admitted to storing them while awaiting better market prices. The storage location was in restricted waters due to water quality concerns. Officers returned the oysters to non-harvest waters and issued citations carrying up to $2,000 in fines.
Allegany County Felon Faces Multiple Charges
A mutual aid operation in Allegany County on January 11 led to extensive charges for a 68-year-old Flintstone man. Officers discovered eight deer heads at his residence and found multiple reporting violations. Further investigation revealed the man was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms. Three weapons were seized, resulting in 14 natural resources citations and five criminal charges, with potential penalties of 27 years imprisonment and over $18,000 in fines.
Construction Debris Dumped in State Forest
Officers traced illegally dumped construction materials in Garrett State Forest back to a 34-year-old McHenry man on January 6. Evidence found within the debris led investigators to an active construction site, where they identified the responsible party. He received a citation for littering in a state forest, punishable by up to $500.
Smithsburg Pair Caught Baiting on Public Lands
Reports of illegal bait piles and permanent tree stands in Green Ridge State Forest led to citations on January 2. Officers found corn and apple piles where baiting is prohibited, along with permanent stands, cameras, and evidence of ATV use in restricted areas. Two Smithsburg men, ages 48 and 49, confessed to the violations and received citations carrying $500 maximum fines each.
Revoked License Holder Caught Commercial Fishing
New Year’s Day patrol in Caroline County resulted in charges for a 27-year-old Federalsburg man with a permanently revoked commercial fishing license. Officers spotted his registered vehicle at a boat ramp and waited for his return from gill netting activities. Vendor receipts showed he had previously sold blue catfish despite being barred from all commercial fishing. He faces three citations with potential $3,000 in fines.
Christmas Eve Chase Ends in Crash
A surveillance operation using a deer decoy on December 24 in Garrett County led to a dramatic chase when a 63-year-old Oakland man shot at the decoy and fled from officers. His vehicle crashed in wet conditions, and he ran into woods before surrendering. Officers recovered a .22 caliber rifle he had thrown from the vehicle and discovered he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a felony conviction and had suspended driving privileges. He faces 29 years potential imprisonment and $12,000 in fines on firearms charges alone.
Additional Violations Result in Various Penalties
Other winter enforcement actions included citations for illegal baiting in Garrett State Forest, waterfowl hunting over bait in Dorchester County, roadway hunting by brothers in Garrett County, and multiple cases of prohibited persons possessing firearms while hunting in various state forests and parks. Penalties ranged from hundreds to thousands of dollars in fines, with some cases carrying potential prison sentences for repeat offenders and those with prior felony convictions.
The head coach of Salisbury University’s track and field program has earned prestigious recognition from a national coaching organization.
Jim Jones received the Mid-Atlantic Men’s Region Coach of the Year award for the 2026 indoor season, as announced Thursday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The honor recognizes Jones’ leadership of the Sea Gulls’ men’s track and field team during the indoor competition season. The USTFCCCA presents these regional coaching awards annually to acknowledge outstanding performance and achievement in collegiate track and field programs across the country.
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — The military leader of Madagascar announced Thursday that prospective government ministers must undergo polygraph testing as part of an anti-corruption screening process.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who assumed control of the Indian Ocean nation following an October coup, revealed that Madagascar has obtained lie detector equipment and trained personnel to evaluate potential cabinet members.
“We will know who is corrupt and who can help us,” Randrianirina stated. “We are not looking for someone who is 100% clean, but someone who is more than 60% clean.”
The military officer led the overthrow of President Andry Rajoelina after weeks of demonstrations last year, primarily driven by young citizens angry about inadequate public services and limited opportunities in the poverty-stricken country of approximately 32 million people.
Last week, Randrianirina dismissed his complete cabinet and disbanded the government structure. He named a new prime minister this past Sunday.
“After taking the polygraph test, candidates who fail will not proceed to an interview,” Randrianirina explained to media representatives. “Those who pass the polygraph test will have an interview with me and the prime minister.”
The military leader has committed to conducting fresh elections within two years of assuming power.
Airport security checkpoint delays have become impossible to predict during the ongoing government shutdown, as Transportation Security Administration worker attendance varies daily and determines whether passengers face quick processing or extensive waits that extend beyond terminal buildings.
At Houston’s primary airport on Thursday morning, passengers faced wait times lasting several hours because of inadequate staffing, forcing some travelers to miss their departures or rush frantically to boarding gates.
Meanwhile, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport experienced mostly manageable to brief delays, despite having some of Wednesday’s most extensive security queues nationwide, though officials closed one screening area because of insufficient personnel.
Aviation specialists say forecasting which locations will experience the most severe delays at any moment proves difficult since the core issue involves TSA employees failing to report for scheduled work. Approximately 50,000 federal employees responsible for screening travelers and luggage continue working without compensation as Congress remains unable to reach agreement on Department of Homeland Security funding.
This marks the third shutdown impacting TSA staff since autumn began. Increasing financial pressure makes it more challenging for workers to cover essential expenses such as fuel or childcare while maintaining their work schedules, according to the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents the majority of airport security screening personnel. Homeland Security reports that no fewer than 366 TSA agents have resigned since the current shutdown started February 14.
“This is a very unfortunate situation and an extreme situation, and one that has been dragging on far too long, and is only likely to get worse,” said Eric Rosen, director of travel content for the travel and finance site The Points Guy.
Rosen recommended that passengers verify security checkpoint delays at their departure airport by visiting the facility’s website or checking social media updates. Many airports also indicate which screening locations remain operational versus closed, he noted.
This information proves valuable for most passengers using standard security processing, he explained. However, given current circumstances, expedited screening programs offer significant advantages. When Houston wait times reached three hours recently, TSA PreCheck passengers completed screening in just 10 minutes, Rosen observed.
“It can cut down wait times even during the best times when things are flowing smoothly, but right now we’re seeing the true value of that,” he said.
Clear+ membership provides another method for reducing delays, allowing subscribers to bypass identity verification and boarding pass checking lines to proceed directly to baggage screening. The company refused to disclose whether membership has increased over the past month.
However, traveler Sara Oberton reported Thursday that she and other Houston passengers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport’s Terminal E were directed into a single queue, despite having Clear+ or TSA PreCheck access. Airport representatives declined to provide details, stating only that available TSA screening lanes fluctuate based on staffing availability.
Oberton, who works as a fashion blogger, spent three hours in line, causing her to miss her Los Angeles flight.
“It is pure insanity here in Houston,” she said in a video posted on social media.
Rosen from The Points Guy offered guidance for passengers who arrive hours early but still risk missing flights: Request assistance from airline staff to move ahead in line.
“I know it’s a little cringe and I know it’s a little uncomfortable,” he said. “But it’s not like showing up 20 minutes before your flight and expecting just to breeze through.”
Airlines have no obligation to assist passengers delayed by TSA staffing problems, he cautioned.
“It’s not on them to make sure that you get to the gate on time,” he said.
Delaware Department of Transportation crews are conducting litter removal operations along Interstate 495 today, working on shoulder areas in both travel directions between the Newport and Edgemoor sections.
The cleanup activities are taking place on both the northbound and southbound lanes of the interstate, with crews expected to wrap up their work by 5 p.m. this afternoon.
Motorists traveling through this stretch of I-495 may encounter the maintenance crews working along the roadway shoulders during the operation.
Motorists traveling on Route 1 southbound should expect delays this morning due to a traffic incident that has shut down the right lane near Route 299.
The Delaware Department of Transportation is reporting the lane closure and advising drivers to use caution when traveling through the area. Traffic is being directed around the incident scene.
DelDOT has not yet provided details about the nature of the incident or an estimated time for when the lane will reopen to normal traffic flow.
Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible or allow extra travel time when passing through this section of Route 1.
MIAMI — The Los Angeles Lakers have listed superstar LeBron James as questionable for Thursday’s matchup against the Miami Heat, potentially delaying his pursuit of the NBA’s all-time record for career games played by a few more days.
According to the Lakers, James is managing left foot arthritis. The team also listed Luka Doncic as questionable with right hip soreness and Austin Reaves with a right forearm contusion.
This trio contributed 84 points during the Lakers’ 124-116 victory over Houston on Wednesday evening. Following that contest, the team traveled to Miami, touching down at 3:59 a.m. — unusually late compared to typical arrival times for teams playing consecutive nights.
In Wednesday’s triumph, James shot an exceptional 13 of 14 from the field, matching his career-best shooting display. This marked his 1,610th regular-season appearance, placing him just one game shy of Robert Parish’s all-time record.
During the closing moments of Wednesday’s victory, James struck his right elbow against the court surface, staying down momentarily while showing clear signs of discomfort. Speaking with ESPN during the post-game television interview, he expressed optimism about participating Thursday in Miami — a city where he spent four seasons and captured two of his four NBA titles.
Parish, who entered the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003, has held the outright games played record since April 6, 1996. On that date, he appeared in his 1,561st contest, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s previous mark.
Parish ultimately competed in 50 additional regular-season contests before retiring following the 1996-97 campaign. His 21-year NBA journey began with Golden State, continued for more than ten years in Boston, and concluded with stints in Charlotte and Chicago.
“No player is better deserving to break that Ironman record, that 1,611 games played record, than LeBron,” Parish told Sirius NBA Radio earlier this week. “He deserves it, in my opinion.”
This games played milestone would represent another addition to James’ extensive collection of NBA records, as he currently holds the league’s top position in multiple categories including total points, minutes played, field goals made and attempted.
James also owns NBA records with 23 seasons played, 22 All-Star selections and 21 All-NBA team honors.
Should he remain sidelined Thursday, James’ next opportunity to match the record would come Saturday when the Lakers visit Orlando.
A Chilean archaeological site that has served as cornerstone evidence for early human migration to the Americas is facing new scrutiny from researchers who believe it may be thousands of years younger than originally determined.
Monte Verde has long been considered the most compelling proof of human presence in the Americas dating back approximately 14,500 years. Archaeological teams discovered evidence including human footprints, wooden implements, structural foundations, and remnants of ancient hearths at the location, with sediment and artifact analysis supporting this timeframe.
However, fresh research published Thursday in Science journal questions these age estimates, proposing that Monte Verde could be significantly more recent than previously established. The controversial findings have sparked heated debate among archaeological experts.
Researchers examined sediment samples from nine locations along Chinchihuapi Creek near the site, studying how the terrain evolved across millennia. Their investigation revealed volcanic ash deposits from an eruption that occurred roughly 11,000 years ago.
Study co-author Claudio Latorre from Pontifical Catholic University of Chile explained that materials found above this ash layer, including Monte Verde’s wooden artifacts, must be more recent in origin.
“We basically reinterpreted the geology of the site. And we came to the conclusion that the Monte Verde site cannot be older than 8,200 years before present,” Latorre stated.
The research team believes geological processes, including stream erosion of rock formations, may have caused mixing of older and newer sediment layers, leading previous investigators to incorrectly date ancient wood as belonging to the Monte Verde settlement.
Multiple scientists, including those who participated in the original excavations, are challenging these conclusions.
“They have provided, at best, a working hypothesis that is not supported by the data they presented,” commented Michael Waters from Texas A&M University, who was not involved in either research effort.
Critics argue the study analyzed samples from areas surrounding Monte Verde where geological conditions differ from the actual site. They also contend there is insufficient proof that volcanic ash deposits once blanketed the entire region.
Additionally, skeptics point out the research fails to adequately address artifacts directly dated to 14,500 years ago, including a mastodon tusk converted into a tool, a wooden spear, and a digging implement with a charred end.
“This interpretation disregards a vast body of well-dated cultural evidence,” archaeologist Tom Dillehay of Vanderbilt University, who directed the site’s initial excavation, wrote in an email response.
The new study’s authors reject these criticisms, maintaining they collected samples from within the site as well as upstream and downstream locations. Co-author Todd Surovell from the University of Wyoming argues there is inadequate evidence confirming the dated artifacts are genuinely that ancient.
Monte Verde plays a crucial role in scientific theories about human arrival in the Americas. Researchers previously believed the first inhabitants were groups arriving 13,000 years ago who created distinctive stone implements called Clovis points. Monte Verde’s discovery and dating, though initially controversial, seemed to settle this debate.
The impact of a revised timeline for the site remains uncertain. Since Monte Verde’s recognition, archaeologists have identified North American locations predating Clovis peoples, including Cooper’s Ferry in Idaho and the Debra L. Friedkin site in Texas.
A major remaining question concerns how people traveled from Asia to the Americas, navigating around two enormous ice sheets covering Canada. Did humans arrive when the sheets separated, creating an ice-free passage? Did they journey along coastlines using boats, or traverse a combination of water and land routes?
Surovell suggested that updated dating for Monte Verde might restart discussions about the most probable paths taken by early humans. Additional independent studies of other ancient human sites could provide greater understanding.
“Given enough time and given the ability to do science, science is self-corrective,” Surovell observed. “It eventually reaches the truth.”
The United States experienced a decline in commercial red meat production this year, with output dropping by 2 percent compared to the same period last year, according to new data from federal agriculture officials.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service released figures showing the decrease in livestock processing across the country, marking a notable shift in the nation’s meat production industry.
This reduction in red meat output reflects changes in the agricultural sector that could impact both producers and consumers nationwide. The statistics cover commercial slaughter operations throughout the United States.
The decline comes as the livestock industry continues to navigate various market conditions and operational challenges affecting production levels across different regions of the country.
Federal automotive safety officials are intensifying their examination of Tesla’s autonomous driving technology following multiple accidents involving vehicles operating in self-driving mode, creating new challenges for CEO Elon Musk as he prepares to introduce a revolutionary vehicle without traditional controls.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced in a recent document that investigators are reviewing nine collisions where Tesla’s automated driving system failed to promptly warn drivers to resume manual control during challenging weather conditions such as fog, with the vehicle’s camera systems unable to detect roadway dangers. This NHTSA announcement indicates that a regulatory review launched in 2024 focusing on low-visibility accidents may now progress toward enforcement measures, potentially resulting in a recall affecting 3.2 million Tesla automobiles.
Tesla shares dropped 3.1% to $380.75 during Thursday’s early afternoon market activity.
This heightened government oversight arrives as Tesla works to persuade shareholders that the company’s future depends more on widespread adoption of its autonomous driving technology rather than traditional vehicle sales, which have been declining. Musk has announced plans to transform millions of existing Tesla vehicles into rental taxis that owners could lease out during periods of non-use.
Supporting this strategic shift, Musk revealed Tesla will launch its driverless robotaxi program in multiple American cities this year, with nobody operating the vehicle. The company also plans to begin manufacturing its Cybercab model, featuring no steering wheel or pedals, for consumer purchase next month.
Tesla has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.
Tesla vehicles differ from other self-driving cars by depending exclusively on camera technology to identify road hazards. Competing systems combine cameras with light radar or lidar technology, a costlier approach that Musk has characterized as redundant.
The NHTSA investigation examining accidents during conditions involving sun glare, dust, or heavy fog will now advance to an “engineering analysis,” representing a more intensive level of regulatory review.
Tesla previously marketed its driver assistance technology as Full Self-Driving, or FSD, a designation that automotive specialists and government officials criticized as deceptive since operators must maintain constant road awareness and readiness to intervene immediately. The company subsequently modified the name to Full Self-Driving (Supervised).
Among the nine accidents being investigated, Tesla has informed regulators that three incidents could have been prevented with newer wireless FSD software updates.
Tesla currently faces multiple additional regulatory investigations, including one examining FSD-equipped vehicles that run red lights and another concerning door handles that allegedly malfunctioned during crashes, preventing passenger escape.
Federal officials announced Thursday they are conducting investigations into 13 states, including Delaware, over requirements that health insurance plans provide abortion coverage.
These investigations represent the most recent chapter in an ongoing political battle over how to interpret the Weldon Amendment, a federal provision included annually in spending legislation since 2005. This amendment prohibits states from discriminating against healthcare organizations that refuse to provide, cover, or make referrals for abortion services.
During Joe Biden’s presidency, the Department of Health and Human Services’ civil rights division determined this provision did not apply to employers or healthcare plan sponsors. However, the current Trump administration has reversed this interpretation.
Federal officials now argue that states requiring abortion coverage may be breaking the law by failing to provide opt-out options for employers and healthcare plan issuers. The administration is requesting additional information from affected states through formal letters.
Paula M. Stannard, who heads the HHS civil rights office, explained the investigations aim “to address certain states’ alleged disregard of, or confusion about, compliance with the Weldon Amendment.”
“Under the Weldon Amendment, health care entities, such as health insurance issuers and health plans, are protected from state discrimination for not paying for, or providing coverage of, abortion contrary to conscience. Period,” Stannard said.
The targeted states include California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. Vermont is the only state among them with a Republican governor.
The Weldon Amendment belongs to a category of legislation called conscience laws, designed to protect individuals and healthcare organizations from being forced to provide abortions or related services that conflict with their religious or moral beliefs.
Mary Ziegler, who teaches law at the University of California, Davis, noted that since the amendment’s passage in 2005, its interpretation has shifted based on “partisan swing” depending on which political party controls the White House.
Ziegler observed that Democrats might have a stronger legal position since the amendment’s text doesn’t specifically mention employers and plan sponsors among protected healthcare entities, though courts have not yet settled this question.
Elizabeth Sepper, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin, pointed out that Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s comprehensive policy blueprint, recommended that a Trump administration should cut Medicaid funding from states found violating the Weldon Amendment.
“What we’re seeing here is the fulfillment of a promise to the religious right,” she said.
During Trump’s previous term in 2020, his administration attempted to cut federal healthcare funding from California over alleged Weldon Amendment violations, but the Biden administration reversed that decision upon taking office in 2021.
Federal health authorities gave the green light Thursday to a more powerful formulation of the widely-used weight-loss medication Wegovy, offering hope for enhanced results among patients seeking to shed excess pounds.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a 7.2-milligram weekly injection from Denmark-based pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. This represents a significant increase from the current maximum strength of 2.4 milligrams per dose.
The enhanced formulation received expedited consideration under the FDA’s accelerated assessment pathway. Officials completed their review within 54 days of accepting the application, according to an agency announcement.
Novo Nordisk plans to make the stronger dose available at American pharmacies beginning in April, with pricing details to be revealed at that time.
European health regulators had previously authorized the higher-strength version in February.
Research participants using the enhanced formulation, branded as Wegovy HD, achieved approximately 19% body weight reduction, equivalent to nearly 47 pounds, compared to roughly 16% weight loss or 39 pounds with the standard dose over a 17-month period.
Scientists developed the stronger version because while the existing 2.4-milligram injection proves effective for many patients, “some individuals do not reach their therapeutic goals” at the current strength, according to findings published in Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
The FDA previously approved an oral Wegovy tablet in December, containing 25 milligrams of the active ingredient semaglutide to ensure proper absorption through the digestive tract.
Dr. Jody Dushay, who specializes in endocrinology and obesity treatment at Harvard Medical School, praised the approval of the stronger injection.
The enhanced dose “may be especially helpful for people” who tolerate the current version well but “have had suboptimal weight loss,” she explained via email. She noted it could also benefit individuals who don’t respond strongly to Eli Lilly’s competing obesity treatment Zepbound.
However, digestive issues including nausea, vomiting and constipation affected more than 70% of patients taking the higher dose, compared to over 60% using the standard strength and approximately 43% receiving inactive treatment, study data revealed.
Additionally, a condition causing uncomfortable skin sensations like burning, stabbing or electric shock-like feelings occurred in roughly 23% of higher-dose patients versus 6% taking the standard dose and under 1% receiving placebo treatment.
Severe complications were documented in nearly 7% of participants using the 7.2-milligram dose, compared to about 11% taking the 2.4-milligram version and roughly 5% receiving inactive treatment.
Dr. Dushay observed that jumping from 2.4 milligrams to 7.4 milligrams represents “quite a big jump,” particularly without an intermediate strength option.
“It will be important to see if in the real world, versus in a clinical study, side effects are any worse,” she cautioned.
Hip-hop artist Afroman, legally known as Joseph Foreman, has emerged victorious in a defamation case brought against him by Ohio law enforcement officials following a highly publicized trial.
The legal battle stemmed from the musician’s 2023 release of his album and track titled “Lemon Pound Cake,” which featured home surveillance footage that ridiculed a police search conducted at his Ohio residence.
The deputies who participated in the raid filed a civil lawsuit against the rapper, claiming defamation over his use of the footage in his creative work. However, a jury ultimately ruled in favor of Foreman, rejecting the officers’ claims.
The case gained significant attention online, with the trial becoming a viral sensation as it unfolded. Afroman, best known for his hit song “Because I Got High,” turned the legal proceedings and the original police raid into material for his music and public commentary.
The jury’s decision represents a victory for the artist, who successfully argued his right to use the footage from his own property in his artistic expression.
Ocean City Police Chief Raymond J. Austin announced that Lieutenant Charles J. Kelley has successfully completed the FBI National Academy’s 297th session. The completion ceremony was held on March 18, 2026, at the FBI Academy located in Quantico, Virginia.
The FBI National Academy is recognized worldwide for its outstanding academic standards and rigorous training program for law enforcement professionals.
WASHINGTON — An ongoing Justice Department probe may inadvertently allow Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to extend his tenure beyond his official term ending May 15, despite President Donald Trump’s months-long effort to oust him from the position.
Trump has selected former Fed official Kevin Warsh as Powell’s replacement, but Warsh’s Senate confirmation has stalled due to a DOJ inquiry examining Powell’s brief remarks to the Senate Banking Committee last June regarding the Federal Reserve’s building renovation project.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina has declared he will not support any Fed appointments until the investigation concludes. Combined with Democratic opposition on the committee, Tillis’s position has effectively prevented Warsh’s nomination from moving forward.
During a Wednesday press conference, Powell announced his intention to continue leading the Fed’s interest rate-setting panel beyond his term’s expiration if no replacement receives confirmation. He indicated he might extend his service even further while the investigation remains active.
“I have no intention of leaving the board until the investigation is well and truly over, with transparency and finality,” Powell stated to reporters.
While Powell’s chairmanship expires, his membership on the Fed’s seven-member governing board continues through January 2028. Unlike typical practice where departing chairs leave the board entirely, Powell could maintain his board position, preventing Trump from appointing another member to fill the seat.
When asked Wednesday whether he would resign after the investigation’s completion, Powell remained noncommittal.
“I have not made that decision yet,” he explained. “I will make that decision based on what I think is best for the institution and the people we serve.”
The situation presents an unexpected development considering Trump’s public criticism of Powell, while demonstrating the Federal Reserve’s success in defending its autonomy through legal and congressional channels.
The DOJ investigation suffered a significant setback recently when a federal judge dismissed two subpoenas issued by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeannine Pirro, which sought Fed documents related to its $2.5 billion building renovation.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg determined that the subpoenas were primarily intended “to harass and pressure Powell either to yield to the President or to resign and make way for a Fed Chair who will.”
Pirro announced plans to appeal the ruling last week, expressing indifference about any resulting delays in Warsh’s potential appointment.
“I don’t even know who he is,” Pirro commented about Warsh. “Politics is not the lane I’m in right now. … We are focused on the law.”
Meteorologists issued warnings Thursday that an unprecedented winter heat wave gripping the Southwest will persist through the weekend, following Wednesday’s remarkable temperature milestone in a small California desert town.
The community of North Shore, California, registered 108 degrees (42.2 Celsius) on Wednesday, matching the nation’s highest March temperature first recorded in Rio Grande City, Texas, back in 1954. Meanwhile, the desert town of Thermal, located northeast of San Diego, could see temperatures soar to 110 degrees (43.3 C) on Friday.
Even nighttime brought little respite from the extreme conditions. Phoenix established a new overnight low temperature record for March 19th, with thermometers never dropping below 69 degrees (20.5 C), the National Weather Service reported. Thursday’s daytime temperatures in Phoenix are expected to peak around 105 degrees (40.5 C), with Friday potentially bringing even more intense heat. “For some perspective, the average first 105 degree day of the year normally occurs on May 22nd,” the weather service noted. The last occurrence of triple-digit March temperatures in Phoenix happened nearly four decades ago.
Multiple cities across the region shattered temperature records on Wednesday, experiencing their most intense March heat in 40 years, weather officials confirmed.
Las Vegas soared to 99 degrees (37.2 C), obliterating its previous March benchmark of 93 degrees (33.8 C) established in 2022.
In downtown Los Angeles, thermometers climbed to 94 degrees (34.4 C), surpassing the former daily record of 87 degrees (30.5 C) from 1997.
The resort city of Palm Springs, California, registered 104 degrees (40 C), equaling its warmest March temperature previously recorded in 1966.
The Southwest region will experience temperatures 20 to 30 degrees higher than typical March averages through the remainder of the week before conditions begin moderating Sunday. Weather forecasters predict numerous cities throughout the area may witness their earliest 100-degree (37.8-plus C) days in recorded history.
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Military strikes targeting major energy infrastructure across the Persian Gulf region are sparking concerns about sustained disruptions that could drive up costs for fuel, electricity, technology components, and food supplies worldwide.
Thursday’s Iranian assault on crucial Gulf energy facilities came as payback for Israel’s strike on a natural gas operation that provides the majority of Iran’s gas supply. These retaliatory exchanges have heightened worries that initial war-related price increases could become permanent fixtures in the global economy.
Regional nations have already reduced oil production after Iranian strike threats forced most tanker operations through the Strait of Hormuz to halt, creating a bottleneck with nowhere for the oil to flow. Even when the strait reopens safely for tanker passage, energy supplies will take considerable time to resume normal flow because of the complicated process required to restart refineries and related operations. Any infrastructure damage from continued military action will extend these delays further.
Asian markets are experiencing the most severe impact since the majority of oil and gas passing through the strait heads to that region. Philippine government operations now run just four days weekly with orders to reduce air conditioning usage. Vietnamese authorities have encouraged remote work arrangements.
The disruptions extend beyond petroleum products. Critical materials including helium for semiconductor manufacturing and sulfur for fertilizer production face supply obstacles that could soon create shortages, pushing up prices throughout entire production chains.
Several major facilities have become primary targets in the conflict.
The South Pars natural gas field represents the planet’s largest such reserve, shared between Iran and Qatar, where Qatar calls its section the North Field. South Pars provides most of the natural gas Iran uses for residential heating and power generation.
Israeli forces struck facilities at Asuleyah connected to this field, prompting Iranian warnings of attacks on energy sites throughout other Gulf nations.
Iran already faces periodic electricity production challenges. Losing South Pars gas supplies would create additional hardships for Iranian civilians.
President Donald Trump stated Israel would not target South Pars again, but issued a social media warning that continued Iranian strikes on Qatar’s energy infrastructure would trigger U.S. retaliation to “massively blow up the entirety” of the field.
The planet’s biggest LNG export operation sustained “extensive” damage during Thursday’s Iranian retaliatory strike. State-owned QatarEnergy had already suspended operations following an earlier drone attack.
Ras Laffan processes gas from Qatar’s portion of the shared field with Iran, known as the North Field. The facility cools gas until it becomes liquid for tanker transport, primarily to Asian markets.
This attack severely impacted global energy markets since Qatar supplies 20% of worldwide liquefied natural gas. European consumers are already experiencing significantly higher prices.
This tanker facility has processed nearly all of Iran’s approximately 1.6 million daily barrels of pre-conflict crude exports, with most shipments bound for China. Trump announced U.S. bombing of military positions on Kharg Island March 13 while avoiding oil infrastructure, though he warned those energy facilities could face future attacks.
Some tankers continue loading operations there. Iranian oil appears to be exiting the Gulf through a “dark fleet” of vessels using false location data and hidden ownership to avoid sanctions, according to maritime intelligence firms.
Saudi Aramco’s pipeline connecting the Abqaiq oil processing facility near the Persian Gulf to Yanbu port on the Red Sea bypasses the Hormuz bottleneck, enabling Saudi Arabia to maintain substantial oil exports. However, the pipeline cannot fully compensate for the Hormuz closure. Saudi officials reported strikes on their SAMREF refinery at Yanbu, raising questions about continued oil export capabilities through that port.
This crucial tanker terminal on the Gulf of Oman allows Abu Dhabi to export significant oil volumes through a pipeline from the Habshan oil and gas field without using the Strait of Hormuz. Two strikes have disrupted operations, though activities have reportedly resumed.
After a drone attack, Kuwait Petroleum company reported Thursday that facility fires were extinguished, without detailing damage extent. Refineries are essential to Kuwait’s oil production since wells must shut down without processing destinations. Restarting refineries requires extensive time for safety protocols, keeping wells largely inactive until refineries resume operations.
Salalah hosts an $800 million facility producing liquid petroleum gas for Asian export, commonly used for cooking fuel. Indian restaurants have reduced operating hours and eliminated energy-intensive menu items like curries and fried foods. Located outside the Strait of Hormuz, operations were suspended as a precautionary measure following drone strikes.
This site provides approximately 20% of Abu Dhabi’s natural gas supply and serves as a major sulfur supplier extracted from gas, used in fertilizer and chemical manufacturing. Operations ceased Tuesday due to drone strike damage.
Authorities in Barcelona, Spain are conducting an intensive search operation for a missing American college student who disappeared after an evening out with friends earlier this week.
James “Jimmy” Gracey, age 20 and enrolled at the University of Alabama, vanished in the early morning hours of Tuesday while visiting friends participating in study abroad programs. The student from Elmhurst, Illinois—a Chicago suburb located approximately 19 miles west of the city—was last spotted leaving the Shoko nightclub near Barceloneta Beach around 3 a.m.
The young man failed to return to his shared accommodation, prompting concern from his companions and family members back home in Illinois.
Catalan regional authorities have launched comprehensive search efforts that include aerial surveillance and underwater operations as they work to locate the missing student.
According to family social media posts, Gracey was dressed in a white shirt and dark trousers when he disappeared, and was wearing a distinctive gold rhinestone cross necklace.
“Jimmy is a kind, responsible, and devoted son and brother. It is completely out of character for him not to check in with family and friends,” Gracey’s family said in a statement shared with The Associated Press. “We are working closely with local authorities and are incredibly grateful for the support we have received. We ask that you keep Jimmy in your thoughts as we continue to do everything we can to bring him home safely.”
His companions remaining in Barcelona have begun distributing missing person flyers throughout the city, featuring Gracey’s photograph and details about when he was last seen.
The University of Alabama released a statement Thursday expressing their concern for the missing student.
“We are keeping Jimmy and his family at the forefront of our thoughts, and our staff are in direct communication with the family to offer every support and assistance possible,” the university stated. “Anyone with information that may help is encouraged to contact local authorities.”
Gracey maintains membership in the Theta Chi fraternity at his university, where he serves in dual leadership roles within the campus chapter.
Michael Mayer, CEO of the international fraternity organization, described ongoing efforts to assist in the search.
“Since learning of his disappearance, the International Fraternity has been in regular communication with federal lawmakers, the University of Alabama, and our chapter members, including those who remain in Barcelona searching tirelessly for Jimmy,” Mayer stated.
Following shocking sexual abuse accusations against legendary labor organizer César Chávez, officials at California State University, Fresno moved quickly to conceal his campus statue — first draping it with black fabric, then covering it entirely with plywood. University leaders say the monument will soon be removed completely.
This statue represents just one piece of Chávez’s extensive national legacy, with The Associated Press documenting over 130 locations across at least 19 states that bear his name, including educational institutions, roadways, libraries, community facilities, and public spaces.
The once-honored name has now become controversial. Institutions and municipal governments nationwide are beginning efforts to eliminate Chávez’s name from their properties. Beyond physical monuments and street markers, some want to change César Chávez Day, the federal holiday observed on his March 31 birth date.
The accusations that Chávez sexually victimized girls and women, including movement co-leader Dolores Huerta, “call for our full attention and moral reckoning by removing his statute from our campus,” stated Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, president of California State University, Fresno. The timeline for removal remains uncertain.
Questions also surround the future of the César E. Chávez National Monument in Keene, California, which contains the workspace where some alleged abuse reportedly occurred.
Phoenix city council members announced plans to vote next week on renaming the holiday along with any municipal buildings and streets currently honoring Chávez.
The New York Times initially reported Wednesday that credible evidence exists showing Chávez targeted and sexually victimized young girls within the labor movement. One survivor was motivated to speak out after learning of a proposal to name a street in her neighborhood after Chávez.
Huerta, a labor icon who partnered with Chávez in 1962 to establish the National Farm Workers Association — later renamed the United Farm Workers of America — disclosed to the publication that she experienced abuse from him during her thirties.
Advocates are suggesting that locations currently named for Chávez should instead honor Huerta.
His namesake locations include a U.S. Navy cargo vessel recognizing his World War II military service and a national monument created in 2012 by former President Barack Obama on a 187-acre property where Chávez lived and conducted his work.
While California contains the majority of these locations, sites exist across at least 19 states, spanning from New York and Maryland to Oklahoma, Great Lakes states, and Washington.
Educational institutions account for more than half of these locations, with California hosting most of them. In Pueblo, Colorado, one school honors both Chávez and Huerta in its name.
Modifying a national monument’s designation requires either congressional legislation or presidential action.
A Chilean archaeological site that transformed scientific understanding of early human migration to the Americas may be far younger than researchers initially determined, according to new findings published Thursday.
Monte Verde, uncovered in the 1970s in southern Chile, was previously dated to approximately 14,500 years old based on testing conducted in 1997. That age made the ancient hunter-gatherer settlement a cornerstone in debates about when people first populated the Western Hemisphere.
However, University of Wyoming archaeologist Todd Surovell and his research team now believe the Ice Age creek valley site actually dates between 4,200 and 8,200 years ago – making it significantly more recent.
“This finding suggests a later date of human arrival to the Americas than is widely believed,” Surovell stated in the study published in Science journal.
The research team employed three different scientific dating techniques on materials collected from Monte Verde and surrounding areas. The site sits roughly 36 miles inland from Chile’s Pacific coastline.
“We sampled in the site area. We also sampled the same landforms upstream and downstream of the site,” Surovell explained. “These landforms are continuous throughout the valley, and our dating of them was consistent in all locations. We placed these into stratigraphic (soil and rock layers) context, and the dating errors of the previous investigators were immediately apparent.”
The original 14,500-year dating would have made Monte Verde more than 1,500 years older than North America’s Clovis culture sites, which were previously considered the earliest evidence of human occupation south of continental ice sheets. The Clovis culture, named after a New Mexico location, is recognized for its distinctive stone tool craftsmanship.
Monte Verde’s supposed greater age and location thousands of miles south of Clovis sites led scientists to theorize that humans reached the Americas much earlier than Clovis evidence suggested. The prevailing theory holds that humans migrated from Siberia to Alaska via an Ice Age land bridge before traveling southward.
The current research analyzed wood fragments, creek-deposited sand, and ancient volcanic ash layers. Surovell emphasized the volcanic ash dating as particularly significant.
Testing revealed the ash was deposited approximately 11,000 years ago in a layer beneath human occupation evidence, indicating people arrived after that timeframe, according to Surovell.
Based on the new age range, Surovell estimates Monte Verde’s human occupation most likely occurred 6,000 to 8,000 years ago.
The earlier age calculation relied on radiocarbon dating of recovered wood. While Surovell confirmed the wood was indeed 14,500 years old, he argues it predated human presence and was simply mixed with older materials caught in creek banks.
“Imagine the stream undercutting the bank as it meanders in the valley. Materials in the bank then get transported and redeposited by the stream,” Surovell described.
Vanderbilt University anthropologist Tom Dillehay, who has researched Monte Verde extensively since the 1970s, strongly disputed the new study’s conclusions, citing “many methodological and empirical errors.”
Dillehay argued the wood interpretation “disregards a vast body of well-dated cultural evidence associated with Monte Verde, including stone tools, wooden and bone artifacts, edible plant remains including seaweed and potatoes, hearths, human footprints, and animal meat and hide remains.”
“These and other elements constitute a complex cultural context that has been extensively documented over five decades of interdisciplinary archaeological research,” Dillehay stated. “In turning to their data, it is a mixture of inventions and misunderstandings. They saw what they wanted to see, and came to the site with predetermined conclusions.”
The timing of human arrival in the Americas continues to spark scientific debate.
“Monte Verde is internationally recognized as one of the most significant archaeological sites on the American continent, having played a decisive role in replacing the longstanding ‘Clovis First’ paradigm,” Dillehay noted, referencing the theory that America’s first inhabitants arrived around 12,800 years ago.
Surovell maintained that the new findings place Monte Verde after Clovis sites chronologically.
“The Monte Verde site is still important for understanding the Holocene (geological epoch, beginning 11,700 years ago) human occupation of its region, but it no longer has much significance for understanding the initial peopling of the Americas,” Surovell concluded.
Four people died in overnight Iranian missile attacks that struck multiple locations across Israel and the West Bank from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, according to emergency services.
Warning sirens blared six separate times during the eight-hour period from midnight to 8 a.m. Thursday as waves of incoming missiles targeted various regions. The Magen David Adom ambulance service reported that a 30-year-old foreign worker in Moshav Adanim sustained fatal shrapnel injuries and died from critical wounds.
Near Hebron in the West Bank village of Beit Awwa, three Palestinian women lost their lives while 13 others were injured, with two victims in critical condition, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society confirmed. Palestinian Authority officials named the deceased women as Sahira, Amal and Mais Masalma, aged 50, 36 and 17 respectively.
These deaths represent the first Palestinian fatalities in the West Bank since the ongoing conflict involving America, Israel and Iran began.
Video evidence from the attacks suggested that Iran deployed cluster munitions in at least one of the strikes. A separate projectile demolished a residence in Neta, located close to Beit Awwa, leaving extensive structural damage.
The missile barrage caused widespread destruction across multiple sites. A Tel Aviv building suffered major damage after taking a direct hit.
Wednesday’s earlier attacks wounded three people in Petah Tikva in central Israel – a 44-year-old man and two children aged 13 and 12 – though their injuries were reported as minor.
Emergency sirens also activated in Haifa, the Galilee region, the Golan Heights, and near Eilat in southern Israel, but authorities reported no casualties in those locations.
A new report shows that funding for Israeli retail technology companies experienced a dramatic surge in 2025, climbing to $463 million compared to just $197 million in the previous year, according to research published by Re: Tech Innovation Hub in partnership with StartUp Nation Central (SNC), Moonshot, and Metrico.
This significant increase signals a restoration of investor trust following two consecutive years of declining investment, with a notable preference for businesses that have demonstrated commercial success through artificial intelligence-powered solutions. The financial backing has also shifted toward larger transactions, with typical deal values rising to $15 million in 2025, up from $9.5 million in 2024 and substantially higher than 2023 levels.
According to the research, Israel currently hosts 502 active businesses in the Retail & Commerce sector, accounting for 7.05% of the nation’s total 7,125 startup companies. This sector has established itself as one of Israel’s top five innovation categories, surpassing FinTech and AgTech while trailing only behind Cyber security.
The largest subsector is Ecommerce Enablement, housing 230 businesses, with Marketing, Digital & Media following closely at 204 companies. Additional categories encompass Retail Digitalization & Store Operations with 157 businesses, Supply Chain & Logistics at 124, Security & Infrastructure with 75, Checkout, POS & Payments at 70, Marketplaces & DTC with 69, and Industrial Innovation containing 32 companies. Several businesses operate across multiple categories.
The report also unveiled the 2025 Top 100 Israeli Retail Tech Companies, chosen by an international committee of retailers, investors, and sector specialists, focusing on businesses that have shown proven commercial success and scaling potential.
“2025 was the year Israeli retail tech moved from recovery back to growth,” said Yael Kochman, CEO of Re:Tech Innovation Hub. “With funding more than doubling and a clear focus on scale-ready AI solutions, this is a testament to the resilience of the Israeli ecosystem. Through our Top 100 list, we’re proud to showcase the companies that are currently solving the most complex operational challenges for the world’s biggest brands.”
Major funding rounds demonstrated this upward trend, with Tastewise securing $50 million, Bria obtaining $40 million, and Chargeflow closing a $35 million investment round. Additionally, merger and acquisition activity included ReturnGo’s purchase by Global-e.
“The market contraction of 2023-2024 served as a rigorous filter for asset quality, leaving a battle-tested cohort of over 500 companies,” said Yariv Lotan, VP of Product & Data at StartUp Nation Central. “In 2025, we saw a definitive pivot from speculative experiments to the critical backbone of global commerce. With record-high median deal size of $15M, Israeli retail tech has matured into an essential infrastructure layer for the world’s leading retailers.”
Four people died in overnight Iranian missile attacks that targeted multiple locations across Israel and the West Bank from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, according to emergency services reports.
Warning sirens blared six separate times during an eight-hour period from midnight to 8 a.m. Thursday, signaling continuous incoming attacks. Emergency responders from Magen David Adom reported that a 30-year-old foreign worker sustained fatal shrapnel injuries in Moshav Adanim and died from critical wounds.
Near Hebron in the village of Beit Awwa, three Palestinian women lost their lives while 13 others sustained injuries, with two victims remaining in critical condition, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported. Palestinian Authority officials named the deceased women as Sahira, Amal and Mais Masalma, whose ages were 50, 36 and 17 respectively.
These deaths represent the first Palestinian casualties in the West Bank since the ongoing conflict involving America, Israel and Iran commenced.
A separate projectile struck a residence in Neta, located close to Beit Awwa, resulting in extensive property damage. Video evidence from the bombardment suggested that Iranian forces deployed cluster munitions in at least one of the attacks.
Property damage occurred across several other locations during the assault. A Tel Aviv building suffered considerable structural damage from a direct hit.
On Wednesday before the overnight attacks, three people sustained minor injuries in Petah Tikva in central Israel – a 44-year-old adult and two children aged 13 and 12.
Emergency alert systems also activated in Haifa, the Galilee region, the Golan Heights and near Eilat in southern Israel, although no casualties were documented in those locations.
NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan Gosling needed companionship.
Filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller were deep into production of their most expensive project to date, the $200 million sci-fi epic “Project Hail Mary.” During filming of early sequences where middle school science teacher Ryland Grace (Gosling) awakens aboard a spacecraft in the depths of space, the character becomes despondent and begins drinking after discovering he’s alone on the vessel.
“Ryan was like, ‘I just feel like I need a friend. I need a scene partner for this. I don’t know what to do in here,’” Miller recalls. “We were like: OK, let’s make a friend. So we scoured the set and found a mop and got a dress from the costume department. And we made a little mop friend for him to dance around with.
“We called it ‘Moppy Ringwald.’”
Throughout their 20-year partnership, Lord and Miller have demonstrated exceptional skill at bringing lifeless objects to life on screen. This talent was particularly evident in their 2014 hit “The Lego Movie,” though nearly every entry in their unconventional body of work, spanning from “21 Jump Street” to “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” has featured some form of creative reimagining.
“Project Hail Mary” presents perhaps their greatest test yet in animating an unlikely premise — and Moppy Ringwald is just the beginning. Based on Andy Weir’s popular novel, the movie features Gosling as a space traveler on a desperate mission to rescue Earth, leading to an encounter with a stone-like extraterrestrial being that Ryland calls “Rocky.”
“It did seem like a crazy idea to make a movie with the hunkiest actor of his generation and a rock puppet,” Lord said, chuckling, in an interview alongside Miller. “I guess we’re interested in difficult things.”
Productions with $200 million budgets typically belong to established franchises, yet “Project Hail Mary,” debuting in cinemas Thursday, aims to achieve blockbuster success through original storytelling. The humorous and touching film arrives with impressive credentials.
Weir’s 2011 novel “The Martian” was transformed into the Academy Award-nominated 2015 movie, which captured the book’s scientific enthusiasm and sense of amazement. Drew Goddard (“The Cabin in the Woods,” “Bad Times at the El Royale”), who wrote that earlier screenplay, also crafted the “Project Hail Mary” adaptation. Gosling committed to the role before Weir’s 2021 book reached shelves. Sandra Hüller, the acclaimed German actress from “Anatomy of a Fall,” appears as the head of a United Nations team working to protect Earth from a star-consuming organism called “astrophage.”
Lord and Miller have built their reputation transforming apparently poor concepts into successful films, though “Project Hail Mary,” approved by MGM prior to Amazon’s acquisition, began with obvious commercial appeal despite featuring an unusual alien character.
“We no longer get the benefit of low expectations,” Miller says, laughing. “So we sort of try to do things that maybe seem like a good idea from the beginning. It’s the evolution of our career.”
The finished product resembles a blend of “Interstellar” and “Deep Space Homer.” While the directors’ initial space venture (the “Star Wars” film “Solo”) was notoriously canceled, “Project Hail Mary” provides Lord and Miller with a cosmic adventure that fully embraces their irreverent approach. Though the movie adopts Weir’s combination of scientific accuracy and humor from “The Martian,” Lord and Miller represent essentially the complete opposite of Ridley Scott.
“In both cases, the directors were perfect for the task ahead of them. Ridley Scott is really good at conveying grandeur, really letting the setting hit and capturing the scale of things,” says Weir. “But ‘Project Hail Mary’ is a bromance. It’s like a buddy comedy.
“It’s much more fast-paced, there’s a lot of rapid dialogue, and that’s Phil and Chris’ bread and butter,” he adds. “You can give them any random thing off the shelves and they can make a movie such that you care about its emotions.”
What sets “Project Hail Mary” apart is how the directors maintained their comedic sensibilities despite the massive production scale, incorporating weightless improvisation and cosmic physical comedy. Large budgets and extensive visual effects typically stifle humor, yet “Project Hail Mary” allows Gosling, a naturally charismatic performer, space for spontaneous moments.
“What we’ve learned throughout our career is that spontaneous moments are magical,” says Miller. “Our job was to prepare and prepare and prepare, but make sure there was room to play and room to chase an idea that might be inconvenient.”
“No one ever walked out of a movie going: ‘Wow, that seemed so well planned,’” says Lord.
This approach included placing Gosling in a rotating apparatus that enabled free movement throughout the spacecraft, designed by Charles Wood. It also meant following creative instincts. During a karaoke bar scene, Gosling suggested Hüller’s character needed a musical moment after hearing her sing. Hüller selected Harry Styles’ “Sign of the Times,” prompting the filmmakers to secure licensing within two days.
Their most significant innovations centered on Rocky. Weir deliberately created the character to exceed typical humanoid creatures with amusing makeup. “I wanted my alien to be truly alien,” he says.
“The part of the book that made me go, ‘Oh, god, I don’t know how we’re going to realize this,’ was Rocky,” says Goddard. “He doesn’t have the usual crutches that you have for loveable aliens. He doesn’t have a face. He can’t even exist in our atmosphere. He speaks in whale songs. He looks like the kind of alien that would normally be eating everyone.”
Goddard, also a director, gladly left the creative challenges to Lord and Miller.
“I knew Chris and Phil could figure it out,” Goddard says. “I knew from their background with animation and creating delightful characters out of thin air, they could do it.”
To provide Gosling with a performing partner beyond a costumed cleaning tool, Lord and Miller hired a puppeteer to operate and voice Rocky. They conducted screen tests between potential puppeteers and Gosling to find the right chemistry. James Ortiz won the role, and “Project Hail Mary” thrives on his dynamic with Gosling.
“You never would have gotten that if you were like, ‘OK, there’s a tennis ball and a stick that’s an alien here. Now be delighted by it,’” Miller says.
Hollywood typically creates merchandise around adorable alien characters, usually featuring recognizable faces. However, the distinctive challenges of “Project Hail Mary” attracted Lord and Miller most. The connecting thread through their films, Lord explains, begins with thinking “It’s impossible,” followed by “unless …”
“Even ‘Spider-Verse’ was like: Oh, this is going to be the seventh ‘Spider-Man’ movie. Nobody wants this — unless …” says Lord. “Audiences want to watch a movie put itself in a box, and wiggle out of it like Houdini.”
The alien sequences proved successful enough that Steven Spielberg suggested incorporating a reference to his own science fiction masterpiece about first contact: “He was like: ‘You should have the alien do the “Close Encounters” theme,’” Miller says. “If you say so, Steven.”
This represents one of multiple references woven throughout (another nods to “Rocky”) by Lord and Miller, who have maintained their “Lego Movie” philosophy of deconstructing established elements and reassembling them in their unique style.
“It’s having it both ways,” Lord says, smiling. “Making an original thing out of unoriginal parts.”
ROME (AP) — Just steps away from Rome’s famous Pantheon lies a tranquil cloister that remains largely unknown to the millions of visitors who pass by daily.
Beyond its massive wooden entrance, decorated walls tell the story of centuries filled with drama, from papal elections to the religious trial of scientist Galileo Galilei. The general public cannot access these historic frescoes.
The courtyard centers around a fish pond surrounded by olive trees, two towering palms, and an orange tree whose fruit the resident friars transform into marmalade. Content cats rest in warm patches of sunlight across the lawn. Twenty Dominican friars continue to call the surrounding convent home while performing their religious duties.
“It is designed to be a place of prayer, of meditation and therefore in some way to encourage prayer and the meditation of the friars,” said Friar Aucone.
Throughout history, this location has drawn notable personalities including St. Catherine of Siena and Renaissance artist Fra Angelico, both entombed in the neighboring basilica. The site witnessed significant moments such as papal elections and proceedings of the Roman Inquisition.
The adjacent basilica’s title, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, reflects its layered past — a Christian church honoring the Virgin Mary constructed above an ancient Roman temple dedicated to Minerva, goddess of wisdom.
“This cloister of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva is one of the largest and perhaps the most beautiful in all of Rome and it was a great cultural center in ancient times and it is even now,” said Claudio Strinati, an art historian.
During Julius Caesar’s era, citizens gathered here to vote. Dominican Friars constructed their church on this location in the late 1200s. The current cloister replaced an earlier version around 1570, designed by Guidetto Giudetti, who studied under Michelangelo.
Wall and ceiling frescoes display rosary mysteries intended to inspire contemplation among the Dominican residents. Additional artwork tucked into alcoves throughout the cloister reveals the complex and sometimes troubled history of this place and its occupants.
During the 16th century, the convent housed Roman Inquisition offices. High on the cloister walls, medallion portraits show beheaded Dominican Friars who served as inquisitors, depicted with severed necks and their heads in their hands.
“Among other things there was the tribunal of the Inquisition where famously Galileo Galilei was interrogated,” explained Strinati.
Within a chamber adjacent to the cloister, Galileo Galilei faced inquisition judges in 1633, compelled to abandon his “heretical” theory that Earth and other planets orbit the sun.
Fra Angelico, the Renaissance master and Dominican friar, resided at the convent while creating frescoes for the Vatican’s Niccoline chapel. Though in his fifties, Fra Angelico appears much older in his cloister wall medallion — a weathered elderly man in religious robes bent over his artwork.
Another medallion depicts St. Catherine of Siena, who lived at the convent and lies buried in the adjacent basilica. Friar Aucone observes with humor that while they possess her remains, her skull had to be given to Dominican Friars in Siena.
The structure encircling the cloister hosted two papal conclaves that chose Pope Eugene IV in 1431 and Pope Nicholas V in 1447. Five popes rest within the Basilica.
According to Strinati, concealed gems like the Santa Maria Sopra Minerva cloister contribute to Rome’s magical appeal.
“There is all the history hidden and therefore sometimes something is found and all generations, including mine, have discovered things,” he said. “The generations that will come later will continue to discover why it is so great and so profound that much is secret and hidden. And that is an element of its charm.”
A prominent Israeli missile defense authority warns that Iran’s cluster-equipped missiles present a critical timing challenge for defensive systems.
“After the cluster has opened, it’s too late,” Dr. Uzi Rubin explained to The Media Line, emphasizing the narrow window available to neutralize these weapons.
Rubin’s assessment comes amid growing scrutiny of cluster warhead technology used in Iranian missile strikes during recent hostilities with Israel. These weapons release numerous smaller explosive devices rather than delivering one large blast, creating unique defensive challenges.
The fundamental problem, according to Rubin, is straightforward: ballistic missiles equipped with cluster warheads must be destroyed before their payload separates and scatters submunitions. After that dispersal occurs, the weapon transforms from a single target into multiple threats, drastically reducing the effectiveness of interception efforts.
Rubin brings extensive credentials to his analysis. He established and directed Israel’s Missile Defense Organization from 1991 through 1999, guiding development of the Arrow system—Israel’s initial national missile defense capability. His subsequent roles included senior positions at Israel’s National Security Council, Israel Aerospace Industries, and the Defense Ministry. He also conducted research at Stanford’s Center for International Security and Arms Control. The Israeli government recognized his contributions with Defense Prizes in 1996 and 2003, while the US Missile Defense Agency honored him with the David Israel Prize.
When describing cluster warhead mechanics, Rubin began with historical context. “What is a cluster warhead?” Rubin said. “A cluster warhead is a class of bombs, which were more famously used in the Vietnam War and other wars. It’s a bomb which contains, instead of one big barrel of explosive, it contains a lot of small bomblets.”
He outlined the weapon’s operation during its final approach. “So a cluster warhead for a missile is the same thing,” Rubin said. “The tip of the missile, instead of containing a big barrel of explosives, contains a mechanism which holds on to a lot of small bombs. And when the missile approaches the target, it opens its skin, it peels off, and it spins around, and the bomblets are released and released into space and fall on the ground.”
Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal encompasses various systems developed over many years, with most capable of carrying different warhead configurations, Rubin noted. “Every one of their missiles, and they have several types, heavier ones, smaller ones,” he said. “For each one of them, they have a regular warhead or a cluster warhead.” The quantity of submunitions depends on the specific missile platform and its carrying capacity. “Cluster warheads can contain, let’s say, from 20-30 bomblets to 70-80 bomblets; it depends on the type of the missile.”
Defense systems face a critical timing constraint when engaging these threats. Interceptor missiles must eliminate incoming weapons while their warheads remain consolidated. After cluster mechanisms activate and disperse bomblets, successful interception becomes significantly more challenging since the destructive payload has already separated.
“Interception usually is done if it’s successful,” Rubin said. “It’s not always successful. It’s above the altitude where it opens there, and it disperses the cluster, when it’s still held in one piece.”
Technical analysis indicates cluster warheads typically release their contents at relatively low altitudes compared to ballistic missile flight paths. “In the papers, they say that the opening altitude of clusters is a dispersed altitude of 7 kilometers,” Rubin said. “Seven kilometers is pretty low. Most of the interception is done above that.”
Despite their unique characteristics, cluster warheads don’t require fundamentally different defensive approaches, according to Rubin. The core strategy mirrors that used against conventional ballistic missiles: eliminate the threat as early as possible during its flight path, well before it approaches target areas. “So, there is no difference in intercepting cluster warheads than the regular warhead,” he said. “You have to intercept them well away from the target.”
Below certain altitudes, successful interception becomes extremely difficult regardless of warhead type. “After the cluster has opened, it’s too late,” Rubin said. “But anyway, even if there’s not a cluster, a unitary bombhead, a barrel, below a certain altitude, you cannot intercept it anymore. It’s too late.”
This altitude limitation clarifies a widespread misunderstanding about Israel’s layered defense network. Iron Dome targets short-range rockets, while Arrow systems engage long-range ballistic missiles at high altitudes above Israeli airspace. The internationally recognized Iron Dome system isn’t designed to handle ballistic missile threats. “The Iron Dome is too low for that,” Rubin said. “The Iron Dome is not designed against that. It’s designed against a short-range rocket.”
Cluster and conventional warheads serve distinct tactical purposes, Rubin explained. Cluster munitions distribute damage over broader areas, posing greater threats to exposed personnel and unfortified facilities. “It depends for what use,” Rubin said. “A cluster warhead is very dangerous against troops in the open, against installations which are not protected.”
Traditional warheads focus their destructive force at single impact points. “A unitary warhead is more dangerous to, like you saw what happened last night in that village … that was a unitary warhead,” Rubin said.
Individual bomblets carry relatively modest explosive power compared to full ballistic missile payloads, but their combined impact remains lethal. Rubin likened submunition effects to rockets frequently launched by militant groups from Gaza. “No, it’s a small bomb,” he said. “The effect is like a Grad, a rocket that comes from Gaza. It can be fatal.”
The cluster warheads employed in recent conflicts aren’t new technology, Rubin emphasized. When asked whether versions used in current fighting differed from those fired in previous Iranian-Israeli exchanges, his response was brief. “Same thing,” he said. “They fired less of them, but it’s the same thing.”
For Rubin, the central challenge isn’t technological innovation but the compressed timeframe for effective response. Missile interception depends on altitude and split-second timing. Early destruction prevents warhead deployment; failure shifts the focus from prevention to damage mitigation.
Legal challenges have emerged against a massive television industry consolidation as eight state attorneys general and satellite provider DirecTV move to prevent Nexstar Media Group from completing its acquisition of competitor Tegna.
The $6.2 billion transaction, which Nexstar revealed last August, would establish a media empire controlling 265 television stations across 40 states plus Washington D.C. Most of these outlets serve as local network affiliates for major broadcasters including ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.
DirecTV joined the legal fight Thursday with its own court filing, claiming the consolidation aims to inflate programming costs. “Nexstar’s purpose in acquiring Tegna is to drive up the price it can extract from DirecTV and other distributors, which will force them to raise prices to their subscribers,” the company stated.
While Nexstar maintains the acquisition would strengthen its ability to compete against well-funded traditional media corporations and technology giants, Democratic legal officials from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Oregon and Virginia disagree. Their joint lawsuit, submitted to federal court in Sacramento, California, warns of negative consequences for consumers.
“If this merger moves forward, cable prices will spike for consumers in New York and across the country,” declared New York Attorney General Letitia James Thursday.
Nexstar representatives did not immediately provide comments regarding the legal action.
The state prosecutors contend the consolidation would violate federal antitrust regulations designed to prevent monopolistic practices. Approval would also necessitate modifications to federal ownership limits on television stations, though Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr supports relaxing such restrictions.
President Donald Trump endorsed the merger in February through social media, stating “we need more competition against THE ENEMY, the Fake News National TV Networks.”
Nexstar demonstrated its influence last fall by directing its ABC affiliates to remove late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after controversial remarks about assassinated Republican activist Charlie Kirk, resulting in Kimmel’s temporary suspension. However, ABC restored Kimmel following public backlash, forcing Nexstar to retreat.
Both legal challenges express concerns about potential damage to struggling local news operations, citing Nexstar’s history of combining newsrooms in markets where it operates multiple stations. The companies currently compete in 31 markets nationwide where each owns at least one station.
“We all benefit when local newsrooms compete to get stories,” James emphasized.
The attorneys general indicated willingness to welcome support from additional states, including those with Republican legal leadership.
PONTIAC, Mich. — Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township released photographs Thursday showing extensive fire damage from last week’s violent incident when an armed individual crashed a pickup truck into their facility before ending his own life.
The images depict untouched food and refreshments that were abandoned during the midday assault near a children’s education area at the suburban Detroit synagogue. The photographs show damaged electrical wiring hanging in corridors, compromised ceiling structures, and walls blackened by flames, along with destroyed commemorative pictures.
Temple Israel explained on Facebook that they chose to release the images after other photographs “made their way into the media, which have caused considerable harm to the survivors of last week’s attack.” The synagogue did not provide additional details about those concerns.
“This is our sacred space, and we will be the ones to tell its story,” the West Bloomfield Township congregation stated.
Forty-one-year-old Ayman Ghazali crashed his truck through the synagogue entrance on March 12, injuring a security officer, following a two-hour period of sitting in the parking area. Security personnel engaged in a shootout with the attacker before he took his own life, according to FBI reports, which noted the vehicle contained industrial-grade fireworks and multiple containers of gasoline.
Children and additional staff members were not harmed during the incident.
Federal investigators have not established a clear motive, though Ghazali’s former spouse contacted Dearborn Heights police around the time of the attack to report that he appeared emotionally distressed and potentially suicidal. Ghazali, a naturalized American citizen, had recently lost relatives in an Israeli military strike in Lebanon on March 5.
Pakistani officials on Tuesday firmly disputed Afghan Taliban assertions that Pakistan Air Force aircraft bombed a medical facility in Kabul during overnight strikes on March 16. Taliban leaders alleged the attack on a hospital or drug treatment center resulted in 400 patient deaths, though independent confirmation remains unavailable.
Pakistani authorities maintain their aircraft targeted Taliban military installations rather than healthcare facilities, while Taliban representatives characterized the bombing as a mass-casualty assault on civilians.
Security officials from Pakistan stated the location housed weapons and explosives. They cited a large explosion visible throughout Kabul and surrounding areas as proof that significant amounts of combustible materials were stockpiled at the site. A high-ranking security official informed The Media Line that such operations occur only following thorough surveillance and intelligence confirmation from various sources, emphasizing that the air force strikes only validated targets without causing unintended damage.
Information Minister Ataullah Tarar reported that Pakistan’s military conducted targeted airstrikes against Afghan Taliban military bases in Kabul and Nangarhar provinces that were reportedly supporting terrorist activities.
“The strikes targeted two locations in Kabul and four in Nangarhar, including ammunition depots, logistics hubs, and technical infrastructure used to back militant proxies,” he added.
Tarar stated the Nangarhar operations hit facilities and equipment that Pakistan claims the Taliban used to assist proxy militant organizations. He also dismissed Taliban assertions of civilian fatalities.
Taliban representatives provided vastly different details. Kabul deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat alleged that the attack on a drug treatment facility resulted in 400 deaths and 250 wounded.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s primary spokesperson, independently verified that air raids occurred and declared that diplomatic options with Islamabad were exhausted, stating the organization would pursue retaliation.
The core disagreement centers on both the target’s nature and casualty numbers. Taliban officials characterized the location as a treatment facility or medical center. Ahmad Nabizada, a former Afghan intelligence official based in Kabul, informed The Media Line that “PAF jets targeted the former US Phoenix camp, which was used by the regime’s Defense Ministry for storing leftover US ammunition and other explosives.”
Nabizada reported witnessing the camp ablaze and claimed the neighboring medical building was subsequently ignited and destroyed to hide the Phoenix camp’s devastation. He also challenged the reported casualty figures. The Media Line could not independently confirm these assertions.
Khaama Press, an Afghan digital news outlet referencing local sources, also documented that Pakistan conducted multiple air raids throughout the region, striking Jalalabad Airport and the Achin, Khogyani, and Shinwari districts. Regional authorities in Nangarhar have not released official casualty or damage reports from these attacks.
Pakistani representatives said the Nangarhar operations targeted terrorist hideouts, including weapons storage facilities and operational headquarters.
Islamabad reports the campaign extended beyond the disputed Kabul locations to strike central Taliban security infrastructure. During the weekend, Pakistan Air Force jets hit the Badri Unit training facility in Kandahar, the elite forces unit responsible for protecting Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
The heavily protected compound, located near a site associated with deceased Taliban founder Mullah Omar, represents one of the most reliable units under Akhundzada’s personal authority. Afghan news sources reported substantial casualties and destruction of arms and ammunition at the location, though precise numbers remain unverified.
Regional sources informed The Media Line that Akhundzada survived and evacuated to a protected area, contradicting early social media reports claiming his death.
Pakistan describes the current military action as part of a comprehensive campaign initiated after diplomatic efforts failed. Following what it characterized as exhausting all non-military methods to convince the Afghan Taliban to stop sheltering the prohibited Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), associated terrorist networks, the Balochistan Liberation Army, and al-Qaida, Pakistan began Operation Righteous Fury on February 26.
While Pakistan conducted operations along its western frontier, the United States and Israel initiated Operation Epic Fury/Roaring Lion against Iran on February 28. This timing overlap has complicated mediation efforts, strained diplomatic relations, and diverted international focus across a region already experiencing multiple simultaneous conflicts.
Following Righteous Fury’s launch, Pakistan’s military has executed continuous cross-border missions targeting armed organizations and Taliban-associated locations within Afghan territory.
The Pakistan Army’s communications division reports that air and ground units struck TTP safe houses, training facilities, weapons storage sites, and Taliban installations throughout Kabul, Kandahar, Khost, Nangarhar, Paktia, and Paktika provinces.
Military announcements claim hundreds of terrorists were eliminated, over 600 Taliban fighters died in initial operations, and dozens of outposts, vehicles, and critical attack infrastructure were destroyed. These statistics lack independent verification.
International alarm has increased alongside the escalating conflict. Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on Afghanistan, voiced concern regarding recent airstrikes and called on both parties to reduce tensions. “I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint and respect international law, including the protection of civilians and civilian objects such as hospitals,” he said.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also advocated for peaceful resolution of the Afghanistan-Pakistan dispute. He cautioned that military force would heighten tensions and endanger regional stability. China has pursued mediation initiatives, with its special Afghanistan envoy actively traveling between Kabul and Islamabad recently.
The Pakistan-Afghanistan confrontation has received less international attention than the broader Middle East conflict, yet stems from a persistent disagreement with significant regional consequences. Pakistan has consistently accused Afghanistan’s Taliban administration of sheltering terrorist organizations, especially TTP, which Islamabad blames for cross-border attacks. Kabul rejects these accusations.
Farzana Shah, a Peshawar-based defense analyst and regional armed groups expert, informed The Media Line that “the current Pakistan–Afghanistan confrontation represents the kinetic phase of a long-simmering security rupture centered on cross-border militancy.”
She added that “since early 2026, Pakistan has shifted from defensive to pre-emptive airpower projection inside Afghanistan, targeting TTP sanctuaries and what it frames as enabling infrastructure under Taliban oversight.”
Shah noted the campaign might achieve short-term operational success but has not compelled the Taliban to break connections with TTP. Instead, she explained, Kabul has dismissed the accusations, reframed the situation as sovereignty violation, and transformed a counterterrorism disagreement into direct interstate conflict.
According to her assessment, the conflict will likely develop into an extended, low-level confrontation featuring periodic strikes, revenge attacks, and proxy escalation within Pakistan.
Muhammed Yasir Abassen, an Afghan political analyst and conflict specialist, concentrated on diplomatic prospects. He informed The Media Line that Pakistan will probably continue measured cross-border and remote strikes to discourage armed groups while attempting to prevent broader regional escalation.
Abassen predicted the Afghan Taliban will likely maintain defensive positioning, publicly rejecting the presence of groups like TTP, strengthening internal security, and avoiding direct conventional retaliation. He noted that without reliable verification or political discussions addressing the fundamental disagreement over safe havens, tensions will probably continue or worsen, despite potential temporary relief from regional mediation.
Additional evidence of internal Afghan pressure appeared in local media coverage. Taliban intelligence has cautioned local news organizations against reporting casualties from Pakistani airstrikes, warning such coverage could result in “serious consequences.”
Amu TV, referencing sources, reported Tuesday that the warning was distributed through WhatsApp to journalists, with Taliban intelligence monitoring border area reporting.
The advisory emerged as cross-border fighting with Pakistan reached its 20th day and independent examination of civilian casualty claims became increasingly difficult to maintain.
JERUSALEM – Israeli authorities confirmed Thursday that missiles fired by Iranian forces struck oil refining facilities in the northern coastal city of Haifa, though officials described the resulting damage as minimal.
Israel’s Energy Ministry reported that while the attack affected the Oil Refineries complex in the port city, the impact was not considered substantial. Energy Minister Eli Cohen noted that electrical service was temporarily interrupted but quickly restored for most customers who lost power.
“The damage to the power grid in the north is localized and not significant,” Cohen said. “Also, in the barrage towards the north, there was no significant damage to Israeli infrastructure sites.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for targeting the Haifa refineries, as well as facilities in the southern city of Ashdod, describing strikes on “a range of security targets and military support centres of the Zionist regime” that “were hit by pinpoint missiles.” Officials have not yet confirmed whether the Ashdod facility sustained any damage.
Law enforcement reported that explosive ordnance disposal teams responded to multiple locations throughout Haifa where projectiles had landed. Authorities confirmed no injuries resulted from the attack.
Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection indicated that fragments from an intercepted missile fell within Haifa city limits and are being assessed as potentially hazardous material.
The Israel Electric Corporation confirmed that shrapnel damaged a transmission line serving the Haifa region, leading to temporary power loss. However, electrical service was fully restored to all affected customers within approximately 45 minutes.
This incident follows a previous attack in June when Iranian missiles struck the same Haifa refinery complex, resulting in three fatalities and forcing operations to cease temporarily.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump dismissed the possibility of sending additional military personnel to the Middle East on Thursday as tensions with Iran continue.
When questioned by reporters about potential troop deployments to the region, Trump responded firmly: “I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you. But I’m not putting troops. We will do whatever is necessary to keep the price.”
The president made these remarks during a White House Oval Office session with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on March 19.
Trump’s statement comes after Reuters revealed on Wednesday that his administration was weighing the possibility of sending thousands of American military personnel to strengthen operations related to Iran, according to a U.S. official and three sources with knowledge of the discussions.
Brazil’s Finance Minister Fernando Haddad officially stepped down from his cabinet position Thursday as he prepares to launch a gubernatorial campaign in São Paulo state, providing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with a crucial political ally during this election year.
During a Thursday event in São Paulo, Haddad formally announced his departure from the finance ministry, followed by President Lula’s confirmation that Deputy Finance Minister Dario Durigan will take over the role in a move that political observers had anticipated.
The 63-year-old Haddad had telegraphed his intentions to leave the ministry position in late 2025, initially indicating he planned to focus on supporting Lula’s reelection campaign scheduled for October.
However, the political landscape has grown increasingly challenging for the leftist president, with recent polling data showing him in a statistical dead heat with Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, whose father, former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, narrowly lost to Lula in the 2022 election.
Speaking to the leftist publication Opera Mundi in a recent interview, Haddad admitted that “the scenario has become more complicated,” while confirming his candidacy plans without explicitly stating his intention to seek the São Paulo governorship.
Both Haddad and Lula are scheduled to appear at a Workers Party gathering at a São Paulo labor union facility at 7 p.m. local time (2100 GMT), a location that holds special significance for the president, who began his career as a metalworker.
The current political environment presents mounting challenges for Lula, complicated by rising oil prices stemming from escalating Middle East tensions that could trigger increased inflation. Haddad’s gubernatorial bid appears even more daunting given the competition he faces.
Polling data indicates that current Governor Tarcísio de Freitas, a well-regarded Bolsonaro supporter, maintains a substantial lead in voter preference surveys.
Despite the challenging odds, the Workers Party leadership believes Haddad’s gubernatorial campaign could strengthen Lula’s position in a state that plays a pivotal role in presidential elections.
Should Haddad lose this race, it would extend a series of unsuccessful political campaigns for the attorney, who holds advanced degrees in economics and philosophy.
Following his successful 2012 São Paulo mayoral victory, Haddad suffered a first-round defeat in his 2016 reelection attempt. He also lost the 2018 presidential race after stepping in for Lula, who was prohibited from running due to a corruption conviction that was subsequently overturned on procedural issues.
Haddad’s 2022 gubernatorial campaign in São Paulo also ended in defeat, though party officials credited his candidacy with helping Lula capture a majority of votes in the state capital during that year’s presidential contest.
During his tenure as finance minister, Haddad spearheaded significant reforms to Brazil’s consumption tax system, addressing long-standing complexity issues that economists viewed as obstacles to economic growth.
He also implemented new fiscal guidelines aimed at stabilizing government finances, establishing budget objectives that the administration later modified. Critics targeted Haddad over Brazil’s accelerating public debt levels, primarily attributed to substantial interest payments amid concerns about expanding government expenditures.
Under Haddad’s leadership, Brazil’s income tax structure underwent changes that increased obligations for wealthy taxpayers while providing relief for lower-income citizens, eliminated regressive tax benefits, and promoted various climate-focused financing initiatives.
His tenure also included higher taxes on business credit, foreign currency transactions, and imported goods, reinforcing opposition claims that the leftist administration prioritized generating new revenue over reducing government spending.
NEWARK, Del. – The Blue Hens men’s soccer team at the University of Delaware has announced their upcoming spring 2026 season schedule, according to an announcement made Thursday by head coach Tommy McMenemy.
The spring schedule release marks the next phase of preparation for the UD soccer program as they gear up for the 2026 season. Coach McMenemy shared details of the team’s planned matches and training schedule for the spring portion of their athletic calendar.
The University of Delaware soccer program continues to build momentum as they prepare for competitive play in the coming season. Further details about specific match dates and opponents are expected to be released as the spring season approaches.
The International Monetary Fund issued a warning Thursday about the potential economic consequences of ongoing conflicts disrupting global energy markets, stating that sustained higher energy costs could drive inflation upward while slowing economic growth worldwide.
IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack explained to media that the organization is keeping close tabs on conflicts affecting energy production and the resulting market disruptions. The fighting has already caused major interruptions to ocean-based oil and natural gas transport, pushing crude oil costs up more than 50% to above $100 per barrel.
While no member nations have formally requested emergency financial assistance yet, the global financial institution remains prepared to provide support where needed, according to Kozack. She noted that IMF representatives are actively communicating with finance officials and central bank leaders from member nations, along with regional organizations.
The spokesperson emphasized that the war’s overall economic effects will hinge on how long it lasts, its severity, and how far it spreads. The IMF plans to incorporate the conflict’s impact into its revised global economic forecast, scheduled for release in mid-April during the spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank.
Kozack referenced an IMF calculation showing that each 10% rise in energy costs, when maintained for roughly one year, typically leads to a 40-basis point jump in worldwide inflation and reduces economic output by 0.1% to 0.2%.
Should oil prices stay above $100 for an entire year, the consequences for both inflation rates and global economic production would be substantial.
The IMF official advised that central banks must stay alert as energy prices climb, carefully watching whether inflation spreads beyond energy sectors and monitoring if inflation expectations remain stable.
According to the IMF’s initial evaluation, the conflict will likely weaken economic growth in Gulf Cooperation Council nations, though specific details weren’t provided. The actual impact will largely depend on these countries’ capacity to restart their oil and gas export operations, she explained.
Before her household comes alive and her teenage children request breakfast or rides to school, Jen Meegan checks her work emails and reviews concepts she developed the previous evening.
She puts in about an hour of work, then following the morning school drop-off, she handles errands like grocery shopping or filling up her gas tank before returning to concentrate on her role as head writer and cofounder of Sheer Havoc, a creative services company.
This pattern defines her daily routine: completing work tasks in focused segments lasting several hours, pausing for an hour or two to address family and personal matters, then repeating this cycle until she wraps up her professional duties late in the evening.
Meegan represents a growing number of workers practicing ‘microshifting,’ a flexible work approach that involves completing job tasks in brief, concentrated periods rather than during one continuous eight-hour workday. This paid work integrates with and flows around personal responsibilities and priorities. Success gets measured mainly by results produced, with reduced focus on total hours spent at a computer.
‘Sometimes the break’s when most of the work will get done in your head, because you’re not sitting in front of a laptop just staring at a screen going, ‘I can’t come up with anything,” Meegan said.
This work method is becoming more widespread among employees and receiving acceptance within certain organizations as a strategy to enhance work-life integration. The remote and hybrid work setups that emerged during the coronavirus pandemic left many people craving time for caregiving or self-care when office return requirements were implemented.
‘As more managers and more organizations get better adept at giving a little bit of autonomy, this is becoming not only a little more popular, but it also gives employees the motivation and almost the license to ask for this,’ Kevin Rockmann, a professor of management at George Mason University’s Costello College of Business.
Here’s what various workers, supervisors and specialists share regarding the advantages and disadvantages of microshifting.
Although some freelance contractors report they’ve practiced microshifting for years, the concept is gaining traction among individuals in positions that typically demand fixed, continuous work hours. Certain companies provide this type of flexibility or recognize they have staff members operating this way even when the approach isn’t officially endorsed.
Advocates maintain that working in intervals enhances productivity by providing mental rest periods. Taking walks or participating in a child’s school event can refresh people who become exhausted from desk work or extended computer use, supporters explain.
‘From a creativity standpoint, it’s good to take breaks,’ Rockmann said. ‘When you stop thinking about a task is when your best ideas come to you.’
During Shellie Garrett’s time leading an eight-person team as director of investigations and appeals at Oklahoma Community Cares Partners, an organization established to verify rental assistance claims during the pandemic, she permitted her team members to establish their own work schedules, except for weekly team meetings.
‘Everybody needed to maintain availability for emergency questions or issues. But I let people determine what worked best for them productivity-wise,’ Garrett said. ‘If productivity was lapsing, we had to figure out different solutions. But overall, I feel like giving that autonomy led to better production and happier employees.’
During their work periods, her team members maintained spreadsheets, compared documents or conducted investigative tasks. During their personal time, one staff member was breastfeeding an infant and teaching a preschooler at home, while another held a second position as a real estate agent.
Amanda Elyse, who serves as a full-time professor of legal writing at Seattle University School of Law and a part-time policy and programs lead at the Northwest Animal Rights Network, explained that microshifting enables her to share meals with her partner, who works evening shifts, and to spend time with her dogs during daytime hours.
‘There’s just so many little things in the day that, when you’re in control of your schedule, you can take that time to do,’ Elyse said.
Although microshifting frequently benefits personal relationships, it can harm professional connections, Rockmann noted.
Successful teams depend on collaborative commitment, but ‘the whole idea of microshifting is taking care of yourself,’ he said. ‘It’s not that taking care of yourself is bad. It places the emphasis on the individual, not the relationships.’
Pranav Dalal, the founder and CEO of California-based remote staffing firm Office Beacon, oversees employees in India, the Philippines, Mexico and South Africa. They provide services to American companies in areas including customer service, finance and logistics. Dalal recognizes that some employees practice microshifting to address personal matters.
‘It’s happening without a policy and without me saying it, and those are in positions where they’re more managerial positions,’ he said. ‘I don’t really question it because I know that people are getting their work done at those levels.’
As a single parent, Dalal expresses understanding. However, situations arise when people push boundaries too far. When one team member consistently arrived late to in-person work events due to handling personal matters, it created difficulties, leading Dalal to terminate that employee.
‘If someone really abuses that, it becomes destructive to the team because then resentment builds,’ Dalal added. ‘As an employer, it definitely is a big shift for companies. And the shift is, essentially, can you deliver the same quality service, reliably, when there’s microshifting happening?’
Isabelle ‘Izzy’ Young’s position as a political organizer in Texas demands extensive time commitment, but she can generally choose her work hours as long as she completes her responsibilities.
The flexibility to create her own schedule helps Young manage her autism and a chronic condition called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which can trigger rapid heartbeat or dizziness when standing. If she requires additional sleep, she might schedule meetings for later hours. If she needs to calm her nervous system, she can take one or two midday hours to contact a friend or read before working into the evening.
‘I am very lucky to have a principal that is a compassionate person,’ Young said. ‘He’s acutely aware that life happens, and you can be incredibly productive and chronically ill.’
One drawback is her feeling of constantly working. ‘The job never ends, so you’re never really off the clock.’
Garrett, the Oklahoma team supervisor, operated in two-hour segments, which helped her handle the fluctuations of chronic conditions including an autoimmune disease and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, she explained. She could experience a creative surge and then rest or visit the gym.
‘Microshifting was honestly a godsend,’ Garrett said. ‘I don’t know if I could have done this job without being able to do that.’
When requesting workplace flexibility to control your schedule, explain how employers will gain advantages, Garrett recommended.
‘You have to go into the interview and sell it,’ she said. ‘You have go in and say, ‘I’m willing to do whatever schedule and put my best foot forward, but if you want me to be most productive or most creative, this is how I work best, if this is something you’re willing to work with.”
Homebuyers across the nation face another hurdle this spring as mortgage rates reached their highest point in over three months, creating additional challenges for those looking to purchase homes during the traditional buying season.
Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year fixed mortgage rates increased to 6.22%, up from the previous week’s 6.11%. This represents a significant shift from one year ago when rates averaged 6.67%.
Just three weeks prior, rates had fallen below the 6% mark for the first time since late 2022, but they have steadily increased each week following the outbreak of conflict with Iran, which has disrupted financial markets and raised concerns about inflation driven by energy price spikes.
Homeowners considering refinancing also face higher costs, as 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 5.54% from 5.5% the previous week. These rates stood at 5.83% one year ago, according to Freddie Mac data.
Multiple elements drive mortgage rate fluctuations, including Federal Reserve policy decisions and bond market investor sentiment regarding economic conditions and inflation expectations. Home loan pricing typically mirrors the movement of 10-year Treasury yields, which serve as a benchmark for lenders.
The 10-year Treasury yield reached 4.27% by midday Thursday, climbing from approximately 4.13% one week earlier.
Rising oil costs have pushed Treasury yields higher by amplifying inflation expectations. When long-term bond yields increase, mortgage rates follow suit.
Elevated inflation may also prevent the Federal Reserve from reducing interest rates. While the central bank doesn’t directly control mortgage rates, its decisions regarding short-term rate adjustments are closely monitored by bond investors and can ultimately impact 10-year Treasury yields that influence home loan costs.
Despite recent increases, current 30-year mortgage rates remain lower than last year’s levels, providing some advantage for buyers who can afford to purchase at today’s rates.
The nation’s housing market continues struggling through a downturn that began in 2022 when mortgage rates started climbing from pandemic-era record lows.
Existing home sales have maintained a pace near 4 million annually since 2023, falling well short of the historically normal 5.2-million annual rate. Sales dropped to a 30-year low last year and have remained weak through early 2024, with January and February figures trailing the previous year’s numbers despite lower rates compared to 12 months ago.
A groundbreaking partnership between American Airlines and Google has demonstrated how artificial intelligence can dramatically reduce airplane contrails that contribute to global warming, the companies announced Thursday.
The collaboration used AI forecasting technology to predict where condensation trails would likely develop when aircraft travel through cold, humid atmospheric conditions. These contrails form when ice crystals develop around soot particles from jet engines, creating cloud formations that trap heat in the atmosphere.
Google’s artificial intelligence system identifies areas where contrails are most likely to occur, allowing American Airlines to incorporate this data into their flight planning software. Pilots can then make minor altitude adjustments or choose alternate routes to bypass these problem zones.
Both companies describe this approach as potentially one of aviation’s most practical and affordable climate solutions currently available.
The airline industry faces mounting demands to address its environmental impact. Despite appearing as thin white streaks across the sky, contrails account for approximately 1% to 2% of global warming, according to Contrails.org, a research nonprofit within Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy initiative that participated in this study.
While switching to sustainable aviation fuels offers significant emission reductions, making small route modifications presents a much less expensive alternative to cutting contrail formation.
Most contrails disappear quickly, but under extremely humid conditions, some can linger for hours or even days. Previous research indicated that minor flight path changes could eliminate much of this warming effect while using only minimal additional fuel – a hypothesis this trial set out to verify.
The experiment tracked 2,400 transatlantic flights between the United States and Europe. Google’s research, published in a Thursday blog post, revealed that half the flights received contrail-avoidance routing while the remaining flights served as a control group.
Among the 112 flights that used the alternative routing, contrail formation dropped by 62% compared to standard flights. Researchers calculated this reduction decreased the climate warming impact from those flights by approximately 69%.
The testing period ran from January through May 2025, with Flightkeys flight planning service joining American Airlines, Google, and Contrails.org in the research effort.
“We know that aviation is one of the hardest, most difficult sectors to decarbonize,” explained Dinesh Sanekommu, who oversees Google’s contrail research. “We think there’s a way that AI can help make that a reality. And the hope is, whether it’s these AI-based forecasts, whether it is doing these operational scientific demonstrations together, they all add a little bit of evidence and generate a bit of data that helps make the right decisions in the long run.”
This project expands on previous work between Google, American Airlines, and Breakthrough Energy that began in 2023. Their earlier contrail reduction efforts involved manually identifying flights rather than integrating the technology directly into flight planning systems.
Looking ahead, Sanekommu indicated plans for expanded testing and collaboration with additional flight planning software companies to incorporate contrail prediction and avoidance capabilities into their platforms.
Airlines often hesitate to modify routes due to concerns about increased fuel expenses, but the trial revealed no meaningful statistical difference in fuel consumption between the two flight groups.
International coordination among pilots and air traffic controllers across different airspace regions presents another obstacle, noted Thomas Walker, an aviation climate researcher at Boston’s Clean Air Task Force. Walker mentioned that discussions with other major airlines about contrail avoidance have encountered “a little bit of pushback.”
However, Jill Blickstein, American Airlines’ vice president of sustainability, reported that the trial demonstrated dispatchers and pilots had no difficulty implementing and executing alternative flight plans designed to avoid contrail formation.
Walker, who serves as CATF’s senior transportation technology manager, pointed out that the North Atlantic corridor represents a contrail hotspot, making avoidance efforts in that region particularly valuable.
According to Walker, while Europe has conducted route adjustment trials, this represents the largest such experiment he’s aware of in the United States, calling it “a pretty big step in the right direction.” He expressed hope that American Airlines’ successful results would motivate other carriers to participate in similar programs.
American Airlines has not yet incorporated contrail avoidance into its standard flight planning procedures. The airline indicated interest in continuing partnership research, potentially examining different routes and departure times to address additional scientific questions about contrail formation and climate impact.
Major League Baseball has forged a new alliance with prediction market platform Polymarket while simultaneously establishing a formal agreement with federal regulators to safeguard the sport’s integrity.
The league announced Thursday it has created a memorandum of understanding with Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair Michael S. Selig to “further protect the integrity of baseball by ensuring swift response to incidents and anticipating emerging trends more strongly.”
Sports organizations have expressed growing unease about prediction markets as they already grapple with challenges from legalized sports betting. Unlike regulated sportsbooks that must comply with state oversight, prediction market operators contend their trading activities — known as event contracts — constitute derivative markets under CFTC authority.
Twelve months ago, MLB wrote to the commission requesting robust integrity safeguards.
“The new agreements that we formed with Polymarket and the CFTC are imperative steps in proactively managing the new and rapidly growing prediction market space,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “Protecting the integrity of the game on the field is our top priority. By engaging in this community, we are able to work together to create clear boundaries with the goal of mitigating risk while providing fan engagement opportunities.”
The Polymarket deal grants the platform and its partners exclusive rights to use MLB branding in their prediction market offerings. Polymarket will also receive official league statistics through Sportradar, MLB’s designated worldwide data distributor for prediction markets.
The federal agreement establishes information sharing between MLB and the CFTC concerning baseball integrity issues and related prediction markets. All exchanged data will remain confidential, with appointed officials holding regular meetings.
“We’ve committed to work together to protect the integrity and resilience of prediction markets relating to professional baseball,” Selig said on X. “Through this partnership, the @CFTC is well-positioned to add additional tools to protect our markets from fraud, manipulation, and other abuses. Thanks to @MLB and Commissioner Manfred for working with us to protect the integrity of these growing markets.
Despite its exclusive arrangement with Polymarket, MLB emphasized its desire to establish integrity frameworks with all prediction market platforms offering baseball-related contracts. These platforms must incorporate required integrity measures into their operating rules.
The expanding presence of sports content on prediction markets has created new income streams for leagues while simultaneously raising regulatory questions about market oversight.
Prediction markets allow users to trade on future event outcomes through straightforward yes-or-no wagering options.
The NHL announced multi-year partnerships with both Polymarket and Kalshi, another prominent prediction market operator, in October. Major League Soccer revealed its Polymarket partnership on January 26. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo disclosed last month that he has acquired an ownership stake in Kalshi.
MLB owners received a briefing about prediction markets during their recent meetings in Florida.
BEIT AWA, West Bank — Palestinian residents of the occupied West Bank had largely watched from the sidelines as Israel and Iran traded missile strikes over nearly three weeks of conflict. That changed Wednesday when four women lost their lives in a tragic attack.
The victims were gathered inside a small beauty parlor in Beit Awa when an Iranian missile hit just outside the establishment, launching deadly shrapnel through the walls and across shelves filled with nail supplies and colorful polish bottles.
Over a dozen people suffered injuries while four died, including an expectant mother in her sixth month of pregnancy and her daughter, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent and witnesses at the scene.
The day following the attack, the aftermath was devastating — hundreds of coffee cups and artificial nails were strewn across floors stained with blood. The salon, operated from a metal shipping container in a residential yard, was riddled with holes and surrounded by debris near a small impact crater.
Business owner Hadeel Masalmeh mourned the loss of friends and her business partner, Sahera Atileh. She recalled hearing warning sirens from the Israeli settlement of Negohot, located approximately 2 miles away. “We didn’t pay much attention and didn’t expect any shrapnel or anything like that to fall on us,” she said.
Israeli communities have organized their daily routines around such warning systems since hostilities began, with residents frequently rushing to protective shelters multiple times each day. However, Palestinians have continued their normal activities throughout the past three weeks, rarely reacting when distant alarms sound or occasional phones with Israeli networks issue emergency notifications.
Emergency responders faced significant obstacles reaching the wounded. What should have been a 10-minute journey to Beit Awa extended to 25 minutes, depriving victims of critical medical attention, explained Abedullraziq Almasalmeh. He described hearing rockets pass overhead before impact, feeling his home shake as he called for ambulances after 10 p.m.
The Palestinian Red Crescent blamed the delays on Israeli checkpoints surrounding Beit Awa that forced emergency vehicles to use longer alternate paths.
These Wednesday casualties represent the first Palestinian deaths in the West Bank since the current Iran conflict started. The Red Crescent had previously warned that hundreds of newly installed Israeli barriers and checkpoints throughout the region were increasingly blocking their access to Palestinians requiring urgent medical care. Qusai Jabr, who manages the organization’s disaster risk management division, told The Associated Press that during the war’s opening week, delays affected women giving birth, elderly stroke victims, and those injured in escalating Israeli settler violence.
“This forced closure caused significant delays, compelling ambulances to take long, rugged alternative routes, which critically impacted the ‘golden hour’ essential for life-saving interventions,” the Palestinian Red Crescent stated.
Israeli officials have not implemented the comprehensive lockdowns seen during last year’s 12-day Iran conflict. Nevertheless, emergency services like the Palestinian Red Crescent report that travel conditions have not improved, with ambulance crews finding many barriers frequently sealed. Jabr noted that checkpoint numbers increased from roughly 800 during the previous year’s war to approximately 1,100 today, including both staffed and automated installations.
The beauty salon incident highlighted how Palestinians living close enough to view Israel from their neighborhoods lack the protective shelters and emergency medical support that have successfully reduced Israeli casualties and injuries during nearly three weeks of Iranian missile attacks.
Israel maintains an extensive network of warning sirens and mobile alerts that guide citizens to reinforced shelters capable of protecting against incoming projectiles or fragments that fall after interception by Israel’s defensive systems. While shelter access varies across Israel, particularly in Arab-majority communities, construction regulations have mandated them in residential buildings since the first Gulf War, with public facilities available for those without private protection.
Palestinians throughout the occupied West Bank — in both dense urban centers and remote villages — do not have access to such safeguards. Although the West Bank is not an Iranian military objective, the area has previously been struck by shrapnel fragments and falling debris.
The exact nature of Wednesday’s strike remained uncertain. Israeli military officials characterized it as a direct impact rather than intercepted debris from their air defense network, identifying it as a submunition from a cluster weapon. These missiles can detonate in midair and scatter smaller explosive devices over broad areas, sacrificing accuracy for wider coverage.
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk announced Thursday that federal health regulators have given the green light to an increased strength version of its weight loss medication Wegovy.
The Food and Drug Administration’s approval covers the higher-dose formulation for helping patients shed excess pounds and keep the weight off over extended periods, according to the company’s announcement.
The enhanced dosage represents an expansion of treatment options for the popular weight management drug that has gained significant attention in recent years.
JERUSALEM, March 19 – The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that the leader will address international media during an evening briefing scheduled for 8:30 p.m. local time (1830 GMT).
This will mark Netanyahu’s second media appearance since the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran commenced on February 28.
MEXICO CITY – Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Thursday that her country has extended an invitation to Spain’s King Felipe VI for the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
During her daily news briefing, Sheinbaum explained that Gabriela Cuevas, Mexico’s official representative for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, distributed invitations to every nation that maintains diplomatic ties with Mexico, which included the Spanish monarch.
Spanish news outlets first broke the story about the royal invitation, which surfaced following King Felipe VI’s unexpected recognition earlier this week of the wrongdoings committed during Spain’s colonial era.
During the 16th through 18th centuries, Spain controlled one of history’s most expansive empires, stretching across five continents and encompassing large portions of Central and Latin America. The colonial period was marked by forced labor practices, seizure of indigenous lands, and widespread violence against native populations.
The king’s recent statements followed remarks made last month by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a Munich speech, where Rubio lamented the weakening of “great Western empires” and expressed that Washington preferred allies not to be “shackled by guilt and shame.”
While Sheinbaum characterized the Spanish king’s acknowledgment as a diplomatic overture on Tuesday, she noted that “it wasn’t everything we would have wanted.”
The Mexican president had previously excluded King Felipe VI from her 2024 inauguration ceremony after he refused to issue an apology for the abuses committed during Spain’s colonial rule.
A European cloud industry association is pushing back against tech giant Broadcom, requesting that European Union competition authorities step in to block the company’s plans to shut down its VMware partner program across the continent.
The Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe, known as CISPE, made the formal request Thursday to EU antitrust officials. The organization represents nearly 50 companies throughout Europe, including tech giants Microsoft and Amazon as associate members.
This latest action stems from Broadcom’s overhaul of its VMware cloud service provider network late last year. CISPE previously challenged the European Commission in court for giving approval to Broadcom’s VMware purchase in 2023, arguing regulators didn’t thoroughly review the acquisition’s potential impacts.
According to CISPE’s statement, Broadcom announced in January 2026 that it would end its VMware Cloud Service Provider program in Europe. The organization says this decision eliminates partnerships with all but a select few companies, effectively blocking most European cloud service providers from offering VMware solutions to their customers.
“Both cloud providers and their customers — are being irreparably damaged by Broadcom’s unfair actions,” stated Francisco Mingorance, who serves as CISPE’s Secretary General.
The industry group is requesting that EU officials implement emergency measures that would immediately halt Broadcom’s program termination, restore access for excluded partners, and establish safeguards to prevent the company from retaliating against participants.
Neither the European Commission nor Broadcom representatives provided immediate responses to requests for comment on the matter.
Multiple sources indicate that Ball State University has set its sights on Chris Capko, an associate coach at Southern Methodist University, to lead their men’s basketball program.
The Cardinals are seeking to fill the vacancy left by Michael Lewis, whom the university dismissed on March 8 following three consecutive seasons with losing records.
Ball State concluded the recent season with a disappointing 12-19 overall record and went 7-11 in Mid-American Conference play, failing to earn a spot in the league tournament.
Currently serving as the top aide to head coach Andy Enfield at SMU, Capko brings extensive coaching experience to the potential role. He previously worked alongside Enfield as an assistant head coach at the University of Southern California beginning in 2016, then followed Enfield to SMU when both joined the Mustangs’ program this past year.
The Sussex County Farm Bureau recently served as a sponsor for a customer appreciation event organized by Seaford Hoober Inc. The local Case IH equipment dealer has maintained a strong relationship with the Delaware Farm Bureau and actively supports the agricultural community throughout the region.
Given that many of Hoober’s clientele are also members of the Farm Bureau, the gathering provided an ideal setting for SCFB representatives to express gratitude to existing members while introducing the advantages of Farm Bureau membership to potential new members.
The celebration also showcased the collaborative relationship between Case IH and the Farm Bureau organization. As a significant Farm Bureau partner, Case IH provides members with discounts reaching up to $800 on qualifying Case IH machinery and equipment.
Additional details about the Case IH member discount program can be found at https://defb.org/membership/member-benefits-2/.
Salisbury municipal workers will conduct water line replacement operations Thursday, March 19, focusing on the 400 block of Loblolly Lane as part of the city’s continuing water infrastructure maintenance program.
Traffic will be prohibited on Loblolly Lane between Frederick Avenue and Orchard Circle while crews perform the service line work. City officials anticipate completion by approximately 3:30 p.m., assuming favorable weather conditions and no unexpected complications arise.
Utility locating services and Central Alarm systems have received proper notification regarding the scheduled work.
City officials expressed gratitude for residents’ cooperation during the temporary road restriction.
Agricultural producers gathered with state lawmakers on February 27 and March 9 during legislative breakfast meetings hosted by the New Castle County and Kent County Farm Bureaus. At these sessions, farming community members discussed their experiences with recent property tax reassessments, declining profit margins, and growing development pressure.
The legislative breakfast meetings provide a platform for Delaware Farm Bureau (DEFB) members and elected officials to have direct discussions about agricultural challenges while also recognizing lawmakers for their ongoing support of farming interests.
A recurring topic during both gatherings centered on farmers’ financial difficulties in supporting their families. While they remain passionate about agriculture and want to continue their operations, many expressed uncertainty about the long-term viability of farming in Delaware.
DEFB President Bill Powers discussed the recent property reassessment’s complicated impact. While some property owners received tax reductions, others faced such severe increases that they’re contemplating selling their farms. Powers stressed the importance of supporting agriculture, Delaware’s leading industry, and voiced DEFB’s backing for Senate Bill 35, which would establish fair taxation for farm production structures instead of treating them like residential properties.
Multiple farmers provided personal testimonies about dramatic tax hikes. At the New Castle County Farm Bureau breakfast, Matt Linton from Highland Orchards in Wilmington described how his small farm parcel’s tax obligation jumped to almost $35,000. He explained they had to retain legal counsel to challenge the unaffordable assessment, creating additional expenses while operating with narrow profit margins.
Tom Puglisi from Puglisi Egg Farms in Middletown reported his property’s reassessed value exceeded the previous amount by more than twelve times. After following the official appeal procedures, he stated that Tyler Technologies and New Castle County repeatedly dismissed their concerns. Puglisi mentioned that he, along with many others, devoted substantial resources to fighting the reassessment and continues awaiting resolution.
Jay Baxter and fellow farmers discussed the challenges of staying profitable while input costs keep climbing. They described how agricultural producers typically buy supplies at retail prices but sell products at wholesale rates, making family support difficult. Baxter urged other farmers to tell their stories and communicate with neighbors and legislators about agricultural life.
Direct-to-consumer agricultural producers also addressed regulatory challenges. One local intensive agriculture farm operator explained being subject to the same requirements as much larger operations. This situation creates substantial obstacles when hiring assistance, especially H-2A workers.
Chinese technology conglomerate Alibaba Group announced Thursday its ambitious plan to generate more than $100 billion in revenue from artificial intelligence and cloud computing operations within the next five years, banking on surging demand for AI technologies.
The bold revenue target was revealed as the Hangzhou-based company reported quarterly earnings showing a dramatic 67% plunge in profits, despite continued strong performance in its cloud division.
During the three months ending in December, Alibaba posted total revenue of 284.8 billion yuan ($41.4 billion), representing a modest 2% increase compared to the previous year but falling short of Wall Street projections. The company has increasingly pivoted toward cloud computing and artificial intelligence technologies in recent years.
Cloud computing revenue surged 36% during the quarter, reaching 43.3 billion yuan ($6.2 billion) compared to the same period last year.
During Thursday’s earnings conference call, Chief Executive Officer Eddie Wu emphasized that Alibaba is positioned to capitalize on what he described as “exponential growth in AI demand.” The company continues to enhance its primary Qwen AI application and consumer chatbot while offering cloud infrastructure and storage solutions to business clients.
“(There is) enormous and sustained growth momentum of the AI market,” Wu stated.
Quarterly profits totaled 16.3 billion yuan ($2.4 billion), a significant decrease from 48.9 billion yuan during the corresponding quarter in 2023, attributed partly to increased marketing and sales expenditures.
The e-commerce pioneer has faced additional profitability challenges from an ongoing price competition in the food delivery sector over recent months.
To boost profits amid rising operational costs and increasing demand, Alibaba announced Wednesday it would raise prices for certain AI services by up to 34%. The company also introduced its new agentic AI platform called Wukong this week, expanding its commercial customer offerings.
Alibaba’s artificial intelligence strategy faced a setback this month with the departure of Lin Junyang, who led the company’s AI model division Qwen. In 2023, the company committed to investing a minimum of 380 billion yuan ($53 billion) over three years to develop its cloud computing and AI infrastructure.
Chinese technology firms have intensified efforts to compete with American competitors and expand their market presence, particularly following the industry disruption caused by AI startup DeepSeek last year.
Priscilla Brown faces an impossible choice each day: take her full diabetes medication or have enough money for gas to get to work. The 48-year-old Orlando truck dispatcher sometimes reduces her insulin to just half or one-third of what doctors prescribed, trying to make it last longer.
“Sometimes I don’t even take my medicine,” Brown explained. “It’s so much with insurance, it’s crazy.”
Brown’s struggle reflects a nationwide crisis revealed in new research from KFF, a healthcare nonprofit. Their survey found that roughly 4 out of 5 Americans who renewed their Affordable Care Act insurance report facing steeper healthcare expenses this year, with approximately half describing their costs as significantly higher.
The primary driver behind these climbing expenses was the December 31st end of expanded tax credits that had helped reduce premiums for most marketplace participants.
The financial strain is forcing difficult decisions across the country. Among the 1,117 surveyed Americans who held ACA marketplace insurance in 2025 – including those who dropped or switched coverage – approximately 55% plan to reduce spending on groceries and essential household items to manage their medical expenses.
Congressional Democrats had pushed to maintain the pandemic-era subsidies last year but encountered resistance from Republican leaders. By January, efforts toward a bipartisan solution collapsed, leaving roughly 23 million ACA participants without assistance as they confronted increased premiums or difficult choices to cancel or downgrade their plans.
The February and March survey, which reconnected with participants from a previous year’s study to track their current insurance challenges, reveals how the ongoing congressional stalemate continues affecting ordinary Americans while many federal legislators have shifted focus to other issues.
Brown’s situation illustrates the dramatic change. Last year, she paid nothing for her health insurance premiums. Her current plan costs $17 monthly and includes a higher deductible.
This week, Brown discovered her medication refill would exceed $150 and “almost passed out.” She put only half a tank of gas in her car, saving money for her prescriptions.
The survey shows widespread anxiety about unexpected medical bills. Roughly three-quarters of people who had ACA coverage last year express significant concern about affording emergency treatment or hospital stays, while about half worry about routine doctor visits or prescription medications.
Most previous enrollees – about 70% – maintained ACA health insurance, though this includes roughly 30% who switched plans within the marketplace. Meanwhile, approximately 20% became eligible for employer-provided coverage, Medicare, Medicaid, or bought insurance outside the ACA marketplace, which typically offers less comprehensive benefits.
About 10% of last year’s participants dropped coverage entirely and now lack insurance, according to the poll.
Eric LeVasseur, a 63-year-old Seal Beach, California software developer, joined that uninsured group. When he discovered his mid-level silver plan would nearly triple to $1,200 monthly, “it was not something my budget could absorb,” he said.
Approximately 70% of returning ACA enrollees experiencing higher costs heavily blame health insurance companies, while just over half place significant blame on Republican lawmakers, President Donald Trump, and pharmaceutical companies. About one-third heavily blamed Congressional Democrats or hospitals, while roughly 10% placed this level of responsibility on doctors or employers.
Survey participants who identified with a political party and experienced cost increases overwhelmingly blamed opposing party lawmakers.
James Mako, a Boca Raton, Florida engineer and political independent, holds the Republican Party responsible. His $500 monthly premiums were set to double for his silver-level ACA plan this year, forcing him to downgrade to a bronze-level plan with higher out-of-pocket costs.
Mako remains skeptical of Republican proposals to address the problem, such as directing funds into health savings accounts.
“I think they’re just sales gimmicks,” he stated. “The subsidies should be back.”
The KFF survey was conducted February 12 through March 2, 2026, among 1,117 U.S. adults who held Marketplace insurance in 2025, using samples from two probability-based panels. All participants had taken part in the 2025 KFF Marketplace Survey and were recontacted for this follow-up study. The margin of sampling error for the complete sample is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
Legislators in Macao, China’s renowned gambling destination, have unanimously approved new legislation Thursday that grants courts the authority to conduct secret trials when public hearings are deemed a threat to national security.
The new law strengthens the role of Macao’s national security committee, which operates in the Chinese special administrative region alongside neighboring Hong Kong. Observers note that officials in both territories have been expanding their control over political discourse in recent years.
The approved legislation requires both judicial officials and the national security committee to agree that public court proceedings could endanger national security before trials can be moved behind closed doors.
The committee’s responsibilities include examining how to execute security directives from China’s central government in Beijing. Currently composed of security personnel, law enforcement leaders, and the territory’s chief executive, the legislation broadens the committee’s composition to include additional municipal officials overseeing cultural matters, education, and youth programs.
The prospect of secret criminal proceedings has generated concern among some watchers, particularly following last year’s detention of former pro-democracy legislator Au Kam San by Macao authorities. Police suspected him of collaborating with external entities in violation of the region’s national security legislation. This marked the first known prosecution under the law since its original passage in 2009 and subsequent revision in 2023.
According to a government statement, Thursday’s legislative approval represents significant progress in protecting national sovereignty, security, and developmental priorities. The law becomes effective one day following its publication in the territory’s official record.
The former Portuguese territory has transformed from a gambling monopoly into a global gaming powerhouse since China regained control in 1999.
Macao’s pro-democracy movement never achieved the prominence seen in Hong Kong, the former British colony that returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. The Macao administration also experienced significantly fewer large-scale demonstrations against its governance compared to Hong Kong.
However, the casino center has seen increased political restrictions in recent years, particularly following the massive anti-government demonstrations that swept Hong Kong in 2019, representing the most significant challenge to Beijing’s authority since the territory’s transfer.
WASHINGTON — Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin has taken a significant step toward leading the Department of Homeland Security after a Senate committee Thursday approved his nomination by a narrow margin.
The committee’s 8-7 decision follows Wednesday’s heated confirmation hearing and clears the way for a full Senate vote that could happen as early as next week on President Donald Trump’s Cabinet pick.
In an unusual twist, Republican committee chairman Rand Paul of Kentucky voted against Mullin, while Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman supported the nomination. The vote occurs amid an ongoing 34-day funding crisis at the Department of Homeland Security as both parties clash over agency policies.
During his committee appearance, Mullin attempted to present himself as a stabilizing force following the turbulent leadership of Kristi Noem, Trump’s initial choice for the position. The Oklahoma lawmaker also expressed backing for Trump’s immigration agenda, which sits at the center of the current funding dispute that emerged after three American citizens died in encounters with federal officers.
The confirmation hearing became notably hostile, with Mullin clashing not only with Democratic members but also with Paul in exchanges that nearly derailed the proceedings.
Paul began the session with sharp criticism of Mullin’s qualifications to head the department, particularly focusing on an undisclosed congressional travel incident that Mullin described as involving classified information during his House service.
The Kentucky senator also referenced inflammatory remarks Mullin made during a previous political dispute, when he labeled Paul a “freaking snake” and appeared to justify a physical attack Paul suffered from a neighbor years earlier. That assault left Paul with several broken ribs and required multiple surgical procedures.
“I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force?” Paul questioned during the hearing.
Mullin stood firm against the criticism, responding: “For you to say I’m a liar, sir, that’s not accurate.”
Paul subsequently announced his opposition to confirming Mullin for the position.
Fetterman, known for breaking with Democratic Party positions, explained his support by citing his “rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nation’s security.”
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who serves as Iran’s parliament speaker, has emerged as a pivotal figure in Tehran’s leadership structure as ongoing Israeli and American military actions target the Islamic Republic’s top officials, positioning him as a crucial player during this critical juncture.
As Iran loses many of its most influential leaders, the former Revolutionary Guards commander—who previously served as Tehran’s mayor, the country’s national police chief, and multiple-time presidential candidate—has become an essential bridge connecting the nation’s political, security, and religious power structures.
Following the commencement of attacks on Iran approximately three weeks ago, which included the assassination of then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Tehran’s remaining leadership has been locked in an intense struggle of endurance against their attackers.
Long regarded as Khamenei’s protégé and close ally to his son Mojtaba, who has now assumed the supreme leader role, Qalibaf has emerged as a prominent voice of resistance against Israel and the United States, pledging retaliation for their offensive actions.
Following Khamenei’s assassination, Qalibaf directed his words toward U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning of “such devastating blows that you will be begging.”
“I say to these two dirty criminals and their agents: you have stepped on our red line and you have to pay for it,” he stated during a televised address.
This aggressive language exemplifies his enduring commitment as a devoted supporter of the Islamic Republic’s theocratic governance structure, a dedication he has consistently shown through his involvement in suppressing domestic opposition movements.
However, beyond his hardline reputation, Qalibaf has cultivated an image as both a modernizer and pragmatic leader, even featuring himself in pilot uniform during his 2005 presidential campaign advertisements to emphasize his professional qualifications.
Early Revolutionary Involvement
Qalibaf was born in 1961 in Torqabeh, a town in northeastern Iran, and his formative years were influenced by religious teachings he received at local mosques during his teenage years, as the 1979 Islamic Revolution was gaining momentum, according to Iranian media reports.
Following Iraq’s invasion of Iran shortly after the shah’s removal from power, he enlisted with the Revolutionary Guards, a newly formed military organization dedicated to protecting the country’s emerging Islamic government, achieving the rank of general in just three years.
Continuing his military career with the Guards following the war’s conclusion, he earned his pilot’s license and ultimately led the Guards’ aviation division.
During his time with the Guards, he participated in the violent suppression of student demonstrators in 1999 and co-signed a threatening letter to reformist president Mohammad Khatami, warning of a potential coup if he failed to stop the protests.
As Khamenei faced mounting domestic unrest and international pressure regarding Iran’s nuclear activities, he increasingly relied on security hardliners like Qalibaf as the reform movement lost momentum.
In his role as police chief, he demonstrated ruthless tactics—commanding officers to shoot at demonstrators in 2002—while simultaneously attempting to appeal to modernists by updating the police force’s appearance with new uniforms.
During his 2005 presidential bid, despite attempting to connect with middle and lower-class voters, his populist appeal was overshadowed by the charismatic Tehran mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, leading Khamenei to shift his backing from his preferred former general to the newcomer.
Qalibaf’s presidential ambitions persisted through unsuccessful campaigns in 2013 and 2024, and he withdrew from the 2017 race to prevent dividing the conservative vote.
He succeeded Ahmadinejad as Tehran’s mayor, serving in that capacity for twelve years and claiming responsibility for helping quell months of civil unrest that challenged the government after his predecessor was declared the winner of a controversial 2009 election.
Following his twelve-year mayoral tenure, he returned to national politics through his parliamentary election and appointment as speaker in 2020, securing one of Iran’s most influential political positions.
MOSCOW – Russian security officials announced Thursday they will enhance protective measures for senior military personnel following multiple targeted attacks that Moscow attributes to Ukrainian operatives.
The announcement comes after Lieutenant-General Vladimir Alexeyev, who serves as deputy chief of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, was wounded by gunfire in his Moscow residential building on February 6. The officer sustained three gunshot wounds during the incident. Ukrainian officials have rejected any connection to the attack.
Alexander Bortnikov, director of Russia’s FSB security agency, told state-run media outlets that Alexeyev is making progress in his recovery. When asked about protective measures for high-ranking military personnel, Bortnikov indicated that security protocols would “of course” be strengthened in response to the recent incidents.
The shooting represents the latest in what Russian authorities describe as a pattern of targeted violence against military leadership figures, though specific details about other incidents were not provided in the announcement.
WASHINGTON – New federal data reveals that wholesale inventory levels across the United States experienced a significant decline during January, raising concerns about potential impacts on economic growth during the first quarter.
According to Thursday’s report from the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau, wholesale stock levels fell by 0.5% in January, following a smaller 0.1% decrease in December. When compared to the same period last year, inventories still showed a 1.0% increase.
The Census Bureau noted that data releases continue to be affected by delays stemming from last year’s federal government shutdown, as agencies work to catch up on reporting schedules.
The January decline affected multiple product categories, with reductions seen in automotive inventory, lumber supplies, metals and hardware, as well as medical products, chemicals, agricultural goods, petroleum, and alcoholic beverages. However, some sectors bucked the trend, with furniture, professional equipment, electrical goods, and clothing inventories showing increases.
Despite three consecutive quarters of inventory declines, business stock levels contributed positively to the fourth quarter’s 0.7% annualized GDP growth rate. This contrasts with the stronger 4.4% economic growth pace recorded during the July through September period.
Wholesale sales activity painted a different picture, climbing 0.5% in January after a robust 1.3% jump in December. Based on current sales trends, wholesalers would need 1.25 months to clear their existing inventory, slightly improved from December’s 1.26-month timeframe. For comparison, the inventory-to-sales ratio stood at 1.33 months during January of the previous year.
WASHINGTON – The housing market took a significant hit in January as new home purchases plummeted to their weakest point in nearly three and a half years, according to federal data released Thursday.
The Commerce Department’s Census Bureau reported that new single-family home purchases declined by 17.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 587,000 units – marking the lowest figure since October 2022.
The January numbers fell well short of economist predictions, which had forecast sales would drop to 720,000 units. December’s figures were also revised downward, showing sales at 712,000 units rather than the initially reported 745,000 unit pace. Every region of the country experienced declining sales.
Severe winter conditions that brought heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures to much of the nation in January likely prevented many potential homebuyers from visiting properties, contributing to the steep decline.
The Census Bureau continues working to catch up on delayed data releases stemming from last year’s government shutdown.
New home purchases represent only a small portion of overall U.S. housing sales and typically show significant month-to-month fluctuations. These sales are recorded when contracts are signed. Compared to January of the previous year, new home sales plunged 11.3%.
The downturn occurred even though mortgage rates had decreased at the beginning of the year following President Donald Trump’s directive for government-backed mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to increase their purchases of mortgage-backed securities.
However, mortgage rates have climbed in recent weeks as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran pushed oil prices up more than 40% since fighting began in late February, causing U.S. Treasury yields to rise. Mortgage rates typically follow the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield.
This upward trend in rates could prevent any recovery in new home sales while keeping housing inventory high. Elevated construction costs due to import tariffs, labor shortages from immigration restrictions, and limited availability of building lots are all hampering single-family home construction.
Available new housing inventory increased slightly to 476,000 units in January from December’s 474,000 units.
Based on January’s sales rate, clearing the current supply of new homes would require 9.7 months, compared to 8.0 months in December. The median price for new homes fell 6.8% to $400,500 in January compared to the same month last year. The majority of homes sold in January were priced below $499,999.
A French court has ordered billionaire Vincent Bollore to stand trial on bribery and embezzlement charges stemming from his business dealings in West Africa over a decade ago, according to prosecutors in Paris.
The media mogul stands accused of paying bribes to government officials in the Parisian suburb of Puteaux while supporting the presidential campaigns of Faure Gnassingbe in Togo and Alpha Conde in Guinea between 2009 and 2011, prosecutors announced Thursday.
Authorities began formally investigating Bollore in 2018 following accusations that his business empire provided below-market-rate services to political candidates in both African nations as part of a scheme to secure profitable port management contracts.
The Bollore family’s business empire previously controlled extensive shipping and logistics operations across Africa before divesting those holdings to MSC Group in 2022. The family maintains controlling interests in major publicly traded corporations including media giant Vivendi and advertising company Havas.
Two additional defendants will join Bollore in court: former Vivendi board member Gilles Alix and Jean-Philippe Dorent, who currently serves as head of Havas International Consulting, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Neither Bollore nor his legal representatives have issued statements regarding the charges.
Students across Delaware now have more time to showcase their artistic talents in the state’s public transit poster competition.
The Delaware Transit Corporation has pushed back the submission deadline for their yearly student art contest to April 17th, giving young artists extra time to complete their entries.
This year’s theme centers around “DARTLEY’s Passport to Discovery: Where Could DART Take You?” The competition encourages students to use their creativity while featuring DARTLEY, the transit system’s mascot and travel companion.
The contest asks participants to envision the many destinations and opportunities that become accessible through Delaware’s public bus system. Students are encouraged to think about how public transportation opens doors to new experiences and adventures throughout the state.
The extended deadline gives Delaware students additional weeks to develop their poster designs and submit their artwork for consideration in the statewide competition.
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Three prominent Maryland officials are set to launch the annual Chesapeake Oyster Week celebration this Friday, March 20, at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery.
Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks will join Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Josh Kurtz and Oyster Recovery Partnership Executive Director Ward Slacum for the official kickoff event of the 2026 Chesapeake Oyster Week.
The ceremonial launch will take place at the popular Guinness Open Gate Brewery location, marking the beginning of a week-long celebration of the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster industry and recovery efforts.
Golden State head coach Steve Kerr has accepted the mathematical reality facing his team. The Warriors are destined for the NBA’s play-in tournament.
With just 13 regular season contests remaining, Golden State finds themselves trailing the sixth-place Western Conference position by 8.5 games following Wednesday’s defeat in Boston — another contest that saw Stephen Curry sidelined due to ongoing knee problems.
However, the Warriors maintain an 8.5-game cushion over the 11th-place team. While there’s still a technical possibility Golden State could fall outside the play-in tournament bracket — reserved for teams placing seventh through tenth in each conference — Kerr understands this scenario is unrealistic.
“What I’m most interested in right now is can we prepare ourselves for the play-in,” Kerr stated following Wednesday’s 120-99 defeat. “We’re going to be in the play-in. We know that — one way or the other. So, we’ve got to prepare.”
The regular season concludes April 12, with the top six teams in each conference earning automatic playoff berths. Teams finishing 11th through 15th face elimination.
The remaining clubs enter the play-in tournament, scheduled from April 14-17. This format debuted in a limited form during the 2020 bubble season, with the current structure implemented in 2021.
The tournament operates identically in both conferences: The seventh seed hosts the eighth seed in the opening round, while the ninth seed welcomes the tenth seed. The 7-8 winner advances to face the second seed in the first playoff round. The 7-8 loser hosts the 9-10 winner for the final playoff spot against the top seed. Both losing teams are eliminated.
“We’ve had our eyes on (the No. 6 seed) for a while. And that’s out of the question now,” Kerr explained. “I mean, we’re not getting there. And so, if we can string together some wins, try to get to eight, that’d be ideal. Get two cracks at it. We’re not getting to seven. We know that.”
Golden State has occupied the play-in territory for most of this campaign, maintaining the eighth position almost continuously from mid-November through March. Their recent struggles — losing eight of ten games — have dropped them to tenth in the Western standings.
Curry remains with the team during their current road swing, participating in workouts and shooting sessions as his knee condition improves from recent weeks. Team officials plan to provide a status update Saturday before their Atlanta matchup.
This development suggests Curry might return against the Hawks. “He may or may not have already had a little contact,” Kerr hinted.
While the Warriors won’t see Jimmy Butler return this season due to his January ACL tear, they anticipate getting Curry, Al Horford, and Moses Moody back from their respective injuries. Kerr wants Golden State prepared to peak when these players return.
“Over the last few weeks, I’ve been telling the guys we have to build our habits and be ready for when we get guys healthy again,” Kerr said. “Then we can really have the firepower that can be complemented by a foundation of good habits, good fundamentals. … Being prepared for that time is everything for us.”
As of Thursday, Phoenix, the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland, and Golden State would comprise the West’s play-in participants. While nothing is finalized, the Clippers and Trail Blazers likely share similar thinking with the Warriors, given their slim chances of reaching sixth place or dropping below tenth.
If Kerr’s prediction proves accurate, this would mark Golden State’s third straight play-in appearance and fourth overall. Phoenix has never participated, the Clippers appeared once in 2022, and Portland’s only experience came during the 2020 bubble season when just two teams competed in that round.
In the Eastern Conference, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Charlotte currently occupy the play-in positions as of Thursday. All four teams maintain significant leads over the 11th-15th place group, though reaching sixth place or higher remains mathematically feasible for these clubs.
Atlanta has reached the play-in round four consecutive seasons. Miami has participated in each of the past three seasons, while Charlotte last appeared in 2022 and Philadelphia competed in 2024.
Delaware State Police have taken a Georgetown resident into custody on multiple felony drug charges following an incident that included a foot chase and brief escape.
Authorities arrested 26-year-old Jayson Willin on March 17, 2026, after members of the Sussex County Governor’s Task Force and Probation and Parole officers went to the 500 block of Union Drive seeking the probationer, who had an outstanding warrant for breach of release. When law enforcement spotted Willin and tried to make contact, he fled on foot before officers quickly captured him. A search revealed he was carrying roughly 6.97 grams of cocaine, about 1.45 grams of crack cocaine, around 0.52 grams of methamphetamine, a buprenorphine and naloxone strip, a digital scale, and drug-related equipment. After being secured in a probation officer’s vehicle, Willin managed to exit the car but was swiftly caught again. Officers conducting an administrative search of Willin’s residence discovered an additional 19.96 grams of cocaine, baking soda, a digital scale, and a Pyrex cup and spoon containing white powder residue.
Following his arrest, Willin was transported to Troop 4 and processed on numerous charges before appearing before Justice of the Peace Court 3. He was then sent to Sussex Correctional Institution under a $78,200 secured bond.
The charges against Willin include: Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Tier 3 (Felony); Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tier 3 (Felony); two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony); Unlawful to Knowingly Operate or Attempt to Operate a Clandestine Laboratory (Felony); three counts of Possess Consume a Controlled or Counterfeit Substance except Human Growth Hormone without a Prescription; three counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Resisting Arrest; Attempt to Escape 3rd Degree; and two counts of Breach of Release.
State government workers in Delaware will now have access to comprehensive artificial intelligence education through a newly implemented training program designed to promote ethical technology use across all departments.
The curriculum has been made available via the Delaware Learning Center, the state’s digital education platform, and focuses on teaching employees how to implement AI tools responsibly and effectively in their daily work.
This educational initiative represents Delaware’s commitment to ensuring that as artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in government operations, state workers are properly equipped with the knowledge and guidelines necessary to use these technologies in ways that serve the public interest while maintaining ethical standards.
The training program addresses the growing need for government employees to understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI systems, helping them make informed decisions about when and how to incorporate these tools into their work processes.
Detroit Pistons All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham is facing a significant absence after suffering a collapsed lung during Tuesday night’s victory against Washington, according to a source familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday.
The injury will sideline Cunningham for a minimum of two weeks, though the recovery period could extend longer, the source revealed. Medical staff have not yet established a definitive return date for the star player.
The source requested anonymity as the team has not officially disclosed these medical details to the public.
With fewer than four weeks remaining in the regular season, the timing presents challenges for Detroit’s playoff positioning. The Pistons initially listed Cunningham as unavailable for Thursday’s matchup in Washington due to a left back contusion. Detroit’s first playoff game is scheduled for April 18 or 19.
ESPN initially broke the story regarding the specific nature of Cunningham’s injury.
The incident occurred during Tuesday’s contest against the Wizards when Cunningham dove after a loose ball and collided with Washington’s Tre Johnson at the 7:44 mark of the first quarter. Following the contact, Cunningham appeared to struggle physically before exiting the game just over a minute later, with team officials initially attributing his departure to back spasms.
This season, Cunningham has posted impressive numbers with 24.5 points and 9.9 assists per game, helping fuel Detroit’s most successful campaign in nearly twenty years.
Detroit sits atop the Eastern Conference with a 49-19 record entering Thursday, maintaining a 3.5-game advantage over Boston with fourteen contests left to play. Having appeared in 61 games this season, an extended recovery period could prevent Cunningham from reaching the 65-game minimum required for major awards consideration, including All-NBA team selection.
MIAMI (AP) — For more than sixty years, Cuba’s Communist Party has demonstrated remarkable staying power through numerous challenges.
From America’s economic embargo following Fidel Castro’s rise to power in 1959, to the devastating hunger during the “special period” after the Soviet Union’s collapse, the island’s government has weathered both external pressure and internal disasters.
However, the current crisis may represent the most serious challenge yet, as the Trump administration implements what amounts to an unofficial naval blockade aimed at forcing governmental change following the recent removal of Cuba’s long-standing ally, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
While engaged in conflict with Iran, President Donald Trump stated this week that he expects to have “the honor of taking Cuba” in the near future. Though his exact intentions remain unclear, the United States is seeking President Miguel Díaz-Canel’s departure through ongoing negotiations with Havana that might prevent potential American military action.
Without formally announcing a blockade, Trump’s administration has severely damaged commercial relations with the Caribbean nation.
During March, deliveries of petroleum, food, and other essential items to Cuba virtually stopped, with no international tankers reaching the island, according to maritime data reviewed by Windward, a shipping intelligence company. Port visits, including vessels moving between Cuban harbors, typically averaged 50 monthly throughout 2025 but dropped to merely 11 in March — all from domestic origins. This marked the lowest figure since 2017. Furthermore, prospects for improvement appear dim: no tankers are currently en route, and only three cargo vessels — from China, India, and the Netherlands — have listed Cuba as their planned destination, though these plans could shift.
This economic stranglehold is severely impacting Cuba’s 11 million people, who face extensive power outages and deteriorating healthcare services due to insufficient fuel for ambulances and hospital backup power systems. The nation, among the world’s most petroleum-dependent for electricity generation, produces less than 40% of its required energy needs domestically.
Ian Ralby, director of I.R. Consilium, a maritime security consulting firm based in the United States, argued that America’s aggressive approach will not win favor among Cubans who have long desired political change.
“Every Cuban resident is suffering the acute inaccessibility to fuel and all the knock-on consequences in terms of access to food, hospitals and free movement,” he said.
This dramatic reduction in commerce has occurred without the White House reinstating export limitations to Cuba that were previously relaxed under the Biden presidency. Actually, shipments of American-produced chicken, pork, and other food products to Cuba — representing most U.S. exports to the island — reached $490 million last year, the highest level since 2009. Non-farming exports and charitable contributions, largely benefiting Cuba’s growing private economy, more than doubled.
However, encouraged by America’s capture of Maduro, Trump has progressively intensified his statements regarding Cuba, initially proposing a “friendly takeover” of the nation and recently telling conservative Latin American partners that he would “take care” of Cuba after concluding the Iranian conflict.
Though neither Trump nor his administration has explained precisely what this commitment entails, the ongoing presence of U.S. naval vessels in the Caribbean used during the Maduro operation has prompted companies and nations conducting business with Cuba to exercise self-restraint.
“Nobody wants to be on the radar of Trump’s Truth Social account,” said John Kavulich, president of the New York-based U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council.
Leading up to the American military’s removal of Maduro during a nighttime operation on January 3, Trump announced that the U.S. would prevent all Venezuelan petroleum deliveries to Cuba and actually captured several tankers to enforce what it termed a “quarantine,” using language from President John F. Kennedy’s response during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. Later that month, Trump issued an executive directive threatening tariffs against any nation providing oil to Cuba. This warning concerned Mexican officials, who have historically opposed American policy toward Cuba and whose government-owned petroleum company Pemex became an important supply source last year as Venezuelan oil exports decreased.
Cuba has increased its criticism of what it describes as a “fuel blockade” by America. However, the Trump administration has rejected this characterization, likely recognizing that under international law, any naval action viewed as punishing civilians constitutes an illegal act of aggression outside wartime.
“Cuba is a free, independent and sovereign state — nobody dictates what we do,” Díaz-Canel said in a social media post in January. “Cuba does not attack; we are the victims of U.S. attacks for 66 years and we will prepare ourselves to defend the homeland with our last drop of blood.”
Facing growing criticism that American actions are causing starvation in Cuba, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has begun moderating some of the administration’s warnings. In January, the State Department delivered $3 million worth of food packages, water purification supplies, and other humanitarian aid to the island. Then last month, the White House announced it would permit American companies to deliver fuel — including Venezuelan petroleum — to private Cuban enterprises.
According to Rubio, the objective is to support the growth of the country’s small private business sector.
“The reason why those industries have not flourished in Cuba is because the regime has not allowed them to flourish,” Rubio said when announcing the private sales.
However, it remains uncertain whether any companies have begun fuel deliveries, and critics argue the approach is impractical since most Cuban businesses lack funding and the Cuban government controls gasoline distribution.
John Felder, owner of Premier Automotive Export, a Maryland-based company that has sold electric vehicles and scooters to Cuba since 2012, said most Cubans, despite their current suffering, worry about future developments.
“U.S. policies have created the most resilient people in the world and yet all they want to do is buy things in Miami like you and me,” said Felder, who recently returned from a four-day business visit to Havana and reports never witnessing worse conditions. “They want change but they don’t want to be controlled by the United States.”
