WASHINGTON — During two separate occasions on Monday, President Donald Trump claimed that an unnamed former commander-in-chief had privately admitted to regretting their failure to take aggressive action against Iran similar to Trump’s current approach over the past two weeks.
However, there’s a significant issue with this account: spokespeople for all four living ex-presidents — including three Democrats and one Republican — have stated that none have had recent conversations with Trump.
When pressed by journalists to identify which former president he spoke with, Trump refused to provide a name, stating he wouldn’t want to “embarrass him.”
The Republican commander-in-chief initially shared this account during lengthy comments about the Iran conflict while opening a Kennedy Center board of trustees meeting. As board chairman, Trump conducted the session at the White House.
Trump reiterated his position that Iran has posed a danger to America for decades, but claimed he alone among presidents has shown the determination to address it.
“Look, for 47 years, no president was willing to do what I’m doing, and they should have done it a long time ago,” Trump stated. “It would have been a lot easier. There’s no president that wanted to do it.”
“And yet every president knew. I’ve spoken to a certain president, who I like, actually, a past president, a former president. He said, ‘I wish I did it, I wish I did,’ but they didn’t do it. I’m doing it,” Trump added.
When reporters inquired about the identity of this former president, Trump responded: “I can’t tell you that. I don’t want to embarrass him. It would be very bad for his career, even though he’s got no career.”
Spokespeople for former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden each confirmed they had not engaged in recent discussions with Trump. These individuals requested anonymity as they lack authorization to discuss the former presidents’ private communications.
The White House did not provide an immediate response when contacted for comment after learning that representatives for all former presidents denied recent conversations with Trump.
Trump and the four previous presidents were most recently in the same location during his January 20, 2025 inauguration — occurring well before the current conflict.
Trump has consistently criticized both Biden and Obama harshly, frequently labeling Biden the “worst president in the history of our country” and condemning Obama for negotiating what he calls a “horrible deal” regarding Iran’s nuclear program. During his first presidency, Trump pulled America out of that agreement.
However, the Republican leader recently expressed more favorable views toward Clinton, saying it “bothers” him that the former president was required to provide congressional testimony regarding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“I liked Bill Clinton. I still like Bill Clinton,” Trump remarked during a February 4 NBC News interview. “I liked his behavior toward me. I thought he got me, he understood me.”
Trump retold his account about the Iran discussion with a former president later Monday in the Oval Office, during an announcement that Vice President JD Vance would head a newly formed task force targeting fraud in federal benefit programs.
“Was it George W. Bush?” one reporter inquired.
“No,” Trump replied.
“Was it Bill Clinton?” the journalist continued.
Trump responded: “I don’t want to say. I don’t want to say,” before adding that “it’s somebody that happens to like me. And I like that person, who’s a smart person. But that person said, ‘I wish I did it,’ OK, but I don’t want to get into who, OK. I don’t want to get them into trouble.”
Federal officials report that more than one in ten Transportation Security Administration workers were absent from their posts Sunday, as the partial government shutdown reaches its 30th day with no resolution in sight.
The ongoing political standoff has left 50,000 airport security personnel working without paychecks, creating travel delays and prompting executives from America’s biggest airlines to demand swift congressional action during the busy spring break travel season.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, TSA worker absences typically stay below 2%, but Sunday’s rate exceeded 10% nationwide. The situation has been particularly severe at major hubs including Atlanta, New York’s JFK, and Houston, where roughly 20% of staff have been missing since funding expired on February 14.
The department also reported that 366 TSA employees have quit their jobs entirely during the shutdown period. Weekend absences surged dramatically, with Houston seeing over 50% of workers absent, while New Orleans and Atlanta experienced absence rates above 30%, forcing travelers to endure security wait times of two hours or more.
In response to the mounting crisis, chief executives from the nation’s major carriers issued an urgent appeal to lawmakers Sunday.
“Too many travelers are having to wait in extraordinarily long – and painfully slow – lines at checkpoints,” stated the joint letter from leaders of American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Alaska Air, and other major carriers.
White House officials convened a Monday conference call with travel industry representatives, including Airlines for America CEO Chris Sununu, as pressure mounts to resolve the impasse. The industry group chose not to provide public comment on the discussion.
The airline executives drew parallels to a previous 43-day shutdown last fall that caused widespread flight disruptions and forced the Federal Aviation Administration to mandate a 10% reduction in flights at major airports. “Once again air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown,” the CEOs stated in their letter.
Bipartisan efforts in the Senate fell short Thursday when competing proposals to restore TSA funding failed to gain sufficient support.
Department of Homeland Security funding expired February 13 after lawmakers couldn’t agree on immigration enforcement changes sought by Democratic legislators.
The timing couldn’t be worse for the aviation industry, which anticipates a record-setting spring travel season with 171 million passengers expected to fly – a 4% increase compared to the same period last year.
Some airports have been forced to shut down security checkpoints entirely, while others are organizing fundraising efforts to help unpaid TSA workers purchase food and basic necessities as they continue working without compensation.
The Cuban government made a surprising announcement Monday, welcoming Cuban Americans and other exiles to invest in and own businesses on the Communist-controlled island, despite decades of hostility between the two sides.
Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga, who leads the foreign commerce ministry, declared on state television that “there are no limitations” for Cuban exiles seeking to invest in their homeland.
This represents a dramatic reversal for Cuba, which has historically viewed the exile community with deep mistrust, particularly since many Cuban Americans have long supported the U.S. trade embargo against the island nation.
The announcement comes as Cuba faces a severe economic crisis, worsened by U.S.-imposed oil restrictions and sanctions that have resulted in widespread power outages and shortages of essential goods including fuel, food, and medical supplies.
While Cuban nationals living on the island have been permitted to establish private businesses since 2021, those residing outside the country were previously barred from such opportunities.
“We have reiterated on several occasions that Cuba’s doors are open to investment from the Cuban community residing abroad. And when we say that, we’re not just referring to small ventures. We’re also referring to the possibility of investing in larger projects,” Perez-Oliva Fraga stated.
The deputy prime minister indicated that exiles could “participate fully in the various areas of the country’s development,” with the scope depending on the size of their business ventures.
Cuban officials expressed particular interest in agricultural investments, similar to arrangements with Vietnamese companies that produce rice on the island under agreements where the government retains land ownership.
The timing of this policy change is notable, occurring just days after Cuba confirmed it had initiated discussions with the United States, while Trump administration officials have privately indicated they would seek economic opportunities as part of any future agreement.
More than one million Cubans have left the island since 2021, creating the largest migration wave since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution and representing a significant pool of potential investors that remains largely unused.
Cuba also announced it was eliminating barriers for U.S. companies seeking to invest, though officials acknowledged that American laws still prohibit such trade and investment under the ongoing economic embargo designed to pressure the Havana government.
President Donald Trump has recently intensified pressure on Cuba by cutting off Venezuelan oil shipments and threatening tariffs on any nation that sells oil to the island, further damaging Cuba’s already struggling economy.
Trump escalated his statements Monday, claiming he expected to have the “honor” of “taking Cuba in some form” and asserting that “I can do anything I want” regarding the neighboring country.
A federal appeals court has ruled against the Trump administration’s attempt to halt trillions of dollars in government assistance programs, backing state officials who challenged the unprecedented policy.
The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston on Monday affirmed a lower court’s decision that prevented what judges called an improper freeze on federal funding. The ruling favored attorneys general from 22 states and Washington D.C. who filed suit against the administration.
Chief Circuit Judge David Barron criticized the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, stating it “directed the agency defendants to freeze such funds without considering an obvious aspect of the problem — namely, the reliance interests of the recipients of the obligated federal funds that were to be frozen.”
Judge Barron, appointed during a Democratic administration along with his fellow panel members, referenced a district court finding that federal agencies had not properly evaluated whether payments were legally mandated or justified on an individual basis.
The appeals court mostly supported U.S. District Judge John McConnell’s March 2025 order that stopped the policy, though it reversed portions requiring agencies to send payments to the plaintiff states. This change followed a Supreme Court decision from last year indicating that lawsuits for government contract and grant money must go through specialized courts.
The White House has not provided a response to requests for comment on the decision.
The legal challenge began after the Office of Management and Budget issued guidance in January 2025, following Trump’s return to office, instructing federal agencies to temporarily halt spending on assistance programs.
The directive stated the suspension was needed while officials examined grants and loans to verify they matched Trump’s executive directives, including those eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and suspending climate change project funding.
The policy potentially affected as much as $3 trillion in federal assistance.
Although the OMB later rescinded the memo amid legal challenges, including the case before Judge McConnell, the states maintained that withdrawing the memo did not necessarily end the underlying policy.
A Palestinian activist walked free from a Texas immigration facility Monday after spending more than a year in detention, marking the end of what her legal team describes as the final case from the Trump administration’s enforcement actions against Gaza war protesters.
Leqaa Kordia, 33, departed the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, and headed back to rejoin her family in New Jersey, according to her attorneys. The West Bank native had been held at the facility since early 2025.
Federal immigration officials took Kordia into custody for remaining in the country beyond her student visa’s expiration date, though her lawyer maintains she was working to obtain permanent legal status. Authorities say local law enforcement initially arrested her during pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University in 2024 as protests erupted over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Immigration Judge Tara Naselow-Nahas granted Kordia’s release Friday after setting bond at $100,000, though her immigration proceedings will move forward. The ruling came after two earlier bond approvals were blocked by government appeals.
During Friday’s hearing, Judge Naselow-Nahas criticized the government’s opposition to Kordia’s release, calling their arguments “disingenuous.”
Kordia required emergency medical treatment last month after suffering a seizure while in custody. She has described the detention facility’s conditions as “filthy” and “inhumane.” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani brought her situation directly to President Donald Trump’s attention.
The Trump administration has targeted pro-Palestinian campus demonstrations, labeling them as antisemitic and pursuing deportation proceedings against foreign nationals who participated while also threatening to cut federal funding to universities.
Kordia and fellow demonstrators, including members of Jewish advocacy organizations, argue that officials are incorrectly framing legitimate criticism of Israel’s Gaza operations and Palestinian territory occupation as antisemitic sentiment, while portraying Palestinian rights advocacy as extremist activity.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have only seen Shohei Ohtani in action once during spring training as they prepare for the upcoming regular season.
The two-way superstar recorded one hit in three plate appearances during his sole spring training game before departing to represent Japan in the World Baseball Classic. Ohtani was unable to pitch for his national team, which suffered an unexpected quarterfinal defeat to Venezuela on Saturday, ending their tournament run sooner than anticipated.
With Ohtani returning to the Dodgers camp ahead of schedule, manager Dave Roberts indicated there’s a good possibility the star player will take the mound either this week or in the early days of next week.
“Last year, we had the plan to start from one inning to keep him with us active and playing. I think this year, we’re certainly north of that,” Roberts said. “I don’t see how we won’t be able to get three or four innings from him in a Major League game. So that’s certainly a better jumping-off point than last year. We’ll see how it goes.”
During his time with Team Japan, Ohtani completed a four-inning simulated game in Miami last week. Roberts explained that since Ohtani isn’t beginning his preparation from zero, the organization feels confident about including him in their starting rotation when the regular season begins.
In 2025, Ohtani took the mound for 14 regular-season games and four playoff contests for the Dodgers. His regular-season performance included 62 strikeouts and a 2.87 earned run average across 47 innings, while his postseason statistics showed a 2-1 win-loss record with a 4.43 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 20 1/3 innings. The previous season in 2024, Ohtani was sidelined from pitching duties for the Dodgers following surgical repair of an injured ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Johan Rojas will miss half the upcoming season after Major League Baseball handed down an 80-game suspension Monday for breaking the league’s drug prevention and treatment policies.
The 25-year-old outfielder failed a drug test that detected Boldenone, a banned performance-enhancing substance, according to MLB’s official announcement.
The punishment takes effect when the 2025 regular season begins. Philadelphia is set to host the Texas Rangers for their season opener on March 26, and Rojas will be eligible to return by June 25 when the team visits the Washington Nationals for what would be their 81st game.
“The Phillies fully support Major League Baseball’s Joint Prevention and Treatment Program and are disappointed to hear today’s news of Johan’s violation,” the team stated in their official response.
This marks a significant setback for Rojas, who was preparing for his fourth major league campaign, all spent with Philadelphia. During the 2025 season, he participated in 71 contests, posting a .224 batting average alongside one home run, 18 runs batted in, and 12 stolen bases. Throughout his 250-game major league career, the outfielder has compiled six home runs, 73 RBIs, and 51 stolen bases while maintaining a .252 batting average.
Twenty state attorneys general are pushing back against a Trump administration plan they say would effectively eliminate a $5 billion federal electric vehicle charging program by making its requirements impossible to meet.
The Democratic officials, representing states like California, Colorado, Arizona, New York, Virginia, Illinois and Michigan, argue that a Transportation Department proposal to increase “Buy America” standards from 55% to 100% for charging station components would be unachievable for manufacturers and would slow or stop federally-funded EV charger installation across the country.
Neither the Transportation Department nor the White House provided immediate responses to requests for comment on the criticism.
Earlier this year, federal Judge Tana Lin determined the Trump administration illegally paused funding designated for electric vehicle charging infrastructure expansion, ruling in favor of 20 Democratic-controlled states that challenged the action in court.
The group of Democratic attorneys general, along with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, believe the Transportation Department’s new charging station content requirements represent another attempt to implement the president’s goal of stopping congressionally-approved EV infrastructure funding.
While the states back the concept of Buy America policies, they maintain the Transportation Department’s specific proposal cannot be implemented in practice.
“There are currently no 100% domestically produced chargers available for purchase, there is not enough demand for 100% domestically produced chargers to justify investing in domestic production, and some critical components of the chargers are simply not produced in the United States,” the officials wrote in their letter.
The legal challenge followed the Transportation Department’s suspension of the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, which originated from infrastructure legislation passed by Congress in 2021 during Joe Biden’s presidency.
The new standards would become effective immediately after final approval. Environmental group Sierra Club characterized the proposal as another disingenuous effort by the Trump administration to eliminate the program and block fund usage.
The current administration has implemented multiple policies aimed at increasing gasoline vehicle sales while reducing electric vehicle benefits for both manufacturers and buyers.
Congressional legislation passed in January redirected $879 million previously allocated under Biden for EV charging networks toward different infrastructure projects.
The artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT is preparing a significant strategic overhaul that will concentrate efforts on coding and business customers, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Monday.
The company’s leadership team is working to finalize plans for this major directional change, the newspaper reported. Fidji Simo, who serves as OpenAI’s applications chief, discussed the upcoming modifications with staff during a company-wide meeting.
During that presentation to employees, Simo indicated that key leaders, including CEO Sam Altman and chief research officer Mark Chen, are actively evaluating which business areas should receive less priority moving forward, the Journal reported.
According to the newspaper’s sources, company staff members should expect to receive official notification about these strategic changes within the next few weeks.
When contacted for verification, OpenAI had not provided a response to requests for comment about the reported strategy shift.
The University of Oklahoma, widely regarded as the strongest team shut out of March Madness, has committed to participate in the College Basketball Crown’s second annual tournament in Las Vegas, organizers announced Monday.
The Sooners will take on Colorado in their opening matchup on April 1st. Seven other universities – Baylor, Creighton, Minnesota, Rutgers, Stanford, and West Virginia – have also committed to the Fox Sports-sponsored alternative tournament.
Tournament organizers unveiled the complete bracket on Monday, scheduling two sets of opening round contests for April 1st and 2nd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The final four and championship rounds will take place April 4th and 5th at T-Mobile Arena, the home venue for the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team.
This year’s tournament has been scaled back from 16 participating schools to eight following last year’s inaugural event, which saw Nebraska claim the championship along with a $300,000 NIL prize package. UCF earned $100,000 as the tournament runner-up, while Boise State and Villanova each received $50,000 for reaching the semifinals.
Multiple universities chose not to participate in this year’s event. The tournament’s selection process automatically invites the two highest-ranked teams from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East conferences that missed the NCAA tournament, using final NET rankings as the determining factor. All three conferences maintain broadcasting partnerships with Fox.
Notable programs including Indiana, Cincinnati, and Seton Hall – the top available schools from their respective leagues – opted out of participation. San Diego State from the Mountain West Conference also reportedly declined invitations to both the Crown and NIT tournaments.
Rutgers enters the field with the weakest NET ranking at No. 134, despite posting a 14-19 record for the season.
Oklahoma finished 19-15 after winning six consecutive games down the stretch in an attempt to secure an NCAA tournament berth, before losing to eventual SEC tournament champion Arkansas in the quarterfinal round.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey has issued a severe thunderstorm watch beginning at 8:23 PM on March 16 and continuing until midnight on March 17.
The weather alert warns residents to remain vigilant for dangerous storm conditions that could develop during the overnight hours. Severe thunderstorms can produce damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall that may lead to flooding.
Residents should monitor local weather conditions closely and be prepared to take shelter if severe weather develops in their area. The watch remains in effect until 12:00 AM EDT on March 17.
DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. — New details have emerged about the Michigan synagogue attacker after a local television station obtained a 911 recording revealing his former spouse contacted authorities expressing concern about his mental state on the day of the assault.
WXYZ-TV reported that Ayman Ghazali’s ex-wife reached out to Dearborn Heights police around the time he launched his attack on Temple Israel and its early childhood learning center in West Bloomfield Township last Thursday. Federal investigators say Ghazali engaged in a shootout with security personnel before taking his own life inside his burning pickup truck.
The emergency call recording shows no evidence that the woman was aware of her former husband’s plan to target the religious facility, located approximately 25 miles from where he lived.
“I feel like he’s really upset,” the caller explained to dispatchers, according to the television station’s report of the 911 recording.
The woman informed police that Ghazali, a naturalized American citizen, had recently experienced the loss of relatives killed during an Israeli military strike on March 5 in Lebanon. The family held memorial services at the Islamic Institute of America in Dearborn Heights.
“He’s like suicidal,” his former wife warned officers during the call, adding that his “voice is not stable. I just want to make sure he’s OK.”
When asked about weapons, she said she had no knowledge of whether he possessed any. Police responded to Ghazali’s residence but found it empty.
According to federal authorities, Ghazali positioned himself outside the synagogue for two hours in his vehicle before crashing through the building where dozens of young children were present. Fortunately, no children suffered injuries during the incident.
Israeli military officials announced Sunday that Ibrahim Ghazali, the attacker’s brother who perished in the recent airstrike, served as a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon. The FBI’s Detroit field office, which is leading the synagogue attack investigation, has not provided comment regarding this characterization.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have selected World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto to take the mound for their season opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 26, marking his second consecutive year earning the prestigious Opening Day assignment.
The 27-year-old right-hander delivered an outstanding performance during the 2025 postseason, playing a crucial role in the Dodgers’ championship run.
“It is a pretty easy decision, considering that it’s an honor to be the Opening Day starter,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Monday. “He started for us last year on the road. But for him to get that start on Opening Day at home, I think it’s going to be special.”
Los Angeles aims to achieve something no team has accomplished since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees: capturing three consecutive World Series titles.
During the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Yamamoto claimed three victories in what became a dramatic seven-game championship series.
His postseason heroics included delivering a complete-game four-hitter in Game 2, followed by six solid innings in Game 6 to force a deciding seventh game. Working on zero days’ rest, he then came out of the bullpen in Game 7 and threw 2⅔ scoreless innings to secure the victory in an 11-inning thriller.
Yamamoto’s postseason numbers were exceptional, posting a 5-1 record with a 1.45 ERA across six appearances, including five starts.
His regular season performance was equally impressive, finishing 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA over 30 starts, earning him third place in National League Cy Young Award voting and a selection to the NL All-Star team.
Currently in his third year of a massive 12-year, $325 million deal, Yamamoto has compiled a 19-10 record with a 2.66 ERA in 48 starts during his two seasons in Los Angeles. His postseason statistics are even more remarkable, showing a 7-1 record with a 2.25 ERA in 10 playoff appearances.
The leader of South Korea’s SK Group delivered a sobering forecast Monday, predicting the worldwide semiconductor wafer shortage will continue for the remainder of this decade as artificial intelligence applications drive demand far beyond manufacturing capacity.
Chairman Chey Tae-won shared his outlook with media representatives during Nvidia’s GTC Conference in San Jose, California, where he indicated the supply crunch will likely extend through 2030.
During the same discussion, Chey revealed that SK Hynix is considering launching American Depositary Receipts on U.S. exchanges as part of efforts to expand its international investor reach. The company’s chief executive is also expected to announce strategies for stabilizing memory chip pricing while the conglomerate investigates renewable energy options.
Mining company Rio Tinto announced Monday it has secured control of Arizona property necessary for developing the Resolution Copper mine, concluding a lengthy legal battle that has stretched over two decades with Native American opposition.
The development signals the likely conclusion of an intricate court dispute that placed the spiritual rights of San Carlos Apache communities against increasing copper demand for clean energy initiatives and federal goals to reduce dependence on international mineral sources.
The Anglo-Australian mining corporation transferred 5,400 acres of Arizona territory to the U.S. Forest Service, receiving access to 2,400 acres containing over 40 billion pounds of copper reserves. This metal serves as an essential component for electric car manufacturing, electrical wiring, and various electronic products.
The property exchange proceeded after federal appeals courts rejected blocking attempts last week, and the Supreme Court declined to intervene with emergency action.
Rio Tinto plans to begin a $500 million exploration drilling program to assess the mineral deposit, which represents a required phase before determining potential copper production timelines.
San Carlos Apache representatives and their legal counsel were unavailable for immediate response. The tribal nation has maintained that federal authorities lacked legitimate rights to the exchanged territory, even filing a property claim in 2021.
“This responsible mining project fulfills President Trump’s vision of American mineral independence,” stated U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Monday. The Forest Service operates under Agriculture Department oversight.
Apache communities and supporting groups have battled for years against the congressional land arrangement from 2014, citing concerns that mining operations will eventually destroy Oak Flat, known as Chi’chil Biłdagoteel in Apache language, where tribal members conduct religious ceremonies.
Various judicial bodies, including the nation’s highest court, have consistently dismissed attempts to halt the Resolution project.
Former President Trump expressed public backing for the initiative last August, writing on his Truth Social platform that project opponents “are Anti-American, and representing other copper competitive Countries.”
Rio Tinto and partner company BHP Group have invested over $2 billion in the venture without generating copper output.
“As demand for copper continues to grow, projects like Resolution can play an important role in strengthening domestic supply chains,” commented Katie Jackson, who leads Rio’s copper operations.
BHP, holding a 45% stake compared to Rio’s 55% ownership, described Resolution as positioned “to be an engine for economic growth in the U.S., creating thousands of high-value, local jobs and billions in economic activity nationwide.”
CHISINAU, March 16 – Water supplies have been completely shut off to Moldova’s second-largest city after a Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian power facility caused widespread environmental contamination, government officials announced Monday.
The attack on the Novodnistrovsk hydroelectric station in southern Ukraine on March 7 resulted in an oil leak that has contaminated the Dniestr River system, affecting water quality across the border in Moldova. Balti, home to 90,000 residents, along with three smaller communities, will remain without water service for at least another 12 hours extending into Tuesday, according to Moldova’s Environment Ministry.
Educational institutions have been forced to close, with students switching to remote learning as authorities work to address the crisis.
Moldovan officials implemented a 15-day environmental emergency on Sunday as the full scope of the contamination became clear.
“We declared environmental alert and are acting to protect our people,” President Maia Sandu stated on social media. “Russia bears full responsibility.”
Sandu, who has set a goal of bringing Moldova into the European Union before 2030, directly blamed Moscow for the river pollution. The leader of one of Europe’s most economically disadvantaged nations has consistently criticized Russia’s 2022 military invasion of Ukraine and has accused the Kremlin of attempting to overthrow her administration. Russian officials counter that Sandu is promoting anti-Russian sentiment.
Since Sandu took office in 2020, the European Union has offered substantial financial assistance to Moldova. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos announced the bloc’s readiness to provide support in addressing the pollution crisis.
“This is a reminder that Russia’s war does not stop at Ukraine’s borders,” Kos posted on X. “We stand in solidarity with the Republic of Moldova.”
A former Pentagon advisor who lost his job amid a leak investigation has landed a new position within the nation’s intelligence community, according to reports from The New York Times.
Dan Caldwell, who previously served as a senior advisor to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, will join the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in an advisory capacity. His Pentagon tenure ended abruptly when he was removed from the building and put on administrative leave due to what officials described as unauthorized information sharing.
Following his departure, Caldwell joined two other Pentagon officials in questioning the validity of the investigation against them. In their joint statement, they declared: “Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door.”
According to The New York Times, Caldwell’s upcoming position will involve providing guidance to senior intelligence officials who oversee coordination between various federal intelligence organizations and help prepare President Donald Trump’s daily intelligence reports.
An administration source indicated that Caldwell has not yet begun his duties at the intelligence office and that his position will be primarily administrative in nature.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence addressed the hiring in an official statement: “Any individual who is hired by ODNI goes through an extensive background review, including record checks and personal interviews, with a trained official to ensure the individual is trustworthy and does not pose a threat to national security.”
Throughout his time in Washington, Caldwell has attracted notice for his foreign policy perspectives, which detractors have labeled as isolationist while supporters argue they represent a more balanced approach to America’s defense commitments.
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — Three devastating explosions rocked Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri Monday evening, resulting in numerous deaths and hundreds of injuries in what authorities suspect were coordinated suicide attacks.
The deadly blasts struck the entrance to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital along with two busy commercial areas — the Post Office market and Monday Market — according to Sirajo Abdullahi, who leads operations for Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency in the region.
“There are casualties and they are still managing the causalities at the hospital,” Abdullahi stated. “We can’t give the actual figure until we count.”
The attacks occurred in Borno state’s capital, an area that has endured more than ten years of violent insurgency from the homegrown extremist organization Boko Haram.
Witness Bagoni Alkali, who helped transport injured victims for medical care, described the horrific scene to reporters.
“Right now, over 200 people have been injured and are receiving care in the accident and emergency department,” Alkali reported.
“While I could tell you so many people have died, to be honest, many lost their lives at the scene immediately after the bomb exploded. It’s disheartening,” he continued.
Mohammed Hassan, a volunteer who regularly supports security forces in their fight against armed extremists, recovered ten bodies from the market locations.
“Many victims were rushed to the emergency ward, but some died at the hospital. We’re in dire need of blood,” Hassan explained. “This attack’s been one of the deadliest in Maiduguri in years.”
So far, no organization has taken credit for the suspected bombing campaign.
Earlier Monday, Nigerian military forces successfully fought off assaults by suspected Islamic militants on Maiduguri’s outskirts during the early morning hours, according to an official military statement.
Nigeria continues to face ongoing security challenges from various armed factions, particularly across the country’s northern regions.
Extremist jihadi organizations, including Boko Haram and its affiliated groups, have intensified their assault on Nigerian military installations throughout the northeast this month. However, such attacks within Maiduguri itself have become uncommon in recent years following increased military operations in Borno state, the center of Nigeria’s 17-year battle against armed extremist movements.
Borno Governor Babagana Umara Zulum issued a statement Monday strongly denouncing the explosions.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and those injured as a result of the blast. The act is utterly condemnable, barbaric and inhumane,” Zulum declared.
The governor urged citizens to stay calm, continue their daily routines, and alert security forces about any suspicious activities or movements in their communities.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued orders for American diplomatic personnel stationed around the globe to lobby international partners into formally labeling Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Lebanese organization Hezbollah as terrorist entities, according to confidential State Department communications obtained by Reuters.
The March 16 instruction, distributed to every American diplomatic facility worldwide, directs embassy staff to communicate this request to foreign officials “at the highest appropriate level” before March 20. The document specifies that these lobbying activities should be synchronized with Israeli diplomatic efforts.
The Trump White House is working to gain support from hesitant international partners for its military actions, particularly after many nations received no advance warning about the American-Israeli air campaign that began two weeks earlier.
Demonstrating the challenges facing this diplomatic push, multiple American allies announced Monday they would not deploy naval vessels to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, declining Trump’s request to help maintain access to the crucial oil transport route.
The diplomatic cable emphasizes urgency, stating: “With the elevated risk of attack from Iran and its partners and proxies, all governments must move expeditiously to diminish the capabilities of Iran and Iran-aligned terrorist groups from attacking our respective nations and citizens.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard represents an elite military branch tasked with safeguarding the country’s Shiite Muslim religious leadership while maintaining significant control over Iran’s economic sectors. Both the Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah, a Shiite Muslim militant organization based in Lebanon, already carry terrorist designations from Washington and several other nations.
While the State Department communication lacks specific details about the heightened threat level, it references Tehran’s previous attacks against neighboring Middle Eastern countries and calls for coordinated international response.
The cable argues: “We assess that the Iranian regime is more sensitive to collective action than unilateral action, and that joint pressure is more likely to compel behavior change by the regime than unilateral actions alone.”
Officials believe such international designations would intensify pressure on Iran’s government while restricting its capacity “to sponsor terror activities” globally.
A State Department representative stated: “President Trump is focused on securing peace in the Middle East. The IRGC, Hezbollah, and other Iranian backed proxies destabilize governments and undermine regional peace.”
Diesel fuel prices across the United States have climbed to $5 per gallon, marking just the second occurrence of this milestone as ongoing conflict in the Middle East creates supply shortages for the critical industrial fuel, data from GasBuddy revealed Monday.
Economic experts are raising concerns that escalating diesel costs could hamper global economic growth, given the fuel’s essential role in manufacturing and transportation sectors. As expenses for producing and shipping goods increase, these costs typically get transferred to consumers. The rising fuel costs may also create significant political challenges for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party heading into November’s midterm elections.
Monday’s milestone represents only the second instance diesel has exceeded the $5 threshold, according to GasBuddy tracking data. The previous occurrence happened in December 2022, when international oil markets were still experiencing volatility following Russia’s military action in Ukraine.
The ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, now entering its third week, has created major disruptions in worldwide diesel distribution networks. This region serves as a crucial source for both the fuel itself and the specific crude oil varieties best suited for diesel production.
Iran’s extensive blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is affecting approximately 10% to 20% of worldwide maritime diesel shipments. Additionally, reduced Middle Eastern crude oil deliveries to Asian refineries have forced many facilities to decrease output, further limiting global diesel supplies.
Various actions taken by Trump and international leaders, including an unprecedented release from strategic oil reserves by developed nations, have failed to significantly reduce climbing fuel costs.
Regular gasoline prices nationwide reached $3.76 per gallon as of 6:10 p.m. EDT, representing the highest levels since October 2023, GasBuddy information indicated.
“Until we see a meaningful resumption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, upward pressure on fuel prices is likely to persist,” stated Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, in Monday’s blog post.
North Korea’s state media announced Tuesday that the country’s newly elected parliament will gather for its inaugural session this Friday, March 22, to discuss potential constitutional changes and evaluate progress on a comprehensive five-year national strategy.
The Supreme People’s Assembly serves as the nation’s legislative body and oversees government policy across all sectors, though its decisions typically rubber-stamp measures already approved by the dominant Workers’ Party leadership.
Officials and experts in South Korea are closely monitoring whether North Korea’s constitutional amendments might formally classify South Korea as a distinct and enemy nation, which would undermine Seoul’s efforts to promote diplomatic engagement and peaceful reunification.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, the roster of newly elected parliamentary representatives includes Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister, who analysts view as a key spokesperson for the leader on international matters.
The legislative session will select the head of the State Affairs Commission along with other top government positions while considering constitutional modifications, the state news agency reported.
Lawmakers will also examine progress on implementing a new five-year strategic plan that the Workers’ Party approved last month, which featured Kim’s commitment to expanding the country’s nuclear arsenal and building more advanced long-range missile systems.
Notably absent from the list of 687 newly elected representatives from the March 15 election was Kim Jong Un himself.
Kim maintains control over the nation through his roles as Workers’ Party general secretary, State Affairs Commission president, and supreme commander of the military forces. Political observers anticipate he will secure reappointment to lead the Commission.
Moscow’s mayor announced Monday that Russian defense systems successfully intercepted 67 Ukrainian drones that were targeting the Russian capital, according to official reports from the city.
Mayor Sergei Sobyanin initially reported 38 drone interceptions on Monday morning. Throughout the day, he provided updates via Telegram posts, revealing that defense forces had shot down an additional 29 drones beginning around 8 a.m. local time (0500 GMT).
The mayor also disclosed that defense systems had destroyed approximately 250 Ukrainian drones attempting to reach Moscow during the previous 48-hour period.
Russia’s Defense Ministry provided separate figures, stating that air defense forces had eliminated 59 Ukrainian drones between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. across various regions of the country, with 13 of those drones specifically aimed at Moscow.
British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves announced Monday that the United Kingdom will invest as much as 1 billion pounds ($1.33 billion) in advanced quantum computing technology as part of efforts to strengthen the nation’s quantum industry and stimulate broader economic growth.
This new purchasing initiative represents half of a comprehensive 2 billion-pound strategy aimed at enhancing Britain’s quantum technology capabilities, which includes 1 billion pounds in previously committed funding, according to the finance ministry.
These advanced quantum computing systems have the ability to process multiple potential solutions at the same time, offering the potential to accelerate innovation across various fields including medical diagnosis, environmental monitoring of greenhouse gases, and secure communication systems.
Both Reeves and Prime Minister Keir Starmer had promised voters during the 2024 election campaign that they would work to jumpstart Britain’s sluggish economic performance. However, growth has continued to lag and faces potential challenges from ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts.
During a scheduled Tuesday address in London’s financial district, Reeves was expected to announce the April launch of a 500 million-pound “Sovereign AI Fund” that was previously announced last year to support British artificial intelligence companies.
The finance ministry indicated she would also emphasize that strengthening relationships with Europe and promoting regional economic development are key components of the government’s overall strategy, alongside their technology initiatives.
Prime Minister Starmer aims to minimize trade and cooperation obstacles with the European Union that emerged after Brexit. However, he has dismissed the possibility of rejoining the EU’s single market, focusing discussions instead on specific areas like business regulations and expanded mobility opportunities for young people.
Wall Street finished Monday with impressive gains driven by technology stocks, as crude oil prices declined amid optimism that Middle Eastern supply disruptions could be resolved in the near future.
The market rally occurred alongside a weakening dollar and dropping bond yields, with investors betting that supply shortages from the Middle East conflict might be temporary rather than long-lasting.
This week marks a historically significant period for monetary policy, as the world’s four major central banks convene for meetings – the first time this has happened since 2021. Market analysts are questioning whether the global interest rate adjustments following the outbreak of Middle Eastern conflict have been too dramatic.
Key market performance showed mixed results across Asia, with South Korea climbing 1.7% while Japan declined 0.5%. European markets gained 0.5%, and U.S. exchanges saw solid increases with the S&P 500 up 1% and Nasdaq rising 1.2%.
All eleven sectors within the S&P 500 posted gains, led by technology’s 1.4% increase and consumer discretionary stocks advancing 1.3%. Notable individual performers included Meta with a 2.2% jump and Nvidia gaining 1.6%.
Currency markets saw the dollar index fall 0.6% in its steepest decline in over a month. Australian and New Zealand dollars led gains among major currencies, both climbing 1.4%, while emerging market currencies from Brazil, South Africa, and Mexico rose 1.5%. Bitcoin surged 4%.
Bond markets experienced significant movement as U.S. yields dropped as much as 7 basis points, with the yield curve flattening slightly. Traders are now fully pricing in Federal Reserve rate reductions by year’s end.
Commodity markets showed oil declining 3%-5%, while gold remained steady. Platinum and palladium both jumped 4%. Average U.S. gasoline prices reached $3.72 per gallon, representing a 27% increase over the past month.
Several traditional U.S. allies have declined to support American efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which would restore tanker traffic and potentially reduce oil prices. Countries including Germany, Italy, and Spain have rejected President Trump’s requests for assistance.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz explained there is no authorization from the UN, EU, or NATO for such action, noting that Washington failed to consult Germany before initiating military action. Trump’s earlier threats regarding Greenland have strained relationships with European and NATO partners, making future cooperation more challenging.
The dollar’s significant decline Monday was attributed to falling Treasury yields and traders repositioning for potential Fed rate cuts. Losses against the Australian and New Zealand dollars were particularly pronounced.
However, currency volatility is expected to remain high this week as the Federal Reserve and seven other major central banks hold policy meetings. The Reserve Bank of Australia meets first on Tuesday, and even without rate changes, markets will have substantial guidance to process.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng conducted what officials described as ‘candid and constructive’ discussions in Paris, outlining potential agreements for a Trump-Xi summit scheduled for March 31-April 2 in Beijing.
The timing of that summit is now uncertain, as Bessent and White House officials indicated it might be delayed if Trump needs to remain in Washington to manage the conflict with Iran. With two weeks remaining, the situation could evolve significantly.
Looking ahead, market-moving factors include Middle East developments, energy market fluctuations, Australia’s interest rate decision with Governor Michele Bullock’s press conference, Indonesia’s rate decision, Germany’s ZEW investor sentiment index, U.S. pending home sales data, a $13 billion Treasury auction of 20-year bonds, and the start of the Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting.
Delaware residents will have the opportunity to learn about flood preparedness next week as the state observes its annual flood awareness initiative.
Governor Matt Meyer has officially designated March 16 through 20 as Delaware Flood Awareness Week, working in partnership with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA).
As part of the week-long educational campaign, state officials will host a special webinar on Wednesday, March 19, 2026, focused on helping Delawareans prepare for potential flooding situations.
The collaborative effort between DNREC and DEMA aims to increase public awareness about flood risks and provide residents with essential information on how to protect themselves and their property during flood events.
A heated debate erupted in Israel’s parliament after Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi disclosed that President Trump’s direct intervention led to the removal of a major provision from the country’s media reform legislation.
Speaking to the Knesset committee overseeing the media reform bill, Karhi explained that the decision came straight from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following conversations with the U.S. president. “The prime minister decided to remove it because this is a demand that came from the president of the United States,” Karhi stated during the session.
The eliminated provision would have mandated that international streaming services operating in Israel allocate a percentage of their local earnings toward funding original Israeli content. Major platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Disney+ would have been subject to this requirement.
Karhi informed committee members that this issue arose during broader economic discussions between Israel and the United States. “This is a demand from the United States as part of negotiations for an economic agreement,” he explained to lawmakers.
The proposed requirement had gained significant support from Israel’s entertainment industry. Advocates argued that international streaming services now directly compete with Israeli broadcasters while facing fewer regulatory requirements. Local television networks already must invest substantial portions of their revenue in domestic programming to support Israel’s entertainment sector.
Opposition lawmakers immediately challenged both the decision and the degree of American influence over Israeli lawmaking. Yesh Atid party member MK Shelly Tal Meron expressed outrage during the proceedings: “The most shocking thing is that the president of the United States is determining Israel’s broadcasting law. What are we even sitting here for?”
Industry representatives attending the committee meeting to support the provision reacted with dismay. Many warned that eliminating this requirement removes a crucial funding source for Israeli productions during a time when international platforms increasingly dominate the market.
ACT organization CEO Giora Vala directly confronted lawmakers during the heated discussion. “Are we the fifty-first state of the United States?” Vala questioned as the room erupted in shouting.
This controversy emerged within Israel’s comprehensive effort to modernize its media oversight system. Karhi’s reform initiative aims to restructure current regulations and create a new supervisory body for both traditional broadcasters and digital platforms.
Government supporters maintain that Israel’s regulatory framework was built for an era dominated by television channels and hasn’t adapted to the rapid growth of global streaming and online content distribution.
However, opposition members and media oversight organizations express concern that portions of the reform could undermine regulatory independence and shift the power balance between government and media companies.
The streaming investment clause’s removal adds an unexpected international element to the domestic policy debate. U.S. concerns about Israeli regulations affecting American businesses had emerged previously. In May 2025, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee cautioned Israeli officials against policies that might damage major American corporations operating there.
During those statements, Huckabee specifically mentioned companies like Chevron and streaming platforms including Netflix, encouraging policymakers to carefully consider measures affecting American businesses. Karhi’s committee remarks indicated these concerns remained active in ongoing Israeli-American discussions.
For Israel’s television industry, the implications are straightforward. International streaming platforms will continue serving the local market without any legal obligation to support Israeli content creation. Industry producers warn that without such requirements, local creators may face increasing challenges as global platforms expand and audiences shift toward digital streaming.
The timing of this change is particularly significant since the government had previously endorsed the bill with the investment clause intact. The legislation successfully passed preliminary review and cleared first and second Knesset readings with the streaming requirement still included. Only during committee review was the provision eliminated following Netanyahu’s directive.
Committee deliberations on the remaining reform elements are scheduled to continue over the coming weeks as lawmakers examine other sections before the bill returns for final Knesset consideration.
SANTIAGO, Chile — Chile’s newly elected conservative President José Antonio Kast has moved quickly to fulfill one of his most prominent campaign pledges.
Just days after taking office, Kast traveled to the northern border region of Chacalluta on Monday to launch construction of a barrier designed to prevent unauthorized border crossings from Peru. The area has become a major entry point for migrants seeking to reach one of South America’s most economically stable countries.
Kast outlined his comprehensive ‘Border Shield’ initiative, which includes building physical obstacles such as trenches and fencing along Chile’s northern frontier. The plan also calls for drone surveillance and military personnel to monitor the border zone.
The initial work appeared modest, with a single bulldozer visible cutting through desert terrain to create a trench.
However, Kast emphasized the significance of the moment, telling reporters that “for all of Chile, this is a milestone.”
“We have taken clear and concrete decisions to close our border to illegal immigration, drug trafficking and organized crime,” he stated. “We want to implement this without any delay.”
Similar to his political ally, former U.S. President Donald Trump, Kast has utilized executive authority during his first week in office to sign multiple orders focused on strengthening border enforcement and removing individuals who entered the country without authorization.
Chile has experienced significant demographic changes, with its immigrant population growing by 100% from 2017 to 2024. Officials estimate that more than 300,000 undocumented foreigners currently reside in Chile, with many originating from Venezuela.
While many newcomers are families escaping political turmoil and economic hardship, criminal organizations from Venezuela and other nations have also established operations in Chile recently. Despite Chile maintaining relatively low murder rates compared to regional neighbors, incidents including vehicle thefts, abductions, and targeted killings have become more common, creating public anxiety and leading some citizens to associate these problems with recent immigration.
Kast’s election represents Chile’s sharpest conservative shift since 1990, when the nation returned to democratic governance following nearly two decades of military dictatorship under General Augusto Pinochet — a regime Kast supported during his younger years.
MIAMI (AP) — As Team USA prepares for the World Baseball Classic championship game, players are addressing criticism about their reserved style while showing respect for their opponents’ more theatrical approach.
Team captain Aaron Judge’s steady leadership style has shaped the atmosphere in the American clubhouse as they prepare for Tuesday night’s championship match against either Venezuela or Italy. While the Americans maintain their composed approach, they express admiration for the dramatic celebrations of Latin stars like Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
“You guys would all think it’s silly if we shuffled like Soto or did Vladdy’s little wiggle,” American outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong commented following Sunday night’s 2-1 victory over the Dominican Republic. “That’s them and if I had enough swag to do that I would probably do that, too. … We have fun in our own way, but we definitely have fun out there.”
Judge’s leadership approach has established the team’s culture, similar to his influence with the New York Yankees.
The 6-foot-7 captain commands respect from his teammates for more than just his physical stature.
“It’s been cool to see how he goes about his business,” commented standout pitcher Paul Skenes, who stands 6-foot-6 as the team’s second-tallest player. “He’s not faking anything. He’s playing as Aaron Judge, so that’s just his personality in the clubhouse and off the field. Obviously it shows up on the field, too.”
Manager Mark DeRosa revealed that Judge declined wearing a captain’s “C” on his jersey.
“Leader of men. Classy in every decision he makes,” DeRosa commented. “A lot of decisions that I’ve made throughout the course of the WBC I have made with his recommendations.”
The American squad has faced criticism for their sometimes restrained demeanor, including when catcher Cal Raleigh avoided shaking hands with Seattle teammate Randy Arozarena during pool play against Mexico. The team has also incorporated military connections throughout the tournament, with players saluting after wins. Both Skenes and Griffin Jax attended the Air Force Academy, and the team hosted Robert J. O’Neill, a former Navy SEAL who claims responsibility for killing Osama bin Laden in 2011, as a clubhouse speaker.
“You never want it to get lost why you’re doing this, whatever that why is,” DeRosa explained. “And a lot of people — like Paul Skenes said to me when he signed up for this, ‘I want to do this for every serviceman and woman who protects our freedom,’ and that’s why we wear USA across our chest.
“So I thought it would just be a time to redirect and get these guys to understand that, although this is an unbelievable event and you get a chance to share the locker room with the game’s greats, there’s a reason why we’re doing it and a reason why people protect our freedom at night. I just wanted to honor that. So that’s why he came in to talk.”
DeRosa acknowledged his earlier mistake when he prematurely claimed the United States had secured advancement to the quarterfinals before playing Italy, calling it simply an “overly confident statement” and confirming Thursday that he understood nothing was guaranteed then.
The manager faced criticism for declaring before the Italy loss that “our ticket’s punched to the quarterfinals.” This proved incorrect, and the U.S. only secured advancement after Italy defeated Mexico 9-1 on the group’s final day.
“I misspoke,” DeRosa subsequently acknowledged. “I completely misread the calculations.”
This marks the third consecutive WBC final appearance for the United States, as they pursue their second championship following their 2017 victory. The team fell 3-2 to Japan in the 2023 final.
Bryce Harper, now 33 and a 14-year veteran, recalled attempting to play with Latin-influenced style early in his major league career. He remembered drawing attention with gray bats, unique cleats, and dramatic eye black.
“I kind of got pounded for it,” he recalled. “So there’s an American way of baseball everybody talks about, right? But I think that’s so far from the truth. Obviously, when we grow up, we play a different style. But we learn from other people’s styles, as well.”
The Dominican Republic received tremendous energy from their passionate supporters.
“One hit for them got the crowd out of their seat. A 3-0 count got the crowd out their seat,” Crow-Armstrong observed. “You don’t necessarily see that with fans from the U.S. all the time.”
Nolan McLean, a 24-year-old rookie right-handed pitcher with only eight major league appearances, will take the mound for Team USA. He previously surrendered two home runs across three innings in the March 10 group stage loss to Italy, departing with a 3-0 deficit that nearly resulted in first-round elimination.
“Obviously I got clipped there a couple times … but overall I felt really good,” he said Monday. “It’s just kind of a dream come true to be able to get the ball in such a big moment, and it’s something I want to do.”
COLUMBIA, S.C. — After more than thirty years in the nation’s capital, Senator Lindsey Graham has achieved his political goals: direct access to President Donald Trump, military engagement with Iran, and strong financial backing for his reelection bid in South Carolina.
The question now facing Republicans and Americans is what price these achievements will exact during an election year where Congressional control remains uncertain. The Middle East conflict has drawn widespread criticism with unclear objectives, while oil costs climb and hostilities expand across the region.
Graham, who submitted paperwork Monday for his fifth Senate term, expressed no reservations when addressing campaign supporters at his headquarters. The senator revealed he had conversations with Trump both Sunday evening and Monday morning while defending his role in advocating for military engagement.
“We haven’t underestimated Iran at all,” he said. “We’re crushing them.”
For over ten years, Graham has championed direct military confrontation between the United States and Tehran. He opposed the Iran nuclear agreement crafted during Barack Obama’s presidency, applauded Trump’s decision to target nuclear facilities last year, and brushed aside bipartisan concerns about his aggressive language.
“If the radical cleric in Iran had a nuclear weapon, he would use it just as certainly as Hitler were to use it. He would kill all the Jews, and we’re next,” Graham said Monday. “I’ll put my efforts to make sure the military has what they need to win the wars we’re in, ahead of anybody in the United States Senate.”
Graham typically encounters minimal opposition during reelection cycles, and this year appears no different. Nevertheless, the war’s outcome could influence midterm elections and define Graham’s reputation as one of Washington’s most vocal military advocates.
“You’re seeing essentially a child on Christmas morning who has gotten everything that he’s ever dreamed of,” said Jon Hoffman, a research fellow in defense and foreign policy with the Cato Institute, a libertarian leaning think tank. “And that’s not best for the country, obviously, but it’s best for Lindsey Graham’s ideology.”
Iran has remained Graham’s primary target for decades. During his House service in the 1990s, he supported measures designed to isolate the nation and restrict its missile and nuclear capabilities.
Following his 2002 Senate election as Iraq war preparations began, Graham consistently cautioned that Iran was exploiting the situation to strengthen its regional position.
In 2015 comments at the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations, Graham expressed his desire for American forces to “stop them and make them pay a price so they’ll never want to do it again.”
“Let’s make sure that their air force, their navy and their army is a shell of its former self,” Graham said. “And let’s be ready to respond when they hit us.”
Graham’s hawkish foreign policy initially appeared incompatible with Trump’s “America First” philosophy, which questions overseas military involvement, and their partnership has varied over time. Nevertheless, they’ve developed a friendship through golf and shared support for decisive military operations.
This position has created tension among some Republicans.
“Lindsey hasn’t seen a fist fight he hasn’t wanted to turn into a bombing raid,” complained Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee when asked about Graham’s interest in expanding its bombing campaign to Lebanon.
During February, as Graham made numerous cable news appearances promoting military action, conservative opponents labeled him insensitive and worried about his sway over Trump.
“When did Lindsey Graham become our president?” Megyn Kelly, the former Fox News host, posted on social media.
“Let’s get real. The problem with Lindsay Graham isn’t (just) that he’s a homicidal maniac, it’s that Trump likes and is listening to him, and Trump’s favorite channel” — a reference to Fox News — “is parading him around like a Hefner bunny in stockings on every show,” she said.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump “hears from lawmakers all the time on a number of issues” and he has “very good and candid” rapport with Graham.
“Republicans are supportive of President Trump’s bold decision to launch combat operations and end the threat posed by the Iranian terrorist regime,” Leavitt said in a statement.
Over the years, Graham has confronted and decisively beaten conservative primary opponents who questioned his South Carolina credentials, with detractors claiming he was too willing to compromise and work with Democrats on matters like immigration alongside his close friend, the late Arizona Republican Senator John McCain.
During campaign seasons, Graham typically highlights his conservative record. In 2020, while facing Democrat Jaime Harrison, Graham regularly reminded voters of his vigorous defense of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh during confirmation proceedings.
Monday’s event saw Graham reinforce his backing of Trump’s Iran strikes, stating he believes “morale is high” within U.S. military ranks, and that returning him to Washington would help “give them what they need to win a war they can’t afford to lose.”
“I’m running for the Senate to build up a military and use it wisely. I’m running for the Senate to help President Trump, not standing in his way,” Graham said. “Do you think a Democratic candidate would help Trump do what he needs to do?”
A Palestinian woman who spent an entire year in immigration custody following the Trump administration’s targeting of pro-Palestinian demonstrators walked free Monday after posting a $100,000 bond.
Leqaa Kordia, 33, originally from the West Bank and a New Jersey resident since 2016, had been confined at a Texas immigration facility since March of last year. She was part of approximately 100 individuals taken into custody during demonstrations outside Columbia University in 2024.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m free! I’m free! Finally, after one year,” an elated Kordia declared to media representatives as she exited the detention facility.
Three separate immigration judges had previously granted her bond release. Federal authorities appealed the initial two decisions, but chose not to contest the third ruling, allowing her freedom on Monday.
Medical concerns arose recently when Kordia required a three-day hospital stay after experiencing a seizure when she collapsed and struck her head at the private detention center.
“We are overwhelmed with relief and gratitude at the release of our beloved Leqaa Kordia,” her cousin Hamzah Abushaban expressed through her legal team. “This past year has taken an unimaginable toll on Leqaa and our entire family.”
While expressing excitement about returning home and embracing her mother, Kordia pledged to continue advocating for others remaining in detention.
“There is a lot of injustice in this place,” she stated. “There is a lot of people that shouldn’t be here the first place.”
Kordia explained her participation in the 2024 protests came after Israeli forces killed numerous family members in Gaza, where she maintains strong connections. “My way of helping my family and my people was to go to the streets,” she previously told The Associated Press in October.
Criminal charges from her protest involvement were dropped and sealed. However, the New York City Police Department later shared her arrest information with the Trump administration, claiming it was requested for a money laundering probe.
Immigration officials apprehended Kordia during a routine March 13, 2025 appointment with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New Jersey. She was immediately detained and transported to Prairieland Detention Center near Dallas.
Her case was part of broader immigration enforcement actions targeting non-citizens who had spoken out against or demonstrated regarding Israel’s Gaza military operations, particularly affecting university students and academics.
Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student, faced similar circumstances, spending three months in a Louisiana immigration facility before his release last March.
Unlike campus activists such as Khalil who received public support and official condemnation of their arrests, Kordia’s situation received minimal attention since she wasn’t affiliated with student organizations or advocacy groups.
Government officials allege Kordia violated her visa terms while investigating money transfers she made to Middle Eastern relatives. Kordia maintains these funds were humanitarian assistance for family members affected by the conflict.
An immigration judge determined there was “overwhelming evidence” supporting Kordia’s explanation of the financial transfers.
During Friday’s proceedings, Kordia’s legal representatives highlighted her deteriorating neurological condition during incarceration, which increased her seizure risk. They emphasized her ability to reside with U.S. citizen relatives and argued she posed no flight danger.
Immigration Judge Tara Naslow concurred with the assessment.
“I’ve heard testimony. I’ve seen thousands of pages of evidence presented by the respondent, and very little evidence presented by the government in any of this,” Naslow observed.
Department of Homeland Security attorney Anastasia Norcross maintained government opposition to Kordia’s release regardless of bond amount, though she didn’t indicate whether a third appeal would be filed.
A 61-year-old man walked out of a Brooklyn courthouse Monday as a free man after spending nearly two decades imprisoned for a robbery worth approximately $550 that he never committed.
Kenneth Windley expressed relief despite losing almost 20 years of his life to wrongful imprisonment. “It cost me 20 years, but they said they corrected it now. So that’s all that matters. So I’m good with that,” Windley stated as he exited the courthouse, experiencing freedom for the first time since his 2007 conviction.
The judge vacated Windley’s conviction and completely dismissed his case following a joint request from both prosecution and defense attorneys. District attorneys revealed that fresh evidence, including admissions of guilt from two other men who had been convicted in similar robbery cases, validated Windley’s consistent claims of innocence.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, a Democrat, acknowledged the system’s failure after meeting with Windley outside the courthouse. “This case is really a cautionary tale of how things can seem one way but, without careful analysis, not be what it purports to be,” Gonzalez explained.
“Had we known what the evidence was, this case should have never happened,” the district attorney continued, noting that he had offered Windley a private apology.
The case began in 2005 when Windley was taken into custody after purchasing an appliance for his mother using a money order that had been stolen.
The money order was part of items taken from Gerald Ross, a 70-year-old victim who was followed to his home by two criminals after visiting a bank and post office. The perpetrators restrained Ross in a chokehold before stealing his money orders, cash, and bank book, according to Monday’s prosecutorial report.
Ross frequently obtained money orders at the same post office for rent and insurance payments, which created a traceable record that authorities used to investigate the theft. This paper trail ultimately pointed to Windley, who had provided his identification, driver’s license, and home address when making the appliance purchase.
Throughout the ordeal, Windley maintained his innocence regarding the robbery. He explained that he had purchased the $542.77 money order at a reduced price from two people he knew, who assured him the document was legitimate but claimed they couldn’t use it due to administrative complications.
Defense attorney David Shanies told the court Monday that “He was duped.”
Ross picked Windley out of a police lineup as one of his attackers, leading to a jury conviction in 2007 on robbery charges. Due to previous felony convictions on his record, Windley received a sentence of 20 years to life imprisonment. His subsequent appeals were unsuccessful.
From the beginning, Windley provided prosecutors with details about the individuals who sold him the money order, including their street names and partial information about their real identities. Following his conviction, a friend and private investigators assisted him in determining the men’s full identities and convincing them to reveal the truth about the incident, the district attorney’s report states.
In official sworn declarations and later during questioning by district attorney’s office staff, both men admitted to robbing Ross together and confirmed that Windley had no involvement in the crime, the report indicates. Officials described their confessions as “compelling.”
The report protects their identities, identifying them only as “Suspect 1” and “Suspect 2.” Both individuals are currently incarcerated for separate robbery convictions, according to the district attorney’s office. These other convictions all involved elderly male victims in their 60s and beyond who were stalked from banks and check-cashing businesses throughout Brooklyn during 2005 and 2006.
Prosecutors determined that if the jury had been aware of these men’s identities and criminal histories involving similar robberies, this information would probably have created reasonable doubt about Windley’s guilt.
No additional charges will be filed in this matter. The statute of limitations expired years ago, and victim Gerald Ross has passed away.
As Windley departed Monday afternoon to reunite with his family for a celebration, he expressed no resentment about his ordeal.
A Goldey-Beacom College baseball player has earned recognition from the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference this week.
Sophomore infielder Zach Smethers, who hails from Nazareth, Pennsylvania, was selected for the CACC Weekly Honor Roll for Baseball. Smethers plays for the Lightning baseball team at the Wilmington-based college.
The conference honor recognizes outstanding performance by student-athletes in collegiate baseball across the CACC member institutions.
Workers at Samsung Electronics are preparing for a potential strike that could severely impact global semiconductor supplies, according to the head of the company’s largest labor union.
The Samsung Electronics Labour Union (SELU) is moving forward with plans for an 18-day work stoppage beginning May 21, pending ongoing negotiations with management. Union members are currently voting on the strike proposal through Wednesday.
“I expect there would be production disruption,” stated Choi Seung-ho, who leads the union representing thousands of Samsung workers.
The proposed strike could affect approximately half of the production at Samsung’s massive semiconductor facility in Pyeongtaek, located south of Seoul. This disruption comes at a critical time when global chip demand for artificial intelligence data centers has already strained supplies across multiple industries, from automotive to smartphones and computers.
Samsung, as the world’s leading memory chip producer, plays a crucial role in the global semiconductor supply chain. Any significant production halt could worsen existing supply bottlenecks affecting various technology sectors.
The labor dispute centers on compensation disparities between Samsung and its competitors. Workers have grown increasingly frustrated after rival chipmaker SK Hynix agreed to significant compensation reforms last September, including lifting bonus caps and dedicating 10% of operating profits to employee bonuses.
“The chip industry is booming, but those gains aren’t trickling down to us. That’s why we’re fighting,” Choi explained.
The union is demanding a 7% increase in base wages, elimination of the current 50% cap on performance pay relative to annual base salary, and implementation of a profit-sharing bonus system to replace what they describe as outdated compensation criteria.
Employee frustration has led to significant turnover, with more than 100 union members leaving Samsung for competitors like SK Hynix in recent months, according to Choi.
The union represents roughly 66,000 members, including 51,000 from Samsung’s chip division. About 90,000 unionized employees from Samsung’s 125,000-person South Korean workforce are eligible to participate in the strike vote.
Samsung has attempted to address worker concerns through what the company called “unprecedented” compensation proposals in an internal memo earlier this month, including a 6.2% pay increase and special bonuses. A company spokesperson indicated Samsung would continue engaging with employees “in a sincere manner.”
However, company officials express concern about the financial implications of removing bonus caps, citing the need to fund future investments in the capital-intensive semiconductor industry.
“If even a single strike halts production lines and damages trust with customers, it could take years” to recover, warned a Samsung official who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
The current labor tensions represent a significant shift for Samsung, which maintained a “no-union” policy until Chairman Jay Y. Lee pledged to change that approach in 2020. The company’s first worker walkout occurred in 2024.
Business administration professor Seo Ji-yong from Sangmyung University noted that Samsung lacks experience managing labor relations compared to other major Korean industrial groups like Hyundai Motor.
“If the management is stuck in the past and ignores union demands, the disputes could throw cold water on Samsung’s earnings momentum,” Seo warned.
The compensation gap between Samsung and its competitors has become a significant recruitment challenge. According to union calculations, a Samsung chip division employee earning a base salary of 76 million won ($50,800) would receive 38 million won in performance pay for 2025, compared to significantly higher compensation for similarly-paid SK Hynix employees.
The competitive pressure extends beyond traditional rivals, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently encouraging Korean chip industry workers to apply for positions at his company as it expands into AI chips for autonomous vehicles and robotics.
“If we’re number one, we should be treated like number one,” Choi emphasized, arguing that better compensation would motivate employees and strengthen Samsung’s competitive position.
Samsung reported record fourth-quarter profits in 2025, with analysts projecting annual operating profits could more than quadruple to exceed 200 trillion won ($134 billion) this year, highlighting the financial success that workers want reflected in their compensation packages.
Iraqi officials confirmed Monday that an unmanned aircraft struck a prominent Baghdad hotel without resulting in any injuries or significant property damage.
The Al-Rasheed hotel, situated within Baghdad’s heavily secured Green Zone, was hit by the drone as witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke in the area, according to security officials. The Green Zone serves as home to various government facilities and the United States embassy.
Iraq’s interior ministry revealed following their investigation that the unmanned aircraft had struck the hotel’s upper perimeter fence. Ministry officials expressed strong opposition to any efforts aimed at targeting foreign diplomatic personnel operating within Iraq.
Security officials also reported that two Katyusha rockets were launched toward the American embassy compound in Baghdad during the same timeframe.
Golf icon Tiger Woods will be absent from Tuesday’s TGL semifinal showdown between Jupiter Links and Boston Common, raising questions about whether the 15-time major winner will compete at all during the indoor golf league’s second season.
Meanwhile, TGL co-founder Rory McIlroy has confirmed his participation for Boston Common on Tuesday, after initially being uncertain following his 46th-place finish at The Players Championship this past Sunday. McIlroy has been managing back spasms that caused him to pull out of the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks prior.
Jupiter Links will field Max Homa, Akshay Bhatia and Tom Kim in the 9 p.m. ET showdown against McIlroy, Keegan Bradley and Adam Scott at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The evening’s action begins at 6:30 p.m. with defending champions Atlanta Drive facing off against Los Angeles Golf Club in the opening semifinal.
Justin Thomas won’t compete for Atlanta after participating in back-to-back tournaments following a four-month break due to back surgery recovery. Los Angeles will be without Collin Morikawa, who pulled out before The Players Championship’s opening round because of his own back problems.
Atlanta’s lineup includes Patrick Cantlay, Chris Gotterup and Billy Horschel, while Los Angeles counters with Tommy Fleetwood, Sahith Theegala and Justin Rose.
The championship finals, scheduled to begin March 23 in a best-of-three format, may be Woods’ last chance to compete alongside his teammates this season.
The 50-year-old Woods has been recovering since his seventh back operation in October and hasn’t indicated whether he plans to compete in next month’s Masters Tournament. Some speculation arose about a possible Jupiter Links appearance after his private aircraft was reportedly seen at Augusta Regional Airport during the weekend.
Woods had Achilles surgery in March 2025 and hasn’t competed since the 2024 PNC Championship alongside his son Charlie. His last PGA Tour appearance was at the 2024 Open Championship.
Left-handed pitcher Chris Sale delivered a commanding performance on the mound, going six full innings as the Atlanta Braves demolished the Tampa Bay Rays 11-2 during Monday’s spring training action in North Port, Florida.
The tall left-hander, who recently inked a contract extension running through 2027, surrendered five hits while recording three strikeouts and issuing no walks. Sale delivered 53 strikes out of 75 total pitches and gave up just one run – a solo home run by Nick Fortes with one out in the sixth inning.
Atlanta put up four runs in the second inning and held an 8-0 advantage after five frames. Eli White, who posted a career-high 10 homers in 2025, launched a two-run home run in the fourth after recording a single in the second. White is batting .414 during spring play. Mike Yastrzemski finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, boosting his spring average to .448, while Drake Baldwin connected on a three-run homer in the eighth inning.
Tampa Bay starter Nick Martinez, who inked a one-year, $13 million contract last month, struggled against Atlanta’s offense, surrendering seven runs on 10 hits across four innings. The 35-year-old utility pitcher now carries a 9.90 ERA this spring.
Blue Jays 5, Marlins 4 (6)
George Springer opened the contest with a leadoff home run as Toronto added four more runs in the third inning to defeat Miami in a weather-shortened contest that ended after six innings in Jupiter, Florida.
Daulton Varsho sparked the four-run rally with a two-run double down the right-field line. The veteran outfielder has collected five doubles this spring while maintaining a .432 batting average in Florida.
Miami got home runs from Otto Lopez, who went deep for a solo shot in the first, and Daniel Johnson, who connected for a solo blast in the fifth. Janson Junk, who became a dependable starter for the Marlins in 2025, was charged with four runs on four hits while walking two and striking out two in two innings of work.
Twins 5, Pirates 1
Making just his second spring appearance, probable Opening Day starter Joe Ryan went four innings as Minnesota beat Pittsburgh in Fort Myers, Florida.
Ryan allowed one run on five hits and one walk while striking out six Pirates batters in a 68-pitch outing. Luke Keaschall broke a 1-1 deadlock with a three-run blast in the third inning, followed two batters later by Victor Caratini’s solo home run.
Pittsburgh starter Noah Davis, who appeared in four games with Boston in 2025, was tagged for all five Minnesota runs in four innings. Henry Davis drove in a run with a single in the third inning for the Pirates.
Tigers 13, Phillies 6
Top prospect Kevin McGonigle launched a three-run home run to cap a seven-run Detroit first inning as the Tigers rolled past Philadelphia in Lakeland, Florida.
Spencer Torkelson added a solo homer in the second inning while Jahmai Jones (2-for-4, 5 RBIs) cleared the bases with a double in the third. Detroit starter Jack Flaherty was charged with five runs on five hits over five innings.
Philadelphia minor leaguer Charles King was hammered for 10 earned runs in just 1 2/3 innings. Felix Reyes and Otto Kemp each hit three-run homers to account for all the Phillies’ scoring.
Red Sox, Orioles, canceled
Monday evening’s scheduled matchup between Boston and Baltimore was called off due to approaching weather in Sarasota, Florida. The game will not be rescheduled.
Delaware’s coastal communities should prepare for minor flooding tonight as the National Weather Service has issued a Coastal Flood Advisory for Delaware Beaches and Inland Sussex County until 2:00 AM Tuesday.
Up to one foot of water above ground level is expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways. The flooding will primarily impact lots, parks, and roads, with isolated road closures possible.
The culprit is increasing south winds that are preventing water from draining properly from Rehoboth Bay and Little Assawoman Bay during low tide. Areas along the northern ends of these bays are especially vulnerable to minor tidal flooding impacts.
Residents and visitors should avoid parking vehicles in flood-prone locations and never attempt to drive through flood waters, which may be deeper than they appear. The most vulnerable roadways typically flood first during these events.
This is considered minor flooding, but it can still create hazardous driving conditions and costly vehicle damage. The advisory remains in effect through the overnight hours, with conditions expected to improve by Tuesday morning.
For real-time water level information and local tide gauge data, residents can visit the National Water Prediction Service website at water.noaa.gov.
The Trump administration is set to reveal an international alliance of countries committed to providing naval escorts for vessels navigating through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing U.S. government sources. The announcement could come within days as part of Washington’s broader strategy to protect the crucial shipping lane during heightened tensions with Iran.
American officials indicate that deliberations continue regarding the timing of when these maritime protection operations would commence – whether during the current standoff with Iran or following its resolution.
On Sunday, foreign ministers from Britain and the Gulf Cooperation Council, which represents six regional nations, released a unified declaration stating that GCC member countries have the right to implement any measures deemed necessary to protect their security, stability, territories, and populations.
According to Ynet’s reporting, President Trump confirmed ongoing conversations with multiple nations about monitoring the strategic waterway while encouraging their participation in defending this essential trade route. Trump noted that “Israel is working with the US to secure the Strait of Hormuz.”
Meanwhile, European nations are evaluating potential contributions to efforts aimed at preserving safe passage through the waterway.
“It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, and that’s why we are also discussing what we can do in this regard from the European side,” stated EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas during remarks to reporters before an EU foreign affairs gathering in Brussels.
French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the situation directly with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during a recent phone call. In a post on social media platform X, Macron described urging Iran to cease its regional activities.
“I called on him to immediately end the unacceptable attacks that Iran is carrying out against countries in the region,” Macron wrote, emphasizing that “freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be restored as soon as possible.”
A traffic accident has shut down multiple lanes on southbound Interstate 495 near Edgemoor Road, causing significant delays for commuters.
According to Delaware Department of Transportation officials, the three leftmost lanes are currently blocked due to the crash. The right lane remains open to traffic, but drivers should expect heavy congestion in the area.
DelDOT has not provided an estimated time for when the lanes will reopen. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes or allow extra travel time if they must use this section of highway.
Traffic crews are on scene working to clear the accident and restore normal traffic flow.
The nation’s highest court has issued a temporary halt on deportations while agreeing to review the federal government’s authority over a program that protects certain migrants from being sent back to their home countries.
The Supreme Court’s intervention affects roughly 356,000 people – including about 6,000 Syrians and 350,000 Haitians – who had been granted protection under the Temporary Protected Status program.
The justices have scheduled expedited oral arguments to examine the scope and limitations of this immigration protection mechanism, which provides temporary relief from deportation for individuals from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary circumstances.
This legal pause prevents the current administration from proceeding with removal proceedings against these protected individuals while the court deliberates on the broader constitutional and statutory questions surrounding the program.
The case represents a significant test of executive authority over immigration policy and could establish important precedents for how future administrations handle similar protection programs.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball standout Dani Brown has received recognition from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, earning the title of Pitcher of the Week.
The Hawks player’s exceptional mound performance caught the attention of conference officials, leading to this weekly honor. Brown’s achievement adds to the growing list of accolades for the UMES softball program.
This recognition comes as the Hawks continue their competitive season in MEAC play, with Brown serving as a key contributor to the team’s pitching rotation.
BEER-SHEVA, Israel, March 16, 2026 – Archaeologists have uncovered a stunning 1,400-year-old church decorated with brilliantly preserved colorful mosaics at Nitzana National Park in Israel. The excavation, conducted by researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s Archaeology Department, provides extraordinary insight into the wealth and architectural sophistication of the Byzantine and Early Islamic eras spanning the 5th through 7th centuries CE.
The church floors showcase elaborate geometric designs, botanical motifs, and circular medallions created from small, brightly colored mosaic tiles. Combined with a newly discovered hospice and bathing facility complex, these findings demonstrate that Nessana once functioned as a thriving, prestigious religious center catering to local inhabitants and international pilgrims by the thousands.
Positioned along the main pathway leading to Saint Catherine Monastery and Mount Sinai, Nessana served as an essential waystation for worldwide travelers. Historical graffiti discovered at the location provides evidence of pilgrims journeying from distant lands including Georgia and Armenia, underscoring the area’s significance as an international hub for religious devotion and trade.
“The magnitude of the building projects and the opulence of the ornamental details indicate a thriving and prosperous religious establishment,” explains Prof. Yana Tchekhanovets from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s Archaeology Department. “Each excavation season uncovers additional hidden treasures buried within Nessana’s ruins, confirming its importance as an essential destination along the historic pilgrimage pathway.”
The BGU research team seeks to link Nessana’s archaeological evidence with its renowned historical collection known as the “Nessana Papyri,” which was found at this location a century ago. This combination of ancient documents and fresh archaeological discoveries enables scholars to piece together everyday existence in the Negev desert more than a thousand years ago with remarkable precision. Notable findings from the ongoing dig include a substantial hospice containing a bathhouse equipped with marble-lined tubs, the mosaic flooring, and the rediscovery of a Greek inscription establishing the church’s construction date to the early 7th century CE.
“The papyri and additional inscriptions discovered here confirm that pilgrims traveled to this location from numerous regions,” states Prof. Tchekhanovets. “Our work will continue revealing Nessana’s captivating mysteries and uncovering additional information about ancient life and travel patterns throughout the Negev.”
This investigation, funded by the Gerda Henkel Foundation, brings together international volunteers and BGU students, reflecting the University’s commitment to advancing historical knowledge and development within the Negev region. The excavation also received support from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
During a lengthy presentation at a crowded San Jose arena on Monday, Nvidia’s chief executive Jensen Huang shared his strategy for maintaining the company’s leadership position in artificial intelligence technology, projecting that chip orders will reach $1 trillion within twelve months.
Wearing his characteristic black leather jacket, the 63-year-old executive spent over two hours walking around the stage, describing how Nvidia’s computer processors have become essential components for AI systems and showcasing new products designed to extend the company’s market dominance.
Huang revisited familiar themes he has emphasized since becoming one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent figures in recent years, particularly his belief that artificial intelligence development is still in its early stages.
“We reinvented computing, just like the PC (personal computer) revolution and the internet revolution,” Huang proclaimed. “We are now at the beginning of a new platform change.”
To emphasize his message, Huang forecasted that Nvidia will face a $1 trillion backlog of chip orders by December, which represents double his projection from the previous year.
The Santa Clara, California-based company has used its commanding position in AI chip manufacturing to boost yearly revenue from $27 billion in 2022 to $216 billion in the most recent year — explosive growth that has propelled the company to a $4.5 trillion market valuation.
However, Nvidia’s previously soaring stock price has declined since the company momentarily became the first to exceed $5 trillion in market value last October, as investors question whether AI enthusiasm has become excessive.
“This is just a white-knuckle period for the technology industry,” said Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives.
Despite Nvidia publishing quarterly earnings in late February that significantly beat analyst predictions and company leadership offering optimistic forecasts, the stock price remains 6% lower than before those results were announced.
Although analysts project Nvidia’s revenue will exceed $330 billion in the coming year, the company confronts its first substantial competition in the AI processor market as technology giants including Google and Facebook’s parent company Meta Platforms work to create their own chips.
U.S. security and trade restrictions are also limiting Nvidia’s potential expansion by blocking the company’s ability to market advanced processors in China.
Huang sees Nvidia preserving its central AI role by continuing to supply the intense demand for processors that run chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, while also entering the developing market for inference chips.
After an AI system completes its training phase, inference processors allow the technology to apply its knowledge and generate responses — whether composing text or producing images — more effectively than the chips used during the initial model development.
“The inference inflection has arrived,” Huang said.
To assist with its move into the inference sector, Nvidia completed a multi-billion dollar licensing agreement with industry specialist Groq that involved recruiting that startup’s leading engineers.
“Nvidia isn’t going to cede any market share to Google or Meta,” said Ives, who anticipates Nvidia’s market value will surpass $6 trillion within the next year.
A group of Apache women has filed an emergency petition with the U.S. Supreme Court following the completed transfer of sacred Arizona forest land to Resolution Copper, marking their final legal attempt to prevent a massive copper mining operation.
Federal officials finalized the land conveyance on Friday after an appeals court rejected challenges from the San Carlos Apache Tribe and environmental advocates who sought to halt the transfer.
The appellate judges concluded that the challengers’ legal arguments were unlikely to prevail and removed an emergency restraining order that had been in effect since last summer.
The transferred property encompasses Oak Flat, a location that Apache peoples and other Native American communities have utilized for religious rituals, spiritual practices, and medicinal plant collection for hundreds of years. Tribal members refer to this sacred area as Chi’chil Bildagoteel, and the San Carlos Apache Tribe, along with Apache Stronghold and other advocacy groups, have waged a lengthy legal battle to preserve it.
While acknowledging the severe impact on Native American religious practices, the appeals court noted in Friday’s decision that the land transfer would permanently change the character of the area and result in the destruction of sites considered sacred by the tribe and other parties.
“Despite those grave harms to Native religious practice, Congress has chosen to transfer this land, and plaintiffs have not raised any viable challenges to that decision,” the court stated.
Legal representatives for the U.S. Forest Service have consistently maintained in court documents that the agency lacks authority to prevent the exchange, as Congress required the transfer through provisions inserted into essential defense spending legislation that former President Barack Obama signed in 2014.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, whose department oversees the Forest Service, released a statement Monday describing the project as integral to President Donald Trump’s energy independence goals.
“Completing this land exchange unlocks a major domestic source of copper, essential for defense, grid modernization and next-generation energy, and positions the nation to secure its future by expanding mineral production and unleashing America’s full resource potential,” she said.
Resolution Copper, owned by mining corporations Rio Tinto and BHP, projects the operation will contribute $1 billion annually to Arizona’s economy while creating thousands of employment opportunities. The initiative has garnered backing from residents in the nearby town of Superior.
Company officials maintain that the project underwent comprehensive Forest Service evaluation, including discussions with tribes having historical connections to the area.
“Courts at every level have consistently ruled in favor of Resolution Copper, and three different presidential administrations have supported this project,” stated Vicky Peacey, Resolution’s president and general manager. “It is time for the meritless litigation to end.”
The company has not yet responded to inquiries regarding construction timelines at the location.
Wendsler Nosie Sr. from Apache Stronghold expressed ongoing concerns about water usage and potential environmental contamination from the mining activities in a social media statement.
“The fight for Oak Flat raises critical issues about the environment and our nation’s commitment to Native rights and religious freedom,” Nosie said. “But at its heart, it is a battle for our sacred and holy land, the faith that has always been defined by it, and the right to have our religious traditions respected and protected.”
TACOMA, Wash. – Salisbury University’s men’s tennis squad delivered a dominant performance against the University of Puget Sound Loggers on Monday, securing a commanding 6-1 victory at the indoor Tennis Pavilion.
The decisive win launched the Sea Gulls’ three-match spring break journey across the Pacific Northwest, giving the team strong momentum as they continue their West Coast swing.
Playing indoors in Tacoma, Washington, the Sea Gulls controlled the match from start to finish, capturing six of seven total points against their hosts to begin the road trip on a high note.
A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday preventing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from reducing childhood vaccination guidelines, ruling that Kennedy likely broke federal procedures when he overhauled a critical vaccine advisory panel.
The court order stops Kennedy’s January directive that would have eliminated universal recommendations for children to receive vaccines against influenza, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, certain types of meningitis, and RSV.
Major medical organizations sounded the alarm over Kennedy’s vaccination policy changes, warning they would weaken defenses against six different diseases. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups modified their existing lawsuit filed in July, requesting the court intervene to prevent the reduction of the nation’s childhood immunization guidelines.
The initial legal challenge, filed in Boston federal court, targeted Kennedy’s move to stop recommending COVID-19 vaccines for most children and expectant mothers.
The lawsuit was expanded as Kennedy implemented additional measures that concerned medical associations, prompting plaintiffs to ask Judge Brian E. Murphy to address these policy shifts as well. The updated legal filing requested court review of Kennedy’s actions regarding the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which provides guidance to public health authorities on vaccination recommendations for healthcare providers and patients.
Kennedy, who was a prominent vaccine opponent before assuming the nation’s highest health position, dismissed all 17 committee members last year and installed a new group that includes multiple vaccination critics.
Murphy, appointed to the federal bench by President Joe Biden, determined that Kennedy’s restructuring of ACIP likely broke federal statutes. He suspended the new appointments and all decisions made by the reconstituted committee.
Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon responded: “HHS looks forward to this judge’s decision being overturned just like his other attempts to keep the Trump administration from governing.”
The committee had planned to convene this week to review COVID-19 vaccines and other matters, but that meeting is now delayed.
“ACIP as currently constituted cannot meet,” stated Richard Hughes IV, legal counsel for the AAP. “How can a committee meet without nearly the entirety of its membership?”
The Walt Disney Company made a significant leadership announcement Monday, appointing Debra OConnell to serve as chairman of Disney Entertainment Television.
In her new executive position, OConnell will be responsible for managing multiple high-profile entertainment divisions within the Disney portfolio. Her oversight will include ABC Entertainment, Disney Branded Television, Hulu Originals, and National Geographic Content operations.
The appointment represents a major restructuring move for the entertainment giant as it continues to organize its television and streaming content operations under unified leadership.
Plant-based meat manufacturer Beyond Meat announced Monday it will postpone filing its annual report while citing significant weaknesses in its internal financial oversight systems.
The company’s stock price dropped approximately 5% during after-hours trading following the announcement.
Beyond Meat indicated it requires extra time to conduct a thorough examination of its inventory records, particularly focusing on calculations related to surplus and outdated stock. The company anticipates submitting its Form 10-K filing to securities regulators no later than March 31.
Company officials stated they are examining their internal oversight processes and are working to create a corrective action plan.
The plant-based food producer disclosed preliminary fourth-quarter earnings of approximately $61 million, falling short of analyst projections of $62.6 million according to LSEG data compilation.
For the complete 2025 fiscal year, Beyond Meat projects net earnings of roughly $275 million, slightly below analyst expectations of $276.5 million.
The company acknowledged it has not yet calculated how the inventory assessment might affect its financial reporting.
Beyond Meat plans to release its complete fourth-quarter financial results following market closure on March 25.
WASHINGTON – American military officials announced Monday that roughly 200 U.S. service members have sustained injuries during the ongoing conflict with Iran, marking an increase as the confrontation moves into its third week.
The updated casualty figures represent a rise from previous reports, with Reuters having documented approximately 150 wounded troops just last week, underscoring the risks posed by Iran’s counter-offensive operations.
According to U.S. Central Command’s official statement, most personnel experienced relatively minor trauma, with 180 service members having resumed their regular assignments.
Beyond those injured, 13 American military personnel have lost their lives since Iranian forces began launching counter-strikes against U.S. military installations after hostilities commenced on February 28.
Tehran’s offensive operations have extended beyond military targets, with strikes hitting diplomatic facilities, commercial hotels, airport infrastructure, and energy systems throughout Arab Gulf nations.
American forces have conducted operations against more than 7,000 Iranian targets throughout the campaign. Former President Trump revealed last week that U.S. forces targeted military installations at Kharg Island, Iran’s critical petroleum export hub responsible for processing 90% of the nation’s oil shipments.
Swedish car manufacturer Volvo Cars announced Monday that it plans to halt sales of its compact electric SUV, the EX30, along with the EX30 Cross Country variant, in the American market by the end of this year.
According to a company spokesperson’s statement to Reuters, both models will be phased out following the 2026 model year in the United States, though the EX30 will continue being sold in neighboring markets like Canada and Mexico.
The decision was first reported by Business Insider earlier Monday.
Sales figures show the EX30 had limited success in the U.S. market, with approximately 5,400 units sold in 2025, representing roughly 4.4% of Volvo’s total American sales volume.
The automaker has faced broader challenges recently, with overall sales dropping 10% during the first quarter through February, attributed to trade tariffs and various market obstacles, even as electric vehicle sales showed growth.
The electric vehicle market has experienced difficulties globally, with February sales declining once again, particularly hurt by China’s steepest sales decline since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This downturn comes as governments worldwide have reduced incentive programs that previously encouraged electric car purchases.
Volvo introduced the EX30 in 2023 during a period when automakers were racing to offer more budget-friendly electric vehicles to consumers.
At the vehicle’s debut, former CEO Jim Rowan characterized it as a “small SUV doing Volvo things” during the launch presentation.
TACOMA, Wash. – Salisbury University’s women’s tennis squad began their four-match Pacific Northwest road swing on a high note, dominating the Puget Sound Loggers with an impressive 6-1 victory on Monday.
The Sea Gulls secured the decisive win at Tacoma’s indoor Tennis Pavilion, showcasing strong performance across the lineup in their season opener on the West Coast.
The commanding victory sets a positive tone for Salisbury as they continue their multi-match journey through the Pacific Northwest region.
Weather officials have put a coastal flood advisory into effect for the Delmarva Peninsula, beginning Saturday, March 16th at 3:15 PM and continuing through 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 17th.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey issued the advisory to alert residents of potential minor coastal flooding conditions along shoreline areas.
Residents in coastal communities should remain aware of possible flooding in low-lying areas near the water during this time period.
Delaware transportation officials are warning drivers about significant flooding that has made Airport Road impassable in both directions.
According to the Delaware Department of Transportation, standing water has covered the roadway between Exit 5A and Meadow Road, creating hazardous driving conditions.
Motorists are advised to find alternate routes and avoid the flooded area until conditions improve and the water recedes.
DelDOT continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates as road conditions change.
Alaska wildlife officials are implementing a controversial strategy to protect the state’s dwindling caribou herds by eliminating their natural predators, including grizzly bears and wolves.
NPR’s Ailsa Chang recently discussed this contentious wildlife management approach with Max Graham, who writes for High Country News. The conversation focused on Alaska’s shrinking caribou numbers and the state’s decision to address the problem through targeted killing of predatory animals.
The predator control program represents Alaska’s latest effort to reverse the troubling decline in caribou populations across the state. Officials believe that reducing the number of bears and wolves will give caribou herds a better chance to recover and grow.
This approach to wildlife management has generated significant discussion among conservationists, hunters, and wildlife experts about the best methods for maintaining ecological balance in Alaska’s wilderness areas.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have started adopting tactical gear that resembles equipment used by military special forces units during their operations.
The federal agents are now outfitted with camouflage uniforms, protective body armor, and tactical helmets while conducting enforcement activities. Officials indicate these equipment changes serve broader operational purposes that extend beyond standard immigration apprehension procedures.
The shift toward military-style equipment represents a notable change in how immigration enforcement personnel are equipped for their duties in the field.
Motorists should expect delays and seek alternate routes as a vehicle collision has shut down several lanes at the intersection of US Route 13 and Carter Road.
The crash has caused significant traffic disruptions with multiple lanes currently blocked at the busy intersection. Authorities are on scene managing the incident.
Drivers are advised to use caution in the area and consider alternative routes until the roadway can be fully reopened. The Delaware Department of Transportation is monitoring the situation.
Community organizations dedicated to assisting individuals navigating the criminal justice system have existed for years, but a particular model has seen remarkable expansion recently.
These specialized support networks, known as participatory defense hubs, have experienced substantial growth throughout the last ten years, transforming how defendants engage with their legal cases.
The approach allows people charged with crimes to become active participants in building their own defense strategies, rather than remaining passive observers in the legal process.
Sometimes the smallest gestures create the biggest impact, as one Miami woman discovered when her taxi driver father received an unexpected gift from a regular passenger.
The woman recounts how her father, who drove a cab in Miami, would regularly discuss her dreams and goals with a frequent customer during their rides together. These conversations about his daughter’s aspirations clearly made an impression on the passenger.
Eventually, the customer presented the taxi driver with fifty dollars earmarked specifically for his daughter. While the amount might seem modest, it proved to be precisely what she needed to seize a pivotal opportunity that would alter the course of her future.
The story highlights how meaningful connections can form in unexpected places, and how one person’s generosity – even in small amounts – can create ripple effects that transform someone else’s entire life path.
Fire departments across the nation may finally have a solution to a toxic problem that has plagued emergency responders for generations. A revolutionary device known as the ‘PFAS Annihilator’ has been developed to eliminate hazardous forever chemicals from firefighting foam.
Emergency responders have relied on foam containing PFAS chemicals for many years to combat fires. These so-called forever chemicals have been linked to cancer and numerous other serious health conditions, creating significant risks for firefighters and communities.
The innovative technology promises to neutralize these persistent toxic substances in the foam, potentially offering a safer alternative for fire suppression operations nationwide.
Weather officials have issued a tornado watch for the region, urging residents to remain vigilant for dangerous weather conditions through early evening hours.
The National Weather Service office located in Mount Holly, New Jersey activated the tornado watch at 4:41 PM on March 16th, with the alert remaining in effect until 7:00 PM the same day.
A tornado watch indicates that atmospheric conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes. Residents should monitor weather conditions closely and be prepared to take shelter if warnings are upgraded or tornado activity is spotted in their area.
The weather service recommends having a safety plan in place and staying tuned to local weather updates throughout the duration of the watch period.
MADRID (AP) — During a diplomatic encounter on Monday, Spain’s King Felipe VI acknowledged that his nation’s historical colonization of the Americas contained significant wrongdoing and moral problems, offering a more diplomatic approach to ongoing tensions with Mexico regarding centuries-old colonial injustices.
The monarch delivered these comments during a conversation with Mexico’s Spanish ambassador, Quirino Ordaz, at a Madrid museum showcasing an exhibit focused on women’s roles in pre-Columbian Mexican society.
Reflecting on Spain’s historical conquest activities, Felipe VI stated: “There are things that, when we study them, we come to know them, and well, with our current values, they obviously cannot make us feel proud.”
“But they must be understood in their proper context, not with excessive moral presentism, but with an objective and rigorous analysis,” he said.
These symbolic statements from the Bourbon monarch follow years of diplomatic friction between the two nations stemming from Mexico’s insistence that Spain formally apologize for its 1519-1521 Mexican conquest, which led to widespread deaths among the country’s pre-Hispanic communities.
Former Mexican leader Andrés Manuel López Obrador sent correspondence to both King Felipe and Pope Francis in 2019, requesting that Spain “publicly and officially” acknowledge the wrongs committed during Mexico’s conquest period. Spain’s rejection of this demand deteriorated governmental relationships between both countries.
Diplomatic relations further soured in 2024 when current Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum excluded King Felipe from her inauguration ceremony due to the royal palace’s continued refusal to offer a formal apology. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez characterized this exclusion as “unacceptable,” leading Spain to boycott Sheinbaum’s inauguration entirely.
However, diplomatic ice began melting last autumn when Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares recognized the “pain and injustice” experienced by Mexico’s Indigenous communities under Spanish colonial rule. These statements occurred at the opening of the same museum exhibition the king visited Monday.
“There has been pain, pain and injustice toward the indigenous peoples to whom this exhibition is dedicated,” Albares said.
Sheinbaum viewed the foreign minister’s statements positively, describing them as initial progress and noting that “this is the first time that a Spanish government authority has spoken of regretting the injustice.”
The king’s recent statements do not represent an official royal palace apology from Spain. Sheinbaum indicated Monday that she requires time to evaluate his comments.
ROME — Pope Leo XIV demonstrated his expanding focus on addressing Catholic Church abuse scandals Monday by conducting two prominent meetings that addressed the protection of vulnerable adults and allegations against the influential Opus Dei organization.
The pontiff scheduled consecutive sessions focused on abuse prevention: a meeting with the Vatican’s child protection advisory board and a separate audience with investigative journalist Gareth Gore, who authored “Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking and Right-Wing Conspiracy Inside the Catholic Church.”
The Vatican made a point of publicizing the Gore meeting, including it on the pope’s official schedule and distributing photographs of their encounter.
During his address to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Leo acknowledged how the #MeToo movement has brought worldwide attention to abuse cases involving adults in vulnerable positions within the church.
These situations encompass seminarians and religious sisters who experience spiritual, psychological, physical or sexual mistreatment from their supervisors, along with regular churchgoers who become victims of manipulative spiritual advisors.
Church leadership has historically overlooked such adult-focused abuse cases, concentrating primarily on the institution’s devastating record of clergy sexual abuse involving minors.
This year, the Pontifical Commission is examining adult vulnerability issues, and Leo offered encouragement to commission members Monday. He emphasized the importance of the church hearing from victims.
“By reading these ‘signs of the times,’ you help the church to address safeguarding challenges courageously, and respond with pastoral clarity and structural renewal,” he said.
Leo has previously demonstrated awareness of alleged misconduct within Opus Dei, the powerful organization established by Spanish priest Josemaría Escrivá in 1928, which received strong support from St. John Paul II.
The organization, whose Latin name translates to Work of God, counts 90,000 members across 70 nations.
Gore, who works as a financial journalist and editor, released “Opus” in 2024, documenting alleged financial misconduct and other abuses within the organization. Opus Dei strongly disputed the publication, releasing a 106-page response with “clarifications” for media outlets following its release.
During 2024, Argentine prosecutors determined sufficient evidence existed to pursue criminal charges against senior South American Opus officials for human trafficking and labor exploitation involving 44 women who claimed they were recruited for household work.
Several complainants had informed AP in 2021 that they labored under “manifestly illegal conditions” including unpaid work shifts exceeding 12 hours with only meal and prayer breaks, lack of Social Security registration, and other fundamental rights violations.
Formal charges have not yet been filed in the matter.
Argentina’s Opus Dei organization has rejected these allegations.
“We categorically deny the accusations of human trafficking and labor exploitation,” stated the Argentine Prelature of Opus Dei office in a 2024 announcement.
During 2022, Pope Francis implemented reforms targeting Opus Dei that reduced its privileged church position: the organization now answers to the Vatican clergy office rather than reporting directly to the pope, and Francis directed Opus to revise its governing documents. One year later, he issued additional instructions allowing the Holy See to draft the statutes independently.
Leo indicated from his pontificate’s beginning that Opus Dei matters were a priority. Just six days following his election, on May 14, he conducted a meeting with Opus moderator Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz Braña.
Last month on February 16, Leo met with Opus leader Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz and his assistant Monsignor Mariano Fazio. Opus reported at that time that statute revisions remained ongoing, and stated the officials had updated Leo regarding their stance “regarding certain specific controversies in Argentina.”
Monday’s Gore audience was arranged through Pedro Salinas, a former member of the abusive Peruvian organization Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, who had known the pope during his time as a Peruvian bishop.
Then-Cardinal Robert Prevost played a key role in assisting Francis with Sodalitium’s suppression last year, largely due to revelations from Salinas and investigative journalist Paola Ugaz, who documented the group’s abusive behavior in their 2015 publication “Half Monks, Half Soldiers.”
Leo has expressed appreciation for investigative journalists’ contributions in exposing abusive church practices.
In a Substack post following Monday’s meeting, Gore reported briefing Leo on his research findings and providing supporting documentation, while encouraging Leo to initiate an independent Opus investigation.
The Vatican provided no details about the audience.
Gore acknowledged his strong criticism of how the Holy See has managed years of Opus Dei abuse allegations. He pointed out, for instance, that the Vatican had never contacted former Opus members or victims.
“I deduced that the Vatican was content to make a few superficial changes and move on without properly understanding or addressing the problem. But my meeting with the pope compels me to reevaluate those conclusions,” he wrote.
Opus declined to comment Monday, referring to their previous statement regarding their February 16 meeting with Leo and their extensive response to Gore’s book.
QUITO, Ecuador — Ecuador’s government announced Monday the mobilization of 75,000 military and law enforcement personnel across four violence-plagued provinces, where authorities have instituted nighttime curfews prohibiting residents from venturing outside between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Authorities reported 253 arrests for curfew violations since the restrictions began Sunday evening in Guayas, El Oro, Los Rios and Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas provinces. The two-week emergency measure encompasses Guayaquil, the nation’s largest city, but excludes the capital Quito and the tourist destination of the Galápagos Islands.
Interior Minister John Reimberg announced Monday that military forces utilized approved artillery strikes against three designated targets, though he declined to elaborate on the specific nature of these operations. “Let whatever must fall, fall — and whoever must fall, fall,” he declared to reporters, emphasizing that no casualties were documented during these missions.
The South American nation faces an escalating battle against drug-fueled violence as competing criminal organizations wage war for dominance over Pacific coast shipping facilities crucial for transporting cocaine to American markets.
Government data from the Ministry of the Interior reveals Ecuador experienced its most deadly year on record in 2023, with homicides reaching 50 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.
Murder rates have surged fivefold since the coronavirus pandemic began, driven by Colombian and Mexican trafficking networks fighting over smuggling corridors while forming alliances with domestic criminal groups.
President Daniel Noboa recently renewed emergency powers that authorize military forces to conduct joint operations with civilian police and search private residences without obtaining warrants.
The conservative president has pointed fingers at neighboring Colombia, claiming its administration fails to adequately combat criminal organizations operating across their shared border. This January, Noboa imposed import duties on Colombian goods, vowing to maintain these penalties until cross-border security conditions improve.
This month, Ecuador’s armed forces announced a collaborative strike with U.S. forces targeting a Colombian narcotics training facility, deploying unmanned aircraft, helicopters and naval vessels in the assault.
Military officials identified the compound as being situated within Ecuadorian territory and controlled by Comandos de la Frontera, a faction that broke away from FARC following the rebel group’s 2016 peace agreement with Colombia’s government.
Human rights organizations have criticized Noboa’s aggressive approach, arguing his hardline tactics have failed to decrease criminal activity while endangering innocent civilians.
A controversial incident last year highlighted concerns about the president’s anti-crime strategies when eleven military personnel received sentences exceeding 30 years for kidnapping four minors, whose remains were discovered near a Guayaquil-area military installation.
WASHINGTON — The nation’s highest court will consider the Trump administration’s effort to terminate temporary protected status for individuals who have fled conflict and disasters in Haiti, Syria, and other nations worldwide.
On Monday, the Supreme Court justices declined to immediately remove these protections, which means hundreds of thousands of individuals can continue residing and working legally in the United States for the time being.
The case is scheduled for oral arguments next month.
The court, which has a conservative majority, has previously supported the Trump administration on immigration matters and permitted the termination of comparable protections for 600,000 Venezuelan nationals while legal challenges continue, potentially subjecting them to removal proceedings.
The administration filed urgent appeals after federal courts blocked the immediate termination of temporary protected status for 350,000 Haitian nationals and 6,000 Syrian nationals.
The Justice Department contended that the Department of Homeland Security possesses exclusive authority to terminate these protections, which were initially intended as short-term measures.
However, immigration lawyers maintained that both nations remain in significant crisis and that returning individuals would be unsafe.
Federal courts in New York and Washington, D.C., have issued orders postponing the termination of protections, with one court determining that “hostility to nonwhite immigrants” likely influenced the decision to end Haitian protections. Circuit courts of appeals upheld these rulings.
Approximately 1.3 million individuals who have fled armed conflicts and natural disasters globally have received temporary protected status. The administration seeks a comprehensive ruling that would prevent courts from interfering when Homeland Security chooses to terminate a country designation.
Officials have stated that conditions in the designated countries have stabilized and have rejected claims that racial bias influenced their decisions.
Temporary protected status permits individuals to legally reside and work in the United States, although it does not offer a pathway to citizenship. Since Republican Donald Trump’s return to office, Homeland Security has initiated termination procedures for the program covering multiple countries.
WASHINGTON — Directors at the Kennedy Center reached a unanimous decision Monday to cease operations for two years after this summer’s Independence Day festivities. The anticipated move follows a wave of artist departures and performance cancellations throughout President Donald Trump’s current administration, though Trump has pointed to necessary building renovations as justification for the temporary closure.
“We’re going to ensure it remains the finest performing arts facility of its kind anywhere in the world,” Trump stated to White House reporters prior to Monday’s board session.
Board members simultaneously selected Matt Floca to serve as the organization’s new CEO and executive director, taking over from Trump associate Richard Grenell. Grenell had implemented sweeping modifications at the cultural institution that sparked significant backlash from the artistic community and worsened the center’s fiscal difficulties. Trump offered praise for Grenell on Monday, describing him as a long-standing friend, while extending his best wishes to Floca “good luck with everything.”
According to the Kennedy Center, the decision received full board support, although Rep. Joyce Beatty abstained from voting. The Democratic representative from Ohio holds ex officio board status and filed legal action to prevent the Trump administration from barring her attendance at Monday’s session. A federal judge ruled over the weekend that she had the right to attend the gathering but stopped short of mandating her voting privileges.
Trump conducted the board meeting at the White House, demonstrating his considerable sway over the Kennedy Center throughout his second presidency. After resuming office last year, Trump removed the institution’s existing leadership and installed his chosen board of trustees, who subsequently appointed him as chairman. He also recruited Grenell, who had fulfilled various roles during Trump’s initial term when the former president largely disregarded the Kennedy Center.
The venue’s programming has since featured more Trump-aligned content, including hosting the debut of first lady Melania Trump’s documentary film “Melania.” Board members also declared they had rechristened the institution as the Trump Kennedy Center, a modification that legal experts and legislators argue requires Congressional approval, and physically mounted the president’s name on the structure’s exterior.
The artistic community’s response was immediate and severe. Performers including actor Issa Rae, musician Bela Fleck, and writer Louise Penny canceled scheduled appearances, while advisors like musician Ben Folds and vocalist Renée Fleming stepped down from their positions. This month, National Symphony Orchestra executive director Jean Davidson departed to lead the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles.
Trump announced in February his intention to close the Kennedy Center for repairs to address what he characterized as a deteriorating structure, without acknowledging the canceled performances.
Before the shutdown, Grenell alerted employees about upcoming workforce reductions that would maintain only “skeletal teams.”
Floca, who succeeds Grenell, previously held the position of vice president of operations. His LinkedIn profile indicates he began working at the Kennedy Center in January 2024, during the Biden presidency.
A center announcement from that period characterized him as “an experienced facilities management professional with a construction management background and an appreciation for whole building design principles.”
Floca’s professional history on LinkedIn shows several roles within the District of Columbia government, including associate director of sustainability and energy and director of facilities management. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in construction management from Louisiana State University in 2009.
Exchange operator Cboe Global Markets announced Monday that it has filed documentation with federal securities regulators seeking authorization to provide nearly continuous trading of U.S. stocks on one of its trading platforms.
The filing reflects growing efforts by major exchanges to meet increasing investor appetite for around-the-clock access to American stock markets.
Competitor Nasdaq, which hosts major technology firms including Nvidia, Apple, and Amazon, previously indicated to Reuters in December that it planned to file similar documentation for continuous trading operations.
Under Cboe’s plan, the extended trading hours would launch on its EDGX Equities Exchange in December 2026, subject to Securities and Exchange Commission approval. The system would enable stock transactions from 9 p.m. Sunday through 8 p.m. Friday Eastern Time, with just one hour of downtime each weekday evening between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
“Cboe’s filing with the SEC is the latest step in ensuring we are ready to offer overnight trading once the industry launches in December,” stated Oliver Sung, head of North American Equities.
The company reported experiencing a 590% increase in average daily trading volume between February 2022 and February 2026, noting that it already provides early morning trading from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. Eastern Time on two of its four exchange platforms.
Cboe operates trading systems for both stocks and derivatives, including instruments tied to its well-known VIX volatility index, commonly called the market’s “fear gauge.”
Afghan Taliban officials accused Pakistan of conducting an airstrike that struck a drug treatment facility in Kabul on Monday, resulting in an unknown number of casualties, while Pakistani authorities denied hitting civilian targets.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stated on social media platform X that their forces had struck “military installations” and “terrorist support infrastructure” in both Kabul and Nangarhar provinces.
According to Pakistani officials, the targeted locations housed weapons stockpiles and equipment utilized by Afghan Taliban forces and “Fitna al-Khawarij” militants, which is Pakistan’s designation for extremist fighters.
Pakistan’s military has not yet provided an official response to requests for additional information.
Cross-border hostilities between the two countries began escalating last month when Pakistan launched aerial attacks into Afghanistan, claiming they were aimed at militant bases. Afghan authorities condemned these operations as violations of their territorial sovereignty and responded with retaliatory strikes.
The issue of militant activity has become a major source of tension between the neighboring countries, which were once allies but are now adversaries. Pakistani leadership maintains that Afghanistan serves as a safe haven for extremists who carry out attacks against Pakistan, while Taliban representatives reject these accusations and argue that addressing militancy is Pakistan’s domestic responsibility.
WASHINGTON – American diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have reportedly resumed direct communication through a previously established channel, according to sources cited by Axios on Monday.
The news outlet reported that officials familiar with the situation confirmed the renewed contact between the two representatives, though the depth and substance of their exchanges remains unclear. This represents the first documented direct dialogue between the nations since military operations began involving the United States and Israel against Iran.
According to Axios sources, Araghchi initiated contact by sending text messages to Witkoff. However, a U.S. official told the publication that Washington was “not talking” to Tehran, suggesting limited engagement from the American side.
Earlier reporting from Drop Site News had indicated that Witkoff was the one reaching out to the Iranian minister through messages. That outlet quoted Iranian officials who claimed Araghchi was disregarding communications from Witkoff.
The conflicting reports highlight the sensitive and complex nature of any diplomatic contact between the two countries amid ongoing tensions in the region.
Investment funds worldwide have intensively targeted financial sector stocks with short-selling strategies during the week ending March 13, according to a Goldman Sachs client report obtained by Reuters on Monday.
The investment strategy involved betting against shares of banking institutions, insurance companies, financial technology firms, and trading organizations, making financials the most heavily targeted sector throughout this year.
Goldman Sachs described the approach as investment funds “aggressively shorting” global financial stocks, with the sector experiencing net selling activity across international markets.
Short-selling strategies generate profits when stock prices decrease.
Financial sector performance has struggled significantly, with the S&P financials index declining more than 11% year-to-date, while European banking stocks have dropped approximately 8%.
The selling pressure stems from multiple concerns affecting the sector and broader markets, including potential economic consequences from Middle Eastern conflicts and growing awareness of deeper connections between traditional financial institutions and private lending operations.
A recent Moody’s analysis revealed that U.S. banking institutions had provided nearly $300 billion in loans to private credit companies as of June 2025.
JPMorgan Chase recently decreased valuations on certain loans made to private credit funds following their assessment of market disruption affecting software sector companies, as Reuters reported last week based on Financial Times coverage.
“When a large institution like JPM (JPMorgan) starts marking deals lower, markets pay attention because it raises the possibility that others may eventually have to follow,” said Bruno Schneller, managing director at Erlen Capital Management.
Schneller explained that investor concerns about potential valuation adjustments throughout the financial system lead to protective strategies. “If investors worry the marks across the system could move, the easiest way to hedge that risk is through liquid proxies like banks, insurers and financial indices,” he noted.
According to Schneller, short positions targeting financial stocks may represent less of a direct opinion on banking institutions themselves and more of a protective measure against credit risks affecting the broader financial ecosystem.
He suggested this approach might also provide investors with a method to protect their investment portfolios against potential recession impacts.
The Goldman Sachs report indicated that all financial sub-sectors except regional banks experienced net selling activity this year, with capital markets companies, financial services firms, and consumer finance organizations leading the decline.
The company that produces Jack Daniel’s whiskey announced Monday it has selected Jim Peters, a veteran executive from Whirlpool, to serve as its new chief financial officer beginning March 31.
Peters will take over from Leanne Cunningham, who plans to retire May 1, according to Brown-Forman’s announcement. Cunningham held the CFO position for almost five years and worked at the company for more than 30 years.
During Cunningham’s time as finance chief, Brown-Forman’s stock price dropped 68% as the company struggled with declining alcohol sales across multiple markets, including the United States, while broader economic instability created additional headwinds for the spirits industry.
Although the whiskey producer reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings in early March, company officials warned that fiscal 2026 will likely bring continued difficulties due to economic uncertainty and cautious consumer spending.
Peters brings a decade of experience from Whirlpool, where he will step down March 30, according to the appliance manufacturer’s separate announcement. He had already transitioned out of his CFO role at Whirlpool at the end of December.
Time is running out for sports fans hoping to attend the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, with ticket registration set to end on Tuesday, March 18.
Olympic organizers announced Monday that more than 5 million people from 197 countries and territories have already signed up at tickets.la28.org since January, showing tremendous early interest in the Games scheduled to begin July 14, 2028.
Those who complete registration before the Tuesday cutoff will enter a lottery system for the chance to purchase tickets during the first sales window, set for April 9-19. A separate presale for qualifying Southern California and Oklahoma residents will run April 2-6, since Oklahoma City will serve as the venue for softball and canoe slalom events.
Winners of the lottery will receive email notifications between March 31 and April 7. Selected buyers can purchase up to 12 Olympic event tickets based on availability, though opening and closing ceremony tickets are limited to four per person.
Meanwhile, the Olympic baseball competition is beginning to take shape as the Dominican Republic and Venezuela earned their spots through the 2026 World Baseball Classic qualifiers from the Americas region. They join the host United States in what will be a six-team tournament.
Baseball makes its Olympic comeback for the first time since Tokyo, with games scheduled for Dodger Stadium from July 13-19. The sport was among those added to the LA28 lineup. Three remaining team slots will be filled through international qualifying competitions in 2027 and 2028.
Soccer competition received an extension from Olympic officials, with matches now starting July 10 — four days ahead of the opening ceremony. This expanded timeline provides teams with two extra rest days compared to previous Olympic tournaments.
Seven American cities will host preliminary soccer rounds and quarterfinals: New York, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, San Jose, San Diego and Pasadena. The Rose Bowl will stage both men’s and women’s championship matches.
Complete soccer schedules and game times will be announced later this year, organizers said.
Officials in Abu Dhabi confirmed Monday that a blaze erupted at a major oil and gas facility following an unmanned aircraft strike, with no casualties reported thus far, according to the emirate’s media office.
The incident occurred at the Shah energy complex, which ranks among the globe’s most significant facilities of its type and sits approximately 180 kilometers (111.85 miles) southwest of Abu Dhabi.
Authorities were actively responding to the situation at the facility on Monday, working to address the fire caused by the aerial attack.
BRUSSELS, March 16 – European Union member nations and parliamentary representatives reached an impasse Monday over continuing interim regulations that dictate how major technology companies including Google and Meta identify and address child sexual exploitation material online.
The existing framework, which allows companies to voluntarily scan for and eliminate such harmful content while being exempt from stringent digital privacy regulations, has operated since 2021 but is set to lapse on April 3rd.
A representative from Cyprus, currently leading the EU’s rotating presidency, expressed disappointment with the outcome. “Regrettably the European Parliament insisted on amending the scope of the interim measure in a way that, in the view of the vast majority of member states, would have made this measure ineffective,” the spokesperson stated. “Today’s development creates a vacuum.”
Parliamentary members recently demanded that the temporary regulations exclude end-to-end encrypted messaging from oversight requirements, alongside additional modifications to the proposed framework.
The European Union implemented these interim measures after being unable to reach consensus on permanent legislation addressing this contentious issue, which has created tension between those advocating for enhanced online safety protocols and privacy rights defenders concerned about potential government overreach.
Comprehensive legislation targeting child sexual abuse material, initially proposed by the European Commission in 2022, remains stalled amid ongoing disagreements between opposing factions who have raised objections to fundamental aspects of the proposal.
Major technology corporations have actively opposed any mandates requiring messaging platforms, application marketplaces, and internet service providers to identify and eliminate both existing and newly created exploitative images and videos, as well as instances of online predatory behavior.
Veteran NFL defensive back Darius Slay Jr. has decided to end his professional football career, making the announcement through an Instagram post on Monday.
The 35-year-old cornerback, who was selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, earned six Pro Bowl honors throughout his 13-year career in the league.
“Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you’ve done for me,” Slay wrote in his Instagram announcement video. “I’ve been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5yrs old for an amazing 13yrs at the highest level. Football was my peace, my joy, my everything.”
“This game put me in a position to help take care of my family and loved ones and I’m forever grateful. It’s hard to say goodbye, but God has a new chapter for me and I’m ready to turn the page and start my new journey.”
During his career, Slay earned three Pro Bowl nominations while playing for Detroit from 2013-19, and another three during his time with Philadelphia from 2021-24. After the Eagles cut him last March, he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2025 season, appearing in 10 contests with nine starts before being waived in early December.
Though the Buffalo Bills picked him up off waivers, Slay chose not to join the team and remained inactive for the rest of the season.
Prior to announcing his retirement, Slay had made his intentions clear in a social media video about his future plans.
“No team can call me but Eagles. No team can call me, everybody knows,” Slay stated.
The cornerback, who earned first-team All-Pro recognition in 2017, concludes his NFL tenure with impressive statistics: 655 total tackles, 28 interceptions with three returned for scores, 17 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, 163 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries including two touchdown returns across 187 games with 176 starts.
SELBYVILLE — Delaware transportation officials have scheduled a two-day road closure in Sussex County to remove dangerous trees that pose a safety threat.
According to the Delaware Department of Transportation, a portion of Cypress Road will be shut down to traffic from March 21st through March 22nd while crews work to eliminate hazardous trees from the area.
The closure will affect the section of Cypress Road running from Daisey Road to Cliff Road, with work scheduled from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day, assuming weather conditions allow the operation to proceed as planned.
Transportation officials are advising drivers to reduce their speed when passing through active work zones and to plan for possible delays when traveling through the surrounding area during the closure period.
Additional details about this and other transportation projects can be found on DelDOT’s official website at www.deldot.gov.
Salisbury city officials have called off tonight’s City Council session that was set to begin at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 16th.
Deputy City Clerk Hannah Long announced the cancellation in a public notice, citing anticipated weather conditions and concerns for resident safety as the reasons for postponing the meeting.
City officials stated they will reveal the rescheduled date for the council session in the coming days.
The notice also indicated that council members maintain their authority to modify meeting agendas when needed and may enter closed executive sessions as allowed under Maryland state law section 3-305(b).
Delaware’s Division of the Public Advocate has announced the appointment of Samantha Hajek to the position of Deputy Public Advocate, marking a significant step in strengthening consumer protection services across the state.
In her new role, Hajek will work to enhance the DPA’s ability to serve utility customers throughout Delaware. Her responsibilities will include supervising investigations into consumer complaints, broadening community engagement efforts, and working more closely with lawmakers and stakeholders.
The appointment represents the division’s commitment to expanding its advocacy work on behalf of Delaware residents who need assistance with utility-related issues.
Wetland conservation has become a top priority for federal agencies working to safeguard these essential coastal ecosystems that support both wildlife and local economies nationwide.
Marshlands serve as critical nurseries for fish species and provide protection for numerous threatened and endangered species while simultaneously supporting thriving coastal communities that depend on fishing and tourism industries.
Conservation specialists are implementing comprehensive restoration programs designed to rebuild damaged wetland areas and establish protective measures for existing healthy marsh systems.
These vital ecosystems face ongoing threats from development pressure, climate change impacts, and pollution, making restoration efforts increasingly important for maintaining biodiversity and coastal resilience.
The initiatives focus on rebuilding natural water flow patterns, replanting native vegetation, and removing invasive species that disrupt the delicate balance of these unique environments.
Federal funding supports collaborative projects involving state agencies, local communities, and environmental organizations to ensure long-term success of marsh conservation programs.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore women’s basketball team has reached a significant milestone in program history by earning their very first postseason tournament invitation.
The Hawks will take the court Thursday in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), representing a breakthrough achievement for the university’s athletic department.
This historic postseason berth marks a new chapter for UMES women’s basketball, as the team prepares to compete on the national stage for the first time in the program’s existence.
The milestone appearance in the WNIT demonstrates the growth and development of the Hawks’ women’s basketball program under current leadership.
Residents living in the Rabbit Run and Surfers Way neighborhoods need to prepare for a planned water service disruption scheduled for March 24.
The advance notification was posted to alert community members about the upcoming interruption to their water supply. Households and businesses in these specific areas should make necessary preparations for the temporary loss of water service.
The public advisory was issued on March 16 to provide residents with adequate notice of the scheduled maintenance work that will affect water availability in their neighborhoods.
A new collection of photographs has been released showing the current situation on the ground in the Middle East, as military operations involving the United States and Israel against Iran continue into their third week.
The visual documentation has been assembled by Associated Press photography editors to provide a comprehensive look at the ongoing conflict in the region.
HAVANA (AP) — Cuba’s entire population of 11 million people was left without electricity Monday as authorities confirmed a total power grid failure amid the nation’s worsening energy and economic struggles. The Caribbean island attributes its current difficulties to what it calls a U.S. energy embargo, implemented after President Donald Trump threatened tariffs in January against any nation providing oil to Cuba.
Cuba’s Ministry of Energy and Mines posted on X that the nation’s electrical infrastructure experienced a “complete disconnection” and announced they were looking into the cause.
Last Friday, President Miguel Díaz-Canel revealed the nation hasn’t received any oil deliveries for over three months, forcing reliance on solar energy, natural gas, and thermoelectric facilities. The power shortage has forced authorities to delay medical procedures for tens of thousands of citizens.
Just over a week ago, another major power failure struck the island’s western region, cutting electricity to millions of residents.
Essential oil deliveries from Venezuela stopped flowing after the United States took action against the South American nation in early January, including the arrest of former president Nicolás Maduro.
Although Cuba manages to produce 40% of its own oil and generates some electricity domestically, these resources fall short of meeting the population’s needs as the electrical infrastructure continues deteriorating.
President Díaz-Canel revealed Friday that Cuban officials are currently engaged in discussions with the U.S. government as the crisis continues to worsen.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s health has taken a turn for the better, allowing doctors to move him from intensive care to a less critical unit at a Brasilia hospital, according to his wife Michelle Bolsonaro.
The 70-year-old ex-president showed significant improvement over a 24-hour period, with medical tests revealing decreased inflammation levels since his admission to the ICU on Friday due to pneumonia complications, Michelle Bolsonaro announced on her Instagram account.
“We remain confident he will overcome this moment too,” Michelle Bolsonaro said.
Medical staff at DF Star hospital reported on Sunday that Bolsonaro’s kidney function had shown improvement, though they had planned to keep him in intensive care due to his pneumonia diagnosis. The hospital has not yet issued a statement regarding his move to the semi-intensive care unit.
The former president, who held office from 2019 to 2022, was brought to the medical facility on Friday from the correctional facility where he is currently incarcerated, serving a 27-year term for orchestrating a coup attempt in 2023.
The controversial former leader was moved from the federal police headquarters to an expanded cell in January. Bolsonaro’s family members and political supporters have made numerous appeals to Brazil’s Supreme Court requesting permission for him to complete his sentence under home confinement.
This hospitalization marks another in a series of medical episodes for the right-wing politician, who has required hospital care on several occasions following a stabbing incident during a campaign rally prior to the 2018 presidential race.
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president’s son, is anticipated to launch a presidential campaign this year, challenging current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Jair Bolsonaro faces convictions on multiple charges, including orchestrating an armed criminal organization and attempting to violently dismantle democratic institutions. The former president maintains his innocence regarding all accusations.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Children swarmed onto the Dolby Theatre stage as Conan O’Brien began hosting the 98th Academy Awards, setting the tone for a ceremony where ‘One Battle After Another’ claimed the top prize and youthful energy seemed to dominate the evening.
An atmosphere of uncertainty about both immediate concerns and future generations hung over this year’s Academy Awards, influenced by ongoing conflicts, political upheaval, and questions about cinema’s direction in an AI-driven era. These Oscars carried a heavy dose of anxiety, with presenters and winners attempting to find hope amid widespread concerns.
‘We honor tonight not only cinema, but the principles of worldwide artistic expression, teamwork, perseverance, strength and that most uncommon trait in today’s world — hope,’ O’Brien declared during his opening remarks. ‘We will celebrate tonight. Not because everything is perfect, but because we continue working and hoping for improvement.’
The previous time the Academy Awards occurred immediately following a U.S. military engagement in the Middle East was in 2003, when ‘Chicago’ earned best picture honors just days after the Iraq War commenced.
However, Sunday evening told a different tale. The ceremony’s major victor, Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another,’ a multigenerational story exploring revolution, immigration detention, and white supremacist themes, seemed perfectly suited for current times. The production, which earned six Academy Awards, succeeded partly because it resonated with contemporary issues.
When questioned about his film’s relevance and America’s trajectory during backstage interviews, Anderson, still processing his first Oscar victories — including best director and best adapted screenplay — after three decades in filmmaking, seemed momentarily surprised. ‘I assumed we were here to celebrate,’ he quipped.
However, Anderson, who had mostly refrained from discussing his movie’s themes directly during the awards circuit, acknowledged that his film drew strength from its contemporary relevance.
‘Our production clearly contains numerous connections to daily news events,’ Anderson stated.
‘Regarding future developments, I’m uncertain,’ he continued with a shrug. ‘However, I understand that our story concludes with our protagonist, Willa, departing to continue battling malevolent influences, and, as I mentioned in my acceptance speech, working to restore basic reasoning and moral behavior to prominence.’
The relationship between screen narratives and real-world events created an appropriately unsettled atmosphere for the 98th Oscars. For perhaps the first time in years, cinema and the Academy Awards seemed aligned with current circumstances. This alignment appeared not only in ‘One Battle After Another,’ but also in the post-apocalyptic journey film ‘Sirāt,’ the Iranian vengeance story ‘It Was Just an Accident,’ and Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners,’ examining forces that exploit Black communities.
While ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘Sinners’ (four victories, including best actor for Michael B. Jordan and, marking a historic first for women and Black cinematographers, best cinematography for Autumn Durald Arkapaw) potentially indicated promising prospects for high-budget, original American cinema, their success also highlighted Hollywood’s rapidly changing landscape.
Warner Bros., the studio distributing these films, collected a record-matching 11 Academy Awards. David Zaslav, in a Monday staff communication, described it as ‘an extraordinary achievement for Warner Bros. Discovery.’ This triumph might also represent the studio’s final major victory as an independent entity. Warner Bros. has agreed to join with David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance in a transaction valued at $111 billion.
The entertainment industry, having already witnessed Amazon’s acquisition of MGM and Disney’s purchase of 20th Century Fox, understands that consolidation inevitably reduces employment opportunities. Los Angeles film production has declined dramatically in recent years.
O’Brien himself suggested his position might be temporary, describing himself as ‘the final human presenter’ of the Oscars, which will transition from ABC to YouTube in three years. Through comedic segments during the broadcast, O’Brien highlighted cinema’s current challenges. One sequence mocked classic widescreen movies reformatted for smartphone-friendly vertical viewing. Another imagined ‘Casablanca’ — coincidentally a Warner Bros. production — simplified with constant plot explanations for distracted streaming viewers.
Consequently, promoting Hollywood’s traditional glamorous image has become significantly more challenging during the industry’s premier evening. The Oscars now resemble an embattled motivational speech encouraging continued perseverance. Beyond the discussion surrounding Timothée Chalamet’s concerns about movies potentially becoming as niche as opera or ballet lay genuine worries about this major entertainment medium’s survival.
‘The cinema experience faces some vulnerability currently,’ director Joachim Trier explained to reporters after earning best international film for ‘Sentimental Value.’ ‘Therefore, I feel tremendous pride that audiences have supported our movie.’
Numerous winners avoided political commentary. Neither ‘Iran’ nor President Donald Trump’s name was mentioned during the televised ceremony, though presenter Jimmy Kimmel came close. Before announcing the best documentary category, Kimmel sarcastically noted the omission of ‘Melania.’
‘Oh, wow,’ Kimmel remarked. ‘He’s going to be upset his spouse didn’t receive a nomination for this.’
Following an awards season that frequently avoided political topics, many speakers were more direct. Presenter Javier Bardem approached the microphone and declared clearly: ‘No to war, and free Palestine.’ During the best documentary Oscar acceptance for ‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin,’ Pavel Talankin, the educator featured in the film, spoke through translation: ‘For our tomorrow, for all our young ones, end these conflicts immediately.’
Jessie Buckley, the best actress recipient for her portrayal of a mourning mother in ‘Hamnet,’ similarly focused on children, particularly her eight-month-old daughter Isla ‘who is completely unaware of these events and is likely dreaming about her next feeding,’ Buckley shared.
Buckley expressed more optimism than most regarding future possibilities. From the podium, she told her spouse she desired ‘20,000 additional children’ with him. Yet repeatedly, Sunday’s award recipients found difficulty expressing appropriate sentiments for an era of deteriorating American unity and expanding warfare, instead returning to discussions about the world younger generations will receive. Trier, during his acceptance remarks, referenced James Baldwin.
‘I want to conclude by echoing the brilliant American author James Baldwin, who reminds us that every adult bears responsibility for every child,’ he stated. ‘Let’s avoid supporting politicians who don’t seriously consider this obligation.’
Ultimately, ‘One Battle After Another’s’ victory seemed increasingly certain since it clearly reflected many people’s current concerns. Anderson’s movie concludes with its young lead character, portrayed by Chase Infiniti, hurrying toward a demonstration while Tom Petty’s ‘American Girl’ begins playing.
‘How do you handle the situation when your parents, who carry their own wounds, have passed down a challenging legacy?’ Anderson explained backstage. ‘That represents our narrative.’
Air travelers faced a perfect storm of problems Monday as severe weather systems and ongoing government shutdown issues combined to create widespread flight disruptions across the United States.
More than 3,600 flights scheduled within or traveling to the U.S. were grounded Monday, with an additional 6,800 experiencing delays, according to FlightAware flight tracking data. The chaos stemmed from dangerous storm systems moving through the eastern United States while Transportation Security Administration workers continue operating without pay during a partial government shutdown that entered its second month.
The timing couldn’t be worse for air travel, as airports are packed with spring break vacationers and college basketball fans traveling to March Madness tournament games. The shutdown, which started February 14, has created staffing challenges at security checkpoints nationwide.
Major aviation hubs bore the brunt of Monday’s disruptions. Chicago O’Hare International Airport saw nearly 500 flight cancellations, while Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International experienced over 300 cancellations and John F. Kennedy International Airport had more than 230 flights scrapped.
The National Weather Service issued warnings about the advancing storm system, which had already dumped feet of snow across the Midwest and was moving toward the East Coast with dangerous winds and potential for “producing strong and long track tornadoes.”
Federal Aviation Administration officials implemented ground stops at Hartsfield-Jackson and Charlotte Douglas International Airport due to severe weather conditions, while also ordering ground delays at JFK and Newark Liberty International Airport.
Stranded passengers shared their frustrations as travel plans fell apart. Kelly Price, attempting to return to Colorado following a family trip to Orlando, Florida, learned her Sunday evening flight was canceled only in the early hours of Monday morning.
“By that time the only place for us to sleep was the airport floor. So we’re all tired and frustrated,” Price explained, noting that her family’s next available flight wouldn’t depart until Tuesday afternoon.
Similarly, Danielle Cash found herself stuck in St. Louis Sunday while trying to reach Tampa, Florida, after a Las Vegas weekend trip. She’s now paying hundreds of extra dollars for hotel accommodations in a snowy climate she wasn’t prepared for.
“It was 80 degrees in Tampa when I left and then going to Vegas,” Cash noted. “And it was 90 degrees in the desert.” She’s now scheduled on a flight routing through Tennessee before finally reaching Tampa Tuesday afternoon.
The travel disruptions coincide with TSA employees missing their first complete paycheck over the weekend. The current partial government shutdown specifically impacts the Department of Homeland Security, TSA’s parent agency. This marks the third shutdown in under a year leaving TSA personnel temporarily unpaid, with back pay only coming after government operations resume.
Congressional Democrats have stated that Homeland Security funding won’t be restored until new limitations are imposed on federal immigration enforcement, following the deadly shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis this year.
Airport security checkpoint delays have increased at some locations due to staffing shortages, as TSA workers seek additional employment, struggle with commuting costs, or leave their positions entirely. Homeland Security reported on social media last week that more than 300 TSA agents have resigned since the shutdown began.
During the weekend, chief executives from major airlines including Delta, American, United and Southwest sent an urgent appeal to Congress requesting restored Homeland Security funding and bipartisan legislation protecting federal aviation worker pay during future shutdowns.
“It’s difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid,” the airline leaders stated in their congressional letter.
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – Four separate explosions shook Nigeria’s northeastern capital of Maiduguri on Monday evening, according to security officials and local residents who witnessed the incidents.
The detonations occurred in the capital city of Borno state, an area that has been plagued by insurgent violence. Local sources reported that three of the explosions happened in Maiduguri’s downtown area – one near a postal facility, another close to a marketplace, and a third in the vicinity of a medical facility. A fourth blast was reported in the Kaleri district, security officials and residents told Reuters.
Authorities have not yet determined what triggered the explosions, and neither police nor military officials provided immediate statements about the incidents.
Earlier on Monday, Nigerian military forces issued a statement confirming they had successfully fought off attacks launched by suspected Islamic militants on Maiduguri’s outer areas during the early morning hours.
SALISBURY, Md. – Three student-athletes from Salisbury University earned recognition as Jersey Mike’s A Sub Above Player of the Week recipients following outstanding performances that caught the attention of conference officials.
The honors came from two different athletic conferences, with the Coastal Lacrosse Conference (CLC) and Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) selecting the Sea Gulls athletes for their exceptional play during the March 9-15 period.
Men’s lacrosse dominated the CLC weekly awards, with Connor Herraiz and Blake Malamphy claiming both available honors from their conference. The pair’s performances helped sweep the weekly recognition for Salisbury’s men’s lacrosse program.
Meanwhile, women’s lacrosse player Reagan Davis achieved a personal milestone by earning C2C Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in her collegiate career, marking a significant achievement for the defensive standout.
Salisbury University’s men’s golf team saw their tournament come to an abrupt end when severe weather conditions forced organizers to cancel the competition entirely.
The Marymount Bernie Shootout, taking place in Virginia’s capital region, was shut down after torrential rainfall created unsafe playing conditions during the early portion of the event.
Tournament officials made the decision to call off the remainder of the competition rather than attempt to continue play or reschedule for later in the day.
The Sea Gulls golf squad will now look ahead to their next scheduled competition as they continue their season.
Residents and visitors along Delaware’s coast should prepare for minor flooding tonight as a Coastal Flood Advisory remains in effect until 2 AM Tuesday morning.
The National Weather Service warns that up to one foot of water could inundate low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways across inland Sussex County and Delaware beach communities. Strengthening south winds this evening will prevent water from properly draining out of Rehoboth Bay and Little Assawoman Bay during low tide, leading to elevated water levels.
Expected impacts include flooding of parking lots, parks, and roadways, with some isolated road closures possible. The northern sections of Rehoboth Bay and Little Assawoman Bay are particularly vulnerable to these minor tidal flooding conditions.
Officials urge drivers to avoid parking in flood-prone areas and never attempt to drive through standing water, which may be deeper than it appears. Such decisions can lead to vehicle damage and put lives at risk.
The advisory, issued by the National Weather Service Mount Holly office at 3:15 PM today, affects popular destinations including Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, and surrounding coastal communities. Conditions should improve after 2 AM as winds shift and waters recede.
Residents living in select neighborhoods of Ocean Pines should prepare for a temporary interruption to their water service scheduled for Monday, March 17.
The planned service disruption will impact certain areas within the Ocean Pines community, though specific streets and timeframes for the outage have not been detailed in the official notice.
Local officials issued the advance warning to give residents time to make necessary preparations for the temporary loss of water service.
Community members are advised to store water for essential needs during the planned maintenance period.
The nation’s hop inventory has experienced a notable decline, with stockpiles dropping 13 percent when compared to the same period last year, according to new agricultural data released for March 1.
The decrease in hop reserves could have implications for breweries and other industries that rely on this essential ingredient for beer production and other products.
The inventory figures represent the stored quantities of hops available across the United States as measured on the first day of March.
Drivers in New Castle County should plan for delays on a busy stretch of Baynard Boulevard as road crews begin repair work next week.
State transportation officials say one lane will be closed on Baynard Boulevard from Shipley Road to Marsh Road beginning Tuesday, March 24th. The Delaware Department of Transportation expects the warm mix patching project to wrap up around Friday, April 3rd.
Construction crews will work during daytime hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with flaggers on site to direct vehicles through the work zone. Motorists should expect delays and consider alternate routes during peak travel times.
NEWARK, Del. – Weather conditions have forced the cancellation of Tuesday’s scheduled tennis matchup between the University of Delaware Blue Hens men’s team and Temple University.
The contest, which was slated to begin at 12:00 p.m. on March 17th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been called off due to poor weather conditions affecting the area.
Officials have not yet announced when the postponed match will be rescheduled. The Blue Hens will now await word on a new date to take on the Temple Owls.
NAIROBI, Kenya — Four people lost their lives and several others sustained injuries when a controlled demolition operation went catastrophically wrong Monday in Kenya’s capital city, according to government officials.
Military personnel and emergency responders are currently searching through the debris for anyone who may remain trapped, the Interior Ministry reported. Photos from the scene showed emergency workers transporting victims away from the wreckage on medical stretchers.
Officials have not yet explained what caused the demolition operation to fail so disastrously, resulting in the casualties.
The structure was among multiple buildings “earmarked for removal under the ongoing Nairobi River Regeneration Project,” according to the ministry’s official statement.
While rescue teams successfully pulled at least two survivors from the wreckage, an Associated Press reporter present at the Blue Estate community in Shauri Moyo witnessed at least three fatalities being recovered from the debris. Government officials confirmed the death count reached four.
Such structural failures occur frequently throughout Nairobi, where the demand for housing far exceeds supply and corrupt construction companies regularly ignore safety standards or completely disregard building regulations.
Following a series of eight building failures that claimed 15 lives across Kenya in 2015, the president mandated a comprehensive review of structures nationwide to determine code compliance. The National Construction Authority’s investigation revealed that 58% of Nairobi’s buildings were deemed unsafe for occupancy.
Detroit Tigers star pitcher Tarik Skubal stands poised to potentially shatter contract records for pitchers when he enters free agency following next season. The left-handed ace has captured consecutive American League Cy Young Awards and secured a $32 million salary for this season after prevailing in his arbitration case.
Skubal will be eligible for free agency for the first time following next fall’s World Series, joining a potentially lucrative class that includes two-time All-Star pitcher Freddy Peralta, infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., and veteran slugger Randy Arozarena. Additional All-Star left-handed starters Trevor Rogers and Kris Bubic, both 28 years old, may also enter the market.
However, this upcoming free agency period faces uncertainty due to a possible work stoppage. Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement concludes on December 1st, with the league reportedly planning to propose implementing a salary cap, creating questions about how negotiations will impact the next free agent class.
The previous CBA expiration following the 2021 season resulted in a 99-day lockout by team owners, though several major contracts were finalized before the work stoppage began. Notable deals included Cy Young recipient Robbie Ray’s five-year, $115 million agreement with Seattle, Marcus Stroman’s three-year, $71 million contract with Chicago Cubs, and the Texas Rangers’ massive middle infield investment totaling half a billion dollars with shortstop Corey Seager ($325 million over 10 years) and second baseman Marcus Semien ($175 million across seven years).
The following players could enter free agency after the 2026 campaign:
Skubal, approaching his 30th birthday in November, compiled a remarkable 31-10 record with a 2.30 ERA across 62 starts during his two Cy Young seasons. His overall six-year career shows a 54-37 record with a 3.08 ERA. His February arbitration victory over Detroit came after the team proposed $19 million. Last season, he posted a 13-6 record with the American League’s lowest 2.21 ERA in 31 starts, striking out 241 batters while walking just 33 across 195 1/3 innings. Currently, the largest pitcher contract belongs to Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 12-year, $325 million deal with Los Angeles Dodgers from two years ago. The highest annual average of $43.3 million was achieved by three-time Cy Young winners Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer in their New York Mets contracts before both were traded during the 2023 deadline.
Peralta topped the National League with 17 victories and recorded 204 strikeouts last season, concluding his eight-year Milwaukee tenure before joining the Mets, who named him their opening day starter. The June 30th birthday celebrant holds a 54-34 record with 3.30 ERA over five seasons as a regular starter. His 2020 pre-arbitration five-year contract includes team options for both 2025 and 2026.
Chisholm, age 28, earned All-Star recognition again last season for the first time since serving as Miami’s primary second baseman in 2022. The Marlins subsequently moved him to center field before dealing him to New York Yankees at the 2024 deadline, where he returned to infield duties. His 2024 performance included a .242 average with 31 home runs, 80 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases.
Arozarena, who earned 2020 AL Championship Series MVP honors with Tampa Bay before claiming 2021 AL Rookie of the Year, achieved career-high numbers with 27 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases last year during his first complete season with Seattle following his 2024 trade deadline acquisition from the Rays.
Rogers, selected 13th overall by Miami in 2017’s amateur draft, debuted with the Marlins in 2020 before being traded to Baltimore at last year’s deadline and subsequently sent to minor leagues within a month. He’s now set to start Baltimore’s season opener after missing two months last season with a right kneecap injury before posting a 9-3 record with 1.81 ERA across 18 starts.
Bubic achieved All-Star status last year but made only one additional start for Kansas City following the Midsummer Classic due to rotator cuff strain. He finished 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA.
Three-time National League batting champion Luis Arráez, who completed each championship season with different teams, signed a one-year, $12 million contract with San Francisco after his first free agency experience. The 28-year-old maintains a .317 career batting average with merely 215 strikeouts in 3,533 career plate appearances. He accumulated 584 hits over the past three seasons, with 460 being singles.
Third baseman Bo Bichette, who joined the Mets this offseason on a three-year, $126 million free agent contract, possesses an opt-out clause after this season. Similarly, 30-year-old right-hander Michael King, following his first free agency experience last offseason, signed a three-year, $75 million deal to remain with San Diego Padres and also has an opt-out option.
Players who might become free agents if team options aren’t exercised for 2027 include Atlanta Braves’ second baseman Ozzie Albies and outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr., and Houston third baseman Isaac Paredes. First baseman Yandy Diaz, the 2023 AL batting champion with a .290 career average, has a vesting team option with Tampa Bay.
Ray, who was traded to San Francisco two years ago, enters the final year of his pre-lockout contract. The 34-year-old holds an 88-81 record with 3.94 ERA across 12 major league seasons, having played for Detroit, Arizona, and Toronto, where he won his 2021 Cy Young Award.
Right-hander Shane Bieber, Cleveland’s 2020 AL Cy Young winner, made just two 2024 starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery and entering free agency for the first time. His new Guardians contract included a $16 million player option for this season, which he’ll spend with Toronto after being traded last July and making seven starts. The 30-year-old Bieber has compiled a 66-34 record with 3.24 ERA in 143 career games.
Sandy Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy Young winner who is also 30, is scheduled to make his franchise-record sixth opening day start for Miami. He missed the entire 2024 season following Tommy John surgery but initially struggled upon return last year before finishing 7-3 with a 3.13 ERA over his final 12 starts. Miami holds a $21 million team option for 2027.
The Vatican announced Monday the itinerary for Pope Leo XIV’s historic 10-day journey across four African nations, highlighting themes of interfaith cooperation, supporting violence victims, and strengthening Catholic communities in former colonial territories.
The pontiff’s April 13-23 expedition will mark the first papal visit ever to Algeria, featuring a stop at Algiers’ Great Mosque and a gathering with fellow Augustinian clergy in the birthplace of St. Augustine of Hippo, the 5th-century saint who inspired their religious community.
During his travels, Leo XIV will conduct a peace conference in northwestern Cameroon, visit a significant Marian sanctuary in Angola, and offer prayers at a memorial honoring victims of a devastating 2021 explosion in Equatorial Guinea that claimed over 100 lives due to alleged negligence.
Throughout the journey, the Pope will conduct meetings with regional bishops, hold Mass services for believers, and engage in private discussions with leaders from all four countries, including two who have governed for multiple decades.
The following highlights key destinations in each nation:
Leo’s opening day in Algiers includes meetings with government officials, a mosque tour, and gathering with the local Catholic population.
He will subsequently travel to Annaba, located on Algeria’s eastern coastline and formerly called Hippo, where St. Augustine resided until his death in 430. This theological pioneer of early Christianity left a lasting legacy that Leo will honor by meeting with Augustinian religious communities and exploring archaeological remains.
The pontiff will also conduct Mass at the capital’s basilica dedicated to St. Augustine.
Leo’s second destination is Cameroon, previously visited by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009. His itinerary includes the capital Yaoundé, the commercial center Douala, and Bamenda, a prominent city in the North-West region.
Western Cameroon has experienced ongoing violence since English-speaking separatists began an uprising in 2017, seeking to establish an independent English-speaking nation separate from the French-speaking majority. This conflict has resulted in over 6,000 deaths and displaced more than 600,000 residents, according to International Crisis Group data.
A major highlight of Leo’s visit will be a “peace meeting” he will oversee in Bamenda on April 16, though participant details remain undisclosed.
The nation also faces violence from Boko Haram militants in northern regions, as the Islamic extremist organization’s Nigerian insurgency has extended into Cameroonian territory.
Some Cameroonians worry the papal visit might be exploited by the country’s leadership following a contested presidential election.
Cameroonian Jesuit priest and opposition figure Ludovic Lado shared his concerns with Leo through a public letter, cautioning that the visit might be “interpreted as an implicit form of endorsement of a discredited and illegitimate government.”
The nation’s 92-year-old President Paul Biya, who has held power for 42 years, was declared victorious in October’s presidential race, earning another seven-year term. However, his primary opponent, former government spokesperson Issa Tchiroma Bakary, continues asserting his rightful claim to victory.
The Pope’s Angola visit takes him to a former Portuguese territory in southern Africa with a predominantly Christian population. Catholicism represents the largest religious group in this Portuguese-speaking nation of approximately 38 million residents, reflecting the former colonial power’s influence.
Angola achieved independence from Portugal in 1975 but immediately descended into an extended and devastating civil war that concluded in 2002.
The Pope will tour the capital Luanda, the town of Muxima, and the city of Saurimo.
In Muxima, the pontiff will visit the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima, a Marian shrine within the Church of Our Lady of Muxima that has evolved into one of Angola’s most significant Catholic pilgrimage destinations.
Portuguese colonizers originally constructed the church around the late 16th century after establishing a fortress at Muxima. It became a crucial location in the Portuguese trans-Atlantic slave trade, serving as a baptism site for enslaved individuals before their forced transport to the Americas.
Leo’s concluding destination is Equatorial Guinea, which maintains one of Africa’s highest Catholic population percentages, with approximately 70% of its 1.9 million citizens practicing the faith. This reflects its Spanish colonial heritage, as the Catholic Church remains a powerful and influential institution in this Central African nation.
Though officially secular, Catholic Mass ceremonies are incorporated into state functions, including Independence Day observances.
Leo’s visit to the country, only the second following Pope St. John Paul II’s 1982 tour, will encompass three of the nation’s five dioceses in Malabo, the capital, plus Bata and Mongomo.
In Bata, Leo will visit with incarcerated individuals and pray at the memorial honoring victims of a 2021 military barracks explosion that killed more than 100 people. The blasts resulted from careless dynamite handling at a barracks near residential neighborhoods.
Equatorial Guinea has been governed by Africa’s longest-serving president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has maintained power since 1982 and faces accusations of operating an authoritarian government.
Catholics in Equatorial Guinea endured severe persecution under former President Francisco Macías Nguema, who shuttered churches in 1975 and officially prohibited the Catholic Church in 1978. Nguema sought to eliminate colonial influences. This decree was overturned when Teodoro assumed power through a coup.
Despite the country’s oil and gas-driven economy, at least 57% of the population lives in poverty, according to World Bank statistics.
Federal health authorities announced Monday that seven individuals across three states have contracted E. coli infections connected to raw milk cheddar cheese, with most victims being young children.
The Food and Drug Administration identified California company Raw Farm as the probable source of the contamination, though the agency noted that no Raw Farm products have shown positive E. coli results during testing conducted throughout the outbreak timeframe.
Health officials documented cases spanning from September 2025 through mid-February. California reported five infections, while Florida and Texas each recorded one case. Children age 3 and under accounted for more than half the victims, and two individuals required hospital treatment.
Despite FDA recommendations for a voluntary product withdrawal, Raw Farm has refused to remove its raw cheese items from store shelves.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised consumers to “consider not eating” these products.
Raw Farm owner Mark McAfee defended his decision against recalling the cheese, stating investigators haven’t established a definitive connection between his products and the illnesses.
“They have found no pathogens in any of our products,” McAfee stated during an interview. He challenged the FDA’s conclusion that the cases showed genetic similarities and criticized the timing of the outbreak announcement as too early.
According to the FDA, interviews with three infected individuals revealed all had consumed Raw Farm brand raw milk cheddar cheese. Laboratory analysis of patient samples demonstrated that the E. coli strains responsible for their infections shared close genetic relationships.
Health investigators continue gathering details from the remaining four cases. The ongoing investigation aims to pinpoint the contamination source and determine if other products may be involved in the outbreak.
The British Broadcasting Corporation submitted court papers Monday requesting a federal judge throw out Donald Trump’s massive $10 billion defamation claim, arguing the lawsuit threatens press freedom and robust journalism.
Trump initiated the legal action in December through a Florida federal court, targeting how the BBC edited footage of his January 6, 2021 remarks in a documentary. His complaint demands $5 billion for defamation and an additional $5 billion for unfair business practices.
The British network contends the Florida court has no authority over the matter since the documentary never broadcast in Florida or anywhere else in the United States. A federal judge in the Southern District of Florida has tentatively scheduled a trial for February 2027.
“We have therefore challenged jurisdiction of the Florida court and filed a motion to dismiss the president’s claim,” the BBC stated.
In their 34-page filing, BBC lawyers maintain that Trump cannot demonstrate the network “knowingly intended to create a false impression.” They argue his case “falls well short of the high bar of actual malice.”
The network warns of serious consequences for journalism, stating “the chilling effect is clear” when someone “among the most powerful and high-profile individuals in the world” pursues such litigation against media outlets that cover his activities daily.
“Early dismissal is favoured given the powerful interest in ensuring that free speech is not unduly burdened by the necessity of defending against expensive yet groundless litigation, which would constrict the breathing space needed to ensure robust reporting on public figures and events,” the filing states.
The controversial documentary, called “Trump: A Second Chance?”, aired shortly before the 2024 presidential election. Editors combined three separate quotes from different portions of Trump’s January 6th address, creating what appeared to be a single statement that seemed to directly encourage supporters to attack the Capitol.
The editing removed a portion where Trump urged supporters to demonstrate peacefully.
Trump’s lawsuit describes the BBC’s work as a “false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction” and characterizes it as “a brazen attempt to interfere in and influence” the 2024 election.
While the BBC’s chairman issued an apology to Trump regarding the speech editing, acknowledging it created “the impression of a direct call for violent action,” the organization disputes any defamation occurred. The controversy led to the departures of the BBC’s chief executive and news director last year.
