Greek maritime officials are sounding the alarm over Iran’s continued blockade of a critical shipping passage that handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas transportation.
For the fourth consecutive day Tuesday, vessel movement through the Strait of Hormuz remained at a standstill after Iranian Revolutionary Guards officials threatened to attack any ship attempting to navigate the waterway, according to Iranian media reports.
Greece’s Maritime Minister Vassilis Kikilias expressed deep concern about the developing crisis during an interview with Reuters, emphasizing the need to protect international shipping operations and maritime workers.
“This is alarming and worrying, and I wish that global shipping was left out of war conflicts,” Kikilias stated when discussing crew safety and protective measures.
The minister stressed the importance of keeping commercial shipping separate from military conflicts, noting that “Global shipping has to do with global commerce, which everybody needs. And sailors, of course, are not to blame.”
Greece maintains one of the world’s most extensive commercial shipping fleets, making the country a major player in international maritime trade.
According to Kikilias, approximately 15 Greek-registered vessels are currently positioned in and around the Persian Gulf, with Greek crew members among those aboard. Additionally, more than 325 ships with Greek commercial ties are operating in the broader region.
Since Saturday, Greek maritime authorities have issued advisories recommending that ships avoid the area, with crew safety remaining the government’s primary concern.
“We’re in communication with them day and night, 24/7, I’m happy they’re okay, but I’m worried, and we are worried, of course, because the area is in danger,” the minister explained. “We cannot dismiss the possibility of bigger problems.”
Greek authorities announced Tuesday they have developed a contingency plan to evacuate thousands of Greek citizens currently stranded in the region, though implementation remains challenging due to airspace restrictions over the affected area.
Delaware Department of Transportation crews are working on Atlanta Road today, causing traffic pattern changes for drivers in the area.
The construction activity is taking place on the southbound lanes of Atlanta Road (Route 30) in the stretch between Tull Drive and West Stein Highway (Route 20). Work crews have closed the shoulder and implemented a lane switch to accommodate the ongoing project.
DelDOT officials report the construction work and associated traffic changes are expected to remain in effect until 3:30 PM this afternoon. Motorists traveling through the area should plan for potential delays and exercise caution when navigating the temporary lane configuration.
Drivers are advised to reduce speeds and maintain safe following distances while passing through the work zone.
Airlines across the globe are implementing aggressive strategies to protect themselves from skyrocketing fuel expenses as oil markets react to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Brent crude oil climbed past $80 per barrel this Tuesday amid concerns about potential supply disruptions, directly impacting jet fuel costs that represent a major expense for airline operations.
To combat these price fluctuations, carriers employ financial contracts including futures and options to secure predetermined fuel costs. Many also protect against U.S. dollar fluctuations since jet fuel pricing is denominated in American currency.
Here’s how major international airlines are protecting their operations:
AIR FRANCE-KLM:
The European airline group announced in February that it modified its fuel protection strategy, boosting total coverage for annual consumption from 68% to 87%. The company expanded its planning timeline from six quarters to eight while raising protection percentages.
AIR NEW ZEALAND:
The country’s national carrier reported in February that it secured 83% of fuel costs for its fiscal year’s second half and 46% for the first half extending to 2027. Most protection contracts use Brent Crude pricing, with additional Singapore Jet swaps planned for later this year.
CATHAY PACIFIC:
Hong Kong’s primary airline disclosed last year it established fuel protection extending into 2027’s second quarter, securing approximately 30% of expenses through the second quarter of 2026.
CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES:
The government-owned carrier stated it conducted thorough market evaluations and avoided any jet fuel protection transactions during 2025’s first half. By June 30, 2025, the airline maintained no active fuel hedging agreements.
EASYJET:
The British low-cost carrier announced in January it locked in 84% of fuel requirements for 2026’s first half, 62% for the second half, and 43% for 2027’s first half, at average costs of $715, $688, and $671 per metric ton respectively. Currency protection includes 80% of expected dollar needs for the year’s first half at $1.30 per pound, 62% for the second half at $1.24 per pound, and 40% for 2027’s first half at $1.32 per pound.
FINNAIR:
The Finnish airline revised its risk management approach in December, extending protection periods from 18 to 24 months. The carrier secured 219 tons of fuel for the first quarter at $718 per tonne average and 834 tons through 2027’s second quarter at $697 per tonne average. Target protection ranges from 70% to 95% for initial three-month periods, decreasing for subsequent quarters.
IAG:
The British Airways and Iberia parent company reported in February that fuel and currency protection decreased approximately 9% in 2025 compared to the previous year. Company policy involves three-year rolling protection, covering up to 75% of expected short-term needs and up to 80% for budget subsidiaries.
ICELANDAIR:
The Nordic carrier outlined plans in February to protect 20% to 50% of estimated consumption six months forward, 0% to 40% for 7-12 months ahead, and 0-20% for 13-18 months forward. The airline calculated that a 10% fuel price increase would impact equity by $11.6 million.
LUFTHANSA:
The German airline reported last year that fuel protection extends up to 24 months ahead. End-of-2024 coverage included approximately 76% of projected 2025 fuel needs and about 28% of 2026 requirements.
NORWEGIAN AIR:
The Scandinavian carrier announced in February it protected roughly 45% of estimated jet fuel consumption for 2026 and about 25% for 2027.
QANTAS:
The Australian airline disclosed in February that 81% of fuel costs were protected for the second half of its financial year ending June 30, 2026.
RYANAIR:
Irish carrier CEO Michael O’Leary stated in January the company secured 84% protection at $77 per barrel for the current quarter and locked in 80% of jet fuel needs at approximately $67 per barrel.
SAS:
Scandinavia’s largest airline reported last year it temporarily modified fuel protection policies due to market uncertainty, maintaining 0% coverage for the following 12 months. Standard policy targets 40% to 80% of anticipated volumes for upcoming 12 months, allowing up to 50% protection for the subsequent six months.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES:
The carrier announced in November it protects fuel costs up to five years ahead, with 49% coverage through December, 47% through March, declining to 24% in 2027’s second half and 7% in following years. Costs range between $66-$69 per barrel for Brent protection and $79-$87 per barrel for MOPS.
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA:
The Australian airline reported in February it secured 85% of fuel costs and 94% of foreign exchange for its financial year’s second half.
WIZZ AIR:
The Hungarian budget carrier stated in January it protected 83% of jet-fuel needs through March 2026 at prices between $681-$749 per metric tonne. Coverage includes 55% for the full year to 2027 and 7% for 2028, at prices of $650-$716 and $628-$694 per metric tonne respectively.
A medical diagnostics company revealed Tuesday that it has joined forces with technology giant Nvidia to dramatically cut the time patients wait for critical cancer test results after surgery.
Droplet Biosciences announced the partnership will utilize Nvidia’s artificial intelligence technology to analyze genetic information much faster than traditional methods. The company is implementing Nvidia Parabricks, a specialized software system that uses advanced processors to rapidly examine DNA sequences.
The breakthrough allows doctors to identify remaining cancer cells within 24 hours by examining fluid from the lymphatic system collected during surgery. This represents a massive improvement over current blood-based testing methods, which typically require four to six weeks before tumor remnants can be detected.
According to Droplet’s chief scientific officer, Wendy Winckler, the AI acceleration has transformed their most complex computational processes. “By leveraging NVIDIA Parabricks’ acceleration, we’ve been able to compress some of our most computationally intensive steps from more than a day down to just a few hours,” Winckler explained.
The company reported that while the advanced computing technology costs more per hour to operate, the significantly shorter processing time actually reduces the total expense for each patient sample analyzed.
This rapid turnaround means patients can receive their test results before leaving the hospital, eliminating the need for additional appointments or extended waiting periods associated with conventional blood testing procedures.
Zhuosheng Gu, senior director of informatics and research at Droplet Biosciences, highlighted another improvement in their workflow. “We are using Parabricks to speed up our genomic analysis and shorten turnaround time from 10 days to less than five days,” Gu stated.
The startup’s initial clinical application focuses on HPV-negative head and neck cancer testing, which has received validation under Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments standards. Droplet Biosciences participates in NVIDIA Inception, a program designed to support AI startups, and serves as a customer of NVIDIA AI Enterprise services.
Leaders from the National Milk Producers Federation have kicked off the year with an ambitious schedule of outreach activities, bringing their expertise to dairy communities both within the United States and internationally.
Economic Policy and Market Analysis Vice President Stephen Cain delivered insights on protein market trends during his February 10 address at Nashville’s Farm Journal Top Producers gathering. Meanwhile, Global Economic Affairs Senior Vice President Will Loux made presentations to industry leaders, first addressing the Lone Star Milk Producers Board of Directors in Dallas on February 18, then speaking to the Dairy Management Inc. Board in Phoenix on February 24.
Animal welfare took center stage during a groundbreaking collaboration between the FARM Program, Saputo, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Dairyland Initiative. Their first-ever USA Dairy Welfare Roundtable brought together dairy producers and animal welfare researchers in Madison, Wisconsin, on January 21-22.
Participants examined critical animal welfare challenges including lameness issues, group housing practices, and young calf management. The gathering employed a SWOT analysis framework to identify industry obstacles and develop strategies for addressing these concerns moving forward.
International engagement was highlighted by a trade policy mission to Lima, Peru, during the week of February 24. Executive Vice Presidents Shawna Morris and Jaime Castaneda, Senior Director Tony Rice, and Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs Miquela Hanselman attended the Latin America Nutrition Congress organized by the U.S. Dairy Export Council.
Back home, Executive Vice President Alan Bjerga connected with Colorado dairy producers at the Greeley Farm Show on January 28, discussing recent legislative victories and ongoing support initiatives for farmers facing challenging milk price conditions.
Groups seeking to arrange NMPF staff participation in their events can reach out to Casey Kinler at [email protected].
Following nearly ten years of regulatory discussions, the Food and Drug Administration declared on February 19th that producers of Grade A cottage cheese will receive an exemption from the agency’s Food Traceability Rule.
The waiver relieves Grade A cottage cheese makers from enhanced tracking requirements that apply to items listed on the Food Traceability List, lessening administrative duties for companies already adhering to stringent Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance standards overseen by the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments.
The National Milk Producers Federation backed the Food Safety Modernization Act when it passed in 2011 and acknowledges that tracking systems and proper documentation play crucial roles in food safety. Nevertheless, since FSMA became law, NMPF has challenged the FDA’s methodology for identifying “high-risk foods” as outlined in the legislation’s Section 204.
Even with NMPF’s numerous protests, the FDA implemented final regulations in November 2022 classifying all cheese varieties except hard cheeses as high-risk products. The agency’s risk assessment framework under these rules categorizes “pasteurized cheese, other than hard” at the highest risk tier among all marketplace foods — ranking it even above raw milk cheese products. The final regulations initially established January 20, 2026, as the deadline for manufacturers to comply, but advocacy efforts by NMPF and other industry groups convinced the FDA to postpone the compliance deadline by 30 months until July 20, 2028. This delay provides additional time for NMPF to advocate for modifications. The Grade A cottage cheese exemption announced this month represents one victory that NMPF, working alongside the International Dairy Foods Association, vigorously pursued. Cottage cheese appeared on the original Food Traceability List because it belongs to the “Cheese (made from pasteurized milk), fresh soft or soft unripened” classification.
The FDA eventually accepted NMPF’s argument presented in September 2024 submissions that existing PMO supervision and its inherent protective measures eliminate the need for additional traceability procedures. This practical decision decreases regulatory burden while maintaining robust food safety measures.
Delaware State Police have taken a 59-year-old Dover resident into custody on felony charges after what authorities say is her fifth drunk driving offense. Jacquelline Bolden was apprehended during a Monday evening traffic stop in Dover and now faces multiple violations.
The incident unfolded around 10:25 p.m. on March 2, 2026, when a state trooper noticed a Chevrolet Tahoe heading north on South DuPont Highway close to Walnut Shade Road. The vehicle had registration issues that prompted the traffic stop. During the encounter with Bolden, who was behind the wheel, the officer observed clear indicators that she was under the influence. Following standard sobriety testing procedures, authorities determined she was impaired and placed her under arrest.
Records revealed that Bolden has been convicted of four previous DUI-related offenses, making this latest incident a felony charge.
Following her arrest, Bolden was transported to Troop 3 headquarters for processing. She appeared before Justice of the Peace Court 11 for arraignment and is currently being held at Sussex Correctional Institution with bail set at $6,600.
A Cambridge pastor has been presented with the city’s most prestigious honor in recognition of their dedication to the community.
Reverend Cephas was awarded the key to the city during a recent ceremony, marking the highest level of recognition that Cambridge officials can grant to a resident.
The symbolic key represents the city’s appreciation for outstanding service and contributions to the local community. Such honors are typically reserved for individuals who have made significant positive impacts on their fellow residents.
Cambridge city officials have not released additional details about the specific achievements that led to this recognition for Reverend Cephas.
A federal judge in Manhattan has given initial approval to a settlement that would see Jeffrey Epstein’s estate pay up to $35 million to victims who sued two of the deceased financier’s former advisers.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian on Tuesday found the proposed agreement to be fair and set a September 16 hearing to consider final approval. The settlement was first announced by victim attorneys at Boies Schiller Flexner on February 19.
The agreement would resolve a 2024 class action lawsuit targeting Darren Indyke, Epstein’s former personal attorney, and Richard Kahn, his former accountant. Both men currently serve as co-executors of Epstein’s estate and were accused of helping facilitate his sex trafficking of young women and girls.
This latest settlement adds to previous payouts from Epstein’s estate. A victim compensation fund previously distributed $121 million, while additional settlements totaled $49 million.
Legal representatives for Indyke and Kahn did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. However, one of their attorneys had previously stated that neither man “made any admission or concession of misconduct” in agreeing to the settlement.
Epstein was found dead in his New York jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Authorities ruled his death a suicide.
The Justice Department has released millions of documents this year from its Epstein investigation, revealing his connections to wealthy and influential individuals worldwide.
In their lawsuit, attorneys alleged that Indyke and Kahn assisted Epstein in establishing a complicated network of companies and financial accounts that allowed him to conceal his criminal activities and compensate both victims and recruiters. The lawsuit claimed the two advisers were “richly compensated” for their services.
The same law firm representing the victims previously secured $365 million in settlements from JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank, alleging the financial institutions ignored warning signs about Epstein’s activities while he remained a profitable client.
Seattle’s championship-winning running back Kenneth Walker III appears headed for free agency after reports indicate the Seahawks will not use their franchise tag to retain the Super Bowl LX Most Valuable Player.
According to ESPN’s Tuesday report, Walker will become an unrestricted free agent when the new NFL league year opens next week. The news came on the same day the New York Jets used their franchise tag on running back Breece Hall, who now has until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal or will earn $14.293 million for the 2026 season.
Should Walker join a different team next season, he would make history as only the fourth Super Bowl MVP to change uniforms the year after winning the award. The previous three players to accomplish this feat were Larry Brown following Super Bowl XXX, Desmond Howard after Super Bowl XXXI, and Dexter Jackson following Super Bowl XXXVII.
Teams face a Tuesday 4 p.m. ET deadline to apply franchise tags to players.
Walker delivered a stellar performance in Seattle’s 29-13 championship win against New England on February 8, accumulating 135 rushing yards to earn MVP recognition.
The Michigan State product, selected in the second round of the 2022 draft, is completing his initial four-year rookie deal that paid him $8.4 million total.
Following a regular season where he gained 1,027 yards and scored five rushing touchdowns, Walker elevated his play during the postseason. He compiled 313 rushing yards and four touchdowns across Seattle’s three playoff contests, stepping into an expanded role after Zach Charbonnet suffered a season-ending knee injury during the divisional round victory against San Francisco.
Throughout his four-year tenure in Seattle, Walker has accumulated 3,555 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground, while adding 133 receptions for 1,005 yards and two receiving scores across 58 regular-season appearances, including 54 starts.
WASHINGTON – Federal banking regulators and Treasury Department officials are preparing a major overhaul of rules governing how much cash banks must keep on hand, claiming the current system restricts lending and fails to protect financial institutions during crises.
During a regulatory discussion on Tuesday, top officials from the Treasury and Federal Reserve outlined potential changes they believe would allow banks to better use emergency funding tools while reducing the cash reserves they’re required to maintain. The proposal represents the latest effort by the Trump administration to reshape banking regulations.
Jonathan McKernan, who serves as Treasury’s under secretary for domestic finance, told the regulatory roundtable that existing liquidity requirements “has excessively and unnecessarily limited banks’ ability to do what they are supposed to do—lend.”
McKernan proposed allowing banks to count collateral they place with the Federal Reserve’s discount window toward their liquidity requirements. The discount window serves as an emergency lending facility for banks, but financial institutions rarely use it due to concerns about appearing financially troubled. By recognizing this collateral as available borrowing capacity, officials hope to reduce that stigma while ensuring banks maintain adequate reserves to handle deposit withdrawals.
The Treasury official also suggested these recognition limits could be modified during periods of financial stress.
The 2023 failure of Silicon Valley Bank, which experienced massive deposit outflows within days, has intensified regulatory attention on liquidity rules designed to ensure banks can access funds quickly during emergencies. Previous attempts at reform under the Biden administration never came to fruition.
Earlier on Tuesday, Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman called for “fundamental reform” of the discount window system, pointing out inconsistencies in how the nation’s 12 Federal Reserve banks implement their own procedures and requirements for accessing emergency funds.
Massive numbers of travelers find themselves trapped throughout Gulf nations with limited escape routes as escalating Middle Eastern warfare creates a transportation crisis affecting tens of thousands.
Qatar’s airspace shutdown has left approximately 8,000 transit passengers stranded after U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran commenced. The United Arab Emirates has permitted only restricted flight departures beginning Monday, forcing vacationers and foreign residents to search desperately for alternative exit strategies while Iranian forces conduct regional strikes.
The aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha serve as critical connection points for international travel between European and Asian destinations, processing thousands of daily passengers under normal circumstances.
MARATHON TRIP TO GERMANY
A Dubai resident named Sara, who declined to provide her surname, has arranged an exhausting 33-hour trek to Germany scheduled for Wednesday to guarantee her attendance as best-woman at her brother’s upcoming wedding ceremony.
“I was supposed to have a flight next week, but I just really cannot risk it being delayed whatsoever,” she said.
Sara explained that an online driver she researched thoroughly will collect her at 5 a.m. Wednesday for transportation across the border into Muscat, Oman. Her itinerary includes flying to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for an overnight stay, followed by connections through Amsterdam before reaching Dusseldorf.
“So it’s a very long journey, but for me, it was just important,” she said.
President Donald Trump originally estimated the military engagement would span four to five weeks but has subsequently defended an expanded, indefinite campaign. The warfare has involved Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting not only Israeli and American military assets but also multiple U.S.-aligned regional nations.
Iranian forces struck American diplomatic facilities in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, prompting the State Department to urge immediate American evacuation from more than twelve regional countries.
Multiple nations have initiated citizen evacuations, including Britain, Spain, Italy and Germany, which arranged two charter flights from Riyadh and Muscat to extract particularly at-risk individuals from roughly 30,000 people currently stranded regionwide.
Slovenia coordinated four police-escorted buses transporting its nationals from Dubai to Muscat airport, though evacuation methods for other nationalities remain uncertain.
Throughout the UAE, typically a thriving tourist and commercial center, many desperate travelers like Sara have turned to shuttle transportation and private vehicle services for border crossings into Oman.
EIGHT-HOUR OMAN JOURNEY
Oman has experienced fewer attacks than neighboring countries and maintained open airspace, with flights to non-Gulf destinations continuing largely uninterrupted despite recent cancellations to other regional airports.
National carrier Oman Air and budget operator SalamAir have organized shuttle services from Sharjah station, located north of Dubai, providing Tuesday through Thursday transportation to Oman’s capital Muscat during approximately eight-hour trips.
Social media platforms including Facebook groups and Reddit discussions reveal numerous inquiries from UAE expatriates seeking Muscat airport access routes.
A travel industry representative reported receiving roughly 30 calls since Monday from individuals requesting private transportation to the Hatta border crossing, a UAE mountain community situated one hour from Dubai.
Previously, the 150-kilometer (93-mile) route primarily served Omani visitors enjoying Dubai’s luxury attractions or outdoor enthusiasts traveling opposite directions to experience Oman’s unspoiled mountain terrain.
The agent noted he now transports Ukrainian nationals attempting to depart the UAE, explaining that Omani taxi services and private drivers await travelers on the border’s opposite side, since UAE-registered vehicles cannot operate in Oman without full owner possession.
SAUDI ALTERNATIVE
Saudi Arabia provides another evacuation route for individuals stranded in neighboring territories seeking Middle Eastern departure flights.
A British resident of the kingdom informed Reuters he was visiting Dubai when strikes commenced and successfully returned to Riyadh following an 11-hour Monday evening journey he characterized as seamless.
“I got driven to the Saudi border (Al Ghuwaifat) from my hotel in Dubai…I had a driver lined up on the other side to take me back home in Riyadh,” the British expatriate said, adding WhatsApp groups to coordinate ride shares had been set up to arrange trips via Saudi Arabia or Oman.
The Dubai-Riyadh transportation exceeded $1,000 total cost, representing a dramatic increase from typical economy-class one-way flight tickets between the Gulf centers averaging approximately $200.
Atlanta Braves outfielder and designated hitter Jurickson Profar will be sidelined for an entire season following his second positive drug test for banned performance-enhancing substances, according to a Tuesday report from ESPN.
The 33-year-old veteran will lose his complete $15 million earnings for the 2026 campaign and cannot participate in playoff games or this month’s World Baseball Classic, where the Curacao-born player was scheduled to represent the Netherlands.
This makes Profar only the sixth major league player to receive a complete season ban for PED violations since baseball officials strengthened penalties for repeat offenders in 2014, ESPN noted.
Following his first All-Star selection with San Diego in 2024, Profar inked a three-year deal worth $42 million with Atlanta this past January. During his debut season with the Braves, he posted a .245 batting average along with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs across 80 contests, after completing an 80-game ban that ran from March 31 through July 1.
His original punishment resulted from a positive test for human chorionic gonadotropin, a pregnancy hormone that can elevate testosterone levels in the body.
After undergoing sports hernia surgery during the off-season, Profar was slated to transition from left field duties to designated hitter for the upcoming campaign.
Once ranked as baseball’s top prospect when he joined the Texas Rangers as a 19-year-old in 2012, Profar holds career statistics of .245 batting average with 125 home runs and 487 RBIs spanning 1,199 games across multiple teams including Texas (2012-13, 2016-18), Oakland (2019), San Diego (2020-24), Colorado (2023), and Atlanta.
Throughout his career, injuries have limited Profar to playing more than 150 games in just two seasons, including missing both the 2014 and 2015 seasons entirely due to shoulder problems.
A harrowing tale of survival from 1982 shows how the kindness of strangers can mean the difference between life and death in the wilderness.
Jean Muenchrath was mountaineering with her boyfriend in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains when disaster struck. What started as a planned climbing expedition quickly turned into a fight for survival when an unexpected storm forced them far from their intended path.
The severe weather conditions left the pair stranded and facing death in the treacherous mountain terrain. With their situation growing increasingly desperate, their survival seemed unlikely.
That’s when fate intervened in the form of an unidentified rescuer and his family, who discovered the endangered climbers and took extraordinary steps to ensure their safety. These good Samaritans went above and beyond what most would do, ultimately saving both lives.
The dramatic rescue highlights how ordinary people can become heroes when others face life-threatening emergencies in remote wilderness areas.
Federal immigration enforcement agencies have dramatically expanded their surveillance capabilities, creating an extensive monitoring network that tracks both undocumented immigrants and American citizens who oppose current immigration policies.
The Department of Homeland Security, which supervises Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol operations, has deployed an expansive array of monitoring technologies. These surveillance systems have been acquired as the department’s funding has significantly increased during the present administration.
The comprehensive surveillance apparatus serves multiple purposes: tracking individuals slated for removal from the country, facilitating arrests of targeted persons, and monitoring U.S. citizens who voice opposition to the department’s enforcement strategies.
This surveillance expansion represents a substantial shift in how federal agencies monitor both immigrant communities and American citizens engaged in policy criticism.
Maritime workers from India find themselves in a dangerous predicament, trapped for weeks at Iranian ports while military drones and missiles target vessels in surrounding waters. Among them is 26-year-old Ambuj, a sailor who hasn’t seen his family in half a year and desperately wants to return home.
Speaking to Reuters from his stranded vessel, Ambuj represents roughly 23,000 Indian crew members currently working on commercial and offshore ships throughout the Gulf region, an area now experiencing intense warfare involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
The sailor, who requested his full name be withheld for safety concerns, remains stuck at Bandar Abbas port with 15 fellow crew members, surrounded by more than 50 other vessels awaiting clearance.
Hundreds of commercial tankers and freight ships have been queued up, hoping to navigate through the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian military actions have resulted in three Indian sailors’ deaths and one person reported missing. The dangerous situation facing Indian maritime workers has become a significant concern in their home country, with New Delhi officials coordinating with various international authorities, including Iranian representatives, to protect their citizens.
“We understand the extreme risks of sailing without naval protection or proper authorization,” Ambuj explained during a phone interview from his ship.
“My employer has officially relieved us from our duties, and we’re currently awaiting secure transit options since flights departing Tehran have been suspended. Once we receive approval to sail toward the Middle East or any nearby safe harbor, we plan to dock and catch the first available flight back to India,” he added.
The crew was originally headed to a Southeast Asian destination when panic struck in early March. Their ship’s captain received a threatening radio transmission from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warning that attempting passage through the Strait would result in serious consequences.
Initially, the crew remained hopeful for sailing permission, but authorization never materialized. Ambuj noted they’re now preparing mentally for the possibility of remaining stranded for additional weeks or even months.
India ranks as the globe’s third-largest source of maritime personnel, with over 300,000 sailors employed across international shipping operations, based on official government statistics.
Another crew member, M. Kanta, serving aboard a vessel bound for India, described witnessing military drones and fighter aircraft overhead, creating fear among his fellow sailors. The situation worsened when Iranian officials mandated the disconnection of their Starlink internet service in early March.
“We’ve heard warning sirens. We witnessed flames on a distant vessel and received threatening radio messages,” Kanta reported.
“Permission to restore our Starlink connection was granted after March 6, allowing us to contact our families and access reliable news updates. Every time we spot or hear approaching drones or military jets, our hearts race with fear,” he continued.
Kanta explained that both his shipping company and government officials from India and Iran have instructed crew members to avoid sharing specific details about their vessel’s identity or current position for security purposes.
A third sailor, who chose to remain anonymous, said his ship was transporting bitumen and crude oil to a South Asian nation. His vessel was positioned just miles from the strait when he witnessed a drone strike on another ship.
“We’ve developed a routine of trying to identify different aircraft, jets, and drones visible from our deck. Getting proper sleep has become extremely difficult due to constant anxiety,” the unnamed crew member shared.
Recent developments show Iran permitted two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. Mohammad Fathali, Iran’s ambassador to India, has also provided assurances regarding safe passage for Indian commercial ships.
A Greek oil tanker sustained minor damage after being struck by an unknown object while waiting outside a Russian port early Saturday morning, according to the ship’s operator.
The Maran Homer was positioned outside Russian territorial waters near the Caspian Pipeline Consortium Terminal at Novorossiysk when the incident occurred at around 4:35 a.m. local time. The vessel had been waiting for permission to enter the port to collect a shipment of Kazakh crude oil.
Maran Tankers, the ship’s management company, released a statement confirming the incident. “There were no injuries and the crew is safe,” the company stated, noting that only minor material damage was observed on the ship’s deck and equipment.
The company reported that the vessel has since departed from Novorossiysk. The nature of the object that struck the tanker remains unknown.
Two major Asian economies announced Saturday they’re prepared to take action as their national currencies continue sliding against the U.S. dollar amid escalating Middle East tensions.
Following their yearly conference in Tokyo on Saturday, Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and her South Korean counterpart Koo Yun-cheol issued a joint statement declaring they “expressed serious concern over the recent sharp depreciation of the Korean won and the Japanese yen.”
Both the yen and won have weakened significantly as escalating conflict between the U.S.-Israeli coalition and Iran has pushed investors toward the dollar as a safe investment, particularly hurting nations that depend heavily on oil imports.
“Furthermore, they reaffirmed that they will closely monitor foreign exchange markets and continue to take appropriate actions against excessive volatility and disorderly movements in exchange rates,” their joint statement declared.
The Japanese yen hit its weakest point in 20 months on Friday and is approaching the 160-to-dollar threshold that market analysts believe could trigger Japanese intervention to strengthen their currency. Meanwhile, South Korea’s won crossed the significant 1,500-per-dollar mark this month for the first time since March 2009.
During a news conference following their discussions, Katayama acknowledged that both nations recognized substantial instability had developed in financial markets, particularly in currency trading.
“The Japanese government is fully prepared to respond at any time, bearing in mind the impact that currency moves may have on people’s livelihoods amid surging oil prices, and I believe both sides share that understanding,” she stated.
While Katayama frequently indicates Japan stands ready to address yen fluctuations, some officials privately acknowledge that attempting to strengthen the yen at this time might be ineffective, since dollar demand will likely continue growing if the Middle East conflict continues.
Oil loading activities at a crucial United Arab Emirates port facility were halted Saturday after a blaze erupted when falling debris from an intercepted drone ignited a fire, according to industry and trading sources.
The incident took place in Fujairah emirate, which serves as a significant fuel supply hub for the region. Officials from the emirate’s media office confirmed that while debris from the drone interception caused the fire, no casualties occurred.
“Civil defence forces are handling the incident to contain the fire,” the media office stated.
Government officials have not confirmed details regarding the reported halt in operations at the facility.
Earlier reports from Bloomberg News indicated that petroleum loading activities at Fujairah port, located beyond the Strait of Hormuz, were temporarily stopped following the drone incident and resulting blaze.
ADNOC, Abu Dhabi’s state-controlled energy company that maintains operations in the emirate, has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.
This incident follows Tuesday’s closure of ADNOC’s Ruwais refinery after a drone attack triggered a fire at one of the complex’s facilities, according to an informed source. The recent attacks represent continued disruption to regional energy infrastructure amid ongoing tensions related to the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
While most elite athletes focus solely on training for the upcoming 2026 Winter Paralympics, Sydney Peterson has taken on an additional challenge that hits close to home.
The American Paralympic skier is simultaneously pursuing advanced neuroscience research, specifically investigating movement disorders that mirror her own medical condition. Peterson conducts her doctoral studies at the University of Utah, where she examines fruit flies to evaluate how various medications affect specific genetic movement conditions.
Peterson represents one of the talented U.S. competitors preparing for the next Winter Paralympic Games. Her unique dual pursuit of athletic excellence and scientific research creates an unusual balance as she works toward both Paralympic success and advancing medical understanding of neurological conditions.
In laboratory settings, Peterson carefully analyzes containers filled with fruit flies as part of her academic work. This research directly relates to her personal experience with movement disorders, giving her studies both professional and personal significance.
The combination of rigorous athletic training and demanding doctoral research demonstrates Peterson’s commitment to excellence both on the slopes and in the scientific community.
Motorists will need to find alternate routes as a major section of South Street has been closed to all traffic for an extensive construction project.
The Delaware Department of Transportation has shut down South Street between Wesley Street and South Main Street for construction work that is expected to continue for nearly two years.
According to DelDOT officials, the road closure will remain in place until March 29th, 2026 at 11:45 PM.
Drivers are advised to plan alternative routes and allow extra travel time while navigating around the construction zone during this extended closure period.
Federal authorities are conducting an auction today for oil and gas drilling rights covering more than 1 million acres in Alaska’s Cook Inlet waters, marking a significant test of energy companies’ willingness to invest in the challenging Arctic region.
Today’s auction represents the initial sale in a series of six Alaska offshore drilling lease offerings required to take place through 2032 under President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, legislation he enacted last year.
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will announce winning bids through a live webcast starting at 10 a.m. Alaska time on their official website.
Successful bidders will receive drilling rights lasting a decade, with lease holders required to pay the government a 12.5% royalty on any fuel extracted from their sites, based on auction documentation.
The president has made expanding America’s domestic energy production a priority, particularly in Alaska where oil output has steadily decreased over recent decades. However, Arctic drilling operations require enormous financial commitments and decades-long development timelines, making them extremely risky ventures.
Industry interest in the region appears limited, as evidenced by the previous Cook Inlet federal lease sale in 2022, which drew only a single bidder.
Currently, Houston-based energy company Hilcorp holds all eight existing federal drilling permits in Cook Inlet waters, though none of these sites are actively extracting oil or natural gas.
Italian government officials are considering providing military defense equipment to Gulf nations that have requested assistance amid escalating Iranian airstrikes in the region, according to two unnamed sources who spoke Wednesday.
The sources indicated that while no final determination has been reached, Italy would most likely deploy one of its SAMP/T missile defense batteries capable of stopping ballistic missiles. Officials declined to specify which nation would receive the equipment or which particular battery Rome might redeploy.
Iranian forces have conducted retaliatory attacks targeting ports, urban areas, and petroleum infrastructure across the Gulf region following military actions by Israeli and American forces against Iran. The Gulf serves as a crucial energy production zone globally. Although Italy does not heavily depend on Gulf energy imports, the nation’s energy minister stated Wednesday that coal power plants could be restarted if the regional conflict triggers an energy shortage.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto revealed Monday that Rome had received multiple requests from Gulf countries seeking air defense equipment and anti-drone technology, including the SAMP/T system developed jointly by France and Italy.
A third source mentioned that Italy might also supply anti-drone equipment that could be deployed rapidly, though technical evaluations are ongoing.
Italy currently provides SAMP/T systems to Ukraine as part of its defense against Russian invasion forces, and the third source emphasized that no equipment would be diverted from Ukraine’s air defense capabilities to assist Gulf states.
When questioned about potentially supplying defense equipment in response to the expanding Middle East conflict, Cabinet Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano told a Rome gathering that the administration was “evaluating requests.”
As the conflict spreads into the Mediterranean region, Britain, France, and Greece announced Tuesday their intention to deploy air defense units to Cyprus following drone attacks on the Royal Air Force Akrotiri facility there.
Italy maintains U.S. military installations within its borders. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated Tuesday evening that Rome has not yet received any requests to utilize these bases for operations targeting Iran, but would assess any such requests if they arrive.
Good morning, Delmarva! We’re looking at a beautiful Saturday with plenty of sunshine, though you’ll definitely want to secure any loose outdoor items. Temperatures will climb to a pleasant 55 degrees, but it’s going to be quite breezy out there with west winds running 15 to 20 mph and gusts reaching up to 35 mph. Perfect weather for a brisk walk, but maybe hold off on that outdoor barbecue until the wind calms down!
Tonight, we’ll see partly cloudy skies as temperatures drop to a chilly 38 degrees – definitely jacket weather if you’re heading out for evening plans.
Sunday starts off nicely with partly sunny conditions and highs again near 55, making it great for any outdoor activities you have planned. However, keep an eye on the evening forecast – we’re tracking the possibility of light rain developing Sunday night, with temperatures staying mild around 49 degrees. There’s also a chance we could see some thunderstorms roll through, so stay tuned for updates.
Enjoy this gorgeous Saturday, Delmarva, and we’ll keep you posted on any changes for the weekend ahead!
A major cryptocurrency platform’s banking arm has secured approval to connect with the Federal Reserve’s payment infrastructure, according to a Wednesday report from the Wall Street Journal.
Kraken Financial’s newly granted access will enable the company to process transactions with greater speed and efficiency for its large-scale clients and institutional trading customers, the company indicated in the report.
This development highlights how digital currency businesses are establishing stronger connections within traditional financial systems, as cryptocurrency assets become more integrated into conventional markets and draw increased attention from institutional investment firms.
The approval grants Kraken the ability to transfer funds using the same network infrastructure that thousands of banking institutions and credit unions rely on daily, the report indicated.
Neither the Federal Reserve nor Kraken provided immediate responses when contacted for additional comment by Reuters.
Federal authorities in Brazil have taken Daniel Vorcaro, the businessman behind Banco Master, into custody once again as part of an expanding criminal investigation into the failed financial institution.
Wednesday’s detention marks the second time Vorcaro has been arrested since November, when he was initially taken into custody over allegations that his bank issued fake credit securities. He had been released from that earlier arrest but was required to wear electronic monitoring equipment.
According to Brazil’s Supreme Court, federal investigators launched coordinated raids as part of their probe into what they described as “investigating the possible crimes of threats, corruption, money laundering and invasion of computer systems carried out by a criminal organization.”
While authorities did not specifically identify Vorcaro in their public statement, his legal representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the latest developments.
The operation involved executing four pre-trial detention orders and 15 warrants for searches and property seizures across the states of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais, all authorized by Brazil’s highest court. The nation’s central banking authority is providing support for the ongoing investigation.
Court documents reveal that Paulo Sergio Neves de Souza, a former director at Brazil’s central bank, was also targeted with a search warrant and has been ordered to wear an ankle monitoring device. According to the ruling, Neves de Souza had been providing “informal consultancy” services to Vorcaro.
Neither the central bank nor Neves de Souza or his legal team have responded to requests for comment about these latest developments.
Banco Master, which controlled less than one percent of Brazil’s total banking assets, was shut down permanently in November following what regulators described as a critical shortage of funds, rapidly declining financial health, and significant regulatory violations.
The bank’s closure occurred on the same date that law enforcement officials launched their initial operation that resulted in Vorcaro’s first arrest.
VATICAN CITY – A high-ranking Vatican commission delivered a message Wednesday to Catholics worldwide: divine love doesn’t diminish with age or wrinkles.
The International Theological Commission, which provides doctrinal guidance to Pope Leo, released a statement cautioning the global Catholic community of 1.4 billion believers about the spiritual dangers of cosmetic surgery pursued for vanity purposes.
According to the commission’s document, modern cosmetic surgical techniques “offer tools that significantly change the relationship with one’s corporeality.” The text goes on to describe how this leads to “a widespread ‘cult of the body’ follows, tending toward a frantic search for a perfect figure, always fit, young, and beautiful.”
Catholic doctrine holds that human bodies reflect God’s image. Though the Church doesn’t ban cosmetic procedures outright, religious leaders emphasize that Catholics shouldn’t seek such surgeries simply to satisfy personal vanity.
The commission’s statement was part of a broader examination of how technology affects human advancement. The document also expressed concerns about artificial intelligence potentially “risks escaping the control of human reason” and warned against a future where people might opt for mechanical body modifications to become “cyborg”-like beings.
The religious authorities cautioned that cosmetic surgery can foster a mindset of altering one’s appearance “according to the tastes of the moment.”
The document highlighted a troubling contradiction: “A curious situation arises: the ideal body is exalted … while the real body is not truly loved, since it is a source of limits, fatigue, aging.”
Drivers across the Delmarva Peninsula are urged to use extreme caution this morning as dense fog has reduced visibility to just a quarter mile or less in many areas.
The National Weather Service issued a Dense Fog Advisory at 1:10 AM Sunday for much of our viewing area, including all of Delaware from Kent County down to the beaches, southern New Jersey counties including Ocean, Atlantic, Cumberland, Camden, Cape May, and parts of Burlington County, plus Caroline County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
The thick fog is creating potentially dangerous driving conditions throughout the region, with visibility severely limited on highways and local roads alike. Weather officials say the fog is expected to persist through 10:00 AM this morning.
If you must travel, the National Weather Service recommends slowing down significantly, using your headlights, and maintaining extra distance between vehicles. Drivers should also avoid using high beams, which can actually make visibility worse in fog by reflecting light back toward your vehicle.
The advisory affects major travel corridors including Routes 1, 13, and 50, as well as coastal areas where fog tends to be particularly dense. Conditions should gradually improve as we head toward mid-morning as temperatures rise and winds increase.
President Trump announced Friday that American forces had completely destroyed military installations on Kharg Island, Iran’s crucial oil export facility, stating the U.S. military had “totally obliterated” the targets.
The strategic location serves as Iran’s main terminal for processing oil shipments to international markets. The military action occurred as authorities confirmed that all six crew members aboard a refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq had been killed.
The President’s announcement marks a significant escalation in military operations targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure, with Kharg Island representing a critical component of the country’s oil export capabilities.
A Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect across much of the Delmarva Peninsula this morning, with visibility dropping to just one quarter mile or less in some areas.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory at 1:10 AM and expects hazardous conditions to persist until 10:00 AM today. The thick fog is impacting portions of central and southern Delaware, including Kent County, Sussex County, and Delaware’s beaches, along with parts of the Eastern Shore of Maryland and southern New Jersey.
Drivers are experiencing significantly reduced visibility on major roadways throughout the region. Caroline County in Maryland, along with Salem, Gloucester, Camden, and Burlington counties in New Jersey are also seeing dangerous driving conditions.
Weather officials strongly urge motorists to take extra precautions if travel is necessary. Drivers should slow down, turn on headlights, and maintain extra distance between vehicles. Avoid using high beams, which can reflect off the fog and further reduce visibility.
The fog is expected to gradually lift as morning temperatures rise and winds increase. Commuters should allow extra time for their morning drive and consider delaying non-essential travel until conditions improve later this morning.
A Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect across the Delmarva Peninsula this morning, with visibility dropping to just one quarter mile or less in many areas.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory at 1:10 AM and expects conditions to persist until 10:00 AM today. The thick fog is impacting portions of central and southern Delaware, including Kent County, inland Sussex County, and Delaware’s beaches. In Maryland, Caroline County on the Eastern Shore is experiencing reduced visibility, while several counties in southern New Jersey are also affected.
Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution during the morning commute. The dramatically reduced visibility is creating hazardous driving conditions on highways and local roads throughout the region.
If you must travel this morning, the National Weather Service recommends slowing down, using your headlights, and maintaining extra distance between your vehicle and others on the road. Consider delaying non-essential travel until conditions improve.
The fog is expected to gradually lift as temperatures rise later this morning. Drivers should continue monitoring conditions and allow extra time for their commute. Stay with TV Delmarva for updated weather conditions and traffic reports throughout the morning.
Federal authorities are now investigating after law enforcement officials confirmed that an explosive device was hurled at New York City’s mayoral residence during an anti-Muslim demonstration. The incident took place outside Gracie Mansion, where protesters had gathered.
Authorities have classified the thrown object as an improvised explosive device, prompting federal investigators to join the ongoing probe into the incident.
A Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect across much of the Delmarva Peninsula until 10 AM this Sunday morning, creating dangerous driving conditions with visibility dropping to just a quarter mile or less in some areas.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory early Sunday morning, affecting Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware, including the Delaware beaches, as well as parts of the Eastern Shore including Caroline County in Maryland. The fog advisory also extends into southern New Jersey, impacting Salem, Gloucester, Camden, and Burlington counties, along with Atlantic, Ocean, Cumberland, and Cape May counties.
Motorists traveling throughout the region should exercise extreme caution during the morning hours. Weather officials strongly recommend drivers slow down, use headlights, and maintain extra distance between vehicles. The reduced visibility could make normal driving conditions extremely hazardous.
The fog is expected to gradually lift as temperatures warm throughout the morning, with conditions improving by mid-morning. The Dense Fog Advisory is set to expire at 10 AM EDT.
TV Delmarva will continue monitoring conditions and will provide updates as the fog clears. Plan extra time for your Sunday morning commute and avoid unnecessary travel if possible.
A Republican initiative to modify census procedures could fundamentally transform how state legislative boundaries are established across the nation, potentially excluding children and adults who are not U.S. citizens from redistricting calculations.
This proposed change represents a significant departure from current practices, where legislative districts are drawn based on total population counts that include all residents regardless of age or citizenship status.
The shift would mark a dramatic change in redistricting methodology that has been used for decades to ensure equal representation in state legislatures. Currently, districts are mapped to include roughly equal numbers of all people living within geographic boundaries.
If implemented, the new approach would base district lines solely on eligible voters or citizens, potentially altering the political landscape in states with large populations of children or non-citizen residents.
The proposal comes as part of broader Republican efforts to reshape how population data is collected and utilized for political redistricting purposes at the state level.
A Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect across much of the Delmarva Peninsula this morning, with visibility dropping to just one quarter mile or less in some areas.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory at 1:10 AM and expects dangerous fog conditions to persist until 10:00 AM today. The thick fog is impacting travel across central and southern Delaware, including Kent County, Sussex County, and the Delaware beaches, as well as portions of the Eastern Shore and southern New Jersey.
Drivers are experiencing severely reduced visibility on major roadways, creating hazardous conditions for the Monday morning commute. The fog is particularly dense in areas including Caroline County, Salem, Gloucester, Camden, Ocean County, Cumberland, Atlantic, and Cape May counties.
Authorities urge motorists to exercise extreme caution if they must travel. The National Weather Service recommends slowing down, using headlights, and maintaining extra following distance between vehicles. If visibility becomes too poor, drivers should consider pulling safely off the roadway and waiting for conditions to improve.
The fog advisory is expected to lift by mid-morning as temperatures rise and atmospheric conditions change. Commuters should allow extra travel time and stay alert for rapidly changing visibility conditions.
Paraguayan opposition legislator Leidy Galeano came back from a fully-funded journey through six Chinese metropolises with a new perspective: her nation was potentially forfeiting significant economic opportunities by maintaining its alliance with Taiwan instead of pursuing ties with Beijing.
“Everything I saw there, I wanted for my country,” Galeano stated. She belongs to the recently established Yo Creo party, whose leadership has expressed positive views toward China.
Her journey, along with similar excursions that sources indicate were sponsored by China’s consulate in São Paulo, featured elaborate dining experiences, accommodations at high-end hotels, and visits to the Great Wall. Paraguayan officials view these as part of a systematic campaign to pull their nation away from democratic Taiwan, which Beijing considers its territory.
Despite having only 6.4 million residents and being landlocked, Paraguay holds significant symbolic importance as Taiwan’s final diplomatic partner in South America. Should Paraguay switch sides, it would hand Beijing a meaningful victory in its effort to diplomatically isolate Taipei. This campaign also demonstrates China’s determination to strengthen its presence in Latin America, where former President Trump also sought American dominance.
President Santiago Peña’s administration, with over two years remaining in office, has limited motivation to alter the Taiwan relationship that has long defined its international affairs. Political experts suggest the future remains uncertain, as internal power struggles could fragment the governing Colorado Party or force partnerships with opposition factions that have historically favored Beijing recognition.
Peña has openly confirmed his support for Taipei. “All the Latin American countries that switched from Taiwan to China and fell into the arms of the promise of the Chinese dream – every single one of them is worse off than Paraguay,” he declared in December during his podcast. The presidential office declined to provide additional comments.
The foreign ministry issued a statement saying Paraguay’s Taiwan relationship “are founded on principles and values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.”
China’s increased involvement conflicts with intensified efforts from Taipei and Washington to maintain current relationships. Paraguay established a defense agreement with the United States in January, became part of Trump’s “Board of Peace,” and attended a White House summit on critical minerals this year. Washington also removed sanctions from former President Horacio Cartes, who previously faced corruption allegations and serves as Peña’s advisor.
Conversations with six trip participants, including three legislators and three media professionals, plus Reuters’ examination of travel documents, reveal China’s influence campaign in Paraguay has intensified over the past year. Reuters documented at least 19 Paraguayan lawmakers, five journalists, and one emerging opposition presidential candidate visiting China since late 2023, with activity accelerating significantly last year.
China’s foreign ministry stated that “siding with Taiwan authorities holds no future,” noting that increasing numbers of Paraguayans across various sectors believe establishing Beijing diplomatic relations would benefit both nations’ “fundamental and long-term interests.” The ministry rejected claims of lobbying, describing people-to-people exchanges as mutual efforts requiring no persuasion.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry responded that Beijing was trying to “poach” its partners and confirmed it was “actively working to maintain ties with all of Taiwan’s diplomatic partners.”
A U.S. embassy representative in Asunción expressed hope that Paraguayans participating in Chinese-organized tours would “understand the degree of information manipulation” present in such visits.
Beijing’s Paraguay outreach mirrors regional patterns. Panama, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and recently Honduras all shifted recognition following persistent Chinese lobbying and promises of trade and infrastructure development.
Opposition legislator Roya Torres described how Chinese officials during her October 2025 visit highlighted advanced healthcare services and technology, guiding her through medical facilities and high-speed rail systems while suggesting trade and investment could increase if Paraguay recognized Beijing. The healthcare demonstrations particularly impressed her.
The comparison with Paraguay’s situation reinforced her concern that the country was “running out of time” – a message Chinese officials repeatedly emphasized – and risked falling behind in medical technology access and Chinese market opportunities by maintaining Taipei ties.
Paraguay, traditionally among South America’s less wealthy nations, has experienced recent growth driven by beef exports, manufacturing, and construction. The country achieved investment-grade rating in 2024, though persistent corruption and educational and infrastructure investment gaps continue limiting broader economic benefits.
Trip participants indicated invitations came from China’s São Paulo consulate, though Reuters couldn’t independently confirm the source or funding. China’s foreign ministry didn’t verify the origin in their response.
Last October, Galeano, Torres, and fellow lawmakers stayed at Beijing’s luxury Shangri-La hotel before touring Chongqing’s massive manufacturing complex and meeting regional officials, according to itineraries Reuters reviewed.
Interviewed lawmakers described the tours as exceptional opportunities to witness China’s technological ambitions and political confidence firsthand.
Liberal Party Deputy Billy Vaesken, who spent 15 days in China during late 2024 alongside two Colorado Party colleagues, now supports stronger Beijing relationships.
“We must not miss our chance,” he emphasized, citing potential Chinese infrastructure investment. Reuters contacted at least six Colorado Party members who declined discussing their China visits. Several prominent opposition participants also refused to comment on their trips.
China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative has expanded throughout South America, recently including Peru’s Chancay mega-port, a logistics center reducing Asian shipping times and serving as Beijing’s regional gateway.
In Paraguay, the discussion increasingly centers on economics. While the country’s primary exports are soybeans and beef, direct Chinese sales are impossible because Beijing refuses trading with Taiwan-recognizing nations. Instead, shipments travel through Argentina and Brazil, reducing profits. Meanwhile, Chinese imports flood Paraguay, reaching a record $6 billion in 2025 according to official statistics.
Taipei has funded various projects including the parliament building and a university campus under construction. However, local research center CADEP found Paraguay’s Taiwan ties have produced only limited economic benefits. Public opinion may be changing: a recent Metro consultancy poll showed growing support for Chinese relations. Metro declined identifying who commissioned the survey.
Taiwan embassy officials in Asunción confirmed they’re actively lobbying against China through television appearances and inviting Colorado Party lawmakers to Taiwan.
Nevertheless, Beijing’s strategy appears effective with some officials.
“More people in parliament are already looking toward mainland China,” said lawmaker Vaesken, who plans returning to China this year. “Before long, Taiwan will end up like Hong Kong—it will become part of China, be annexed, and Paraguayans will be left with nothing.”
The sweeping landscapes of New Mexico’s high desert that inspired Georgia O’Keeffe’s most celebrated artwork are being viewed through a new lens as conservationists work to protect the region she cherished.
While the famous artist referred to the area around Abiquiu as “my country,” historians and preservationists are emphasizing that Pueblo communities had deep roots in this territory centuries before O’Keeffe arrived.
This shift in perspective comes as various organizations collaborate to safeguard the dramatic terrain near Ghost Ranch, where O’Keeffe lived and painted some of her most recognizable works. The effort reflects a growing recognition of the complex cultural history tied to these sacred lands.
The initiative represents a broader movement to acknowledge indigenous connections to landscapes while honoring the artistic legacy that helped bring national attention to their beauty and significance.
Conservation groups are working to ensure that future generations can experience the same rugged beauty that captivated both ancient peoples and the modernist painter who made the desert her home for decades.
The New York Knicks extended the Indiana Pacers’ misery on Friday night, defeating the struggling franchise 101-92 in Indianapolis behind a stellar performance from guard Jalen Brunson, who contributed 29 points and nine assists in the victory.
The loss marks the Pacers’ 12th consecutive defeat, highlighting their continued struggles this season. Meanwhile, New York secured its second consecutive win, wrapping up a road trip with a 3-2 record.
Supporting Brunson’s effort, OG Anunoby contributed 25 points for the Knicks, while Mitchell Robinson dominated the boards with 22 rebounds to go along with 12 points. Mikal Bridges provided additional scoring with 11 points in the winning effort.
For Indiana, Jarace Walker paced the team with 18 points, followed by Aaron Nesmith’s 12 points and Ivica Zubac’s 11-point contribution. T.J. McConnell rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points for the Pacers.
The contest remained competitive through three quarters, with New York holding just a two-point advantage entering the final period. However, the Knicks seized control early in the fourth quarter with five consecutive points, and later responded to Indiana’s comeback attempt with a decisive 7-0 scoring run when the Pacers closed within two points.
In other NBA action Friday night, several teams posted impressive victories. Detroit dominated injury-depleted Memphis 126-110 behind Jalen Duren’s 30-point, 13-rebound performance, while Cade Cunningham distributed 15 assists alongside his 17 points.
Cleveland overwhelmed Dallas 138-105 in the opening game of a home-and-home series, with Evan Mobley scoring a season-high-tying 29 points and Donovan Mitchell adding 24 points. The Cavaliers have now won 24 of their last 34 games since December 29.
Toronto rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Phoenix 122-115, with Brandon Ingram leading the comeback with 36 points. The Raptors closed the game on a 27-10 run to snap the Suns’ four-game winning streak.
Houston narrowly escaped New Orleans 107-105 despite a late Pelicans surge, with Kevin Durant’s 32 points leading the way. The Rockets survived after Jabari Smith Jr. hit a crucial corner three-pointer in the final seconds.
Minnesota ended a three-game slide by defeating Golden State 127-117, powered by Anthony Edwards’ 42-point explosion. The Timberwolves won the season series against the Warriors 3-1.
Los Angeles Clippers continued their March success with a 119-108 victory over Chicago, as Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points while matching a franchise record for consecutive 20-point games. The Clippers improved to 7-1 for the month.
Portland completed a season sweep of Utah with a 124-114 victory, getting 25 points each from Jrue Holiday and backup Scoot Henderson. The Blazers never trailed after overcoming an early 16-point deficit with a 20-0 run.
Good morning, Delmarva! We’re starting this Monday with some widespread fog across the peninsula, but don’t let that discourage you – it’s going to shape up into a beautiful day!
That fog should lift by 10 AM, giving way to mostly sunny skies and pleasant temperatures reaching 67 degrees. Winds will be light and variable from the south at just 0 to 5 mph, making it perfect weather for any outdoor activities you have planned.
Tonight, we’ll see mostly cloudy conditions with temperatures dropping to a comfortable 45 degrees. Some patchy fog may develop again as we head into the overnight hours.
Looking ahead to Tuesday, it’s looking like a repeat performance! We’ll start with some patchy fog in the morning, but once that clears, expect mostly sunny skies with temperatures climbing to a delightful 70 degrees. Tuesday night stays pleasant with mostly clear skies and lows around 52.
It’s shaping up to be a gorgeous couple of days across Delmarva – perfect spring weather to get outside and enjoy! Stay safe out there, and we’ll see you back here tomorrow.
NEW DELHI (AP) — A diplomatic dispute has erupted between Washington and Tehran following the submarine attack that destroyed an Iranian naval vessel in the Indian Ocean, with both nations presenting conflicting narratives about whether the ship carried weapons.
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command dismissed Iranian assertions on Sunday that the warship IRIS Dena lacked armaments when it was torpedoed in international waters near Sri Lanka on March 4. Military officials used social media platform X to label Iran’s claims as “false.”
Tehran has consistently maintained that the destroyed vessel posed no threat, describing it as defenseless while returning from participation in multinational naval drills.
An unnamed Indian naval official, who spoke without authorization to discuss the matter publicly, indicated the Iranian ship wasn’t “entirely unarmed” and had participated in exercises with vessels from multiple nations.
Defense experts note that ships attending such international events typically don’t carry full ammunition loads unless live-fire training is planned. During maritime exercises, vessels usually transport only restricted munitions designated for specific training purposes.
Independent defense analyst Rahul Bedi, based in India, explained that while the ship might have carried limited non-combat ammunition during the naval exercises, standard procedures demand “the participating platforms to be unarmed.”
“The precondition of participating in such a parade, or such a ceremony, is that it (the vessel) comes unarmed. That is the precondition of the Indian Navy and it’s a precondition of most navies when they hold such similar sort of fleet reviews,” Bedi said.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh declared Friday that the warship, destroyed by an American torpedo, carried no weapons and criticized Washington for attacking a ceremonial vessel.
“That vessel was by invitation of our Indian friends, attending an international exercise. It was ceremonial. It was unloaded. It was unarmed,” he told reporters in New Delhi.
The IRIS Dena went down March 4 in Indian Ocean waters near Sri Lanka after a torpedo strike from an American submarine, according to officials from both countries. Sri Lankan naval forces saved 32 crew members and retrieved 87 bodies from the water.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the IRIS Dena a “prize ship” and remarked it “died a quiet death.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attack as “an atrocity at sea” and emphasized the vessel had been “a guest of India’s Navy.”
Arguments over the ship’s armament status have escalated tensions surrounding the incident, which happened as the vessel traveled home from India’s multinational naval exercises, sparking debate about whether it operated in a non-combat capacity during the attack.
India’s defense ministry noted in post-exercise statements that “live firings as part of surface gun shoots, as well as anti-air firings, were also undertaken” by participating vessels.
The warship’s destruction demonstrates how the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran is expanding beyond Middle Eastern boundaries.
Two additional Iranian ships — the IRIS Bushehr and IRIS Lavan — remain docked at ports in Sri Lanka and India after requesting aid from both nations.
Iranian authorities issued a stern warning Monday that citizens living overseas could face property seizure and legal action if they show support for the United States and Israel during the current conflict.
The announcement from Iran’s prosecutor general’s office comes after some Iranian expatriates seeking political change in their homeland celebrated in European and American cities following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran. On Monday, Iran appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as his father’s successor.
State media reported the prosecutor general’s office as stating: “A warning has been issued to those Iranians living abroad who in different ways sympathise, support or cooperate with the American-Zionist (Israeli) enemy.”
The office added: “They will be met with the confiscation of all their properties and other legal penalties in accordance with the law.”
New Telegram channels have begun documenting information about notable Iranian expatriates who have posted statements condemning Iran’s religious leadership while expressing backing for the U.S.-Israeli military operations that started February 28.
Iranian government statistics indicate between 5 and 10 million Iranians reside outside their home country, with most concentrated in the United States and Western European nations.
A British artificial intelligence company backed by tech giant Nvidia announced Monday it has achieved a $14.6 billion valuation following a successful $2 billion fundraising effort.
Nscale secured the substantial investment through its Series C funding round, which was spearheaded by Norway’s Aker and 8090 Industries. The round also attracted participation from major players including Nvidia, Citadel, Dell, and Jane Street, according to the company’s announcement.
The AI firm is bringing notable leadership talent to its board, adding former Meta executives Nick Clegg and Sheryl Sandberg, along with former Yahoo President Susan Decker.
This significant funding comes as Nscale prepares for a potential stock market debut. Sources previously informed Reuters that the company has engaged Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan to serve as underwriters for a planned initial public offering, though no specific timeline has been established for the potential listing.
Established in 2024, Nscale operates its own data centers, graphics processing units, and software infrastructure to provide large-scale AI computing services powered by GPUs.
The fresh capital injection will enable the company to expand its data center capabilities to address the growing demand for AI computing services from major clients, including Microsoft and OpenAI.
Stock prices for Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche tumbled more than 5% on Monday following disappointing clinical trial results for an experimental breast cancer treatment.
The company’s shares hit their lowest point in approximately one month, trading down 5.1% at 0846 GMT after announcing that their drug candidate giredestrant had failed to meet expectations in a crucial study.
According to Roche’s official statement, the Phase III clinical trial could not demonstrate convincing proof that giredestrant, when combined with Pfizer’s medication Ibrance, effectively delays cancer progression in newly diagnosed patients compared to conventional hormone therapy paired with Ibrance.
This disappointing outcome represents a significant setback for the oral medication, which had previously shown promise in different applications. Last year, the same drug demonstrated success in reducing tumor recurrence rates among breast cancer patients who had completed standard initial treatments during late-stage testing, which had previously boosted investor confidence in Roche.
Giredestrant is classified as an oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), designed to combat tumors that develop in response to estrogen exposure. This type of cancer represents as much as 80% of all breast cancer diagnoses.
The substantial market potential in this treatment area has also drawn interest from competitor AstraZeneca, which is currently developing its own similar compound called camizestrant.
SRN News has unveiled a new daily audio program designed to keep audiences informed about religious developments across the globe. The brief two-minute broadcast offers listeners a quick overview of the most important faith-related headlines each day.
The program focuses on major religious stories, community developments, and cultural changes that impact faith communities worldwide. Each episode aims to provide audiences with current information about how religious matters intersect with broader global events and social movements.
This daily audio feature represents SRN News’ effort to address the growing interest in religious news coverage and provide comprehensive reporting on faith-based stories that often shape international affairs and local communities.
A New Jersey resident has entered a guilty plea for transporting multiple homemade explosive devices to a Washington DC cathedral that was preparing to host its traditional ceremony marking the beginning of the Supreme Court’s judicial term.
Louis Geri was taken into custody in October outside St. Matthew’s Cathedral as law enforcement officers were securing the perimeter ahead of the annual Red Mass celebration. While Supreme Court justices typically participate in this event, none attended the previous year’s service.
Authorities discovered documents in Geri’s possession that revealed hostile sentiments toward Catholic and Jewish communities, as well as animosity directed at the Supreme Court and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In other religious news, Germany’s iconic Cologne Cathedral will begin requiring entrance fees from tourists as church leadership grapples with escalating maintenance expenses. Officials cite inflation and increased staffing costs as driving factors behind the mounting expenses for preserving the historic structure. The massive twin-towered cathedral overlooks Cologne’s central train station along the Rhine River and serves as the city’s most recognizable feature. Work on the building commenced in 1248 and reached completion in 1880. The site attracts approximately six million annual visitors and earned UNESCO World Heritage designation in 1996.
Meanwhile, London authorities have detained four individuals suspected of conducting surveillance on Jewish communities on behalf of Iran. The Metropolitan Police report that the detained suspects include one Iranian citizen and three individuals holding dual British-Iranian citizenship, all accused of supporting foreign intelligence operations. Britain’s Campaign Against Anti-Semitism expressed appreciation for law enforcement’s intervention in the suspected scheme while criticizing government officials for inadequate response to Iranian threats. The organization stated: “The United Kingdom may not be acting against Iran but Iran is acting against us.” Anti-Semitic incidents throughout the UK have increased significantly in recent years.
Additionally, International Christian Concern is calling on the Trump administration to focus attention on the persecution of Christians across sub-Saharan Africa. While ICC has praised the president’s efforts to combat persecution in Nigeria, the organization emphasizes the need to maintain oversight of other concerning situations, particularly in Ethiopia. A recent ICC assessment states: “In nearly every corner of Ethiopia, Christians suffer violence. The conflicts vary in their sources, but the outcome too often ends the same way: death or displacement. Ethiopia has been a home to Christians for nearly the entire history of the church, going back to the book of Acts.”
KYIV, Ukraine — An overnight assault combining missiles and drones targeted Ukraine’s capital region, resulting in four deaths and injuring at least 15 people by Saturday morning, regional officials confirmed.
Regional administrator Mykola Kalashnyk reported that three victims remain in critical condition, with two currently in surgery. The bombardment affected four separate districts, causing damage to homes, schools, businesses, and vital infrastructure, Kalashnyk stated in his social media update.
This latest assault follows the United States’ decision to delay planned peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine that were set for this week, with officials citing ongoing Middle East conflicts as the reason for postponement.
While U.S. and Israeli forces conduct operations against Iran, Russia has offered only verbal criticism without providing military support to its ally. Moscow’s inability to assist Iran, following similar situations with Syria’s Assad regime in 2024 and Venezuela’s Maduro earlier this year, demonstrates the boundaries of Russian global influence, though the Kremlin anticipates gaining advantages from the Iranian conflict.
Russia is currently benefiting from increased worldwide energy costs and may hope the Middle East situation will shift focus away from Ukraine while reducing Western military supplies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Friday’s U.S. decision to grant a 30-day exemption on Russian oil sanctions during the Iran conflict, calling it misguided and unhelpful for ending Russia’s invasion that has lasted more than four years.
“This easing alone by the United States could provide Russia with about $10 billion for the war,” Zelenskyy said. “This certainly does not help peace.”
Both Russian and Ukrainian military leaders claimed territorial gains this week, with Ukraine reporting successful pushbacks against Moscow’s forces while the Kremlin maintains its invasion continues advancing.
Russia’s near-daily bombardments of Ukrainian civilian targets persist throughout the ongoing conflict.
A battle between two neighboring states is heating up over one of the NFL’s most storied franchises, as Indiana attempts to steal the Chicago Bears away from Illinois.
The legendary Bears are looking to move away from Soldier Field, their home for the past 50 years. Indiana legislators have crafted an enticing offer to bring the team across state lines, proposing to finance and construct a covered stadium in Hammond, Indiana – roughly 25 miles from the Bears’ current lakefront location.
Illinois lawmakers have fired back with their own proposal, introducing legislation that would provide tax incentives for major developments worth at least $100 million. This package would cover the Bears’ plans to create a new complex in Arlington Heights, a northwestern Chicago suburb located about the same distance from Soldier Field as the Indiana option.
However, the Illinois proposal faces criticism from those who argue it’s unfavorable for a state already burdened with some of the nation’s steepest property taxes. Adding to the controversy, taxpayers are still paying off hundreds of millions in debt from Soldier Field improvements completed 20 years ago.
The Bears represent one of just two original NFL franchises still in operation. With nine championship titles, including one Super Bowl victory, their trophy case trails only their bitter rivals, the Green Bay Packers. Despite recent struggles on the field, Forbes values the franchise at $8.9 billion, ranking it among the league’s most valuable teams.
Founded in Decatur, Illinois in 1920, the Bears have made Chicago their home for 105 years. Losing the team to neighboring Indiana would represent a significant blow to the city’s pride.
Soldier Field presents several limitations for the organization. Housing only 61,500 spectators, it ranks as the NFL’s most compact venue. Throughout their history, the Bears have operated as tenants – first at Wrigley Field from 1921 to 1970, then at Soldier Field under Chicago Park District management. Like most modern franchises, they desire stadium ownership to control operations, scheduling, and various revenue sources including tickets, concessions, parking, and naming rights.
The outdoor nature of Soldier Field also restricts opportunities to host premium events like Super Bowls, NCAA Final Four tournaments, or major entertainment spectacles that require enclosed facilities.
The interstate rivalry extends beyond sports, rooted in cultural, economic, and political differences, plus intense college basketball competition. Tensions escalated recently when Indiana established a commission to explore incorporating certain central Illinois counties whose residents have voted in favor of separating from the Chicago metropolitan area.
This isn’t the Bears’ first threat to relocate. When the team considered leaving in 1975, then-Mayor Richard J. Daley famously responded, “Like hell they will.”
Chicago’s concerns became more concrete in 2023 when the Bears invested approximately $200 million in a 326-acre former horse racing facility in Arlington Heights. Their vision includes a $5 billion development featuring a domed stadium surrounded by residential units, hotels, entertainment venues, and shopping centers, with partial taxpayer support.
When the Bears presented a $5 billion proposal in 2024 for an enclosed stadium adjacent to Soldier Field, also seeking partial public funding, Springfield officials showed minimal enthusiasm. By late fall, the team began exploring Indiana opportunities.
Indiana’s attraction package establishes the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority to fund, build, and lease a domed facility near Hammond’s Wolf Lake. Governor Mike Braun approved the legislation on February 26th. The arrangement would lock the Bears into a 35-year lease agreement, with state borrowing covering construction costs and repayment coming through enhanced local hospitality taxes.
Illinois Democrats have pushed forward House legislation offering incentives for major developments worth at least $500 million, or as low as $100 million based on job creation numbers. Developers would benefit from property taxes frozen at pre-construction levels for up to 45 years, making negotiated payments to local governments instead. The package also includes sales tax exemptions on construction materials lasting up to 15 years.
Critics argue the Illinois legislation’s extended property tax freeze would shift tax burdens to homeowners and other businesses, with the alternative payments serving as additional revenue rather than replacements.
Democratic Governor JB Pritzker defended the proposal last week, stating it would stimulate development on currently non-productive land while guaranteeing increased revenue for local governments.
Taxpayers continue servicing debt from previous accommodations. The 2001 public investment of $399 million helped finance Soldier Field’s $587 million renovation. Including interest, the outstanding balance reaches $467 million, according to the state’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.
The Bears’ current $7 million annual lease extends through 2033. Early termination would cost the organization $10.5 million for each remaining year on the contract.
A recent study by the Pew Research Center reveals troubling findings about how Americans perceive the moral character of their fellow citizens. The survey shows that 53% of adults in the United States believe their compatriots are morally deficient, marking the highest rate among all 25 nations included in the research.
The data places America at the top of this concerning list, with Turkey coming in second place where 49% of residents hold similarly negative views about their neighbors’ moral standards. In stark contrast, Canada demonstrates the most positive outlook, with only 7% of its population expressing unfavorable moral judgments about their fellow countrymen.
A recent survey from the Pew Research Center explored whether religious belief is essential for ethical behavior, revealing significant cultural divides on the topic. In America, just under one-third of those polled—31%—responded that faith in God is required for someone to act morally.
European countries showed even less support for linking morality to religious belief, with lower percentages across the continent. The pattern shifts dramatically in predominantly Muslim countries like Indonesia and Turkey, where overwhelming majorities maintain that believing in God is essential for moral conduct.
As families nationwide struggle with rising grocery bills, dairy products continue to offer nutritional value without breaking the bank, according to recent consumer pricing analysis.
Data examining price trends from 2023 forward reveals that milk and other dairy items have maintained remarkable price stability while other food categories have seen significant increases. Since the summer of 2023, dairy price increases have remained below 2% year-over-year, with some periods showing actual price decreases.
This pricing consistency comes despite fluctuations in wholesale milk costs. Grocery retailers have managed to keep dairy affordable at checkout, understanding that competitive pricing on these nutritional staples draws customers to their stores while ensuring families can access essential nutrients.
The strategy makes business sense given dairy’s nutritional profile. Milk contains 13 vital nutrients and maintains strong consumer trust for quality, making these products valuable for shoppers of all ages. This positive pricing trend offers welcome relief for budget-conscious families navigating today’s challenging economic environment.
The sustained affordability of dairy products may also influence long-term consumer loyalty, as shoppers are likely to remember which food categories helped them stretch their dollars during difficult financial times.
Ukrainian forces conducted overnight drone attacks on Russian infrastructure in the Krasnodar region, targeting both an oil processing facility and a major port, according to Russian officials who reported the strikes on Saturday, March 14.
Regional authorities in Krasnodar announced through social media that three individuals sustained injuries during the attack on Port Kavkaz, a critical shipping hub that handles grain exports and liquefied petroleum gas. The facility sits along the Kerch Strait directly across from Crimea.
The drone strike damaged both a service ship and the port’s pier infrastructure, officials confirmed in their public statement.
In a second incident, regional leaders reported that Ukrainian drones ignited a blaze at the Afipsky oil refinery after striking the processing plant.
Russia’s military command claimed its air defense systems successfully intercepted 87 Ukrainian drones during the nighttime operation, with 31 shot down over the Sea of Azov waters and another 16 destroyed above the Krasnodar region itself.
Cleveland’s Evan Mobley put on a first-half scoring clinic, netting 23 points before halftime and finishing with a season-high-tying 29 points to power the Cavaliers past the Dallas Mavericks 138-105 on Friday night in the opener of a two-game series.
Donovan Mitchell contributed 24 points and dished out eight assists, while James Harden added 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as Cleveland maintained its grip on fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The victory improved the Cavaliers to 24-10 since December 29.
For Dallas, rookie sensation Cooper Flagg led the way with 25 points, and Naji Marshall chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds. However, the Mavericks continued their recent struggles, dropping their ninth game in the last 10 contests and falling to 3-19 since January 24. Ryan Nembhard recorded eight points and nine assists in the losing effort.
Cleveland dominated the paint, outscoring Dallas 72 points to exploit the absence of Mavericks center Daniel Gafford. The Cavaliers reached their biggest advantage in the fourth quarter when Thomas Bryant’s hook shot made it 129-94. Bryant finished with 11 points coming off the bench.
Dallas veteran Klay Thompson endured a rough shooting night, missing all five of his three-point attempts and snapping his impressive 49-game streak of making at least one shot from beyond the arc.
A bizarre officiating moment occurred in the third quarter when referees incorrectly allowed Dallas to inbound the ball toward the wrong basket following a timeout. Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson had to inform the officials of the error before it was corrected.
The Cavaliers seized control early, taking a 67-50 halftime lead behind scorching 60.9% field goal shooting. Mobley was nearly perfect in the first half, connecting on 10 of 12 field goal attempts, while Marshall managed 12 points for Dallas and Flagg struggled with just six points before the break.
Dallas got off to a quick start with Marshall scoring the team’s first eight points, but Mobley quickly took over. The Cleveland big man poured in 16 points during the opening seven minutes to give the Cavaliers a 20-14 edge, and they extended their lead to 38-21 after the first quarter.
Both teams dealt with key absences. Dallas was without P.J. Washington Jr. due to left ankle soreness and rested Gafford after the pair combined for 34 points in Thursday’s 120-112 victory over Memphis. Cleveland continued to miss center Jarrett Allen, who sat out his fourth straight game with right knee tendinitis, while swingman Sam Merrill was sidelined with left hamstring tightness.
The two teams will meet again Sunday when the series shifts to Cleveland.
Motorists traveling on Hardin Lane should expect delays due to ongoing construction work that is causing periodic lane restrictions.
According to DelDOT traffic reports, the lane closures are affecting the stretch of Hardin Lane located between Darwin Drive and Phyllis Drive. The construction-related lane restrictions are intermittent throughout the day.
The lane closures are scheduled to remain in effect until 6 PM today. Drivers are advised to plan alternate routes or allow extra travel time when navigating through the construction zone.
Drivers using Estates Drive are experiencing periodic traffic delays today due to an active flagging operation along a stretch of the roadway.
The intermittent traffic control is taking place on Estates Drive between Appleby Road and Conlin Court, according to Delaware Department of Transportation officials.
The flagging operation is expected to remain in effect until 6 PM this evening, causing temporary stops and slower travel times for motorists in the area.
Drivers are advised to allow extra time when traveling through this section of Estates Drive or consider alternate routes if possible to avoid potential delays.
Medical experts have long encouraged people to “exercise your brain” to ward off dementia, but new research reveals that diversifying mental activities may be more effective than sticking to just one type of puzzle or game.
Rather than simply becoming proficient at daily crosswords, scientists are discovering that engaging in multiple brain-challenging pursuits creates a cognitive fitness routine that can strengthen different areas of the brain as people age.
A recent research project found connections between reduced Alzheimer’s risk and sustained intellectual engagement throughout life. Activities such as reading, writing, language acquisition, chess, puzzle-solving, and museum visits from youth through senior years showed protective benefits.
“They kind of like stretch your brain and your thinking. You’re using your different cognitive systems,” said neuropsychologist Andrea Zammit of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, who directed the research.
According to Zammit, people who missed out on these brain-enriching pursuits earlier in life can still benefit by starting during middle age. Scientists are currently investigating various approaches to maintaining mental sharpness, including musical training, bird observation, and specialized brain exercises.
“It’s not just one activity. It’s more about finding meaningful activities that you might be passionate about,” Zammit noted, emphasizing the importance of long-term commitment over casual participation.
Maintaining physical wellness also plays a crucial role in brain protection. Medical professionals recommend cardiovascular exercise, blood pressure management, quality sleep, and staying current with vaccinations.
Dr. Ronald Petersen, an Alzheimer’s researcher at the Mayo Clinic, warns that no guaranteed formula exists to prevent dementia or typical age-related cognitive changes. However, he believes lifestyle modifications can help “slow down the arc of deterioration.”
Zammit’s research followed almost 2,000 adults between ages 53 and 100 who were initially free of dementia over an eight-year period. Participants answered questions about their educational background and mentally stimulating activities across different life stages while undergoing comprehensive neurological evaluations.
While some participants eventually developed Alzheimer’s disease, those with the most extensive lifelong learning experienced symptom onset five years later compared to those with minimal cognitive engagement, according to findings published in Neurology journal. Additionally, maintaining mental activity during midlife and beyond correlated with slower cognitive deterioration.
Zammit found the autopsy results from 948 deceased participants particularly compelling: individuals with more cognitively enriched backgrounds maintained superior memory and thinking abilities with slower decline before death, even when their brain tissue showed Alzheimer’s-related changes.
This phenomenon, known as cognitive reserve, suggests that learning builds stronger neural pathways across brain regions, creating resilience that helps the brain compensate for aging or disease-related damage temporarily.
While the Rush research demonstrates correlation rather than causation between mental stimulation and dementia risk, other investigations provide supporting evidence, including studies connecting brain health to musical instrument practice.
Additional research has explored “speed training” using computer programs that challenge users to identify images amid increasing visual distractions. The National Institutes of Health is currently funding a study examining whether extended computerized exercises targeting attention and response time provide lasting benefits.
Jessica Langbaum from the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, who is not connected to the brain training studies, explains that processing speed impacts multitasking and driving abilities. She suggests choosing activities that promote quick thinking, such as participating in book clubs that combine individual reading with group discussion and social interaction.
Many chronic conditions that develop during middle age can elevate the likelihood of later dementia. High blood pressure, for instance, harms blood vessels, reducing cardiac function and brain circulation. Uncontrolled diabetes can trigger harmful brain inflammation.
Therefore, heart-healthy practices including regular physical activity, consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables, maintaining healthy weight, and managing diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol levels also benefit brain function.
An additional protective measure involves getting vaccinated against shingles, which not only prevents the painful skin condition but emerging research indicates vaccinated individuals show reduced dementia risk.
DENPASAR, Indonesia — Three Australian nationals received significant prison terms Monday from an Indonesian court for the murder of a compatriot on the resort island of Bali, following their claims that an anonymous individual paid them for the deadly attack.
The Denpasar District Court convicted Mevlut Coskun, Paea I Middlemore Tupou, and Darcy Jenson in the June killing of 32-year-old Melbourne resident Zivan Radmanovic. Another victim, 34-year-old Sanar Ghanim, survived gunshot wounds and a beating during the same incident.
The court imposed 16-year prison terms on both Coskun, 22, and Tupou, 27, while sentencing Jenson, 24, to 12 years behind bars. Both Coskun and Tupou maintained the fatal shooting was accidental amid the confusion of that evening.
Radmanovic had traveled to Bali for his wife Jazmyn Gourdeas’ birthday celebration, accompanied by her sister and Ghanim, who was dating the sister. Medical examination revealed Radmanovic sustained three bullet wounds along with injuries from physical assault.
According to prosecutors, Jenson masterminded the assault while his co-defendants executed the plan. Authorities apprehended Jenson at Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta airport in June as he tried to flee Indonesia. International law enforcement agencies assisted in capturing Coskun and Tupou in Singapore and Cambodia respectively.
Throughout the October trial proceedings, all three defendants testified they accepted payment to travel to Bali and intimidate Ghanim into settling an outstanding debt. They claimed an unidentified Australian man made this arrangement but refused to reveal his identity, citing concerns for their families’ safety.
Law enforcement officials testified that the group took orders from a mysterious “Mr. X” whose true identity remains unknown. The judicial panel acknowledged the defendants acted in exchange for “a promised payment.”
The prosecution had requested 18-year sentences for both Coskun and Tupou, and 17 years for Jenson.
Although the three-judge panel acknowledged the defendants inflicted “deep trauma” on both victims’ families, Presiding Judge Wayan Suarta emphasized the men had clean criminal histories and cooperated fully during the investigation and court proceedings.
“They are still young and have the chance to improve themselves in the future,” he stated, explaining that the punishment “is not intended as revenge, nor to degrade their dignity, but as a preventive measure so similar acts do not occur again.”
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional members who experienced combat firsthand in Iraq and Afghanistan following September 11th are bringing their battlefield perspectives to bear as they evaluate President Donald Trump’s military actions against Iran, creating deeply personal stakes in the current war discussions.
These veteran legislators describe conflicted emotions — feeling satisfaction that Iranian leadership responsible for targeting American troops for decades faces consequences, while simultaneously worrying that a new generation of service members might endure similar combat ordeals.
Arizona Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego, whose unit experienced devastating casualties during the Iraq conflict, expressed this internal struggle: “Do I take gratification? You know there’s the Marine side of me: Yeah, of course. I know they killed a lot of American soldiers, American Marines. But do I also understand that I have a responsibility not to let my lust for revenge drive my country into another war?”
The post-9/11 military experiences also influence Trump administration decision-makers, considering that key figures like Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously served in Iraq deployments.
Gallego and fellow Capitol Hill veterans are drawing extensively on their combat backgrounds to evaluate the Iranian situation. These lawmakers display memorial bracelets bearing fallen comrades’ names, share accounts of attacks by Iranian-supported militant organizations, and recall their own combat wounds.
Although initial Iran-related votes split largely along partisan lines — Republicans supporting Trump’s approach while Democrats cautioned against prolonged engagement — military veterans from both parties express serious concerns about entering this conflict.
Arizona Republican Representative Eli Crane, a former Navy SEAL who enlisted immediately after the September 11th attacks, explained his position: “As somebody who knows a lot of friends that didn’t come home and a lot of Gold Star families, that’s why the week before the attack, I was actually one of the ones that was talking about caution and why we needed to avoid at all costs getting into another long, drawn-out Middle Eastern war.”
Trump administration briefings somewhat eased Crane’s worries by suggesting the president doesn’t intend extended warfare. He opposed a war powers resolution that would have required congressional approval for continued Iranian strikes.
However, Crane acknowledged military operations’ unpredictable nature: “I’ve been on military operations that did not go to plan many times, and so I understand the nature,” while urging the administration to proceed with “humility and caution.”
Democratic lawmakers like Gallego feared such measured approaches came too late. They honored the six American military personnel killed in the Kuwait drone attack while expressing concern about additional casualties.
“War is dirty, and mistakes happen,” Gallego observed. Extended conflicts increase chances of American military deaths, he noted, recalling Iraq experiences where friends died from seemingly random enemy fire.
Nevertheless, numerous Republicans maintained that attacking Iran was essential to stop a regime that has spent decades training and equipping Middle Eastern militant organizations. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast led floor opposition to the war powers resolution.
Mast, an Army explosive ordnance disposal specialist who lost both legs to an Afghan improvised explosive device, stated: “Me especially, many of my other colleagues, no one wants to see our military go into combat or war.”
He continued: “But Iran’s terror, which has caused the deaths of thousands of Americans, it has to stop.”
Significant questions face Congress as Iranian conflicts expand across the Middle East. Operations costs will likely reach billions, forcing the Trump administration to request substantial congressional funding soon. The war outbreak has also disrupted international partnerships and future American foreign policy directions.
The specter of another extended conflict overshadows everything. Legislators say they must honor fallen colleagues by preventing such outcomes.
Democratic Representative Pat Ryan, touching a bracelet inscribed with names of friends killed during his two Iraq Army tours, declared: “To me, it’s to speak out. It’s to say another generation should not go fight in an open-ended, ill-conceived regime change war in the Middle East.”
Others recalled their wartime frustrations with Washington, particularly soldiers fighting with inadequately armored vehicles and insufficient personnel.
Democratic Representative Jason Crow, who rose from Army private to captain through Iraq and Afghanistan deployments, reflected: “I know what it was like to be on the very end of the receiving line of the decisions made in Washington.”
Crow said frontline troops often suffered “because people stopped asking tough questions. People stopped being held accountable. Congress stopped voting on it.”
Illinois Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, who lost her legs when her Blackhawk helicopter was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in Iraq while serving with the Illinois National Guard, said such experiences motivated her congressional candidacy.
“I ran for Congress so that when the drums of war started beating once again, I’d be in a position to make sure that our elected officials fully considered the true cost of the war,” she explained. “Not just in dollars and cents but in human lives.”
Drivers traveling through the area where Upland Court meets South Skyward Drive should plan for potential delays as construction crews continue their work with periodic lane restrictions.
According to traffic officials, the lane closures at this intersection will remain in effect until 5:30 PM today. The restrictions are described as intermittent, meaning lanes may open and close throughout the day as work progresses.
Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes when possible or allow extra travel time if they must pass through the construction zone.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — At 27, Brian Torres Suazo finds himself in a situation his parents never faced at his age. Despite earning union wages and having access to down payment help, homeownership remains an elusive goal for the Las Vegas resident.
Torres Suazo anticipates living with roommates indefinitely, unable to break into the housing market due to persistently elevated prices in what was formerly an affordable city like Las Vegas.
His situation reflects a broader national trend. Among voters already frustrated by inflation, housing expenses have emerged as a particularly contentious issue. Democratic leaders hope to harness this frustration to challenge Republican dominance in Washington, keeping economic issues front and center despite international conflicts capturing headlines.
This political battle is playing out prominently in Nevada, a traditional battleground state that Donald Trump captured in 2024 and where competitive House races are now underway.
“I would be paying more — a lot more — in mortgage than I am for rent right now,” said Torres Suazo, who works as a food runner on the Las Vegas Strip. He sometimes questions whether elected officials understand working people’s challenges. “It’d be nice if more people that knew what it’s like to work for a living could be in those rooms to make decisions,” he added.
Surrounding the Strip, rows of desert developments feature angular-roofed homes in neutral tones. Unfinished streets wind through vacant lots awaiting future construction. Roadside advertisements promote properties ranging from $300,000 townhomes to million-dollar houses in premium suburban areas.
While housing affordability has traditionally dominated political discussions in expensive markets like New York and San Francisco, the concern has now spread nationwide.
The pandemic enabled remote workers to sell properties in costly metropolitan areas and relocate to Sun Belt destinations including Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas, and Charlotte, North Carolina, driving up local prices. Simultaneously, historically low interest rates triggered widespread refinancing, leaving current homeowners with mortgage payments that appear remarkably affordable by today’s standards.
Las Vegas welcomed nearly 40 million visitors last year, with gamblers spending $14 billion at Clark County gaming establishments, according to tourism officials. This consistent influx of visitors and revenue continues attracting job-seekers hoping for employment opportunities and reasonable housing costs.
Clark County’s population, encompassing Las Vegas, expanded 17% to reach 2.4 million residents between 2014 and 2024, far exceeding the nation’s 6% growth rate during the same timeframe.
“If you ask locals who grew up here, some of them feel that housing is out of reach for them,” said Las Vegas real estate agent Tony Clifford. “You talk to somebody from out of state – Northwest, West, California – we’re still so cheap compared to them.”
Property values and lending rates have declined from recent peaks across much of the nation, with real estate professionals describing Las Vegas as currently favoring buyers. Properties remain available longer, with more sellers accepting reduced offers or providing incentives like covering closing expenses. However, monthly housing payments remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Las Vegas resale property values increased 53% between December 2019 and the corresponding month last year, based on Case-Shiller data tracking previously sold homes, excluding new construction that represents over 25% of the local market.
The city’s median home sale price jumped 65% from the first quarter of 2020 to the same period last year, hitting $393,000, according to Federal Reserve statistics. The figure dropped to $379,000 by the fourth quarter.
Thirty-year mortgage rates nationwide followed similar patterns, reaching a low of 2.65% in 2021 before climbing to nearly 8% in 2023. Current rates have stabilized around 6%.
Despite recent stabilization, both rates and prices exceed pre-pandemic levels. A median resale home purchased with current interest rates and 20% down would cost $2,300 monthly in December 2025, double the December 2019 amount.
Investment firms control approximately 11% of single-family rental properties in Las Vegas, compared to roughly 3% nationally, according to Brookings Institution research.
These corporate investors face increasing bipartisan criticism for purchasing and renting single-family homes, although economists generally question the effectiveness of restricting their activities. Both Trump and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, the leading Democratic gubernatorial candidate, support limiting corporate home ownership.
“People live in homes, not corporations,” Trump stated in a January social media post, urging Congress to prohibit large institutional investors from residential purchases. He has also advocated for Federal Reserve rate cuts and proposed extending mortgage terms to 50 years, privatizing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and allowing homebuyers to use retirement or Education Savings Accounts for down payments.
Ford’s housing proposal, unveiled last month, includes banning algorithmic rent pricing, addressing regulatory obstacles that prevent or delay construction, and pursuing federal land availability for development. The federal government controls 84% of Nevada’s land.
Republican Governor Joe Lombardo, considered among the nation’s most politically vulnerable incumbent state leaders, has attempted to tackle the crisis by announcing $64 million in approved funding for twelve housing development projects, primarily in Las Vegas and Reno areas, plus homebuyer assistance programs.
Democrats are centering their November campaign message on affordability concerns, contending that Trump has failed to deliver on promises to reduce costs despite Republican congressional control. They credit anxiety over living expenses for recent electoral successes in off-year contests, including gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia plus various special elections.
Multiple surveys, including a January AP-NORC poll, indicate many Americans believe Trump prioritizes incorrectly and neglects domestic cost issues.
While economic concerns contributed significantly to Trump’s reelection, recent polling suggests most Americans haven’t experienced policy benefits yet and believe he’s insufficiently focused on affordability.
A substantial portion of registered voters identify the economy as a primary national concern, with a recent New York Times survey finding approximately half believe Trump’s policies have made life “less affordable” for most Americans.
Democratic strategist Paul Begala, who helped architect Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign emphasizing domestic economic issues during international upheaval from the Gulf War and Soviet collapse, predicts the affordability issue will remain prominent in November despite foreign policy concerns over Iran.
“Trump’s refusal to lower the cost of living, and his willingness to raise the cost of health care, electricity, hamburger, and now gas, is a two-edged sword that will cut down a large number of congressional Republicans,” Begala said.
Housing presents complex political challenges. Established homeowners benefit from high prices that boost their paper wealth, a reality Trump has acknowledged repeatedly while assuring property owners he wants to maintain their values.
However, those same prices become restrictive when homeowners want to relocate but find themselves priced out of larger homes or better neighborhoods.
Michele Niemeyer feels stuck in her Strip-adjacent condo purchased for over $500,000. Her homeowners association fee recently increased to $686 monthly, straining her finances, while her unit’s value has dropped significantly. The neighborhoods previously within her budget when she bought the condo are now financially unreachable.
“I want to move,” Niemeyer said. “I just don’t know where.”
Delaware Department of Transportation officials are reporting traffic disruptions on Minos Conaway Road this afternoon due to an intermittent lane closure.
The affected stretch runs between Red Mill Drive and Coastal Highway, also known as State Route 1. According to DelDOT, motorists can expect the lane restrictions to continue until 5 PM today.
Drivers traveling through the area should plan for potential delays and consider alternate routes if possible.
Motorists traveling on Interstate 495 should expect potential delays today as Delaware Department of Transportation crews conduct a debris removal operation along the highway.
The cleanup work is currently underway on I-495 in the stretch between Route 141 and the Claymont area. DelDOT officials indicate the trash removal operation will continue through 3 PM this afternoon.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time when using this section of I-495 and to exercise caution around work crews in the area.
Drivers using Lesley Lane should plan for potential delays as construction crews continue work along the roadway today.
DelDOT reports that the stretch of Lesley Lane running from East Roosevelt Avenue to Morrison Road will experience periodic lane restrictions through 5:00 PM as construction activities take place.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when navigating through the work zone area.
Motorists traveling on Interstate 95 northbound should be aware of cleanup operations currently underway along the highway median.
Delaware Department of Transportation crews are conducting litter removal activities between Marsh Road and the Pennsylvania state line. The median cleanup work began earlier today and is expected to wrap up by 4:30 PM.
Drivers are advised to exercise caution when passing through the work zone and may experience minor delays as crews complete their cleanup efforts along this stretch of the interstate.
Mississippi residents will head to polling stations Tuesday to select congressional candidates in statewide primary elections. The ballot includes the state’s junior Republican senator and all members of the U.S. House delegation seeking reelection, with nearly every incumbent facing opposition from one or both major parties.
While Republicans maintain narrow control of both chambers in Washington, Mississippi’s outcomes are unlikely to determine overall congressional control in November. The state hasn’t seen any federal seat switch parties in more than a decade.
Leading the ticket, Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith confronts primary opposition as she seeks her second complete term. Physician and author Sarah Adlakha is challenging Hyde-Smith in the GOP primary. On the Democratic side, Scott Colom, who serves as district attorney for Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee and Oktibbeha counties, is among the candidates. Notably, Hyde-Smith prevented Colom’s federal judicial confirmation after President Biden nominated him to the federal bench in 2023.
Hyde-Smith captured approximately 54% of votes in her two previous general election contests, both against former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy. She ran unopposed in the 2020 Republican primary. Mississippi has experienced minimal Senate turnover, with just four senators representing the state since 1989, all Republicans.
In the 2nd Congressional District, Representative Bennie Thompson, the state’s most senior current House member and only Democratic representative, confronts two primary opponents while pursuing an 18th term. Attorney Evan Turnage represents the latest wave of younger Democrats challenging established party incumbents. Turnage previously worked as an advisor to Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer of New York and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
Thompson’s toughest primary battle as an incumbent occurred in 2006, when he secured roughly 64% against then-state Representative Chuck Espy, nephew of Mike Espy, whom Thompson replaced in Congress in 1993.
On the Republican side, Ron Eller and Kevin Wilson are vying for the GOP nomination. Eller, a physician assistant, unsuccessfully challenged Thompson in the 2024 general election. Wilson serves as an Adams County supervisor.
This expansive district runs along the Mississippi River, sharing borders with Arkansas and Louisiana, and covers approximately 40% of the state’s land area. It encompasses most of Jackson, the state capital. The district’s population is about 64% Black, the highest percentage statewide. Current district lines took effect in 2022. District voters backed Democrat Kamala Harris over Republican Donald Trump 60% to 39% in the 2024 presidential race.
The Associated Press maintains strict standards for calling races, declaring winners only when trailing candidates cannot mathematically overcome the gap. If races remain undecided, the AP continues reporting developments while clearly stating no winner has been determined.
Mississippi lacks automatic recount provisions and doesn’t allow candidate-requested recounts. Recounts occur solely through court orders. The AP may call races subject to potential recounts if the margin is too substantial for challenges to alter the outcome.
Polling locations close at 7 p.m. local time, corresponding to 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
The AP will report vote tallies and announce winners for both parties’ Senate primaries and competitive House primaries in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Congressional Districts.
Mississippi doesn’t require party registration, allowing any qualified voter to participate in either party’s primary. However, voters cannot participate in multiple party primaries, and those voting in one party’s primary cannot vote in another party’s April 7 runoff.
Nearly 1.9 million active registered voters were recorded as of February 2.
The 2024 Republican presidential and Senate primaries each attracted roughly 248,000 voters, representing about 13% of registered voters. Democratic primaries drew approximately 91,000 votes for president and 82,000 for Senate, equaling about 5% and 4% of registered voters respectively. Absentee ballots comprised roughly 6% of total votes cast in both parties’ 2024 primaries.
Early voting totals show 13,473 ballots already cast in the 2026 primaries as of Friday.
During 2024 primaries, the AP began reporting results at 8:07 p.m. Eastern Time, seven minutes after polls closed. Final updates came at 12:35 a.m. Eastern Time with approximately 95% of votes tallied.
Counties handle absentee ballot reporting differently. Some provide separate absentee totals at the end of counting, while others integrate them with precinct results throughout the evening.
Mississippi doesn’t offer in-person early voting.
Tuesday’s primaries occur 238 days before the 2026 midterm elections.
NEW YORK — Charitable organizations across the country are grappling with questions about how younger Americans approach community service, as these groups work to rebuild volunteer numbers that haven’t fully recovered since the pandemic while dealing with an increasingly older volunteer workforce.
However, recent research suggests young Americans are indeed contributing to their communities — just not in the traditional ways previous generations might expect.
A fresh study conducted by The Allstate Foundation in partnership with Gallup reveals that roughly 8 out of 10 individuals between ages 12 and 25 participate in some type of community service or volunteer work.
When asked about their motivations, approximately two-thirds of young volunteers indicated that making a positive impact or helping others served as “a major reason” for their involvement. Around 6 out of 10 cited contributing to their local community as a primary driver, while about half mentioned supporting causes close to their hearts.
“When we typically think of service it can be very narrow. Of, like, kids picking up litter or engaging in food drives,” explained Zoë Jenkins, 22, who handles recruitment for Civics Unplugged, a nonprofit focused on youth engagement. “That all definitely counts as service. But I think for me, how I think about it is just people helping other people. And that’s, I think, a really broad bucket.”
These perspectives have led some youth-oriented charitable organizations to reconsider their approach to volunteerism for emerging generations. While young people often express interest in face-to-face connections and meaningful impact, they frequently encounter challenges in discovering service opportunities and incorporating them into busy schedules. Approximately half of survey participants who reported never volunteering told researchers that being unaware of available opportunities and time constraints prevented their involvement.
Generation Z, generally considered those born between 1997 and 2012, along with Generation Alpha, roughly spanning 2012 to 2024, tend to serve their communities outside traditional nonprofit frameworks.
Roughly 7 out of 10 young people surveyed indicated they had assisted someone with a task at least “a few times” during the previous week — a finding that Allstate Foundation representatives interpret as evidence that young people view service more broadly, not as an extra activity but as a natural part of everyday living.
Just about 1 in 10 young volunteers reported that all their service activities were mandatory, such as through educational institutions or clubs. Approximately half said some but not all of their service was required, while roughly 4 in 10 indicated none of their volunteer work was mandated.
Greg Weatherford II, who oversees youth empowerment programs as Director of The Allstate Foundation and Social Impact, emphasized they avoid ranking different types of service by importance. He highlighted that meaningful service can range from brief 5-minute interactions to half-day commitments.
“We so applaud the young people that build complex nonprofits that solve complex issues,” he stated. “Equally important is the young person that’s taking time to write a letter to a classmate who may just be needing to have some extra encouragement as they get ready to take their school test or just navigate a new semester.”
According to the Gallup research, the most prevalent form of service among young people involves giving. About half reported donating or organizing donations of food, clothing, or other necessities, highlighting the significance of accessibility for Alex Quian, Senior Manager of The Allstate Foundation Youth Empowerment Program.
Organizing contributions doesn’t demand transportation or complicated scheduling, Quian observed, unlike many other service opportunities. Young people can launch such donation efforts quickly and often collaborate with friends, particularly through social media platforms. About 3 in 10 young volunteers said they had conducted fundraising for causes, while roughly 2 in 10 had worked to raise awareness for issues.
Jenkins noted it’s encouraging to see young people considering their resources and capacity to rally others around causes.
“Young people are perhaps more aware than ever of the power of money,” she stated.
About half of young people indicated their service experiences provided opportunities to make decisions, help with planning, or take leadership roles at least “sometimes,” according to the Gallup analysis. The Allstate Foundation seeks to increase this percentage by channeling more resources toward developing youth-directed volunteer programs.
Gallup discovered that when young people do assume leadership roles, it most commonly involves selecting their service activities. They less frequently receive chances to help determine how service will be carried out, establish objectives, lead activities, or organize experiences.
Jenkins observed that younger volunteers are often limited to highway cleanup efforts and food collection drives. She recommended that nonprofits provide more age-appropriate activities, pointing out that service opportunities suitable for five-year-olds differ significantly from those appropriate for 20-year-olds.
Jenkins suggested storytelling as one type of service that could engage older Gen Z volunteers. She cited the National Organization for Victim Advocacy and the Sexual Assault Youth Support Network as examples of nonprofits that empower young people to advocate for their causes as part of their service contribution.
“It’s not that young people don’t care,” Jenkins said. “We’re not necessarily providing the right opportunities that actually let young people feel like they’re showing up as their full selves.”
One major disaster relief organization has experienced a significant increase in youth volunteering since the pandemic ended.
American Red Cross leadership reported a 25% growth in Gen Z volunteers from 2024 to 2025, making it their fastest-growing and largest age demographic. Matt Bertram, the organization’s vice president of volunteer services, credited the increase to higher participation rates among their more than 1,400 independently operated youth clubs.
Typically based in high schools, these clubs enable students to independently manage their engagement with the American Red Cross. Bertram explained these are not “one-size-fits-all” groups. The organization aims to attract more young people to its overall mission by giving clubs flexibility to participate in as many or as few activities as they choose. Options include community education and preparedness training, blood drives, international humanitarian law campaigns, and fundraisers for measles and rubella prevention.
The American Red Cross reaches out about these opportunities through email and text messaging because young people requested more communication through these channels. Bertram said they’re also removing barriers by allowing underage applicants to directly initiate parental consent requests during the volunteer registration process.
This customized approach acknowledges that volunteers’ motivations evolve over time. Bertram recognized that not everyone joins the Red Cross intending to provide weekly service for multiple years. Commitments shift as high school students enter college or young professionals establish their careers.
By creating short-term volunteer opportunities and project-focused service, Bertram explained, nonprofits can accommodate individuals’ changing availability and capacity.
“There’s lots of folks who want to do traditional volunteering. There’s lots of folks who want to do a one-time project. And there’s lots of folks who want to maybe do something through a club or school or through their service organization,” he said. “If we can continue to work hard to put all those people together, that’s how we’ll build that workforce of the future.”
The Gallup survey was conducted from November 17 through December 1, 2025, among 3,013 American youth and young adults ages 12-25, using samples from Gallup’s probability-based panel. The margin of sampling error for the overall youth and young adult population is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
WASHINGTON — Georgia’s 14th Congressional District takes center stage Tuesday as voters choose a successor to former Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who stepped down in January after a public dispute with President Donald Trump.
The outcome could further narrow Republicans’ thin House majority, particularly if Democrats manage an unlikely victory in a district where Trump secured 68% of the vote in 2024.
Initially, 22 candidates threw their hats in the ring for the open House seat, though several withdrew, leaving 17 active campaigns. All contenders appear on a single ballot regardless of party membership. Should no candidate capture a majority, the top two finishers will face off in an April 7 runoff election.
The Republican field includes 12 candidates, notably Clay Fuller, a state district attorney backed by Trump’s endorsement, and former state Senator Colton Moore.
Three Democrats are seeking the position, with retired Army Brigadier General Shawn Harris leading the pack. Harris previously ran against Greene in 2024 and has outpaced all competitors in fundraising, collecting approximately $4.3 million with roughly $290,000 remaining as of February 18. Fuller trails in second place for campaign funds, holding about $238,000 after raising around $787,000 throughout his campaign.
The northwestern Georgia district touches both Alabama and Tennessee borders, encompassing 10 counties. Paulding County contains the largest population, followed by a section of Cobb County. Major cities within the district include Rome, Dalton, Acworth, and portions of Kennesaw.
During his 2024 challenge, Harris captured approximately 36% of district votes. His strongest performance came in Cobb County, where he earned about 49% compared to Greene’s 51%. Paulding County marked his second-best showing with roughly 41% support.
Greene dominated district-wide with about 63% of votes, performing best in Murray County.
While Trump’s backing should benefit Fuller, given Trump’s superior district performance compared to Greene, Harris might secure a runoff position if he matches his 2024 numbers. This scenario becomes more plausible with Democratic votes concentrated among just three candidates versus 12 Republican contenders.
Additional special elections Tuesday include state Senate District 53 to replace Moore, plus state House Districts 94 and 130 for other vacant positions. Republicans maintain control of both legislative chambers, and these contests won’t alter their majorities.
The Associated Press won’t project winners until determining no mathematical path exists for trailing candidates to overcome deficits. Until declaring a winner, the AP will report significant developments like candidate concessions while clearly stating no winner has been announced.
Georgia lacks automatic recount procedures, but candidates may request recounts when margins equal 0.5% or less of total votes. The AP may still declare winners in recount-eligible races if leads appear insurmountable through recounts or legal challenges.
Key election details include polls closing at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. The AP will report results and announce winners for the 14th Congressional District, state Senate District 53, and state House Districts 94 and 130.
All registered voters may participate in their respective district’s special election. As of Thursday, approximately 521,000 registered voters live in the 14th Congressional District, with Georgia not requiring party registration.
The 2024 general election saw roughly 378,000 votes cast in the 14th District, representing about 74% of registered voters. Approximately 76% of those votes were submitted before Election Day. By Friday, nearly 54,000 ballots had already been cast in the House special election.
In 2024, the AP initially reported 14th District results at 7:10 p.m. Eastern, just 10 minutes after poll closure. By 11:24 p.m., about 99% of votes were tabulated. Final vote updates came from Cobb County at 4:46 a.m. Eastern, with roughly 99.9% counted.
All 10 district counties typically release absentee results in their first vote updates. Four counties, including the two largest (Paulding and Cobb), usually include complete early in-person voting results initially. Since 2020, Democrats have favored early and mail voting, potentially giving Democratic candidates early leads in jurisdictions reporting these votes first, before Election Day ballots are counted.
Following Tuesday’s elections, 238 days remain until the 2026 midterm elections.
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea launched approximately 10 ballistic missiles into eastern waters on Saturday, according to South Korean military officials, marking the latest display of military strength as US and South Korean forces continue joint training exercises.
The missiles originated from an area close to Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital city, though South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff did not immediately release details about the distance traveled. Japanese Defense Ministry officials confirmed the weapons splashed down in waters beyond Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
South Korean military leadership announced increased surveillance measures and maintained combat readiness for potential additional launches while coordinating closely with American and Japanese counterparts.
The missile tests occurred during the annual spring military drills between American and South Korean forces, involving thousands of service members, while the Trump administration simultaneously manages an intensifying conflict in the Middle East.
The Middle Eastern conflict has sparked worries about possible security vulnerabilities in South Korea, as domestic news outlets have suggested through security footage and other evidence that America may be moving missile defense equipment from the country to support Iranian operations.
When The Associated Press inquired this week about whether US Forces Korea was transferring interceptor missiles from its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, installation in Seongju to Middle Eastern operations, President Lee Jae Myung’s administration stated it could not verify specifics regarding American military activities.
The administration emphasized that any potential movement of US military equipment would not compromise the alliance’s defensive capabilities against nuclear-equipped North Korea, while highlighting South Korea’s conventional military capabilities. Officials provided similar statements regarding reports about possible Patriot missile defense system relocations from South Korea.
North Korea has consistently characterized the allied exercises as preparation for invasion and frequently uses them as justification to escalate its own military displays or weapons development.
In past years, the North has executed multiple coordinated launches of missiles or artillery while characterizing them as practice runs for nuclear strikes against South Korean locations.
The recent launches followed criticism from Kim Jong Un’s influential sister on Tuesday, who condemned Washington and Seoul for continuing their exercises during a dangerous period for international security, warning that any threat to North Korea’s safety would result in “terrible consequences.”
Without explicitly mentioning the Iranian conflict, Kim Yo Jong stated the US-South Korea exercises damage regional stability during a time when the international security framework is “collapsing rapidly and wars break out in different parts of the world due to the reckless acts of outrageous international rogues.”
North Korea’s Foreign Ministry has issued separate declarations condemning joint US-Israeli operations against Iran and expressing solidarity with Tehran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
The 11-day Freedom Shield exercise, scheduled through March 19, represents one of two yearly command post training programs conducted by American and South Korean military forces. The primarily computer-based simulations evaluate the allies’ combined operational readiness while incorporating developing warfare scenarios and security threats. Freedom Shield will operate alongside a field training component called Warrior Shield.
North Korea has consistently rejected appeals from Washington and Seoul to restart diplomatic negotiations focused on dismantling its nuclear capabilities. Discussions stalled in 2019 after Kim Jong Un’s second meeting with US President Donald Trump during his initial presidency ended unsuccessfully.
Kim has prioritized Russia in his international relations, deploying thousands of soldiers and substantial military supplies to assist Moscow’s Ukrainian campaign, potentially in return for assistance and defense technology.
On Monday, Kuwait conducted military funeral ceremonies honoring two interior ministry personnel who lost their lives “in the line of duty,” according to government officials.
The Gulf nation, which houses American military bases and has experienced Iranian drone and missile attacks during Tehran’s ongoing conflict with Israel and the United States, reported that both men perished early Sunday morning without providing additional specifics about the circumstances.
Kuwait’s military forces confirmed separately that regions close to the country’s international airport came under attack Sunday, with their units successfully stopping incoming missiles and unmanned aircraft.
Sunday’s statement from the Interior Ministry expressed grief for “the martyrs of duty, Lieutenant Colonel Staff Abdullah Emad Al-Sharrah and Major Fahad Abdulaziz Al-Mejmed, from the General Administration of Land Border Security, who were martyred at dawn.”
The ceremonial service took place at Sulaibikhat Cemetery, with First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah presiding alongside other high-ranking officials.
Government sources report that the ongoing Iranian crisis has claimed five lives total, including four service members and one young girl, while injuring dozens more.
Regional authorities in Ukraine report that a deadly Russian aerial bombardment during nighttime hours has claimed four lives and left 15 people injured in areas surrounding the capital city of Kyiv.
According to Mykola Kalashnyk, who leads the regional military administration, the bombardment struck homes, schools, businesses and essential infrastructure across four separate districts in the Kyiv region.
Kalashnyk indicated that casualty reports continue to be updated as damage assessments proceed, with the death toll potentially climbing higher.
These aerial bombardments represent part of an ongoing pattern by Russian military forces, which have consistently launched strikes against Ukrainian population centers and cities located well away from active combat zones throughout their four-year military campaign, frequently targeting power systems and vital infrastructure.
Two weeks after military operations began in Iran, the financial burden on the United States continues to escalate rapidly, according to recent assessments.
The conflict has generated substantial expenses for American taxpayers, with costs already reaching into the billions of dollars since hostilities commenced.
Images from Tehran show the aftermath of recent airstrikes, with Iranian flags visible among the debris of damaged infrastructure, including a police station that was struck during yesterday’s operations.
Military analysts are tracking both the human toll and economic impact as the situation continues to develop in the region.
The financial calculations include operational costs, equipment deployment, and ongoing military support as the conflict extends beyond initial projections.
AMSTERDAM – A blast struck a Jewish educational facility in Amsterdam during the early hours of Saturday morning, causing property damage in what city leadership has characterized as an intentional assault on the local Jewish population.
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema confirmed the incident occurred at a school located in an affluent residential area on the city’s southern side. The damage remained minimal due to the swift response of law enforcement and emergency personnel who quickly arrived on scene.
Authorities reported no individuals were harmed in the incident.
The attack comes as Dutch officials had already increased protective measures around Jewish houses of worship and community centers throughout Amsterdam following a separate arson incident at a Rotterdam synagogue that took place overnight Friday.
Similar violence has occurred across the region, with a blast triggering a fire at a synagogue in Liege, Belgium earlier this week on Monday.
“This is a cowardly act of aggression against the Jewish community,” Halsema stated in her official response.
“Jewish people in Amsterdam are increasingly confronted with antisemitism. This is unacceptable,” the mayor added.
Global Jewish communities have faced growing security threats amid escalating tensions following recent military exchanges between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Marion Soulet navigates her bicycle through Paris City Hall via a street that previously overflowed with automobiles but now serves as a dedicated cycling path, representing the French capital’s environmental makeover that will be evaluated in this Sunday’s mayoral contest.
The cyclist advocacy leader from Paris en Selle appreciates the approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of bicycle infrastructure developed under progressive Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s administration during the past ten years, noting that close to half of all Parisians now use bicycles weekly.
“The more the city is redesigned to accommodate it, the more cycling increases,” Soulet explained to Reuters following her journey down Rue de Rivoli. “People like it because it’s easy, inexpensive, and fast.”
The campaign to convert Paris from a contaminated urban center into a “15-minute-city” featuring extensive cycling infrastructure and increased greenery stems from initiatives by Hidalgo and her progressive predecessors, who have controlled City Hall for decades.
This environmental record now confronts judgment in Sunday’s voting, as Hidalgo steps aside while conservative opponents hope to capitalize on citizen exhaustion regarding the increasingly automobile-restricted metropolis, construction-related disruptions, and growing municipal debt.
Polling data indicates the victor will likely be either Socialist Emmanuel Grégoire, who advocates intensifying environmental policies, or conservative former minister Rachida Dati, who claims Paris’s traditional charm is being eroded.
Far-right nationalist candidate Sarah Knafo, age 32, shows increasing poll strength and might complicate Dati’s prospects if she advances to the March 22 runoff. Knafo’s support exceeds the 10% minimum required for second-round qualification.
Current polling shows Grégoire, 48, leading with approximately 33%, while Dati, 60, follows at roughly 30%.
“We’re not fighting an ideological battle on mobility issues,” Dati stated to Reuters while meeting shoppers in northern Paris. “We just want things to be organised.”
During Hidalgo’s tenure, municipal officials have worked to prepare Paris for climate challenges while improving livability for its 2 million inhabitants within the broader metropolitan area of 10 million people.
City administrators have added 130,000 trees and eliminated thousands of street-level parking spots. Roadways alongside the Seine River have been converted to pedestrian areas.
Municipal statistics show automobile traffic has decreased more than 60% since 2002 while bicycle usage has increased threefold. Air quality has also improved.
“There aren’t many major cities in the world that have known such a spectacular transformation,” commented Patrick Le Gales, an urban planning expert at Sciences-Po University in Paris.
“But there’s been strong criticism over cleanliness and the debt,” he added, referencing municipal obligations totaling approximately 10 billion euros ($11 billion), representing a 42% increase since 2020.
Pierre Chasseray, director of the motorists’ advocacy organization 40 Million Motorists, accused Hidalgo of creating a “Berlin Wall” separating affluent central Paris residents from automobile-dependent citizens in economically disadvantaged suburbs who lack influence over municipal policies.
“We’ve ended up with a caricatured image of the capital: motorists on one side, cyclists on the other — the good guys versus the bad guys,” he explained.
Hidalgo has additionally encountered widespread social media criticism using the #saccageParis hashtag that showcases urban problems ranging from persistent construction projects to litter-covered walkways.
Grégoire attributed these issues to Hidalgo’s excessive ambition.
“We did too many things at the same time,” he acknowledged. “I would have chosen a different timetable, above all for reasons of implementation quality.”
Dati, an attorney with North African heritage, has softened her opposition to well-received cycling lanes, instead emphasizing concerns about unsanitary streets, and published footage of herself wearing safety gear while accompanying sanitation workers.
“The city is increasingly dirty — it hasn’t escaped anybody,” she observed.
Dati’s evolving moderate position on transportation matters — combined with her upcoming September corruption trial on charges she disputes — has created opportunities for Knafo.
Knafo has presented an Artificial Intelligence-developed proposal to restore automobile access to Seine riverbanks and conducted interviews from vehicle passenger seats while traveling through Paris.
Soulet considers Knafo’s influence restricted to “a very small group of Parisians who…want to turn the clock back.”
The Goldey-Beacom Lightning men’s basketball program has reached an unprecedented milestone, securing their very first invitation to the NCAA Tournament in the team’s history.
This remarkable achievement caps off what has been a standout season for the Lightning, who have now earned the opportunity to compete on college basketball’s biggest stage. The historic tournament berth represents a significant breakthrough for the program and marks a new chapter in Goldey-Beacom athletics.
The Lightning will now prepare to face the nation’s top collegiate basketball programs as they make their debut appearance in March Madness, carrying the hopes and excitement of their entire campus community into the tournament.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins have decided to part ways with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, ending his six-season tenure with the franchise.
The organization announced Monday that Tagovailoa, who has served as the team’s main signal-caller for the past five and a half years, will be cut from the roster. This decision comes fewer than 24 months after the quarterback inked a massive $212 million contract extension with Miami.
The release will create an unprecedented $99 million dead money penalty against the salary cap, setting a new NFL record. Despite this enormous financial burden, Miami’s front office believes this represents their best option moving forward.
“I recently informed Tua and his representation that we are going to move in a new direction at the quarterback position and will be releasing him after the start of the new league year,” stated Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan in an official team announcement.
The new league year begins Wednesday afternoon. Should Miami designate this as a post-June 1 cut, they can spread the $99 million penalty across two seasons, with roughly two-thirds counting against this year’s cap and the remainder hitting in 2027.
“As I shared with Tua, I have great respect for the person and player he is,” Sullivan continued. “On behalf of the Miami Dolphins, I expressed our gratitude for his many contributions, both on the field and in the community, during his six seasons in Miami.”
This decision represents another major change in what has been a transformative offseason for the Dolphins organization.
Both Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley are newcomers to their roles, while established stars including wide receiver Tyreek Hill and edge rusher Bradley Chubb will not return to the team. The quarterback situation remained the most pressing uncertainty, with questions swirling about whether Tagovailoa would receive another opportunity.
Monday’s announcement provided that answer, though signs had been pointing in this direction for some time.
Many observers anticipated either a trade or release following Tagovailoa’s benching late last season due to subpar performance under former head coach Mike McDaniel. The 2020 fifth overall draft pick expressed his displeasure with the demotion at the time and voiced uncertainty about his franchise future.
Miami promoted rookie Quinn Ewers to the starting role during the final three games of the season, effectively signaling the end of Tagovailoa’s six-year stint with the organization. The 28-year-old quarterback, who celebrated his birthday earlier this month, posted league-leading passing yardage in 2023 along with a personal-best 29 touchdown passes, but failed to maintain that elite level of play.
Last season saw Tagovailoa throw a career-worst 15 interceptions while completing just 67.7% of his passes — his lowest accuracy rate since his rookie campaign.
“I would say the biggest thing, and it’s being honest with myself as well, had been my performance,” Tagovailoa acknowledged following his benching. “I haven’t been performing up to the level and the capabilities that I have in the past.”
The financial penalty surpasses the previous record of $85 million that the Denver Broncos absorbed when they released Russell Wilson in 2024.
Miami selected Tagovailoa with hopes he would become their long-term franchise quarterback following his championship-winning collegiate career at Alabama.
However, the young quarterback faced difficulties during his initial two seasons under former Miami head coach Brian Flores, experiencing multiple benchings as a rookie. This led to persistent speculation about whether the Dolphins — who hold the NFL’s longest active playoff victory drought at 25 years — would commit to Tagovailoa long-term.
The organization dismissed Flores and brought in McDaniel for the 2022 campaign. McDaniel worked closely with Tagovailoa and publicly backed him throughout the coach’s four-year tenure in Miami.
With McDaniel’s departure and new leadership in place, Miami has apparently determined now is the appropriate time to begin fresh at the quarterback position once again.
BUDAPEST, Hungary — The Hungarian Prime Minister is calling on European Union leadership to eliminate sanctions against Russian energy imports as fuel costs soar amid ongoing Middle East warfare.
Viktor Orbán, widely regarded as Moscow’s strongest ally within the EU, announced through a social media video Monday that he had written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen following what he described as explosive growth in oil prices.
The conflict involving Iran, now entering its second week, has affected key regions vital to Persian Gulf oil and gas production and transportation, driving up costs in international markets.
In his video message, Orbán declared that the 27-member European Union should “review and suspend all sanctions on Russian energy across Europe.” He also announced calling an emergency cabinet session Monday to examine ways to prevent additional increases in Hungary’s gasoline and diesel costs.
Orbán’s nationalist administration has consistently resisted EU initiatives to reduce Russian energy dependence, and together with Slovakia has continued and even expanded Russian oil and gas purchases since Moscow began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Both nations received temporary waivers from EU restrictions on Russian oil imports and had been receiving Russian crude through the Druzhba pipeline crossing Ukrainian territory until recently.
However, Druzhba pipeline deliveries stopped on January 27, creating growing disputes between Hungary and Ukraine. Ukrainian officials attribute the halt to Russian drone attacks damaging pipeline facilities, while Orbán has blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for intentionally blocking oil shipments.
As a result, Orbán blocked new EU sanctions against Russia and is preventing a massive 90-billion euro ($106 billion) EU loan to Ukraine until deliveries restart.
With polls showing him behind just one month before crucial elections, Orbán has claimed Zelenskyy is attempting to trigger an energy crisis in Hungary to affect voting results — a key element in his administration’s extensive anti-Ukraine messaging campaign before the April 12 election.
Adding to the diplomatic tensions, Hungary temporarily held seven Ukrainian state bank workers Thursday and confiscated two Ukrainian armored vehicles transporting millions of euros in cash and gold through Hungary on suspected money laundering charges.
Ukraine has maintained the cash transport was routine banking business and firmly rejected the money laundering accusations.
A unique sporting tradition brought together approximately two dozen couples in southern England this weekend, where relationships faced the ultimate endurance test on a challenging hillside course.
Partners gripped tightly as they were hauled up and down a slope during the U.K. Wife Carrying Race, marking another year of one of Britain’s most unusual annual competitions.
Finnish competitors Teemu Touvinen and Jatta Leinonen claimed victory on Sunday with a time of 1 minute and 45 seconds, earning themselves a barrel of locally brewed ale as their reward.
The peculiar race held in Dorking, Surrey draws its origins from a 19th-century Finnish tale involving raiders who would storm villages and abduct women.
Today’s event focuses purely on entertainment and humor. Participants are encouraged to don amusing outfits, and the competition welcomes male or female carriers transporting anyone aged 18 or older who weighs at least 50 kilograms (110 pounds). Those below the weight requirement must add a backpack filled with flour or water to meet the minimum standard.
“You do not have to carry your own wife. It could be someone else’s. Or a mate, girlfriend, boyfriend, sister or brother,” organizers said. “They should ideally weigh less than you do.”
Teams may select their preferred carrying method, although most participants opted for the classic “Estonian Hold,” positioning the carried person upside-down across the carrier’s back with legs wrapped around their face.
Participants navigated up a moderately inclined hill and returned downward, maneuvering around barriers including low hay bale rows while enduring water bucket splashes along the way. The 380-meter (416-yard) track presents “a long way under the circumstances,” according to event organizers.
Though remaining a specialty interest, this Scandinavian-origin sport has gained popularity across the U.K., United States, Australia, Poland and additional nations. England’s version of the competition began in 2008.
British champions Edward Nash and Kathryn Knight, who finished merely 4 seconds after the winning team, earned the right to compete for the U.K. at July’s World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland.
Security concerns are mounting across Europe following two separate explosive incidents that rocked Belgium and Norway over the weekend, with authorities treating both as potential acts of terrorism.
In Belgium, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin condemned Monday an overnight explosion that occurred outside a synagogue in Liege as “a despicable antisemitic act” while federal investigators launched a probe into the incident.
Authorities in Liege reported the detonation took place during the early morning hours on Monday near the religious building. While no injuries occurred, the blast shattered windows in a structure facing the synagogue.
Investigators cordoned off the surrounding area as they searched for evidence, according to an official statement.
“The explosion in front of the Liege synagogue was a despicable antisemitic act that directly targeted the Jewish community of Belgium,” Quintin wrote on X. “Security around similar sites will continue to be strengthened.” The minister did not connect the incident to the ongoing Iran conflict.
Multiple European nations including Belgium, France and Germany have announced plans to increase security measures in response to Middle Eastern hostilities, while emphasizing they remain uninvolved in active combat alongside the United States and Israel.
Belgium’s transportation chief has called for enhanced protection of the country’s railway system.
The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office announced Monday it was assuming control of the investigation “given the possible indications of a terrorist offense.” Officials provided no additional details about the explosion or potential suspects.
In a separate incident, Norwegian authorities in Oslo reported they are examining security footage while searching for whoever detonated an explosive device outside the American Embassy early Sunday.
Law enforcement released surveillance images showing an individual dressed in dark clothing and carrying a backpack, with their face concealed. The suspect remains unidentified, police stated.
Oslo officers responded to reports of a “loud bang” or explosion near the US Embassy around 1 a.m. Sunday. No casualties were reported, though the embassy’s entrance sustained damage, officials confirmed.
“We are early in the investigation, but we are working based on multiple hypotheses,” said Frode Larsen, who leads Oslo police’s joint investigation and intelligence unit, in a Sunday statement. “Given the current security situation, it is natural to consider whether this was a targeted attack on the American Embassy. However, we have not committed to any single hypothesis.”
On Monday, investigators determined an improvised explosive device had been positioned near the embassy’s entrance area.
Police also said they were examining a video uploaded to Google Maps around the time of the blast. Norwegian media outlet NRK previously reported the video, which appeared at the embassy’s location on the mapping platform, featured Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
DHAKA, Bangladesh — Two men wanted in connection with the murder of a Bangladeshi activist have been captured in India, with diplomatic negotiations now underway to bring them back to face charges.
Indian authorities apprehended the two Bangladeshi citizens, identified as Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain, during a police operation in Bongaon, located in West Bengal state’s North 24 Parganas district on Sunday.
A judge in India has ordered the pair to remain in custody for interrogation, according to reports from PTI news agency.
Bangladesh’s top police official, Inspector General Mohammed Ali Hossain Fakir, announced Monday that the country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry is pursuing the suspects’ return using the existing extradition agreement between Bangladesh and India.
The case centers on the December 12 shooting death of Sharif Osman Hadi in Bangladesh’s capital city of Dhaka. Following the attack, Hadi was transported to Singapore for advanced medical care but succumbed to his injuries on December 18.
Hadi had played a significant role in the 2024 political movement that toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government after 15 years in power. He served as both a student organizer and spokesman for Inquilab Mancha, a youth organization focused on cultural transformation.
The activist’s death triggered widespread demonstrations throughout Bangladesh. Angry crowds gathered in Dhaka and targeted the headquarters of two major national newspapers during the unrest.
Those supporting Hadi have pointed fingers at both India and the former prime minister for his death. The activist had been an outspoken critic of both India and Hasina, who sought refuge in India following the August 2024 uprising that forced her from office. However, some liberal voices in Bangladesh had criticized Hadi for what they viewed as extremist rhetoric that resonated with young people and Islamic groups.
Bangladesh law enforcement had previously confirmed they had identified the shooting suspects but believed the men had escaped across the border. Indian officials reported that the arrested individuals had been hiding near the Bongaon border crossing while planning their return to Bangladesh.
Ride-sharing company Uber rolled out a nationwide service on Monday that connects female passengers with women drivers, despite facing legal challenges over the policy in California courts.
The expanded program addresses safety concerns on the platform by giving women riders and drivers the option to match with each other during trips. This comes even as a class action lawsuit filed by male Uber drivers in California claims the feature discriminates against men. Competitor Lyft faces similar legal action over its comparable service launched in 2024.
Through the company’s blog announcement, Uber detailed how the “Women Drivers” feature operates within its app. Female passengers can specifically request women drivers, with options to choose different rides if wait times become excessive or to book future trips with female drivers in advance. A third setting lets women users establish a general preference for female drivers, boosting their likelihood of such matches without guaranteeing them. The company has extended this option to teenage account holders as well.
Female drivers using Uber’s platform can adjust their settings to prioritize rides with women passengers and modify this preference whenever they choose.
The San Francisco-headquartered company reports that approximately 20% of its U.S. drivers are women, though this percentage fluctuates across different metropolitan areas.
Legal action emerged in November when two California Uber drivers initiated a class-action case, claiming the Women Preferences feature breaks California’s Unruh Act, which bans gender-based discrimination by businesses. Their complaint states that while female drivers maintain access to all passengers, male drivers must compete for a reduced passenger pool. The lawsuit further contends that Uber’s approach “reinforces the gender stereotype that men are more dangerous than women.”
Uber responded by filing for mandatory arbitration, referencing agreements drivers accepted when joining the platform. The company rejected claims of Unruh Act violations, stating the feature “serves a strong and recognized public policy interest in enhancing safety.”
“This feature is a common sense solution to a long-standing request from both women Drivers and Riders who told Uber they would feel more comfortable and safer if they could choose to ride with another woman,” Uber stated in court documents.
Lyft confronts comparable litigation regarding its “Women+Connect” service, which matches women and nonbinary passengers with drivers sharing similar identifications.
Uber initially tested its “Women Preferences” program in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Detroit during summer months before extending it to 26 American cities in November. The company originally introduced a version of this service in Saudi Arabia in 2019 after that nation passed legislation allowing women to drive. Similar programs now operate in 40 additional countries, including Canada and Mexico.
Both Uber and Lyft have endured ongoing scrutiny regarding safety protocols, with thousands of sexual assault reports involving passengers and drivers. A federal jury determined in February that Uber bore legal responsibility for a 2023 sexual assault incident, ordering the company to pay $8.5 million to an Arizona woman who reported being raped by her driver.
While Uber maintains it cannot be held liable for contractor misconduct since drivers are not employees, the company has implemented various safety improvements. These include partnering with Lyft in 2021 to establish a shared database tracking drivers removed from ride-hailing services due to sexual assault complaints and other criminal activities.
Uber reports declining sexual assault incidents over time. Company data shows 5,981 sexual assault cases reported during U.S. rides from 2017 to 2018, compared to 2,717 cases between 2021 and 2022 (the most recent available statistics), representing 0.0001% of total nationwide trips according to the platform.
Celebrity entrepreneur Paris Hilton announced Monday the creation of a nationwide program designed to help female small business owners recover from natural disasters, expanding her charitable work that began following the devastating 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.
The media personality and businesswoman is contributing $350,000 to establish the Back in Business Recovery Fund, with plans to collect at least $1 million by March’s end.
“Women-owned businesses are really the heart of so many of these communities,” Hilton shared with The Associated Press. “I want to be able to lift up and support them, shine a light on them and really make a difference in their lives.”
The program represents a collaboration between Hilton’s charitable organization 11:11 Media Impact and GoFundMe.org, the nonprofit division of the crowdfunding platform. GoFundMe.org will provide $100,000 toward the fund’s initial launch.
Following the LA wildfires, Hilton and her partner organizations distributed more than $1 million in direct financial assistance to 50 female-owned small businesses. The fires also claimed Hilton’s Malibu residence.
The destruction of her family home, where she was caring for her young children, proved “very emotional,” Hilton explained, leading her to consider other mothers who had lost both their homes and their means of supporting their families.
Individual grants reaching $25,000 supported owners of various enterprises including childcare facilities, bakeries, bookstores, dance studios and beauty salons damaged by the Eaton fire, which ravaged Altadena. Recipients used the funding for rent payments, employee wages, equipment replacement and reconstruction efforts.
According to the Pasadena Women’s Business Center, which also received funding to offer technical support and mentoring to affected businesses, 90% of grant recipients remain operational one year later.
Among those who benefited was Renata Ortega, who operated her floral design business Orla Floral Studio from a converted garage beside her Altadena residence, which she shared with her husband and three pets.
Ortega faced uncertainty about continuing her business after flames consumed both her home and workspace, destroying all her floral supplies and event equipment.
“Nothing prepares you for that amount of loss,” she shared with The Associated Press. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to get back on my feet because it took me years to be able to come up with the inventory I had.”
She also expressed concern for her employees and the flower market suppliers who relied on her business.
The financial assistance enabled Ortega to secure a deposit for new studio space and acquire an essential floral refrigeration unit. Orla Floral is now “booked and busy,” she reported. She retained her existing workforce and plans to add another team member shortly.
Ortega attributes much of her recent success to the grant funding. “It directly went into getting us back into business, but actually back and better than ever,” she explained.
Beyond financial support, the assistance provided Ortega with emotional encouragement as she simultaneously rebuilt both her home and business.
“You have to keep going and you have keep pushing and fighting forward,” Ortega reminded herself, “because if somebody like Paris Hilton notices your story and thinks you’re important, then you have to believe in yourself and also think that you’re important.”
Hilton also supported recipients as a patron, wearing clothing from apparel retailer Crop It Like It’s Hot at the Coachella festival and hiring food vendors including Carmela Ice Cream and Hot Shrimp Mami for her personal events.
These connections motivated her to “think bigger” about a national program, Hilton said. Her experiences as a woman, mother and business owner also influenced her decision.
“For so much of my career, I’ve been underestimated,” stated Hilton, who is the great-granddaughter of hotel empire founder Conrad N. Hilton. “I’ve worked very hard to show people that there’s much more to me.”
Despite women owning 14.5 million businesses in the United States—representing 39% of all enterprises according to Wells Fargo—female entrepreneurs, particularly minority women, receive significantly less investment funding compared to men through venture capital and traditional lending.
“They are the most undercapitalized and underresourced, and particularly if primary caregiving responsibilities are falling on them too, sometimes that leads to increased recovery burden,” explained Rebecca Grone, director of 11:11 Media Impact.
Similar to the Los Angeles initiative, the Back in Business Recovery Fund will provide unrestricted financial grants, working alongside approximately 150 local women’s business centers throughout the nation.
Partnership with these centers will enable quick identification of affected women and provide access to both funding and a network of business owners facing comparable challenges, according to Amanda Brown Lierman, executive director of GoFundMe.org. “It’s really key to the success.”
Decisions about activating the fund will also involve consulting with women’s business centers to evaluate disaster impacts, Brown Lierman noted.
While funding goes directly to business owners, the broader goal targets entire communities, Grone said. Preserving businesses protects employment and tax income while maintaining community character that draws displaced residents home.
“You don’t want to come back if the community isn’t thriving, so as folks are rebuilding their homes, the things that are familiar and make a community feel like home are equally as crucial,” she observed.
A YouTube documentary series titled “Back in Business” also debuted Monday, featuring several Los Angeles business owners. “I hope it really inspires others to want to donate and give back,” Hilton commented.
Multiple LA grant recipients, including Ortega, will accompany Hilton Monday afternoon to ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, commemorating International Women’s Day, which occurred March 8.
This will represent one of her most meaningful moments, Hilton said, “showing the power of women when they come together.”
WASHINGTON — Federal officials have reached a settlement agreement with Ticketmaster and its parent corporation, Live Nation Entertainment, resolving an antitrust case that accused the companies of operating an unlawful monopoly in the live entertainment sector.
An anonymous source with knowledge of the agreement confirmed the settlement to news outlets Monday, though specific terms remain undisclosed. Neither the Justice Department nor Live Nation immediately provided responses when asked for additional details about the arrangement.
The resolution comes ahead of scheduled court proceedings in New York, where federal prosecutors were seeking to break up what they characterized as a monopolistic enterprise that stifled market competition and inflated ticket costs for consumers.
Federal prosecutors filed the lawsuit in 2024 during the Biden administration, claiming Live Nation employed intimidation, retaliation and other aggressive strategies to “suffocate the competition” through its control of nearly every segment of the entertainment business, spanning concert promotion and ticket sales operations.
According to government allegations, Live Nation maintained its dominant market position through various anti-competitive methods. Prosecutors claimed the company locked venues into extended contracts preventing them from working with competing ticket services, restricted venues from partnering with multiple sellers, and issued warnings that facilities could face financial losses and reduced attendance if they chose alternatives to Ticketmaster.
Company representatives have consistently argued that performers and their management teams determine pricing structures and sales methods for tickets.
The Beverly Hills, California-based corporations have faced ongoing disputes with prominent performers and their supporters, including conflicts involving Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen.
Founded in 1976, Ticketmaster joined forces with Live Nation through a 2010 merger, creating what became the globe’s dominant ticket distribution platform for live music performances, sporting events, theatrical productions and other entertainment offerings.
PAOLI, Pa. — A Pennsylvania State Police corporal lost his life Sunday evening after being gunned down during what began as a routine traffic stop in Chester County, officials announced.
Corporal Tim O’Connor was fatally wounded as he walked toward the stopped vehicle when the driver opened fire from inside, according to Acting Police Commissioner Lt. Col. George Bivens, who addressed media during a late-night briefing at Paoli Hospital.
Following the shooting, the gunman exited his vehicle, moved a short distance away, and fatally shot himself using a handgun, Bivens reported. Officials have not released the identity of the shooter.
The fallen officer leaves behind a wife and young daughter, according to authorities.
The deadly encounter began when O’Connor was working his patrol shift and received a dispatch call about a driver behaving erratically. After being assigned to respond, O’Connor radioed that he had successfully stopped the vehicle at an intersection in West Caln Township, located approximately 45 miles west of Philadelphia.
“That is the last we heard from Corporal O’Connor,” Bivens stated during the press conference.
When O’Connor failed to respond to subsequent radio communications, fellow troopers were sent to his location to conduct a welfare check and “found a very bad situation,” Bivens explained.
The incident remains under investigation by state police and Chester County officials, Bivens confirmed.
Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is inviting local organizations to apply for funding through its Community Water Quality Improvement Grants initiative.
The state agency is calling on Delaware-based non-profit groups, conservation districts, community organizations, and homeowners associations to submit proposals for projects that would enhance water quality in their areas.
Organizations interested in pursuing grant funding can develop project proposals that focus on improving water conditions within their communities. The grant program represents an opportunity for local groups to secure state resources for environmental improvement efforts.
Eligible applicants include various types of community-based organizations operating within Delaware’s borders, giving multiple types of groups the chance to participate in water quality enhancement initiatives.
New scientific research demonstrates that striped bass face significantly higher death rates when released during extremely hot weather conditions.
Proper catch-and-release methods have become increasingly vital for Maryland’s striped bass population, which has experienced difficulties generating robust new generations of fish in recent years.
Catch-and-release angling allows fishermen to experience the excitement of landing fish while helping preserve populations by returning catches to their natural habitat. While removing fish from water always carries some health risks, following current scientific guidelines and proper methods can greatly reduce these dangers.
For the best survival chances of hooked stripers, fishermen should employ appropriate gear, minimize the duration fish spend above water, and skip fishing during peak heat periods.
Research indicates that circle hooks result in lower striped bass death rates compared to J hooks, which cause more serious injuries. Maryland law mandates that striped bass anglers use non-offset circle hooks. Single-hook lures prove easier to remove and inflict less harm than treble hook varieties.
DNR recommends catch-and-release fishermen utilize rubber or soft mesh landing nets, along with dehookers and lip-gripping tools for hook removal assistance rather than supporting fish weight. Large specimens should be held horizontally to protect internal organs, never vertically or with hands inserted in gill areas. Wet gloves are essential when handling fish to preserve their protective slime coating. Fisheries officials stress preparation for quick hook removal and rapid photography – under one minute – before release. The optimal approach involves never removing striped bass from water entirely.
Air exposure presents another major threat to released fish. When exhausted fish from fighting tackle get lifted into air, the shock can trigger stress responses and respiratory harm.
A 2025 University of Massachusetts Amherst research project examining post-release behavior of hundreds of striped bass caught off Massachusetts waters determined that air exposure duration represented the most critical factor affecting striped bass recovery. Researchers recommended keeping fight duration under 2 minutes, handling periods under 2 minutes, and air exposure below 1 minute.
The study monitored 521 fish, all surviving within 20 minutes post-release, demonstrating striped bass resilience under many catch-and-release scenarios. However, scientists didn’t track fish beyond that timeframe, and biologists acknowledge fish may experience delayed effects hours or days after capture. Fish kept from water for two minutes or longer failed to fully recover during monitoring periods. These harmful impacts intensified for larger fish and elevated water temperatures.
Air exposure during high temperatures proves especially hazardous for striped bass and other species. DNR urges anglers to avoid catching and releasing medium and large striped bass when water exceeds 80 degrees and air temperatures surpass 95 degrees. During summer months, the department publishes a Striped Bass Fishing Advisory Forecast offering safe angling recommendations based on temperature conditions. Anglers should stay current with state striped bass regulations.
The department is evaluating a seasonal adjustment for Maryland striped bass fishing, potentially opening April for catch-and-release when temperatures remain moderate for safe practices, while closing the entire month of August rather than late July. DNR scientists believe this modification would provide maximum protection for striped bass during their most vulnerable period – the hottest final summer weeks.
Management strategies have concentrated on protecting mature adult fish to support successful spawning when environmental conditions align properly. Fisheries managers, anglers, and the Chesapeake Bay community continue awaiting favorable environmental circumstances, while scientists persist in investigating reasons behind poor spawning performance.
Meanwhile, anglers can contribute to protecting large rockfish that will produce future generations of this iconic state species. Maryland’s striped bass represent a shared resource. Through safe catch-and-release practices and avoiding fishing during extreme heat, anglers can support conservation efforts ensuring future generations benefit from this important species.
Federal investigators are examining a weekend bombing attempt in New York City that they believe was motivated by ISIS ideology, according to law enforcement officials.
Authorities say two men from Pennsylvania are accused of hurling homemade explosive devices at protesters who were demonstrating against Muslims on Saturday. The incident occurred in Manhattan’s Upper East Side area.
New York Police Department Commissioner described the weapons as “explosive devices that could have caused serious injury or death.”
Law enforcement officers swarmed the Upper East Side neighborhood on Sunday after police identified what they called a “suspicious device in a vehicle,” leading to a significant emergency response in the area.
The investigation is being treated as a terrorism case with suspected ties to the Islamic State group, marking another incident of domestic extremism in the nation’s largest city.
Officials have not yet released the identities of the two Pennsylvania suspects or provided details about potential charges they may face in connection with the alleged attack.
BEIRUT (AP) — After Israeli forces issued a mass evacuation directive for Beirut’s southern districts, Fatima Nazha and her family found themselves homeless, spending two nights sleeping outdoors.
With government-operated shelters at schools completely filled and no money for hotel rooms or rental apartments, Nazha and her spouse ultimately settled into a tent at Lebanon’s largest sports venue. Their children and grandchildren managed to secure accommodation near Sidon, a coastal city in the south.
Within a mere 10-day period, the current conflict has forced more than 800,000 Lebanese citizens to abandon their residences, occurring just over 12 months after the previous confrontation displaced over one million people. According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, a humanitarian organization, this represents approximately one out of every seven residents in the small nation. Countless individuals lack proper accommodation, while Lebanon’s financially struggling government has managed to house only around 120,000 people despite efforts to establish additional shelters and increase supply deliveries.
For Nazha, who relies on a wheelchair for mobility, this forced displacement has proven significantly more challenging than during the previous Israel-Hezbollah conflict that occurred more than a year earlier. The current military strikes against the Iranian-supported militant organization have been more severe and unpredictable, with Israel’s evacuation directive arriving suddenly and preventing her from collecting all personal possessions.
“Previously, the bombardments focused on particular locations, but currently they’re striking everywhere,” she explained while smoking a cigarette. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported Friday that the conflict has claimed more than 700 lives, including 103 children.
Israeli military operations against its northern neighbor intensified after Hezbollah launched multiple rockets into Israeli territory following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the conflict’s beginning.
The majority of Lebanese citizens had hoped Hezbollah would refrain from retaliating against the Iranian attack, since the militant group’s backing of Hamas, another Iran-supported organization, in 2023 resulted in Israeli military action against Hezbollah within Lebanon. Anti-Hezbollah sentiment and opposition to its supporters has grown throughout Lebanon, while existing tensions and divisions within the fractured nation continue to intensify.
Property owners have been increasing rental prices to discourage new tenants, worried about becoming targets themselves. Hotels have implemented stricter guest screening procedures since Israel attacked two hotel rooms, claiming it was pursuing Iranian Revolutionary Guard operatives conducting activities in Beirut.
Those without family or friends to accommodate them, or who cannot afford apartments or hotel accommodations, have resorted to sleeping outdoors or in vehicles throughout central Beirut, choosing safety over comfort. However, this perceived security was destroyed when an overnight Israeli attack resulted in at least eight deaths and over 30 injuries in the capital’s Ramlet el-Bayda district, where numerous displaced individuals had established tent camps along the coastline or slept on mattresses along the waterfront promenade.
Relief organizations, constrained by years of insufficient funding, are finding it difficult to meet demands. They caution about an impending humanitarian disaster.
“Requirements are growing much more rapidly than our ability to address them,” stated Mathieu Luciano, who leads the International Organization for Migration in Lebanon, during a recent media briefing.
The government has converted Lebanon’s primary sports stadium into an emergency shelter, housing Nazha, her husband, and over 800 additional people who sleep in the partially enclosed walkways beneath the seating areas. The facility provides restrooms and washing stations but lacks shower facilities and has unreliable electrical service.
“Simply providing food isn’t sufficient… A can of fish or bread loaf or water jug isn’t adequate,” Nazha stated Thursday from her portable bed.
In the stadium parking area where Lebanon’s national football team typically competes during peaceful times, children engaged in an informal match while an Israeli surveillance drone circled above, identifiable by its distinctive buzzing sound. From this location, observers can witness and hear the explosions occurring daily in surrounding neighborhoods.
Naji Hammoud, who manages athletic facilities for Lebanon’s Youth and Sports Ministry, said he never anticipated assuming such significant responsibilities.
“We’re working against the clock,” Hammoud commented as relief workers and volunteers hurried to erect tents.
The previous conflict displaced over one million people, but that occurred near its conclusion after a year of limited combat that slowly intensified. This time, developments that previously required months have happened within days.
Hezbollah’s initial rocket assault followed by Israel’s immediate overnight bombardments shocked Lebanon, and the widespread evacuation announcements caught residents unprepared. Israel initially directed dozens of villages south of the Litani River to move northward. Subsequently, it advised residents to evacuate Dahiyeh, a predominantly Shiite suburban area on Beirut’s southern periphery that ranks among the country’s most densely populated regions.
Every major highway connecting the capital to southern Lebanon experienced severe traffic congestion as people rushed to locate safe accommodations.
“We traveled for two days before discovering this location that would accept us,” explained Seganish Gogamo, an Ethiopian worker who escaped from the southern city of Nabatieh and found refuge in a Beirut church sheltering migrant workers from Asia and Africa. She departed during nighttime hours following intense aerial bombardments.
The fighting shows no signs of concluding, as approximately 100,000 Israeli soldiers have gathered along the U.N.-established Blue Line separating both countries in preparation for an expected ground offensive. Many worry the Israel-Hezbollah confrontation might extend beyond the Iran conflict.
Joe Sayyah was among numerous residents who stayed in their border village, Alma al-Shaab, during the war’s initial days, hoping evacuation wouldn’t become necessary. As a Christian community, Israel has primarily targeted Shiite areas where Hezbollah maintains operations.
Sayyah and others contacted the Vatican and the United States, presenting themselves as uninvolved parties in the conflict and emphasizing the absence of military personnel or activities in their area. They also spent several days taking shelter within a church.
However, when his friend died in an Israeli drone attack while tending to his garden, they realized departure was essential. He and the remaining residents rang the church bell one final time before traveling to the capital in a convoy protected by United Nations peacekeeping forces.
Upon reaching a church in Beirut’s northern outskirts to conduct a funeral service for his friend, Sayyah said the relief of arriving somewhere secure was quickly overshadowed by the sobering understanding that this conflict might differ from the previous one.
“This time, there’s a significant chance we might never return to our village,” he said.
The culinary world is grappling with a major scandal as one of its biggest stars faces serious allegations of workplace abuse. Danish chef Rene Redzepi, founder of the world-renowned Copenhagen restaurant Noma, stepped down from his position Thursday following explosive reports of mistreatment spanning nearly a decade.
The controversy erupted when The New York Times published accounts from dozens of former Noma employees detailing alleged abuse and assault incidents between 2009 and 2017. These revelations have cast a harsh spotlight on the aggressive culture that has long dominated elite restaurant kitchens.
Redzepi, who holds the title of Danish knight and pioneered the “New Nordic” cooking movement, built Noma into a culinary empire. The restaurant earned three Michelin stars and claimed the top spot on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List five times. However, whispers about staff mistreatment and the use of unpaid interns had followed him for years.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for the celebrity chef. The abuse allegations surfaced just as Noma launched a $1,500-per-person pop-up location in Los Angeles. Sponsors quickly withdrew their support, and the Wednesday opening drew a small group of protesters. Hours later, Redzepi posted an emotional video on Instagram announcing his departure. “An apology is not enough,” he stated. “I take responsibility for my own actions.”
Former staff members described a pattern of behavior that allegedly included physical violence, threats of career sabotage, and intimidation tactics. According to their accounts, Redzepi would punch team members, poke them with kitchen utensils, and threaten to have them banned from the industry or even have their families removed from the country.
Jason Ignacio White, who previously led Noma’s fermentation laboratory, gathered anonymous testimonials from alleged victims and shared them on social media. These posts have garnered millions of views, amplifying the voices of those who say they suffered in silence.
“Noma destroyed my passion for the industry,” read one account. “I struggled with intense anxiety, bad enough to give me panic attacks in the middle of the night. The trauma, abuse and idea that nothing would ever change all led me to walk away from the career.”
This scandal has reignited debate about the “brigade de cuisine” system that governs most professional kitchens. This hierarchical structure, created by French chef Georges Auguste Escoffier in the early 1900s, was modeled after military organization. It assigns specific roles to each kitchen worker, from head chef down to sauce specialists, grill operators, and fish preparers.
While designed to promote efficiency and coordination through clear commands like “Hand!” and “Yes, chef!”, this system has historically enabled harsh treatment and verbal abuse. Even Escoffier noted that his mentor believed kitchen management was impossible “without a shower of slaps.”
Author George Orwell, who worked as a dishwasher in Paris, captured the brutal reality of kitchen hierarchy in his 1933 book “Down and Out in Paris and London.” He described a chain of yelling and intimidation where each level took out frustrations on those below them. “A plongeur is one of the slaves of the modem world,” Orwell wrote. “He is no freer than if he were bought and sold.”
Modern restaurant kitchens remain notoriously demanding workplaces, combining extended shifts, cramped conditions, rigid hierarchies, physically demanding tasks, and constant pressure. The emergence of celebrity chefs as artistic visionaries in the 1970s, along with the pursuit of Michelin-star recognition, has only intensified these pressures.
London chef Marco Pierre White, who mentored Gordon Ramsay, famously called his kitchen at Harveys restaurant “my theatre of cruelty” in his memoir “The Devil in the Kitchen.” He bragged about subjecting his staff to intense verbal attacks. Anthony Bourdain’s bestselling book “Kitchen Confidential” further romanticized this aggressive environment, describing workplaces filled with “heated argument, hypermacho posturing and drunken ranting.”
However, academic research reveals the serious psychological toll of such environments. A 2021 Cardiff University study involving 47 elite chefs found that isolated kitchen environments can create what researchers called a “geography of deviance.” This leads to “feelings of invisibility, alienation and detachment” among junior staff members.
The study also determined that abusive chef behavior can transform a kitchen into “an instrument of social withdrawal and a symbol of deviance around which the community pivots.”
Former employees told The Times that Redzepi would continue his alleged intimidation tactics even in Noma’s open kitchen design. When customers were present in the dining area, he would reportedly crouch beneath counters to jab staff members in the legs with his fingers or kitchen tools.
Many young chefs endure such treatment because they fear losing the chance to learn from industry leaders or damage their future career prospects. This dynamic was portrayed in the hit television series “The Bear,” where the main character Carmy Berzatto tolerates severe abuse to train under a world-class chef.
Noma, whose name combines the Danish words “Nordisk” and “Mad” (meaning Nordic and food), opened in 2003 with a mission to “rediscover wild local ingredients by foraging and to follow the seasons.” The restaurant became so influential that it featured in “The Bear” as the training location for two main characters, with Redzepi himself making a guest appearance.
This wasn’t Redzepi’s first time facing public scrutiny over his behavior. The 2008 documentary “Noma at Boiling Point” showed him shouting at kitchen staff, and he has issued multiple public apologies over the years. In a 2015 essay, he admitted to being “a bully for a large part of my career” and acknowledged that he had “yelled and pushed people” and been “a terrible boss at times.”
Even then, Redzepi seemed to understand that such behavior was driving away talented young workers and threatening the future of fine dining. “The only way we will be able to reap the promise of the present is by confronting the unpleasant legacies of our past,” he said, “and collectively forging a new path forward.”
Robin Burrow, an organization studies professor at the University of York, points to systemic issues within the restaurant industry that make change difficult. “The resources aren’t there for self-policing,” Burrow explained. “The general feeling, though, is that things are so tough even for very good chefs that this kind of culture ends up being inevitable.”
The Redzepi scandal represents a watershed moment for an industry already struggling with thin profit margins and lacking traditional human resources infrastructure. As the culinary world watches this situation unfold, many are questioning whether the era of kitchen intimidation and abuse is finally coming to an end.
The Dallas Cowboys have obtained pass rusher Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers through a trade that coincided with the opening of NFL free agency, according to a source familiar with the transaction who spoke to The Associated Press on Monday.
In return for Gary, Dallas will provide Green Bay with a late-round draft selection in 2027, the source revealed.
The individual requested anonymity as the transaction was still undergoing final approval procedures.
The agreement between Dallas and Green Bay was completed precisely as unrestricted free agents gained permission to negotiate with teams and establish contract terms that cannot be officially executed until Wednesday when the new league year commences.
Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins have announced the release of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, contributing another prominent signal-caller to the free agent pool that will also feature Kyler Murray, whom Arizona is releasing.
This represents the second consecutive season that Dallas and Green Bay have exchanged pass rushers. Just one week prior to last season’s opener, the Cowboys dealt young standout Micah Parsons, who promptly secured a four-year, $188 million extension with $136 million in guarantees. The contract established a new record as the most lucrative deal for a non-quarterback in NFL history.
Gary entered the league as the 12th overall selection in 2019, two years ahead of Parsons being chosen by Dallas at the identical draft position. The 28-year-old defender has recorded 7.5 sacks in each of the last two campaigns and has reached that threshold in five of his six professional seasons.
The New York Giants have retained veteran tight end Chris Manhertz, maintaining both him and running back Devin Singletary as offensive carryovers under new head coach John Harbaugh.
New York also secured receiver and return specialist Gunner Olszewski last week, while 25-year-old Wan’Dale Robinson could potentially leave via free agency after becoming only the third player standing 5-foot-8 or under to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
Minnesota prevented one of their unrestricted free agents from reaching the open market by finalizing terms with 10th-year linebacker Eric Wilson on a three-year agreement worth $22.5 million, including $12.5 million in full guarantees, per NFL Network reports.
Wilson, who rejoined his original franchise last season, established personal bests in tackles for loss (17), sacks (6.5), quarterback hits (10), and forced fumbles (four). NFL NextGen Stats indicates Wilson stands as the only linebacker to register 40-plus quarterback pressures and 20-plus run stuffs in any single season from 2020 through 2025.
The New York Jets have completed a blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins to obtain star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, immediately locking him up with a three-year, $40 million contract extension, according to a source familiar with the transaction who spoke to The Associated Press on Monday.
In exchange for the five-time Pro Bowl defender, the Jets will send Miami a seventh-round selection in this year’s draft, two sources confirmed to the AP under condition of anonymity since the transaction cannot be finalized until Wednesday when the NFL’s new league year begins.
This move, which ESPN first broke, fills a critical gap for New York after the franchise became the first NFL team in history to complete an entire season without recording a single interception.
The 29-year-old defensive back had one season remaining on his Miami contract valued at $15.6 million, though the money was not guaranteed.
This marks the second significant trade of the offseason for New York, as the organization continues upgrading its defense during coach Aaron Glenn’s sophomore campaign. The Jets previously obtained nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat from Tennessee in exchange for edge rusher Jermaine Johnson last month.
Glenn dismissed defensive coordinator Steve Wilks with three games remaining in the season and brought in Brian Duker in January to oversee the defensive unit, though Glenn announced he will handle play-calling duties this upcoming season.
The safety position was anticipated to be a priority for the Jets during free agency, with rookie Malachi Moore being the only player on the current roster with substantial experience at the position. Both Andre Cisco and Tony Adams, who have served as starters, are expected to enter free agency.
Throughout his career, Fitzpatrick has recorded 21 interceptions, though he managed just one pick in 14 appearances last season with Miami.
This transaction occurs on the same day Miami announced its decision to part ways with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The organization revealed that Tagovailoa, who served as the primary starter for the past five and a half seasons, will be released.
BANGKOK, March 14 – Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn will formally inaugurate parliament on Saturday while the nation’s Constitutional Court examines potential legal violations from last month’s general election involving ballot security features.
The country’s Office of the Ombudsman has raised concerns that barcode technology on voting ballots could compromise voter anonymity and has asked the Constitutional Court to review the matter.
Although Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party secured a decisive win in the February 8 election, the ombudsman announced Friday that 21 public complaints have been filed alleging that barcodes and QR codes on ballots might enable identification of individual voter choices.
This scrutiny carries significant weight, as the court previously invalidated a 2006 election due to violations of ballot secrecy requirements.
Election officials have defended the barcode system, stating it serves security functions and that voter identification would only be possible with access to the top portion of ballots, which remain in secure storage.
Bhumjaithai secured at least 191 seats in the 500-member legislative body and plans to establish a governing coalition with the third-place Pheu Thai Party along with smaller political groups. This alliance would control more than 290 seats, potentially providing governmental stability following years of political upheaval.
Parliamentary sessions will resume Sunday with lawmakers selecting a new house speaker and two deputy positions.
Veteran Bhumjaithai politician and Deputy Prime Minister Sophon Zaram announced to media Thursday that his party has put forward his name for the speaker position. The newly elected speaker will then schedule parliamentary proceedings to select the prime minister.
According to Bhumjaithai deputy leader Siripong Angkasakulkiat, the prime ministerial vote is anticipated for Thursday.
American military forces launched strikes Friday against Kharg Island, Iran’s critical oil export facility that handles nine-tenths of the nation’s petroleum shipments, raising concerns about global energy supply disruptions.
Former President Donald Trump announced on social media that U.S. forces “totally obliterated every MILITARY target” on the strategic island and warned that oil facilities could become targets if Iran continues disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The island facility, located 16 miles off Iran’s coastline and approximately 300 miles northwest of the Strait of Hormuz, serves as the primary export point for Iranian crude oil due to its deep-water ports capable of accommodating large tankers.
Data from TankerTracker.com and Kpler indicates Iran has maintained oil shipments between 1.1 million and 1.5 million barrels daily, even after increasing production before the February 28 conflict launched by Israel and the United States.
Energy markets closely monitored whether the military action affected Kharg’s complex system of pipelines, loading terminals and storage facilities. Any operational disruption could further strain already tight global oil supplies and increase market volatility.
“You take out Kharg infrastructure, then you take 2 million bpd out of the market for good – not until the Straits get fixed,” explained Dan Pickering, chief investment officer for Pickering Energy Partners.
Iran’s military responded Saturday through state media, warning that attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure would trigger retaliatory strikes against oil company facilities belonging to U.S. regional partners.
Patrick De Haan, an analyst with fuel price tracking service GasBuddy, expressed alarm about escalating tensions. “I’m very concerned it elevates the temperature and Iran has less to lose and it seems to escalate. Iran when backed into a corner is highly emboldened to act,” De Haan stated.
Iran has effectively blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that carries 20% of global oil supplies, primarily to Asian markets.
China represents the largest destination for Iranian crude exported through Kharg Island. According to Kpler tracking data, Iranian oil comprises 11.6% of China’s seaborne petroleum imports this year, with independent refiners drawn to previously discounted prices resulting from U.S. sanctions.
Export figures show Iran shipped 1.7 million barrels per day of crude oil this year, with 1.55 million barrels flowing through Kharg facilities. Before the current conflict, Iran had increased exports to approximately 2.17 million barrels daily in February, including a record 3.79 million barrels during the week of February 16.
The island’s storage infrastructure can hold roughly 30 million barrels, with approximately 18 million barrels of crude stored there as of early March, according to JP Morgan analysis of Kpler data. Satellite imagery from Wednesday showed multiple large crude carriers loading at Kharg terminals.
As OPEC’s third-largest producer, Iran supplies about 4.5% of global oil, with current output reaching 3.3 million barrels daily of crude oil plus 1.3 million barrels of condensate and other petroleum liquids.
Oakland Athletics rising star Tommy White extended his remarkable spring training performance Friday, delivering seven RBIs in a commanding 13-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Phoenix.
White, selected by Oakland in the second round of the 2024 draft, recorded three hits in five at-bats, including a double and home run. His stellar spring campaign now includes four homers and 13 RBIs, matching teammate Tyler Soderstrom for the major league lead in runs batted in during exhibition play.
The Athletics’ split squad offense overwhelmed Milwaukee starter Kyle Harrison (0-1), who surrendered six runs while striking out four and walking one. Harrison also gave up a home run to catcher Chad Wallach. Right-handed reliever Mark Manfredi struggled severely, allowing four runs without recording a single out in the ninth inning.
Left-handed pitcher Gage Jump (1-1), another 2024 draft selection, earned the victory after throwing four scoreless innings for Oakland.
Meanwhile, Oakland’s other split squad fell to San Diego 13-9 in Mesa, Arizona. The Padres erupted for six runs against Athletics starter Aaron Civale, who allowed nine hits and three strikeouts across four innings. Marcos Castanon contributed a home run and two RBIs for San Diego, while Clay Dungan delivered the tying and go-ahead runs.
In other spring action, Philadelphia defeated Baltimore 11-8 behind Alec Bohm’s pair of two-run home runs. The third baseman, batting .375 with nine RBIs this spring, broke a 3-3 deadlock with his second blast in the fifth inning.
Toronto dominated Minnesota 6-1 as Daulton Varsho went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer and three-run shot. The Blue Jays’ pitching staff held the Twins to one run despite allowing six hits and 10 walks, as Minnesota went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
Boston edged Tampa Bay 7-6 on Carlos Narvaez’s three-RBI performance, part of a 14-hit offensive display. Jason Delay broke a 6-6 tie with a seventh-inning solo home run for the Red Sox.
Atlanta held off a late New York Yankees rally for a 7-6 victory, with Maurico Dubon homering in a four-run first inning. Despite Garrett Martin’s three-run homer in a four-run ninth for the Yankees, the Braves’ early lead proved sufficient.
An accomplished Belarusian journalist received a nine-year prison sentence Monday after being found guilty of treason charges, marking another blow to press freedom in the authoritarian nation.
Pavel Dabravolski, 36, was convicted during a private hearing at Minsk City Court, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists. The award-winning reporter, who contributed to both international and local news organizations, most recently worked for BelaPAN, a news agency that Belarusian officials have labeled as extremist.
This conviction represents the fifth journalist to receive prison time within a two-week period, highlighting the government’s ongoing assault on media independence.
Alexander Lukashenko has maintained his grip on power for more than thirty years through systematic suppression of opposition voices.
The country erupted in widespread demonstrations after the disputed 2020 election results, which international observers condemned as illegitimate. Authorities detained over 65,000 individuals and physically assaulted thousands during the unrest. Following these protests, officials forced the closure of hundreds of independent news organizations and civil society groups.
Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, now living in exile, accused authorities of pursuing fabricated accusations against Dabravolski.
“Dabravolski’s only ‘crime’ was doing his job and covering the 2020 protests after the stolen elections,” she said. “We see that the conveyor belt of repression inside Belarus continues unabated.”
Media advocates report an intensification of government harassment targeting news professionals.
“Repression is escalating and Dabravolski’s sentence shows that the authorities are increasing pressure on journalists in a country that already has the worst freedom of speech in Europe,” Andrei Bastunets, the head of the journalists’ association, told The Associated Press.
The organization reports that 28 media workers are currently imprisoned throughout Belarus.
“It contradicts the idea that the human rights situation in Belarus has allegedly improved due to the release of prominent political prisoners,” Bastunets said.
During Lukashenko’s rule, Belarus has endured extended diplomatic isolation and economic penalties from Western nations due to authoritarian practices and for permitting Russia to launch attacks on Ukraine from Belarusian territory in 2022. Recently, the leader has attempted to rebuild Western relationships by freeing hundreds of political detainees.
Nevertheless, many others remain incarcerated, with human rights group Viasna calculating that 1,140 political prisoners are still held captive.
NEW YORK (AP) — Major publishing house Simon & Schuster has appointed a former Amazon.com executive as its new chief executive officer, the company announced Monday. Greg Greeley, 62, takes the helm effective immediately.
Greeley replaces Jonathan Karp, who revealed last year his plans to step away from the top role to launch his own publishing imprint called Simon Six within the company. The publishing powerhouse, which marked its 100th anniversary in 2024, represents literary giants including Stephen King, Colleen Hoover, and Bob Woodward, along with numerous other award-winning and bestselling writers.
Unlike Karp, who built his career as an editor and publisher, Greeley brings extensive business and investment experience to the role. His Amazon tenure spanned almost two decades, during which he held various leadership roles including vice president of Amazon Prime. After departing Amazon in 2018, he took on the role of president for Airbnb’s Homes division. His recent positions included serving as president and chief operating officer at biotechnology startup Opentrons and leading consumer goods company Thrasio as CEO.
“Greg Greeley is a talented and strategic leader with wide-ranging experience managing enterprises across physical and digital markets,” Richard Sarnoff, chair of the publisher’s board of directors, said in a statement. “His depth of expertise and avid love of books give us the confidence that he is the right CEO to take Simon & Schuster forward as it begins its next 100 years.”
The leadership transition comes during a period of significant transformation within the publishing world, as industry professionals grapple with questions about artificial intelligence’s impact on the future of literature and book publishing.
“Simon & Schuster has played an enduring role in sharing and shaping human culture through books, and I’m honored to steward that mission for the next generation of authors and readers,” Greeley said in a statement.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have reached a three-year, $33 million agreement with cornerback Montaric “Buster” Brown, preventing the defensive back from entering free agency, according to a source with knowledge of the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on Monday.
The source requested anonymity since neither the team nor player had publicly announced the contract.
Brown, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2022 draft, has been a starter in 29 contests during his four seasons with Jacksonville and just completed his most productive year. In 2025, he recorded 51 tackles, defended 12 passes, and intercepted two passes while successfully adapting to the team’s zone coverage system. Throughout his professional career, he has accumulated 166 tackles, 24 pass breakups, and three interceptions.
By retaining Brown, the Jaguars ensure their defensive backfield remains largely unchanged for 2026, as cornerbacks Travis Hunter, Jourdan Lewis, Jarrian Jones, and Christian Braswell are already under contract, along with safeties Eric Murray, Antonio Johnson, and Caleb Ransaw.
Last season, Jacksonville’s defense ranked 11th overall in the league and placed sixth in limiting passing yards per play.
However, the Jaguars still face defensive personnel challenges, particularly with linebacker Devin Lloyd anticipated to join another team during free agency. The organization also needs to add a third pass rusher and may need to find a replacement for defensive tackle Arik Armstead, whose contract carries a $19.4 million salary cap hit for 2026.
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has dropped its patent violation case against telehealth provider Hims & Hers after both companies struck a partnership agreement that will bring authentic weight loss medications to the Hims online platform.
The legal dispute began last month when Hims & Hers announced plans to introduce a lower-cost generic alternative to the popular weight loss drug Wegovy, coming just weeks after Novo Nordisk released its much-awaited updated version of the bestselling medication. Novo Nordisk immediately threatened legal action, describing the proposed product as “an unapproved, inauthentic, and untested knockoff” of semaglutide, Wegovy’s active ingredient.
However, Hims abandoned its generic drug plans within 48 hours. The reversal occurred one day after federal regulators at the Food and Drug Administration warned they would limit access to the raw materials companies use to create imitation weight loss treatments.
Federal regulations allow specialized pharmacies and similar businesses to produce copied versions of brand-name medications during supply shortages. The explosive popularity of GLP-1 medications in recent years led companies including Hims to enter the multi-billion dollar drug market, with numerous patients paying out-of-pocket for treatments.
In 2024, the FDA declared that GLP-1 medications were no longer experiencing shortages, a decision anticipated to halt the copying practice. However, businesses like Hims continued operating under a regulatory loophole that permits the practice when prescriptions are tailored to individual patients.
Under the partnership agreement announced Monday, Hims will begin offering both pill and injection forms of Wegovy and Ozempic through its website later this month. The company has also committed to ending all advertising of copied GLP-1 medications across its platform and marketing campaigns.
Novo Nordisk indicated in a public statement that it maintains the option to restart legal proceedings at a future date.
Stock prices for Hims & Hers Health Inc. surged over 36% during Monday morning market activity. Even with this increase, shares remain significantly below their yearly peak of approximately $70. American-traded Novo Nordisk shares climbed 1.8%.
Extremist fighters launched devastating simultaneous assaults across northeastern Nigeria early Monday, claiming the lives of 15 people in what military sources and local residents describe as carefully orchestrated attacks.
The casualties included 12 military personnel and three civilians who died during the overnight raids that struck three different locations, highlighting the persistent threat posed by terrorist organizations in the region.
For nearly two decades, extremist violence has plagued northeastern Nigeria, resulting in thousands of deaths and forcing 2 million people from their homes, according to humanitarian organizations. This devastation continues despite extensive military operations aimed at eliminating the threat.
The Monday morning strikes targeted Kukawa, Dalwa, and Goniri, occurring just days following a comparable assault on military forces in Ngoshe. These incidents demonstrate the terrorist organizations’ capability to execute simultaneous operations across multiple locations.
Fighters affiliated with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province launched their assault on Kukawa district in Borno state just before sunrise Monday, advancing toward a nearby military installation in what became a three-hour firefight, according to soldiers who participated in the battle.
Military personnel eventually regained control of the facility, but not before losing their commanding officer and five additional soldiers, a military source reported. Karta Maina Ma’aji Lawan, the legislative representative for Kukawa, verified both the attack and the commanding officer’s death.
The assault on Dalwa resulted in two military deaths and three civilian fatalities, while militants destroyed more than 250 residences by fire, according to Shetima Isa, a local resident and traditional leader.
In the adjacent Yobe state, insurgents successfully captured the Goniri military installation, killing four soldiers and destroying vehicles and structures through arson, another military member reported.
Army officials have not provided responses to requests for official statements regarding these incidents.
Nigerian military forces have increased their operations against insurgent strongholds throughout this year as part of an intensified campaign. However, both ISWAP and Boko Haram continue to take advantage of challenging geography, poorly secured borders, and limited government presence throughout the northeastern region’s dry territories.
These most recent attacks occurred mere hours after military intelligence had issued warnings about a probable ISWAP offensive operation.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has made his decision to continue his NFL career for a 14th season in 2026, according to multiple league sources who say he has notified interested teams that he plans to remain with the Chiefs.
Despite earlier speculation about potential moves to other franchises, Kelce has chosen to stay put in Kansas City, even though he could have earned more money elsewhere, according to NFL Network and Sports Illustrated reports. The veteran is expected to sign a new one-year contract with the Chiefs.
The 36-year-old star has earned 11 Pro Bowl selections and four All-Pro honors during his time in Kansas City, where he was drafted in the third round back in 2013.
After spending recent offseasons contemplating retirement, Kelce faced a decision as an unrestricted free agent, but sources indicate he has no intention of leaving the organization that drafted him.
Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach addressed the situation during the NFL Scouting Combine on February 24, stating: “We’ve kind of prepared for either scenario. We’re trying to position ourselves that either way, we have a plan moving forward.”
Veach mentioned plans to meet with Kelce’s representatives after the combine, noting that “you need some sort of timeline and deadline,” while describing discussions with his team as “positive.”
Head Coach Andy Reid maintains regular communication with Kelce, who experienced a statistical decline during what many consider a Hall of Fame career trajectory.
Last season, Kelce recorded 851 receiving yards and five touchdowns, with his 76 catches marking his fewest since managing 72 receptions in 2015.
“Travis is the best, he’s an icon and hopefully he comes back,” Veach commented in his February interview. “We’ll just kind of let that process play out. It’s not your typical 27-year-old first-time-in-free agency.
“Travis has done everything. He’s accomplished everything. He’s about to get married, got a lot going on. We’re just going to continue to have positive dialog and see where this thing ends.”
Before the 2025 season began, Kelce acknowledged considering retirement while noting how his life has transformed since beginning his relationship with global pop sensation Taylor Swift, to whom he is now engaged.
The three-time Super Bowl champion holds every major Chiefs receiving record, including receptions (1,080), receiving yards (13,002), and touchdown catches (82).
