First Lady Melania Trump made history Monday by becoming the first spouse of any world leader to preside over a United Nations Security Council session, leading discussions about protecting children and education during armed conflicts.
The groundbreaking meeting, titled “Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict,” took place just two days following U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran that have raised UN concerns about child welfare in the region.
The session occurred as the United States assumed the Security Council’s monthly rotating leadership role, representing another example of how President Trump has integrated family members into significant foreign policy matters.
According to her office, the First Lady’s goal was to highlight education as a pathway to promoting tolerance and global peace. During her address to the council, she stated: “The U.S. stands with all of the children throughout the world. I hope soon peace will be yours.”
The timing proved controversial following Iran’s accusations against Israel and the U.S. regarding a Saturday attack on a girls’ elementary school in Minab, a southern Iranian community. Iran’s UN representative Amir Saeid Iravani reported that 165 female students were killed in the strike, though Reuters has been unable to verify these claims independently.
Iravani criticized what he called the “deeply shameful and hypocritical” nature of the U.S. hosting a meeting about child protection in warfare “while at the same time launching missile strikes against Iranian cities and bombing schools and killing children.”
Following the Iranian allegations, UNICEF released a statement Saturday acknowledging the reports and warning that the Middle East military escalation “marks a dangerous moment for millions of children in the region.” The statement supported UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ appeal for immediate hostilities to end.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded Monday, telling reporters that “the United States will not deliberately target a school.”
Israel’s UN representative indicated he had received conflicting accounts, including reports that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps was responsible for targeting the school, while expressing regret over any civilian casualties.
During Monday’s Security Council session, China’s UN ambassador Fu Cong addressed school attacks without directly referencing Iran’s claims, noting that such strikes represent serious violations against children as defined by the United Nations. He emphasized the need for thorough investigations and accountability measures from the international community.
President Trump has consistently criticized the United Nations throughout his political career, describing the 193-nation organization as inefficient and requiring significant reforms. Under his administration, the United States has accumulated billions in unpaid UN budget contributions, with the debt increasing substantially during Trump’s tenure.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric commented last week that Melania Trump’s decision to chair the meeting demonstrated “the importance that the United States feels towards the Security Council and the subject at hand.”
Last month, President Trump adopted a more cooperative approach toward the UN during the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace, an initiative he claims will address global conflicts, though many international leaders worry it’s intended to supersede the United Nations.
While the First Lady has maintained a relatively low public profile throughout Trump’s presidencies, she has previously championed children’s issues, including sending a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2025 requesting the return of Ukrainian children relocated to Russia during the ongoing conflict.
Two University of Delaware track and field athletes have been recognized with prestigious conference honors announced this week.
Conference USA revealed on Monday that Blue Hens competitors Olamide Ayeni and Marie-Theres Gruber have both earned spots on the league’s third team all-conference squad.
Ayeni competes in throwing events for Delaware, while Gruber specializes in distance running competitions. Both athletes’ performances throughout the season were strong enough to merit recognition among the top performers across the conference.
The all-conference selections highlight the continued success of Delaware’s track and field program within Conference USA competition.
Good evening, Delmarva! We’re tracking a messy weather pattern moving through our area tonight that’ll keep things interesting through midweek.
Tonight’s the story of transition – we’re starting with a chance of light snow before 1am, then expect a mix of rain and snow between 1am and 3am before settling into steady rain and snow. Temperatures will hover right around the freezing mark at 31°F with light easterly winds. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation, and while we could see less than an inch of snow accumulation, most of it will likely melt as we transition to rain.
Tuesday brings much milder conditions with temperatures climbing to 46°F and light rain continuing. The warming trend continues Tuesday night with temps holding around 44°F and more light rain expected.
Looking ahead to Wednesday, we’ll see temperatures reach a pleasant 56°F, though light rain remains likely.
Bottom line: grab your umbrella and maybe keep a light jacket handy for the next few days. Drive safely tonight during that snow-to-rain transition!
Stay warm and dry, Delmarva!
A compassionate volunteer working with a Sonoma County school district has discovered an innovative approach to addressing teenage clothing needs. Rather than simply distributing any available donated items, she takes the time to carefully select, wash, and organize clothing contributions to ensure teenagers from low-income families receive fashionable options they genuinely want to wear.
The volunteer recognized that traditional clothing donation programs often fall short when it comes to meeting the style preferences of teenage recipients. By curating the donated items and presenting them in an appealing way, she’s helping to bridge the gap between necessity and personal expression for young people who might otherwise feel self-conscious about their clothing options.
The United States Supreme Court is currently examining a complex constitutional question involving Second Amendment rights and marijuana use, as justices consider whether cannabis users can be prohibited from owning firearms.
The legal proceedings are occurring against the backdrop of the Court’s landmark 2022 Bruen ruling, which established that any firearm regulation must have historical precedent dating back to America’s founding period in the late 18th century to be deemed constitutional.
This standard requires lawmakers and courts to find comparable restrictions that existed during the nation’s establishment in the 1700s when evaluating modern gun control measures.
WASHINGTON — A comprehensive look at President Donald Trump and his administration’s public communications regarding Iran reveals a pattern of contradictory and evolving messaging spanning several months.
Following military action against Iran last summer, Trump and his team consistently proclaimed that the operations had completely eliminated Iran’s nuclear capabilities and would prevent weapons development for years to come. However, in the days leading up to recent coordinated strikes with Israel, the same officials began issuing increasingly urgent alerts about Tehran’s nuclear threats.
The mixed messaging extends beyond nuclear concerns. When widespread demonstrations broke out across Iran in January, Trump initially issued strong military threats through social media, only to retreat from those positions after claiming he received assurances that Tehran had stopped killing demonstrators and canceled planned executions. International monitoring groups, however, reported that more than 7,000 people died during the government’s suppression of the protests.
Additionally, despite years of criticizing previous conservative administrations for pursuing “regime change” policies, Trump appeared to shift his position and embrace such concepts.
Following recent weekend attacks, administration officials have provided various justifications for the latest military action against Iran, some of which contradict their previous eight months of statements.
Key statements from Trump include a June 24, 2025 Truth Social post declaring: “THE NUCLEAR SITES IN IRAN ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED!”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told CNN on June 25, 2025: “Based on everything we have seen — and I’ve seen it all — our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons.”
A White House press release from June 25, 2025 stated: “The precision strikes perfectly hit their targets and destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities, resulting in the total obliteration of Iran’s ability to create a nuclear weapon.”
However, when intelligence reports suggested Iran’s nuclear program had only been delayed by months, Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed these accounts in a June 25, 2025 Politico interview, calling it “a false story and it’s one that really shouldn’t be re-reported.”
By June 30, 2025, Trump told Fox News: “They’ve been trying it for 25 years. The last thing they’re going to do is nuclear. We had to hit them, though. They were close to getting a nuclear bomb. Absolutely.”
Trump reinforced his claims in a July 19, 2025 Truth Social post: “All three nuclear sites in Iran were completely destroyed and/or OBLITERATED. It would take years to bring them back into service and, if Iran wanted to do so, they would be much better off starting anew, in three different locations, prior to those sites being obliterated, should they decide to do so.”
During his February 24 State of the Union address, Trump stated: “They’ve rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore.”
Speaking to reporters in Texas on February 27, 2026, Trump expressed frustration with negotiations: “They have to say ‘we’re not going to have a nuclear weapon, and they just can’t quite get there.”
On regime change, Trump posted on Truth Social June 22, 2025: “It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!”
Vice President JD Vance offered a different perspective to NBC News on June 22, 2025: “Our view has been very clear that we don’t want to regime change. We do not want to protract this or build this out any more than it’s already been built out. We want to end their nuclear program, and then we want to talk to the Iranians about a long-term settlement here.”
Regarding Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the weekend strikes, Trump posted on Truth Social June 27, 2025: “I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH, and he does not have to say, ‘THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!’” This came after Trump claimed knowledge of Khamenei’s location during June strikes.
When asked about regime change on February 13, Trump told reporters: “Seems like that would be the best thing that could happen. For 47 years, they’ve been talking and talking and talking. In the meantime, we’ve lost a lot of lives while they talk. Legs blown off, arms blown off, faces blown off.”
On Friday, when questioned about potential military-driven regime change, Trump responded: “There might be, and there might not be,” adding “It would be nice if we could do it without, but sometimes you have to do it with.”
Following Khamenei’s death, Trump posted on Truth Social February 28: “He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do. This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.”
In a February 28 video message, Trump stated: “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.”
Trump issued a direct appeal to Iranian citizens in a Sunday video statement: “I call upon all Iranian patriots who yearn for freedom to seize this moment—to be brave, be bold, be heroic, and take back your country.”
Defense Secretary Hegseth addressed the regime change question at a March 2 Pentagon briefing: “This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change.”
Regarding Iran’s missile capabilities, Secretary of State Rubio told reporters February 25: “Iran possesses a very large number of ballistic missiles, particularly short range ballistic missiles, that threaten the United States and our bases in the region, and our partners in the region, and all of our bases in the U.A.E. and Qatar and Bahrain.”
Trump expanded on the missile threat during a March 2 White House Medal of Honor ceremony: “The regime already had missiles capable of hitting Europe and our bases — both local and overseas — and would soon have had missiles capable of reaching our beautiful America.”
Hegseth explained during Monday’s Pentagon briefing that Iran “was building powerful missiles and drones to create a conventional shield for their nuclear blackmail ambitions.”
Concerning the January protests in Iran, Trump posted on Truth Social January 2: “If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”
On January 10, Trump posted: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”
Trump intensified his rhetoric on January 13: “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING — TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!!”
However, by January 14, Trump’s tone shifted during White House remarks: “We’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping — it’s stopped, it’s stopping. And there’s no plan for executions, or an execution, or executions — so I’ve been told that on good authority.”
On January 16, Trump told reporters while departing the White House: “You had yesterday scheduled over 800 hangings. They didn’t hang anyone. They canceled the hangings. That had a big impact.”
At Monday’s Medal of Honor ceremony, Trump adopted a markedly different approach: “This was our last, best chance to strike — what we’re doing right now — and eliminate the intolerable threats posed by this sick and sinister regime. And they are indeed sick and sinister.” He concluded: “You can’t deal with these people. You got to do it the right way.”
WASHINGTON — During oral arguments Monday, Supreme Court justices signaled they may strike down the federal prohibition preventing marijuana users from possessing firearms, creating unexpected bipartisan agreement on the bench.
Most justices appeared inclined to support a limited decision favoring Ali Danial Hemani, a Texas resident who challenged his criminal prosecution for gun possession while using cannabis several times weekly.
The Trump administration urged the nation’s highest court to uphold criminal charges against Hemani based on federal statutes prohibiting firearm ownership by illegal drug users. However, justices across the ideological spectrum expressed doubt about the law’s validity.
Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett questioned the government’s position, asking: “What is the government’s evidence that using marijuana a couple of times a week makes someone dangerous?”
While the Trump administration previously challenged various gun regulations, Principal Deputy Solicitor General Sarah Harris defended this particular statute as necessary protection against potentially hazardous individuals obtaining weapons. The same law formed the basis for Hunter Biden’s gun conviction related to cocaine addiction, though he received a presidential pardon from his father, former President Joe Biden.
Justice Neil Gorsuch highlighted the contradictory nature of current marijuana policy, noting: “What do we do with the fact that marijuana is sort of illegal and sort of isn’t, and that the federal government itself is conflicted on this?” Cannabis remains federally prohibited despite legalization in approximately half of all states.
Gorsuch helped establish the conservative majority’s 2022 landmark ruling in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, which requires gun regulations to demonstrate strong historical precedent from America’s founding era.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, representing the court’s liberal wing, argued the cannabis firearm prohibition lacks sufficient historical foundation. “I think your argument sort of falls apart under the Bruen test,” she told government attorneys.
Federal lawyers referenced historical statutes disarming “habitual drunkards” as precedent supporting their position. However, Gorsuch countered by citing founding fathers’ drinking habits, including John Adams consuming hard cider at breakfast and James Madison’s daily whiskey ration. “Are they all habitual drunkards who would be properly disarmed for life under your theory?” he asked.
Hemani’s attorney Erin Murphy distinguished historical alcohol restrictions as targeting extreme cases, arguing modern cannabis consumers who use products like sleep-aid gummies can safely handle firearms.
The litigation created uncommon political partnerships, with both the American Civil Liberties Union and National Rifle Association supporting Hemani alongside marijuana advocacy organizations like NORML. Conversely, gun safety organizations such as Everytown, typically opposing Trump administration Second Amendment positions, backed the federal prohibition.
Several justices worried that ruling for Hemani might enable weapon access for users of more dangerous substances including methamphetamine or heroin. Eliminating current restrictions could force courts to repeatedly evaluate individual drugs’ danger levels.
Chief Justice John Roberts expressed concern about judicial overreach, stating: “It just seems to me that this takes a fairly cavalier approach to the necessary consideration of expertise and the judgments we leave to Congress and the executive branch.”
This represents the court’s second firearms case this term following their 2022 decision. Justices also seem prepared to invalidate Hawaii’s law restricting weapons in commercial establishments and hotels.
The court will issue its final ruling before June’s conclusion.
The House Oversight Committee’s Republican members have made public recorded testimony from former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as part of their continuing examination of Jeffrey Epstein-related materials.
The recorded depositions were released as the committee continues its investigation into documents connected to the Epstein case.
WASHINGTON — Point guard Trae Young is gearing up to take the court for his inaugural game with the Washington Wizards when they face off against the Utah Jazz on Thursday evening.
The basketball star signaled his readiness through social media, sharing an Instagram video of his workout session while wearing his new Wizards uniform, concluding the post with “3/5” — referencing Thursday’s date.
Speaking to reporters on Monday prior to Washington’s matchup against Houston, head coach Brian Keefe indicated that Young was progressing well toward being cleared for game action against Utah. Keefe noted that the point guard would face playing time limitations of approximately 17 to 20 minutes, with most of his court time coming during the opening half.
Before joining Washington, Young appeared in 10 contests for the Atlanta Hawks during the current season, putting up 19.3 points per game while dishing out 8.9 assists on average. His season was cut short due to injuries affecting his knee and quadriceps. Washington obtained Young through a January trade deal that sent CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to Atlanta.
Leaders of traditional Anglican churches worldwide are wrestling with fundamental questions about their future: Should they remain united despite deep disagreements, or have their theological disputes damaged centuries-old bonds beyond healing?
The future of the Anglican Communion, representing one of Christianity’s most extensive church networks globally, hangs in the balance as key decisions may be reached before week’s end.
Traditional church leaders from multiple Anglican denominations began meeting Tuesday in Nigeria for a four-day conference. Their discussions center on a proposal that could trigger an unprecedented division within one of the world’s most significant Christian organizations.
Meanwhile, officials from the established Anglican Communion revealed Monday their own modified reorganization proposal. This alternative plan would shift leadership authority away from its traditional English headquarters and could allow collaboration despite deep theological divisions.
Whether this restructuring proposal will influence Gafcon members remains unclear. The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans is convening in Abuja, Nigeria, bringing together multiple primates — top Anglican national leaders — alongside other bishops, ministers, and laypeople.
This coalition — primarily representing Global South nations and some of Anglicanism’s most populous church regions — forms a traditional alliance functioning independently of the official London-headquartered Anglican Communion, though most Gafcon churches maintain communion membership.
Gafcon leadership has resisted progressive developments including same-sex marriage and ordaining openly LGBTQ+ ministers within European and North American Anglican churches, particularly the U.S. Episcopal Church. These divisions have grown so severe in recent years that several national churches have boycotted Anglican Communion conferences.
Last year, Gafcon’s leader, Rwanda’s Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, released a declaration effectively demanding separation from the current communion structure, stating that “the Anglican Communion will be reordered.”
His vision outlined a restructured “Global Anglican Communion” governed by a new council headed by elected leaders from any nation. Traditionally — though churches operate independently and collaborate voluntarily — Canterbury’s archbishop in England has served as “first among equals,” providing symbolic spiritual guidance.
Although some Anglican leaders within Gafcon supported Mbanda’s blueprint last year, others stayed quiet or reconfirmed their dedication to maintaining traditional Anglican Communion connections. The Abuja conference could see Mbanda’s strategy accepted, altered, or dismissed.
Last year’s declaration was “not the final word,” stated Bishop Paul Donison, Gafcon’s general secretary. The proposal requires thorough consideration in Abuja, he explained in a conference website video.
“There is much to iron out, much to discern, much to structure carefully and faithfully,” he stated. “But we will do that work together.”
Despite widening Anglican divisions, tensions haven’t produced a complete separation. This situation could shift if church leaders approve a definitive Canterbury break, though Gafcon officials claim they’re proposing communion reform rather than creating something entirely new.
The Anglican tradition originated during the Reformation with the Church of England’s establishment, combining Protestant beliefs with Catholic-style ceremonies and sacraments. It expanded globally through British colonial influence and missionary work, followed by successful evangelistic efforts under local leadership, especially throughout Africa.
Anglican Communion Office data shows approximately 85 million members spanning 165 nations, encompassing over 40 independent provinces.
This conference occurs shortly after the Church of England appointed Archbishop Sarah Mullally as Canterbury’s first female archbishop.
While some traditional Anglican leaders internationally criticized her appointment based on gender, they primarily objected to her LGBTQ+ positions. Mullally has supported the Church of England’s current marriage definition as between men and women, but endorsed same-sex couple blessing ceremonies and acknowledged “the harm that we have done” to LGBTQ+ individuals as a church.
Homosexuality remains forbidden across many African nations, sometimes criminalized through colonial-era statutes or recent laws. Uganda passed 2023 legislation mandating death penalties for certain homosexual acts.
The Anglican Communion is pursuing its own decentralization strategy, becoming “less Canterbury-centric,” according to proposal summaries, acknowledging that most Anglicans now reside in the Global South, distant from England.
These proposals — developed over years with some Monday revisions — involve complex technical details. Essentially, Canterbury’s archbishop would share numerous leadership responsibilities with other national leaders. The plan faces Anglican Consultative Council review this summer, with representatives from throughout the communion participating.
Bishop Graham Tomlin, who leads the commission developing these changes, said he’s uncertain whether the proposal will influence Gafcon’s discussions. The objective is maintaining cooperation while “acknowledging the depth of the disagreements among us,” he explained during Monday’s online press conference.
“The history of the church tells us that when we do make radical breaks from one another, it’s very hard to mend those walls, and this is a way of hopefully keeping us together,” he stated.
Over 400 attendees — ministers and lay members plus bishops — are anticipated at the Gafcon meeting in Abuja, Donison reported.
Though Global South churches dominate Gafcon, other participants include the Anglican Church in North America, established by traditionalists who separated from the U.S. Episcopal Church and Anglican Church of Canada.
CHARLESTON, S.C. — While progressive Democrats nationwide are pushing for bold liberal policies to help regain Congressional control this year, centrist party members are sounding a different alarm — warning that strategy could backfire.
At Third Way’s recent gathering, moderate Democratic leaders repeatedly emphasized that the party must avoid shifting too far to the left during midterm elections and future presidential nominations if they want any chance of reclaiming the White House.
The exclusive two-day event, titled “Winning the Middle,” offered strategic guidance for appealing to centrist voters.
Speakers advised attendees to communicate simply rather than using academic language, maintain genuine social media presence without living entirely online, and embrace patriotic symbols like the American flag without worrying about conservative associations.
Third Way co-founder Matt Bennett explained that his moderate Democratic organization intends to hold frequent meetings as the 2028 presidential race draws near, bringing together individuals who will shape and support Democratic candidates.
“We’re doing it early, and we’re doing it much, much more aggressively than we did last time,” Bennett stated. “We’ve got a team in place that is talking every day to the 2028ers.”
Jim Messina, who directed Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election effort, argued that Democrats haven’t yet figured out how to connect with voters effectively.
“In 2026, we’re going to win, because we have one great nominee, and his name is Donald Trump,” he explained, suggesting Trump’s low approval ratings will benefit Democrats. “But we’re going to lose the presidential election in 2028 if we can’t find an economic message that identifies with most people.”
When pressed to deliver the “brutal truth” to Democrats, Messina responded, “We have no economic message, and if we don’t get one, we’re not going to win.”
The Charleston venue was strategically chosen. South Carolina has played a crucial role in Democratic presidential primaries, notably helping propel Joe Biden to his 2020 victory. Though the Democratic National Committee’s updated primary calendar remains months away from completion, Bennett anticipates the state will continue wielding significant influence.
“We need to socialize these ideas immediately, so that they can begin to take hold and be widely shared by the time we get to the main part of their primary cycle,” Bennett noted.
Conference participants received abundant advice on presentation style.
“Democrats come across as like professors, academics, elites — I mean, my God, rip off your freaking sport coat and talk to me,” declared Joe Walsh, a former tea party Republican congressman from Illinois who switched to the Democratic Party last year. “Voters in general are just crying out for authenticity.”
However, Walsh cautioned against mimicking politicians like California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has started touring early primary states including South Carolina. Newsom has adopted Trump’s confrontational social media approach, using similar all-caps messaging to criticize the former president.
“I think the mimicking and the copying a lot of the Trumpism isn’t the way you’re actually going to reach a lot of folks,” Walsh observed. “Voters in general are just crying out for authenticity.”
Policy messaging also received attention during the conference. Only a handful of the more than 100 attendees indicated they had incorporated “affordability” — currently a popular campaign term — into their communications materials.
“I think some of you are lying,” joked Gabe Horwitz, who oversees Third Way’s economic initiatives, suggesting the actual number was much larger.
Melissa Morales from Somos Votantes, an organization focused on Latino voter engagement, urged Democrats to eliminate that word from campaign language.
“It barely makes sense in English, and it is a nightmare to translate into Spanish, so can we please call it something else?” she requested.
“They’re not asking us for economic theory, they’re asking us for a set of everyday solutions,” Morales continued. “And if we want to connect with them, that’s how we’re going to have to do it.”
WASHINGTON — Democrats who had been feeling discouraged about their lack of control in the nation’s capital have found reasons for hope in recent months.
The party, which has historically struggled with internal ideological conflicts, has largely come together in opposing President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration approach, especially following the deaths of two American citizens in Minneapolis. With midterm elections approaching and Democrats needing only a handful of additional seats to regain control of the House, the party has successfully kept the administration playing defense through attacks on Trump’s economic record and his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier.
However, recent military action by the United States and Israel targeting Iran threatens to fracture this newfound solidarity. At first, Democratic leaders tried to strike a balance — condemning Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died over the weekend, while simultaneously pushing for Congress to approve war powers legislation that would limit Trump’s military options.
“We need a strong, clear, vocal united opposition party to fight back and put a check on his power,” Daniel Biss, the mayor of Evanston, Illinois, who is competing in a Democratic congressional primary this month, said in an interview.
Yet cracks are beginning to show as several Democrats, particularly those with strong pro-Israel positions, are expressing doubts about the war powers measure. Ohio Representative Greg Landsman refuses to support an Iran resolution. Representative Josh Gottheimer had already announced his opposition before the strikes occurred.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, who supported war powers legislation regarding Venezuela in January, has now split from his party colleagues on the Iran measure and dismissed claims that the attack violated international law, creating tension with party leadership.
“John Fetterman knows better,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Monday on CNN as he pressed for an Iran vote this week.
The Republican Party is also experiencing internal conflict, with prominent supporters of Trump’s “America First” agenda openly questioning how these strikes align with his long-standing criticism of military involvement overseas.
Trump, who provided little advance warning to Americans about the possibility of such significant military action, announced Monday that the operation might continue for four to five weeks. He has not outlined a clear strategy for ending the conflict and has cautioned that American military deaths could increase, which will severely test public support for the engagement.
The military action could also drive up gasoline prices and create economic instability that may strengthen Democratic claims that the president is disconnected from the financial struggles of ordinary Americans.
Nevertheless, this situation creates difficulties for Democrats, who have been engaged in intense internal discussions about the party’s stance toward Israel following the Gaza conflict. Former President Joe Biden’s strong support for Israel during the heated 2024 campaign season conflicted sharply with younger voters who were angry about the situation facing Palestinians in Gaza. When Kamala Harris became the party’s nominee that year, she had trouble winning over some younger voters who are essential for Democratic victories.
When asked whether he was concerned those divisions could resurface, Paco Fabian, the political director for the progressive advocacy group Our Revolution, said “definitely” and acknowledged that Democrats “aren’t monolithic.” But he also suggested a shift was underway, noting the results of a New Jersey special election last month.
During that race, the super PAC connected to the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs committee tried to defeat the moderate candidate, Tom Malinowski, after he criticized unconditional aid to the Israeli government. Those tactics seemed to backfire when the more progressive candidate, Analilia Mejia, won the primary.
“A lot of folks are waking up to that influence,” Fabian said. “Given what’s going on right now, I don’t think the moment is doing AIPAC and Israel any favors.”
Public opinion regarding Israel appears to be changing. Three years ago, 54% of Americans had greater sympathy for Israelis compared with 31% for Palestinians, according to Gallup polling released last month. Currently, their support is roughly equal, with 41% saying they sympathize more with Palestinians, and only 36% expressing the same sentiment about Israelis.
Initial public reaction to the airstrikes seemed more critical than supportive, early surveys indicated. Approximately 6 in 10 American adults opposed the U.S. decision to launch military operations in Iran, according to a CNN poll conducted through text messaging over the weekend. A separate quick survey from The Washington Post conducted via text message on Sunday found that roughly half of respondents opposed the strikes, while 39% supported them. About 1 in 10 remained undecided.
Democrats and independents accounted for most of the opposition in those early surveys, while Republicans showed much stronger support.
The CNN survey revealed that most Americans believe Trump should be required to obtain congressional authorization for any additional military action in Iran. About 8 in 10 Democrats and roughly 7 in 10 independents agreed with this position, compared to about 3 in 10 Republicans.
The immediate political consequences of the Iranian attacks could become apparent as early as Tuesday during the first primary contests of this year’s midterm election cycle.
In North Carolina, Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam was already entering her campaign to challenge two-term Representative Valerie Foushee with endorsements from Our Revolution and other leading progressive organizations. After accepting support from AIPAC-connected groups during her 2022 race, Foushee’s campaign has refused such contributions this time around. Over the weekend, she stated she does not support “Trump’s illegal war with Iran” and would back the war powers resolution.
Still, Allam, who would become North Carolina’s first Muslim member of Congress if elected, quickly released a video before Tuesday’s election criticizing Trump for “starting another endless war” and vowing to never accept support from “the pro-Israel lobby.”
Before the March 17 primary in Illinois, AIPAC-aligned organizations have also attacked Biss, the Evanston mayor who hopes to become the Democratic nominee to replace retiring Representative Jan Schakowsky. In the interview, Biss discussed the “backlash I’m hearing people have against AIPAC, their MAGA-aligned money and their Trump-aligned policy agenda.”
When asked about such predictions, Patrick Dorton, a spokesman for AIPAC’s affiliated super PAC, said “the key distinction will be between those who recognize that Iran is a murderous regime that tortures women for leaving their hair uncovered, hangs gay people, and executes peaceful democratic protestors, and those who will turn a blind eye to the regime’s atrocities.”
WASHINGTON — The nation’s highest court delivered a win to Republicans on Monday by determining that New York’s sole GOP-controlled congressional seat in New York City can maintain its current boundaries through the 2026 election cycle, overturning a lower court decision that found the district undermines minority voting rights.
The high court’s decision blocks a state court order that would have required New York’s redistricting commission to redraw the boundaries of the district represented by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, which encompasses Staten Island and a portion of Brooklyn.
This decision represents a significant win for the GOP in the ongoing nationwide battle over congressional map-drawing that may ultimately decide which party controls the narrowly divided U.S. House. Republicans maintain a slim majority in the chamber.
Both New York’s Republican leadership and the Trump administration had requested the Supreme Court’s involvement in the matter. Congressional candidate filing periods in New York commenced last week.
A lower court judge had determined that the district’s boundaries were configured to weaken the electoral influence of Black and Hispanic communities and directed the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission to create new district lines.
This New York controversy represents one piece of a broader redistricting conflict that began when President Donald Trump encouraged Texas Republicans to redraw their state’s congressional maps for partisan advantage. Democratic leaders responded with similar redistricting efforts in California, with additional states joining the practice.
The Supreme Court has permitted both the California and Texas redistricting plans to proceed in current elections while legal challenges remain pending.
Following his characteristic non-traditional style, President Trump’s administration delayed making direct, live public statements to Americans for more than two days after initiating military action against Iran.
Trump explained his decision to launch the military operation before a White House ceremony celebrating military heroes on Monday, though he declined to take any reporter questions. Earlier that same day, Pentagon officials Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine conducted a media briefing for journalists.
During the preceding two days, Trump released a pair of pre-recorded videos through Truth Social, his media company’s social platform, and conducted phone conversations with over a dozen news reporters. Several of these telephone interviews resulted in incomplete answers that some observers felt created more confusion than clarity.
This communication approach drew criticism that Trump failed to adequately explain the war’s reasoning and goals, particularly as American forces began experiencing their first combat losses. In comparison, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who partnered with the U.S. in the Iran operation, made two public statements on the conflict’s opening day and spoke with reporters Monday at a missile strike location where nine people died. Israeli military officials have conducted multiple daily press conferences.
“The American people need a commander in chief, and he has been absent in that role,” former Obama White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel stated during a CNN appearance Monday. Emanuel, a Democrat considering a 2028 presidential campaign, criticized Trump’s leadership approach.
New York Times chief White House correspondent Peter Baker posted on social media that “after Trump launched a new war on Iran, he did not rush back to the White House to make an Oval Office address to rally the nation as other presidents have done. He stayed at Mar-a-Lago to attend a glitzy political fundraiser.”
White House communications director Steven Cheung responded to Baker’s criticism: “Imagine being a reporter so consumed with Trump Derangement Syndrome that he wants President Trump to mimic the failed policies of the past. The truth is that President Trump spent the majority of his time monitoring the situation in a secure facility, in constant contact with world leaders, and made multiple addresses to the nation that garnered hundreds of millions of views. He also took dozens of calls with reporters.”
Among those calls was one with Baker’s Times colleague Zolan Kanno-Youngs. Many reporters covering Trump have access to his cell phone number, and the president frequently accepts their calls for impromptu interviews. Following the attack, he spoke with journalists from ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, CNBC, Fox News Channel, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Axios, Politico and an Israeli television network.
The majority of these conversations were short and provided limited insight; Politico’s Dasha Burns reported that Trump answered her call but said he was too occupied to speak. The public couldn’t directly hear Trump’s comments and relied on journalists’ reporting of the conversations.
“I spoke to President Trump today and he told me that the operation in Iran is going to go very fast,” Israeli Channel 14 News reporter Libby Alon wrote about her interview on X. “It’s doing very well, and (will) make the people of Israel very happy, and the people of the world very happy.”
The Times described its six-minute conversation, reporting that Trump “offered several seemingly contradictory visions of how power might be transferred to a new government — or even whether the existing Iranian power structure would run that government or be overthrown.”
During one of his two Trump conversations, ABC News’ Jonathan Karl asked about Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death, and the president responded: “I got him before he got me. They tried twice. Well I got him first.” CNN’s Jake Tapper went live shortly after his Monday call, reporting Trump told him “the big one is coming soon,” apparently referring to a planned future strike.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly responded to requests for comment: “President Trump is the most transparent and accessible president in American history. The American people have never had a more direct and authentic relationship with a president of the United States than they have with President Trump.”
Pentagon journalists received short notice about Hegseth’s Sunday evening briefing. While reporters from The Associated Press, Reuters, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News Channel and Stars & Stripes gained access to the briefing room, Hegseth didn’t acknowledge them for questions. He instead fielded inquiries from NewsNation and Trump-supporting outlets including the Daily Caller, Daily Wire, One America News and the Christian Broadcasting Network. Most traditional news organizations abandoned their regular Pentagon positions last fall rather than accept Hegseth’s new restrictions on their reporting.
Hegseth criticized the “foolishness” of those seeking advance operational details, such as whether Americans would deploy beyond air support, and stated the operation would persist until achieving its goals. He initially disregarded NBC News’ Courtney Kube when she shouted a question: “President Trump put a four-week time limit on it. Are you saying he’s wrong?”
Hegseth later criticized Kube for posing “the typical NBC sort of gotcha-type question. President Trump has all the latitude in the world to talk about how long it might take — four weeks, two weeks, six weeks, it could move up, it could move back. We’re going to execute at his command the objectives he set out to achieve.”
Differing from previous administrations’ Pentagon briefings, reporters received designated seating assignments, with Trump-supporting outlets placed in front rows. Jennifer Griffin, Hegseth’s former Fox News Channel colleague who departed the Pentagon with other reporters after rejecting his new regulations, sat by herself in the back row.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A United Airlines aircraft made an emergency return to Los Angeles International Airport on Monday morning, approximately 40 minutes into its journey, following reports of an engine fire that required immediate passenger evacuation, officials confirmed.
Airport operations at LAX came to a temporary halt for roughly 30 minutes while the aircraft completed its emergency landing and evacuation procedures, based on Federal Aviation Administration notifications. Officials confirmed that no passengers or crew members sustained injuries during the incident.
The aircraft, originally headed to Newark, New Jersey, was forced to circle back to Los Angeles due to a potential engine fire situation, United Airlines confirmed in an official statement. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded to the scene and successfully contained the fire within an hour of the plane’s emergency landing.
Flight tracking data from FlightAware shows the aircraft departed at 10:43 a.m., initiated its return course around 11 a.m., and completed its emergency landing at 11:19 a.m.
Fire department officials assisted in evacuating more than 250 individuals, including passengers and crew members. The evacuation took place on the airport taxiway, with people exiting through emergency slides and stairs before being transported to the terminal building, according to the airline’s statement.
The aircraft involved in the incident was identified as a Boeing 787-9, part of Boeing’s widely-used 787 Dreamliner series designed for long-distance travel.
While military tensions escalate in the Middle East with ongoing missile exchanges, Americans across the region are voicing their opinions about recent U.S. military strikes targeting Iran.
Citizens in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania shared their perspectives on the unfolding international crisis and what they think about America’s military response to the situation.
The developing story continues to draw attention as the conflict between the two nations intensifies, prompting discussions among local communities about the implications of the military action.
KATHMANDU, March 3 – Last September 8th, 23-year-old student Rashik Khatiwada joined hundreds of demonstrators outside Nepal’s parliament, protesting government corruption and joblessness with a sign declaring “FUCK THE SYSTEM!”
Two hours later, he was fatally shot.
Khatiwada became one of 77 casualties during two days of deadly demonstrations that ultimately toppled Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s government and transformed Nepal’s political landscape ahead of Thursday’s national elections.
The youth-driven protests have intensified calls for political reform throughout Nepal, particularly among families who lost relatives during the violence.
“What have past leaders done for this country over the last three decades? They accumulated wealth for themselves and placed their own people in positions of power to benefit from it,” Rashik’s mother, Rachana Khatiwada, questioned. “What did they truly do for the nation?”
This widespread frustration with established politicians has opened doors for newcomers like 35-year-old former rapper Balendra Shah, now a leading candidate for prime minister. Khatiwada has thrown her support behind his campaign.
The 46-year-old homemaker joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party as a proportional representation candidate after Shah became a member in January, despite having little previous political involvement.
Khatiwada explained her political engagement stems from wanting justice for her son and other protest victims’ families.
“We demanded accountability for those responsible for the deaths of so many children, and the interim government failed to deliver,” she stated.
A government-appointed investigative commission examining the protests, including authorities’ use of live rounds against young protesters, has received three deadline extensions. The commission’s conclusions won’t be published until after the election.
ARTIST WHO NEVER RETURNED
On September 8th morning, 34-year-old Binod Maharjan completed his usual routine of feeding pigeons on his family’s rooftop before suddenly departing, abandoning his breakfast of rice and lentils.
“My son said he would return home and eat the meal he had left behind,” recalled his 75-year-old mother, Lata Maya Maharjan. “He never came back.”
The family learned of Binod’s protest participation only after his older brother got a call from a childhood friend and rushed to Kathmandu’s Everest Hospital.
“My mind went completely silent,” Kaji Ratna Maharjan remembered, describing the bullet wound near his brother’s mouth and exit wound behind his head. “I still cannot put into words what I felt when I saw his lifeless body.”
Though Binod left school early, he devoted himself to artistic pursuits. His painted murals decorate virtually every surface of the family’s three-story brick home.
His bedroom featured a hand-drawn Nepal map and artwork depicting Shiva, his favored Hindu god, while he slept on yak hide with horns positioned near his pillow.
In his mother’s bedroom, Binod created a self-portrait showing his characteristic long dreadlocks and cigarette, surrounded by his nieces and nephews.
“We do not understand politics, but those who do and are actively involved in it must focus on ending corruption and creating jobs in this country,” said Kaji Ratna Maharjan, who plans to vote Thursday alongside his mother. “Only then can we prevent another protest like the September uprising in Nepal.”
WIDOW CAMPAIGNS FOR CHANGE
Each day before sunrise, Parbati Subedi begins work as a house cleaner before reporting to her primary job in a major Nepali corporation’s sanitation department.
Though exhausting, this demanding routine provides the 28-year-old widow with 30,000 Nepalese rupees ($206) monthly to support herself and her daughter following her husband’s death during September’s uprising.
Security officer Dev Kumar Subedi, 29, suffered a fatal stomach gunshot wound on September 9th while participating in the second day of anti-government demonstrations.
“I believe this protest happened because people wanted change in Nepal and change in our leaders,” Subedi said. “Those in power forgot about families like ours, for whom putting two meals on the table is a daily struggle.”
Subedi received 1.5 million rupees compensation from the interim government that replaced Oli’s administration, payment made to families of 42 among the 77 killed who were designated as martyrs.
However, additional commitments including job opportunities for relatives, ongoing medical assistance, and pension benefits remain unfulfilled, according to multiple families of the deceased, including Subedi.
Following her late husband’s political preferences, Subedi supports the RSP and Shah based on his mayoral performance in Kathmandu, even creating social media content encouraging voters to back their campaign.
“I believe they will genuinely work towards improving the country,” she said. “But if it’s any of the other parties, I have little hope that things will change.”
The cloud computing giant’s data services division has completed a $427 million purchase of George Washington University’s Science and Technology campus located in Ashburn, Virginia, university officials announced Monday.
According to the campus student publication, property documents indicate Amazon Data Services plans to construct a data processing or information technology facility at the Northern Virginia location. The tech company has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding their specific development plans.
The Washington D.C.-based university confirmed that terms of the sale include provisions allowing GWU to maintain current academic programs at the Ashburn facility for as long as five years if needed.
The transaction represents another significant expansion of Amazon’s data center footprint in the Virginia region, where the company has been building out infrastructure to support its cloud computing operations.
The American dollar experienced its strongest performance in seven months on Monday, climbing nearly 1% as investors sought safety following U.S. military action against Iran, signaling the currency maintains its protective role during international crises.
This surge provides reassurance to global markets after recent months of uncertainty about whether the dollar could still serve as a reliable refuge during turbulent times. Those doubts emerged when the currency stumbled during last year’s widespread market decline triggered by tariff disputes.
“Today is, I would say, a classic risk-off day from a U.S. dollar perspective,” stated Eric Theoret, a foreign exchange strategist at Scotiabank.
Theoret referenced the challenges the dollar faced during what he called “Liberation Day” – the April 2, 2025 announcement of comprehensive U.S. tariffs that sparked global market chaos. “I think ‘Liberation Day’ was obviously a bit of a break with the historical analogs that we’ve had,” he explained.
The dollar’s recent strength represents welcome news for the currency, which had seen its traditional safe-haven status questioned as investors increasingly turned to alternatives like the euro, Japanese yen, and gold during periods of uncertainty.
Market experts point to the scale and stability of American financial markets as key factors supporting the dollar’s appeal. “If you’re looking to de-risk and de-risk in size, the U.S. Treasury market is really the only one that can handle those flows,” Theoret noted. When international investors purchase Treasury securities during crises, it naturally increases demand for dollars.
Don Calcagni, chief investment officer at Mercer Advisors in Denver, emphasized the limited options available to investors during volatile periods. “So, I’m perhaps not surprised that we’re still seeing the dollar perform as a safe-haven asset,” Calcagni observed.
The currency’s struggles during previous market stress largely resulted from the United States being the source of global uncertainty, leaving investors reluctant to seek protection in the dollar when American policies were creating the instability.
“Liberation Day forced the USD’s centrality to diminish … investors started to favor the (rest of world),” explained Benjamin Ford, a researcher at macro strategy firm Macro Hive. “The oil shock then has scared global investors out of positions that they have been chasing over the past three months and landed them net long USD.”
John Velis, Americas macro strategist at BNY, distinguished between domestic and international sources of crisis. While the dollar’s protective appeal might weaken when concerns originate within the U.S., “when it’s an international geopolitical crisis, its safe-haven appeal seems intact,” he said. “Certainly, the evidence today suggests that.”
However, some analysts remain cautious about declaring the dollar’s safe-haven status fully restored. “I think there will be some reassurance from today’s activity that the USD still has safe-haven characteristics,” said Jane Foley, head of foreign exchange strategy at Rabobank. “However, I think the debate is not over yet.”
Monday’s dollar strength benefited not only from safety-seeking flows but also from America’s position as a net energy producer, which shields the U.S. economy from oil price increases that typically damage import-dependent nations.
Aaron Hurd, senior portfolio manager for currency at State Street Global Advisors, questions whether the dollar would maintain its strength facing different types of economic shocks. “If it’s just a general kind of economic fear, I think the dollar will be far less effective,” he predicted.
Citing America’s substantial fiscal deficits, policy uncertainty, and extensive global exposure to U.S. investments, Hurd anticipates the dollar will likely show stronger correlation with risky assets during major market disruptions going forward.
Looking ahead, Ford from Macro Hive sees oil prices as crucial to the dollar’s trajectory. “If we continue in this oil up, risk appetite down world, then USD will continue to find a bid,” he projected. “However, if oil sinks, you could see typical safe-havens return to the forefront,” potentially favoring the Swiss franc and Japanese yen instead.
A Georgia jury began deliberations Monday in the unprecedented murder trial of a father whose teenage son allegedly carried out a deadly school shooting using a weapon the father provided.
Colin Gray, 55, faces 29 criminal charges including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter connected to the September 2024 attack at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. His 14-year-old son Colt allegedly used a rifle given to him as a Christmas present to kill four people and injure seven others at the school.
During closing arguments, prosecutor Patricia Brooks emphasized the case centers on determining “who armed Colt and who enabled him to do what he did.”
The September attack claimed the lives of two 14-year-old students, Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn, along with teachers Cristina Irimie, 53, and Richard Aspinwall, 39.
Gray entered a not guilty plea and testified in his own defense during the 11-day proceedings before Piedmont Circuit Superior Court Chief Judge Nicholas Primm. Taking the witness stand Friday, he became emotional while acknowledging “I could have done more.” He described himself as a father attempting to hold together a fractured household while raising three children apart from his estranged spouse.
Defense attorney Jimmy Berry urged jurors to base their verdict on evidence and legal standards rather than emotions, recognizing the community’s desire for explanations following the tragedy.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Gray disregarded concerning behaviors from his son, including the creation of a shrine honoring previous school shooters in the teenager’s bedroom, along with disruptive conduct at school and violent episodes at home.
Body camera recordings from responding deputies showed Gray’s reaction upon learning of the shooting. “God. I knew it, man. My little girl just texted me,” he was heard saying. The footage also captured him telling officers, “We’re trying to get him into counseling.”
However, Gray’s estranged wife Marcee testified that her husband dismissed counseling efforts and ignored her pleas to secure firearms in their home away from their son.
The defense argued Gray purchased the weapon as a Christmas gift to strengthen his relationship with Colt through shared hunting and target shooting activities.
Colt Gray, who was 14 during the shooting, awaits his own trial on 55 charges including multiple counts of malice murder and felony murder.
This prosecution follows a similar 2024 Michigan case where parents of school shooter Ethan Crumbley received 10 to 15-year prison sentences for manslaughter. Jennifer and James Crumbley were convicted after jurors determined they provided their son with a firearm and overlooked warning indicators before he killed four students at his Detroit-area high school in 2021.
Legal experts note such parental prosecutions remain uncommon but are increasingly pursued by prosecutors and communities seeking accountability and potential deterrence in school shooting cases where parental negligence appears evident.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — The largest labor union organization in Argentina took legal action Monday to stop major workplace reforms championed by President Javier Milei that would dramatically reshape employment laws across the South American nation.
Congress gave final approval to the legislation on Friday, which provides business owners with increased authority over employment decisions, terminations, compensation packages and union negotiations while reducing the traditional influence labor organizations have wielded.
“This law represents a serious infringement of collective and individual rights that expressly violate constitutional principles,” the General Confederation of Labor, known as CGT, declared in their official statement following the court filing in Buenos Aires.
The legal challenge questions whether the reforms comply with Argentina’s constitution, claiming they breach the “principle of progressivity” that protects existing worker benefits from being rolled back, as well as the “protective principle” designed to prevent workplace exploitation and maintain fair employer-employee relationships.
“The damages are not collateral effects of an isolated decision, but are consistent with the national government’s economic and social program,” CGT officials stated, pointing to more than 300,000 job losses that have occurred since Milei assumed the presidency in late 2023 with promises of fiscal discipline and major economic changes.
Following the legislation’s passage on Friday, Milei described the overhaul as “historic” and declared, “We have a labor modernization.”
The path to approval was marked by significant conflict between Milei’s administration and opposition lawmakers. Tensions reached a peak last month as the bill moved through the lower chamber, with CGT organizing a day-long national work stoppage while protesters from multiple left-wing organizations fought with law enforcement officers near the congressional building.
Milei views these modifications to Argentina’s five-decade-old employment laws as essential for attracting international investment, enhancing worker productivity and generating new employment opportunities in a nation where approximately 40 percent of the workforce operates without official documentation.
Labor representatives contend the legislation will undermine worker safeguards that have been fundamental to Argentina since Peronism, the nation’s influential populist movement, emerged in the 1940s.
The judicial system will now determine whether to accept or reject the CGT’s legal challenge, a ruling that might lead to a temporary halt of the reforms while judges deliberate on a final decision.
An agricultural producer from Missouri is sounding the alarm about the need to strengthen the market for American corn as Brazil emerges as a formidable competitor in the global grain trade. Brian Willott shared his concerns with Brownfield, emphasizing that the competitive pressure from South America shows no signs of letting up.
“And every year they are able to produce more and more soy and more and more corn, both, because a lot of their double cropping,” Willott explained. “So we have to be sharp.”
The farmer’s comments highlight the challenges facing American grain producers as Brazil leverages its climate advantages to harvest multiple crops annually, significantly boosting their agricultural output and market presence.
Schools looking to add whole milk back to their cafeteria offerings will need to navigate several logistical hurdles, according to a nutrition education specialist.
Brianna Henton, who serves as director of youth engagement and outreach for the United Dairy Industry of Michigan, explained that educational institutions already have permission to include whole milk in their meal programs. However, she noted that federal guidelines from the USDA are still being developed to provide clearer direction.
“Schools do have the option to put this on their menu today, (but) the USDA still needs to come up with” additional guidance, Henton stated.
The transition faces practical challenges including increased expenses and refrigeration capacity issues that could delay widespread adoption across school districts nationwide.
Michigan’s efforts to manage its deer population are showing mixed results, according to a representative from the Michigan Farm Bureau who says more focused strategies are essential moving forward.
The organization’s lobbyist Justin Tomei explained to Brownfield that maintaining stable deer numbers requires harvesting roughly 40 percent of Michigan’s estimated two million deer annually. “We need to be up over around 800,000,” Tomei stated when discussing the target harvest numbers needed for proper herd management.
Despite some advancement in deer population control measures, Tomei emphasized that the state must implement more precise approaches to achieve the desired results. The declining harvest figures for 2025 highlight the ongoing challenge of balancing wildlife management with agricultural and environmental concerns.
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings is praising a federal court ruling that has once again prevented the collection of private information from food stamp recipients across the country.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a decision blocking federal demands that states hand over confidential details about millions of people who apply for or receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
This marks another legal victory for Jennings, who earlier joined with other attorneys general in challenging the data collection requirements through federal court action.
The ruling protects sensitive personal information of SNAP participants from being turned over to federal authorities, continuing a pattern of successful legal challenges to these data demands.
NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana military officials announced Monday they will keep 120 National Guard troops stationed in New Orleans until August, extending their mission by six months.
The soldiers are part of a larger group of 350 Guard members who arrived in the city in late December to provide security for New Year’s celebrations and major events including the Sugar Bowl. Originally concentrated in the famous French Quarter area, these troops were initially set to return home following the conclusion of Mardi Gras festivities.
New Orleans joins other Democratic-led cities including Washington and Memphis, Tennessee, where federal authorities have positioned armed military personnel under President Donald Trump’s administration. Separately, hundreds of federal agents also arrived in Louisiana last December as part of an immigration enforcement operation in the New Orleans area.
Trump highlighted the New Orleans military presence as a “big success” during his recent State of the Union speech. Last month, the president claimed the troops helped reduce violent crime in the city within their first week of arrival. However, New Orleans police statistics indicate violent crime has dropped substantially over the past three years, following broader national patterns.
A Louisiana National Guard statement explained that the remaining troops will maintain a “visible presence to deter criminal activity in New Orleans.”
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, a Democrat who initially resisted the deployment, now says the military personnel will help the city in upcoming weeks. She noted that National Guard soldiers provided valuable assistance during last year’s Mardi Gras celebration following the tragic New Year’s Day vehicle attack in the French Quarter that claimed 14 lives.
“I continue to support the partnership with the LA National Guard to assist in our major events and there are several coming up in the next few weeks,” Moreno stated.
Though Moreno didn’t specify which events she meant, New Orleans typically sees large crowds during spring celebrations like the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
Republican Governor Jeff Landry, a strong Trump supporter, first requested National Guard assistance last September, pointing to concerns about violent crime despite data showing decreases.
“This continued deployment will help us combat violence in New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana,” Landry posted on X Monday, mentioning that Louisiana also sent Guard troops to Washington, D.C., previously.
Kate Kelly, speaking for Governor Landry, confirmed federal funding will cover the extended deployment costs. She didn’t answer questions about potential Guard operations beyond New Orleans.
Major General Thomas Friloux, who leads the Louisiana National Guard, said the troops have successfully collaborated with various city, state and federal agencies to enhance public safety during major events, including the busy Mardi Gras period and carnival season.
“We remain committed to those partnerships as we continue supporting efforts to keep the City of New Orleans safe for residents and visitors,” Friloux stated.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump defended his military strategy against Iran on Monday as criticism grows over his administration’s handling of the expanding Middle East conflict.
The backlash isn’t limited to political opponents — some of Trump’s own supporters are questioning the war effort as fighting spreads across the region, energy costs climb, and casualties mount in what officials say could be just the beginning of a prolonged campaign.
Speaking to the New York Post on Monday, Trump declined to rule out deploying American ground forces to the conflict zone. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later told reporters the administration wouldn’t engage in what he called the “foolish” practice of revealing military plans in advance.
“I don’t have the yips with respect to boots on the ground — like every president says, ‘There will be no boots on the ground.’ I don’t say it,” Trump stated. “I say ‘probably don’t need them,’ (or) ‘if they were necessary.’”
The president and his senior staff worked to justify their approach as Iran launched retaliatory drone and missile attacks against Israel, U.S. military installations throughout the region, and Persian Gulf allies. Monday also saw Israel and Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy force in Lebanon, exchange fire, creating another battlefield in the widening conflict.
Trump returned to the White House promoting an “America First” agenda focused on avoiding the extended military engagements that characterized previous administrations. His foreign policy platform has consistently emphasized rejecting “the failed policy of nation building and regime change.”
During a Saudi Arabia visit last year, he reiterated this position, stating that “so-called ‘nation-builders’ wrecked far more nations than they built — and the interventionists were intervening in complex societies that they did not even understand themselves.”
However, Trump now faces a military engagement of his own making that has raised concerns about another lengthy Middle Eastern entanglement for America.
“I’m not happy about the whole thing. I don’t think this was in America’s interests,” said Erik Prince, a Trump supporter and private security executive, during Sunday’s appearance on former Trump advisor Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast. “It’s gonna uncork a significant can of worms and chaos, and destruction in Iran now.”
Prince continued, “I don’t see how this is in keeping with the president’s MAGA commitment. I am disappointed.”
Additional Trump supporters expressing doubts about the Iran strike include YouTube personality Benny Johnson, social media influencer Andrew Tate, and media figure Tucker Carlson.
Nevertheless, numerous Trump loyalists continue supporting the president’s choice, dismissing suggestions of internal division within their political movement.
“No, ma’am, I think Iran, they’re bad actors,” said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., when asked about the disagreement. “They’ve killed Americans. In Iraq, they supply armaments. Hezbollah is part of their pact and they’ve supplied them with armaments and funds. And they do business with Chinese, so absolutely not. I think we’re good.”
During a White House appearance Monday, Trump described the combined American-Israeli military campaign as “substantially ahead of schedule” and projected four to five weeks to achieve administration goals, though he acknowledged the timeline could extend further.
“We have capability to go far longer than that,” Trump declared.
Hegseth provided less specific timing estimates.
“President Trump has all the latitude in the world to talk about how long it may or may not take. Four weeks, two weeks, six weeks,” Hegseth explained. “It could move up. It could move back.”
Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine warned reporters that additional American military casualties are anticipated as operations continue. By Monday, six U.S. personnel had died in combat with others seriously wounded during Iran’s widespread retaliatory attacks across the region.
The administration hasn’t specified who should assume leadership of Iran after eliminating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and numerous other senior officials in the conflict’s initial strikes.
When announcing major combat operations, Trump urged the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to surrender their weapons. However, military experts note that airstrikes alone rarely achieve the type of government overthrow Trump seeks in Iran.
The president also hasn’t promised support for Iranian opposition groups he’s encouraged to revolt against the Islamic government following the bombing campaign’s conclusion.
Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a Washington policy organization, suggested Trump might accept “regime collapse” or “regime implosion” instead.
“That is very different (than regime change), not only because potentially it could be achieved, but it’s also something that enables the Trump administration to wash their hands of the consequences of this,” Parsi explained.
Meanwhile, Israel is urging Trump to maintain extended operations that could definitively end Iran’s religious government.
“I think the Israelis’ biggest concern may be that President Trump would take … sort of the early offering, declaring victory,” said Daniel Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel under Obama and current Atlantic Council distinguished fellow. “I think they’d like to see this go longer, with the president’s support.”
Administration officials briefed congressional staff privately Sunday that American intelligence hadn’t detected Iranian preparations for preemptive strikes against the U.S. Instead, officials acknowledged broader regional threats from Iran’s missile capabilities and allied forces.
Nevertheless, Trump reiterated Monday his position that action was required due to concerns over Iran developing ballistic missiles capable of reaching American territory.
Iran hasn’t confirmed pursuing intercontinental ballistic missile development. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency stated in an unclassified report last year that Iran could create a functional intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035 “should Tehran decide to pursue the capability.”
The president also restated claims that Iran was rebuilding its nuclear capabilities despite U.S. strikes last June during the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict that he said “obliterated” three major nuclear installations.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director Rafael Grossi confirmed Monday that Iran maintains an “ambitious” nuclear program but currently lacks weapons development efforts. Iran has blocked IAEA inspectors from examining its damaged nuclear facilities.
Kelsey Davenport, nonproliferation policy director at the Arms Control Association, argued that “regime change is not a viable nonproliferation strategy.”
“Iran’s nuclear program cannot be bombed away. Iran’s nuclear knowledge cannot be bombed away,” she stated. “Even if there’s regime change, Iran’s program will still pose a proliferation risk.”
Montana Republican Ryan Zinke, who previously held the position of Interior Secretary under Donald Trump, announced Monday he will step away from Congress after his current term, pointing to medical issues as the reason for his decision.
The announcement creates a potential opening for Democratic candidates in Montana, a state that has shifted significantly toward conservative politics in recent election cycles.
Zinke, who served as a Navy SEAL before entering politics, explained in a message to voters that he has endured several surgical procedures in recent years due to injuries from his military service, with additional medical treatments still ahead. While emphasizing that his health condition poses no threat to his life, he acknowledged that recovery would demand substantial time away from his duties.
“My judgement and experience tell me it is better for Montana and America to have full-time representation in Congress than run the risk of uncertain absences and missed votes,” he wrote.
Zinke’s political journey began in Montana’s state legislature, where he served four years before winning his first congressional seat in 2014. Trump selected him to lead the Interior Department in 2017, though Zinke stepped down from that role in 2018 as multiple ethics probes emerged. He successfully returned to electoral politics in 2022, claiming victory by a narrow margin in Montana’s newly established western congressional district, then securing reelection in 2024 with a more decisive win.
A congressional committee made public on Monday video recordings showing former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton being questioned under oath about their connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased financier who was convicted of sex crimes.
The depositions, recorded over multiple days last week and lasting several hours, revealed how both former officials sought to create distance between themselves and Epstein. The former president testified that he had severed ties with Epstein well before the financier pleaded guilty in 2008 to charges involving solicitation of prostitution from a minor.
According to Bill Clinton’s testimony, his initial encounter with Epstein occurred in 2002 when he traveled on Epstein’s aircraft for charitable endeavors involving the Clinton family, and their association concluded the following year.
“There’s nothing that I saw when I was around him that made me realize he was trafficking women,” Bill Clinton told the committee.
While records show Epstein made multiple visits to the White House during Clinton’s time in office and photographs exist of the two men meeting, the former president testified he could not remember those encounters.
Hillary Clinton testified that she had no recollection of ever encountering Epstein personally.
Despite their denials, both faced extensive questioning from legislators who are seeking to hold accountable anyone who may have known about or overlooked Epstein’s exploitation of minors.
Federal law enforcement agencies have joined Cincinnati police in hunting for the gunman responsible for a weekend shooting at a local nightclub that left nine people injured.
The shooting occurred around 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning at Riverfront Live, a music venue in Cincinnati. All nine victims were taken to area hospitals with injuries that are not considered life-threatening, according to Interim Cincinnati Police Chief Adam Hennie, who reported that all patients remain in stable condition.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now collaborating with Cincinnati police on the investigation, confirmed spokesperson Todd Lindgren. Additionally, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has posted a $5,000 reward for tips leading to the identification of the shooter.
While this incident happened around the same time as a fatal bar shooting in Austin, Texas that investigators are examining as possible terrorism, Ohio authorities have not revealed any potential motive for the Cincinnati attack.
Cincinnati ATF spokesperson Bill Halusek stated that investigators do not currently believe the nightclub shooting was a terrorist act.
Witness Anton Canady was inside Riverfront Live when the violence erupted. He described hearing what seemed like an altercation or “commotion” before gunfire broke out while music was still playing. Canady and his girlfriend Brandi Willis immediately fled toward the exits.
During the chaotic evacuation, Willis fell down and Canady shielded her with his body to prevent her from being trampled by other fleeing patrons.
“I don’t think it was like they was doing it purposely or intentionally, I just think nobody wanted to die in there,” he said.
The 40-year-old Cincinnati man spoke with The Associated Press from a hospital where he was waiting for Willis to receive additional treatment for injuries sustained during their escape. Canady also suffered cuts and bruises to his legs.
After getting out of the venue, Canady discovered that one of the shooting victims was his own cousin.
“I hurried up, found something out of the car that was next to us. And I tied her wounds up so we can get that pressure. And we try to do the next step, which is call 911 and get her the attention she needed,” he said.
Canady reported speaking with his cousin on Monday, saying she is “doing good” but remains “in shock.”
DJ Fresh, whose real name is Jermaine Tandy, was celebrating his birthday at the venue that night, based on his Facebook posts. Representatives for the DJ released a statement expressing their devastation over the violent incident.
“Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this senseless act of violence,” the statement read. “This event was intended to be an opportunity for us to come together and enjoy great music; and have fun celebrating life, it is deeply frustrating that the actions of one individual ruined the evening for so many.”
The statement noted that venue management handled security arrangements for the event as part of the DJ’s rental contract.
Riverfront Live is located on the Ohio River near the Riverbend Music Center and frequently attracts patrons from the larger outdoor concert venue, which closes during winter months.
The club was renamed Riverfront Live in 2018 following previous incidents involving criminal activity. The property has operated under various names including Stage Forty-Three and Inner Circle, but is most famous as the former location of Annie’s, a legendary rock club that featured major touring acts during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Brazil’s administration plans to generate more than $48 billion in environmentally-focused investments throughout President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s four-year presidency, according to a departing government official.
Tatiana Rosito, who stepped down Monday from her role as international affairs secretary at Brazil’s Finance Ministry, stated the government anticipates mobilizing over 250 billion reais during this timeframe. She emphasized that 2026 will focus on strengthening programs already in motion.
Rosito, who will transition to serve as the World Bank’s regional director for China, Korea and Mongolia beginning in July, explained that Brazil has developed an extensive collection of financing mechanisms highlighted during the country’s leadership roles in the G20, BRICS and COP30.
She noted that the current emphasis involves producing tangible outcomes and securing investment capital instead of developing additional financial tools.
Brazil’s recent policy initiatives have helped reestablish the nation as a significant international participant, with other countries recognizing Latin America’s largest economy as moving beyond promises toward actual implementation, Rosito explained.
Among the major initiatives are establishing national guidelines for ecological transformation, releasing sovereign sustainable bonds in international markets, and introducing EcoInvest, which leverages government funding to draw private sector investment into environmental projects.
Rosito highlighted the Brazil Investment Platform for Climate and Ecological Transformation (BIP), a system that catalogs sustainable projects seeking financial backing.
Following Brazil’s introduction of this platform during its 2024 G20 leadership, the country assisted in creating a network of comparable programs under its COP presidency to encourage collaboration on sustainable and climate financing among developing nations.
Over 15 countries, including Colombia, Nigeria and South Africa, have subsequently revealed plans to establish their own platforms, according to Rosito.
“I don’t see many people viewing this as an ecosystem, but it is,” she stated, characterizing Brazil’s sustainable finance initiative as an innovative framework developed primarily from the ground up that facilitates real investments and supports strategic emerging industries.
Rosito observed that sustainable development discussions have been “all but erased” from certain international forums, especially the G20 under this year’s U.S. leadership, and maintained that Brazil and its allies must continue advocating to keep these issues prominent.
Mathias Alencastro, formerly an adviser to Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, will replace Rosito at the Finance Ministry, as Reuters initially reported Friday.
Iranian military commanders issued their strongest warning yet regarding the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, declaring the waterway completely off-limits to shipping traffic on Monday.
A high-ranking Revolutionary Guards official announced that Tehran would use military force against any vessels attempting to navigate through the passage, which handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil transportation.
“The strait (of Hormuz) is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze,” stated Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the Guards commander-in-chief, according to Iranian state media reports.
The waterway serves as the planet’s most critical petroleum export channel, linking major Gulf oil-producing nations including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates to the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea.
Tehran’s decision to shut down the passage stems from recent military actions by the United States and Israel on February 28, which targeted Iranian leadership. President Donald Trump has publicly encouraged Iranian citizens to remove their current government officials.
Iran responded by launching multiple missile strikes against neighboring Gulf states that house American military installations, including Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. Iranian forces also targeted the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman with missile attacks.
This blockade represents the fulfillment of longstanding Iranian promises to seal off the narrow shipping channel if the country faced military aggression.
The strait measures approximately 21 miles across at its most constricted section, yet facilitates the passage of about 20% of daily global oil consumption.
Energy markets have remained focused on escalating tensions between Iran and its longtime adversaries, the United States and Israel, with concerns that expanded conflict could severely impact oil supplies and destabilize the broader region.
The closure compounds existing shipping challenges caused by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces, who have conducted drone and missile attacks against vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since the Gaza conflict began in 2023.
On Monday, diplomatic leaders from Central Asia gathered to address the growing crisis in Iran and surrounding Middle East territories, according to an announcement from Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry.
The diplomatic gathering was notable for bringing together representatives from nearly all regional nations simultaneously, with participants advocating for peaceful resolution to the current turmoil affecting Iran and neighboring areas.
According to the ministry’s official statement, the foreign ministers emphasized “the importance of de-escalating tensions, adhering to international law, and combining efforts in the interest of maintaining regional security, peace, and stability.”
Kazakhstan’s top diplomat Yermek Kosherbayev conducted meetings with his counterparts representing Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan during the diplomatic session.
Kosherbayev acknowledged the assistance provided by Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan in helping evacuate people from Iran, noting that the participating nations were ready to work together on additional evacuations and related matters.
The diplomatic discussions occurred as military actions intensified throughout the region on Monday, with U.S. and Israeli forces expanding air operations against Iran. Meanwhile, Israel launched strikes against Lebanon following Hezbollah attacks, and Tehran continued launching missiles and drone strikes targeting Gulf nations.
ATHENS – Authorities in Greece have taken a 36-year-old man into custody at Athens airport following allegations that he conducted surveillance activities at a critical naval installation on Crete, according to police sources who spoke Monday.
The arrest occurred based on intelligence provided by Greece’s national security service. The facility in question, Souda Bay, serves as a vital strategic location for Greek, American, and NATO military operations in the eastern Mediterranean region.
The naval base recently hosted the U.S. aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford during a resupply mission, highlighting its importance to American military operations in the area.
Investigators have opened a formal inquiry into the allegations and are currently analyzing digital materials, including photographic evidence that was allegedly collected by the suspect, police officials confirmed.
Records show the accused individual was registered at a hotel in close proximity to Souda last month. As of now, he has not provided any response to the charges against him, according to one law enforcement official.
This incident follows a similar case from June, when Greek police apprehended an Azerbaijani citizen also suspected of espionage activities. That individual had similarly taken up residence at a hotel near the same naval and air force installation in western Crete for several days.
Security measures at the facility have been enhanced following recent military strikes conducted by Israel and the United States against Iran over the weekend.
Cuban authorities have taken 10 Panamanian nationals into custody, accusing them of producing anti-government propaganda materials on Saturday, according to the country’s Interior Ministry.
Officials claim the detainees were hired by unidentified sponsors who promised payment in exchange for traveling to Cuba to create what authorities describe as subversive messaging.
The detentions come just days after Cuban officials reported another alleged infiltration attempt, where armed Cuban exiles attempted to enter the country via speedboat. That incident resulted in a deadly confrontation at sea, leaving four attackers dead and six others wounded and in Cuban custody.
These incidents unfold as Cuba faces significant economic and energy challenges, with U.S. sanctions creating what officials describe as an oil embargo that has worsened fuel shortages and power outages across the island nation.
According to the Interior Ministry’s statement, the Panamanian citizens face charges for “acts of propaganda against the Cuban constitutional order.” Cuban law imposes sentences of three to eight years for “inciting against social order, international solidarity, or the socialist state,” and prohibits creating, distributing, or possessing such materials in any form.
Ministry officials say the detained individuals confessed they had been “instructed to enter Cuba to create signs with subversive content.”
“Once this objective was achieved, they were to leave the country and, upon their return to Panama, would receive a sum of money that, according to their initial statements, ranged between $1,000 and $1,500 each,” the Interior Ministry said.
Panama’s embassy in Havana has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the arrests.
These restrictions on free expression have long been cited by Cuban exiles as justification for maintaining U.S. economic sanctions against Cuba’s Communist leadership.
Federal prosecutors have filed charges against a 36-year-old man who deliberately crashed his vehicle into the world headquarters of Chabad Lubavitch in New York City last month.
Dan Sohail faced arraignment Monday afternoon in Brooklyn federal court on charges of intentionally damaging religious property following the January 28th incident. The crash caused damage to the entrance of the sacred Jewish site but resulted in no injuries.
Sohail’s legal representative did not respond to requests for comment on Monday.
New York City police had already taken Sohail into custody at the scene and local prosecutors filed hate crime charges against him.
According to the federal complaint made public Monday, Sohail later informed authorities that he had recently discovered his Jewish ancestry and had received an invitation to visit the headquarters that evening to explore the faith’s customs.
Multiple individuals close to Sohail, including relatives and Chabad religious leaders, have stated that he showed no animosity toward Jewish people and had actually expressed desire to convert to Judaism.
Police records indicate that just weeks prior to the incident, Sohail participated in a social event at the Chabad headquarters, where surveillance footage captured him dancing alongside Orthodox Jewish men.
Speaking to The Daily News, Sohail’s father described his son as having “mental problems” while maintaining “a very good friendship, relationship with the Jews.”
Initially, Sohail told police that his “clunky boots” had caused him to slip and lose control of his car.
However, federal authorities allege that surveillance showed him moving several barriers and clearing snow from the sidewalk before repeatedly driving into the building at least five times.
The federal charge could result in up to three years imprisonment if prosecutors prove the property damage exceeded $5,000.
Sohail has remained in custody since his arrest but was temporarily transferred to U.S. Marshals for Monday’s federal court appearance, according to online records. His next appearance in the state case is scheduled for March 31st.
Chabad representatives have not responded to inquiries regarding the federal charges.
The vehicle crash happened exactly 75 years after Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson assumed leadership of the Lubavitch movement, raising immediate concerns throughout the city. Although Schneerson passed away in 1994, he continues to be honored worldwide.
Law enforcement has maintained a continuous presence around the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters for many years.
The location became the focal point of the Crown Heights riots in 1991, during which Black neighborhood residents attacked Jewish community members following a child’s death involving a vehicle in Schneerson’s convoy. In 2014, a mentally disturbed individual entered the synagogue and stabbed a rabbinical student before police fatally shot the attacker.
BRUSSELS – The head of the European Council expressed strong support Monday for Lebanon’s commitment to halt Hezbollah’s armed operations and hold accountable those who launched attacks against Israel.
Antonio Costa, the European Council President, praised the Lebanese government’s stance following a conversation with Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun. Costa emphasized the critical need for renewed security cooperation between Israel and Lebanon.
“It is now important for Israel and Lebanon to resume security coordination, so the Lebanese Armed Forces can disarm Hezbollah and ensure the security of all Lebanese people,” Costa wrote on the social media platform X.
During separate diplomatic communications, Costa reached out to Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides to offer European Union solidarity after an Iranian-made Shahed drone struck a British military installation on the Mediterranean island. Intelligence suggests the drone attack was likely carried out by Hezbollah, which receives backing from Iran.
Costa also thanked Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, expressing “appreciation” for Greece’s military assistance provided to Cyprus in response to the incident.
Federal health officials announced Monday they are giving pharmaceutical companies extra time to enroll in a groundbreaking program designed to bring down prescription drug costs for Americans receiving Medicaid benefits.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has moved the application deadline from March 31 to April 30, 2026, for drug manufacturers interested in participating in the new payment structure.
The initiative aims to reduce medication expenses within the Medicaid system, which serves low-income individuals and families, bringing those costs in line with what other developed countries pay for prescription drugs.
A powerful Sicilian organized crime leader who spent more than three decades behind bars has passed away at age 87, according to two sources familiar with the situation who spoke Monday.
Benedetto “Nitto” Santapaola died while incarcerated at a maximum-security facility in Milan, where he was serving multiple life sentences for homicide and additional criminal charges following his 1993 arrest, one source confirmed.
Italy’s justice ministry has not yet provided a statement regarding the death.
Santapaola earned the fearsome nicknames “il cacciatore” (the hunter) and “il licantropo” (the werewolf) during his reign as the head of organized crime operations in Catania, a major city in eastern Sicily, spanning from the late 1970s through the early 1990s.
The deceased crime boss was prosecuted and found guilty as one of the masterminds behind the 1992 assassinations of Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, two of Italy’s most renowned prosecutors dedicated to fighting organized crime.
WASHINGTON — White House officials explained Monday that a prominent red mark visible on President Trump’s neck comes from a preventative skin treatment he’s currently using, though they declined to provide additional specifics about the medical condition being addressed.
The discolored area became a topic of widespread discussion after news photographers took detailed shots of the president’s neck area during Monday’s Medal of Honor presentation ceremony held in the White House East Room.
White House physician Sean Barbabella issued a statement saying, “President Trump is using a very common cream on the right side of his neck, which is a preventative skin treatment, prescribed by the White House Doctor. The President is using this treatment for one week, and the redness is expected to last for a few weeks.”
Officials have not answered additional inquiries about the specific medication being used, the start date of the treatment, or the particular condition being prevented. However, detailed photographs from previous events, including a White House gathering on February 23 — one day prior to the State of the Union speech — show similar discoloration in the same neck area.
Medical records from Trump’s April 2025 health examination indicated he was using mometasone cream on an as-needed basis for a skin issue that was not further detailed.
At 79 years old, Trump holds the distinction of being the oldest individual to assume the presidency when he took office this past January. Due to his age, medical professionals and the public maintain heightened attention on his health status.
In December, Barbabella reported that Trump underwent MRI scans of his heart and abdominal area in October as standard preventative care for men in his age group, with all results coming back as “perfectly normal.” The October examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center concluded that Trump maintains “exceptional health” overall, the physician stated.
Drivers across Delaware and the region are feeling the pinch at gas stations as fuel prices climbed above $3 per gallon Monday, marking the first time costs have reached that level since November.
The price jump comes as escalating Middle East tensions have disrupted global oil markets. Iran’s response to recent U.S. and Israeli military actions has affected oil production facilities in surrounding nations and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical international shipping corridor. These disruptions have pushed Brent crude oil prices up more than 5% to nearly $77 per barrel, driving up costs for gasoline and other petroleum products.
The rising fuel costs present a significant political challenge for President Trump and Republican candidates as they approach November’s midterm elections, particularly as many Americans are already grappling with increased costs for everyday necessities. A recent Reuters/Ipsos survey found that nearly half of respondents indicated they would be less inclined to back Trump’s Iran policy if oil and gasoline prices continue climbing domestically.
Mark Malek, chief investment officer at Siebert Financial, emphasized the psychological impact of fuel costs on consumers. “Gasoline prices are psychologically powerful,” Malek stated. “They are the inflation number that consumers see every single day.”
Industry experts predict that each $10 increase in crude oil prices per barrel typically translates to a 25-cent rise in gasoline prices at retail locations. Malek warned that refinery complications could lead to even steeper fuel price increases.
Data from OPIS confirmed that average retail gasoline prices surpassed $3 per gallon Monday. Tom Kloza, senior adviser to Gulf Oil, forecasts prices could climb as high as $3.25 per gallon this week due to the ongoing crisis.
Even before the recent Middle East developments, gasoline prices had been climbing for four consecutive weeks, according to GasBuddy data. This increase was partly due to refineries transitioning to summer-grade gasoline, which environmental regulations require and which costs more to produce.
GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan expects the conflict to worsen these price increases. “In the week ahead, gasoline prices are likely to face heightened upward pressure as seasonal trends continue and markets navigate this evolving geopolitical landscape,” De Haan explained.
One of the nation’s largest meat processing companies has launched a significant expansion initiative in the Southwest. JBS has commenced construction on a $150 million enhancement project at its beef processing facility located in Cactus, Texas.
According to company representatives, the ambitious undertaking will feature the development of a cutting-edge fabrication floor along with an enlarged ground beef production area. The expansion represents a substantial investment in the company’s Southern operations and beef processing capabilities.
The groundbreaking ceremony has already taken place for this major infrastructure project, which is expected to modernize and increase capacity at the existing Texas facility.
Agricultural families in Ohio now have access to a comprehensive statewide program designed to assist with generational farm transitions, according to an Ohio State University agricultural attorney.
Robert Moore, who works with the university’s agricultural law program, explains that the Ohio Farm Transition Network offers educational resources and guidance to help farming operations prepare for the future. The program aims to equip agricultural producers with the knowledge needed to make well-informed choices about their farm’s future.
“Farm families often have a difficult time finding resources,” Moore stated. “This program will help them find” the assistance they need for successful transitions.
The network addresses a critical need in Ohio’s agricultural community, where many farming families struggle to locate appropriate guidance for succession planning. The initiative provides structured support to ensure farming operations can continue successfully from one generation to the next.
Bow hunters are proving to be the most effective weapon in the battle against invasive northern snakehead fish in Chesapeake Bay waters, according to new research from Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources.
The recently published study in Integrated and Comparative Biology shows that bowfishing and gigging with pronged spears have become the dominant methods for catching these unwanted fish, far outpacing traditional rod-and-reel fishing, commercial operations, and state management efforts.
What makes this finding particularly significant is that bow hunters are successfully targeting the larger female snakeheads that carry more eggs, which is crucial for controlling population growth of these Asian natives that were illegally released into Maryland waters in the early 2000s.
“Bowfishing is an important component of the fishery, annually removing approximately 20% of the population in the upper Chesapeake Bay,” explained Dr. Joseph Love, the study’s lead author and DNR biologist. “We are always looking for creative, responsible ways to get us closer to our needed targets for managing these populations.”
The invasive species presents a significant challenge for fisheries managers because these fish are naturally equipped with traits that help them thrive and multiply rapidly in environments where they face few natural threats. Northern snakeheads have spread so extensively throughout the Chesapeake Bay region that completely eliminating them is no longer considered feasible.
Instead, wildlife officials are concentrating on reducing their numbers and finding ways to use them beneficially to minimize their damage to local ecosystems that support valuable recreational and commercial fish species.
Bowfishing has gained popularity among anglers as an alternative to conventional fishing methods. Rather than using bait and waiting for a bite, bowfishers shoot arrows attached to retrieval lines at fish they can see in the water.
Between 2022 and 2024, researchers collaborated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Maryland office to track snakeheads with tags and gather information from charter boat operators who specialize in bowfishing trips. The team collected data through multiple approaches: accompanying bowfishing charters in person, reviewing trip logs maintained by charter captains, and tracking reports when tagged fish were caught by both bow hunters and conventional anglers.
The 2024 data alone reveals the scope of bowfishing activity: ten charter boat captains logged over 550 bowfishing excursions across 17 different rivers. These outings typically lasted around five hours with four participants each. While results varied dramatically – from catching nothing to landing more than 30 fish per trip – the average expedition removed approximately ten snakeheads. Activity peaked during spring and fall seasons, particularly during full and new moon phases.
“We learned how many they harvested per night, but needed to learn more about what that meant for the fishery,” Love noted.
The tagging portion of the research involved placing 657 tags on northern snakeheads in the upper Chesapeake Bay. Of the 149 tags that were reported back to researchers, 80 came from bowfishers compared to 65 from traditional anglers. After accounting for differences in reporting habits between the two groups, scientists determined that bowfishing accounts for a larger share of the total snakehead harvest than rod-and-reel fishing.
State removal efforts through electrofishing surveys contributed only a small portion of annual catches, confirming what managers and fishers already suspected – bowfishers are harvesting substantial numbers of snakeheads.
Because northern snakeheads have been shown to negatively affect native fish populations, the department urges anglers to keep every snakehead they catch. There are no bag limits or closed seasons for these invasive fish, and they’re considered excellent table fare. Their widespread distribution means anglers have numerous locations to try their luck at catching them.
As global attention turns to our region for the world’s biggest sporting spectacle, the Delaware Tourism Office (DTO) is encouraging soccer fans to experience every thrilling moment by watching this summer’s matches at four celebrations planned throughout the state.
Tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ soccer viewing festivities will go on sale Thursday, March 5th beginning at 9 a.m.
The tourism office is capitalizing on the international spotlight shining on the area during the premier global soccer tournament, offering residents and visitors multiple locations to gather and enjoy the matches together.
Manufacturing facilities processed 138,000 pounds of extra long staple cotton through cotton system operations during the month of January 2026, according to recently released agricultural data.
The consumption figure reflects activity in the specialized cotton processing sector, where extra long staple varieties are utilized for their superior fiber quality and length characteristics.
Extra long staple cotton represents a premium grade of the crop, typically commanding higher prices due to its enhanced properties for textile manufacturing applications.
American agricultural processors handled 75.2 million tons of soybeans during 2025 to extract crude oil, according to the latest annual report from federal agriculture officials.
The figure represents the total volume of soybeans that went through crushing operations nationwide to produce soybean oil, a key component in food production and industrial applications.
The data comes from the annual fats and oils industry summary, which tracks processing volumes across the United States agricultural sector.
Agricultural processing facilities crushed 6.84 million tons of soybeans during January 2026 to extract crude oil, according to federal data released this week.
The processing volume, equivalent to 228 million bushels, reflects ongoing activity in the nation’s soybean oil production sector during the opening month of the year.
The figures come from the latest agricultural processing report tracking commodity crushing operations across the United States.
New agricultural statistics reveal that corn utilization for alcohol production and other industrial applications totaled 505 million bushels throughout January 2026, according to federal grain processing data.
The monthly grain crushing report provides insight into how America’s corn harvest is being processed and consumed across various industries, with alcohol production representing a significant portion of demand.
The data reflects processing activity during the 31-day period of January, following the completion of December 2025’s 31-day reporting cycle.
The United States cotton industry processed 1.2 million pounds of extra long staple cotton through its manufacturing system during 2025, according to newly released federal data.
This premium grade cotton fiber represents a significant portion of the nation’s textile production capabilities. Extra long staple cotton is considered a higher quality material used in specialized manufacturing applications.
The figures come from the latest annual industry report tracking cotton consumption patterns across American manufacturing facilities.
NEW YORK — Oakland emerged as the most successful team at utilizing baseball’s new automated umpire technology during spring training’s opening stretch, successfully overturning ball and strike decisions in 69.2% of their appeals over the initial 10-day period.
The San Francisco Giants claimed second place with a 66.7% success rate, while Cincinnati, Miami, and San Diego each tied for third at 61.9%, according to Major League Baseball’s announcement on Monday.
In contrast, the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers struggled with the system, achieving only a 21.4% success rate on their appeals to the Automated Ball-Strike System. Baltimore managed just 25% successful challenges, while the New York Mets reached 35.3% and Texas hit 38.1%.
Across all MLB teams, the overall success rate stood at 51.3%, with clubs averaging 2.3 challenges per contest.
The New York Yankees led all teams in challenge frequency, averaging 3.8 appeals per game while winning 52.6% of them. Minnesota followed closely at 3.6 challenges per game with a 58.3% success rate, then Boston at 3.2 challenges (55.2% success), and Colorado and San Francisco both at 3.0 challenges per game.
Baltimore used the fewest challenges, averaging only 1.2 per game. The Dodgers averaged 1.4 challenges while Detroit sat at 1.5 per game with a 46.7% success rate.
Major League Baseball previously tested the ABS technology during last year’s spring training, when teams achieved a 52.2% success rate on ball and strike challenges, winning 617 out of 1,182 appeals. The league has been experimenting with the system in minor league play since 2019.
Under the current rules, each team may challenge up to two calls per game. Teams keep their challenge opportunity when successful, mirroring the existing video replay system that started with home run calls in August 2008 and expanded significantly for the 2014 season.
Teams that exhaust their challenges during regulation play would receive one additional challenge for each extra inning in tied games.
Fighter jets struck two facilities belonging to Iran’s state broadcasting network in Tehran on Sunday evening, resulting in casualties among staff members and temporarily knocking transmissions off the air.
The attacks targeted complexes operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), with explosions visible across Tehran. Broadcasting resumed within minutes from backup studios, though programming remained limited and some radio services experienced significant interruptions.
An IRIB presenter, reporting from an alternate studio in Tehran’s Jame Jam area, confirmed that the network had suffered attacks from US and Israeli forces before announcing the return to regular programming.
The current broadcasting setup stems from damage sustained during a 12-day conflict in June, when missiles from Israeli aircraft completely destroyed IRIB’s primary facility known as the Glass Building in northern Tehran. Since that time, the News Network has operated from multiple locations, including backup studios and repurposed facilities.
Financial constraints have hampered efforts to establish a permanent replacement site. According to sources within IRIB, the broadcaster’s Political Department had sought emergency funding for a new studio outside the main complex, but the request was denied and postponed to the following budget year. Economic difficulties have reduced commercial advertising income, forcing the organization to scatter operations across various buildings, some outside protected areas.
In the hours following the physical attacks, hackers compromised Iranian television satellite transmissions, inserting content featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and portions of a speech by President Donald Trump directed at Iranian citizens, along with footage related to the recent strikes.
Around midnight Tehran time, Tasnim News Agency, which has ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, confirmed that multiple state radio employees were killed or wounded during Sunday’s assault on Iran’s primary radio facility in southern Tehran near the city center.
The Israeli airstrikes occurred in multiple phases and also damaged Police Station 113 near Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and several military and security installations in the vicinity. Local sources reported uncertainty about whether the main radio building at Arg Square was deliberately targeted or suffered collateral damage from nearby strikes.
Additionally, Noor News, a Telegram channel with connections to Iranian security agencies, reported that Channel 2 of state television, situated outside the primary IRIB compound, also came under attack.
Prior to the commencement of US and Israeli operations, sources indicated that IRIB had activated emergency protocols starting at midnight Saturday, implementing wartime staffing schedules and preparing for potential cyber attacks and threats to live broadcasting capabilities. Another source revealed that news regarding the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had reached IRIB executives and the Political Department by Saturday afternoon, with broadcast managers developing plans to announce the development in the early morning hours.
Two Palestinian brothers died Monday after Israeli settlers opened fire in their village in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, as violent incidents by settlers continue to increase throughout the territory during ongoing regional conflicts.
The Palestinian Health Ministry named the victims as Mohammad and Faheem Mo’mar in an official statement. Mohammad, age 52, suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head while Faheem, 48, was struck in the pelvis. Both men died in Qaryout, their home village located in the northern West Bank.
This deadly incident raises the total number of Palestinians killed in settler attacks this year to three, following the February 19 shooting death of Nasrallah Abu Siyam, a 19-year-old Palestinian American.
Video footage distributed by Palestinian news outlets and Breaking the Silence, an organization of former Israeli military personnel, captured approximately 10 settlers positioned near a Palestinian residence in Qaryout. The footage shows one settler aiming a rifle at the home’s upper level. Additional video shows Palestinians hurriedly carrying an injured, bleeding man toward medical assistance.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that at least three additional people sustained injuries during the shooting.
Israeli military officials have not yet provided a response to requests for comment.
Medical personnel transported the wounded to a hospital in Nablus, a city in the central West Bank, where Associated Press reporters observed family members mourning over one brother’s body. Village residents assisted medical staff in moving bloodied victims onto surgical tables and covering both the deceased and injured with blankets.
Adham Johary, a village resident, explained to the AP that settlers had been spotted operating a bulldozer at the town’s perimeter before fleeing when young Palestinian men approached.
“Less than 10 minutes later, more than 10 settlers attacked nearby houses. The young residents attempted to defend the area, and random gunfire was directed at the young men and the entire area,” Johary stated.
Human rights organizations and Palestinians maintain that Israeli officials consistently fail to pursue legal action against settlers or ensure accountability for violent acts. The United Nations humanitarian office documented that 2023 saw the highest daily average of settler attacks resulting in deaths, injuries or property destruction — five incidents per day — since tracking began in 2006.
COGAT, the military authority overseeing the territory, announced closures of West Bank and Gaza crossings citing security concerns. West Bank Palestinians report that travel limitations have severely restricted access to essential services, preventing some villages from reaching urban centers with medical facilities and commercial establishments.
Airlines across the Middle East have started to cautiously restore flight operations after suspending service due to military strikes against Iran by Israeli and U.S. forces over the weekend.
While some carriers resumed limited schedules on Monday, the travel disruption has left hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded across the region. Major aviation hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and other Gulf cities had grounded commercial flights as a safety precaution following the escalating military action.
The gradual return of air service comes as airlines assess security conditions and work to clear massive passenger backlogs. Many international carriers are still evaluating when it will be safe to fully restore normal flight schedules to and from Middle Eastern destinations.
Travel industry officials expect it could take days or weeks to accommodate all affected passengers, depending on how the regional security situation develops.
HAVANA — During a Monday session with his Council of Ministers, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced that his administration must take immediate action to overhaul the nation’s economic and social framework as oil supplies continue to diminish across the Caribbean island.
Díaz-Canel’s announcement comes as Cuba grapples with mounting pressure from a recent oil embargo and suspended petroleum deliveries from Venezuela following U.S. actions against the South American nation in January.
“We must focus, immediately, on implementing the urgent, most necessary transformations that must be made to the economic and social model,” Díaz-Canel stated, according to reports from state-controlled media outlets.
According to government media sources, the president outlined that Cuba’s economic and social restructuring efforts would involve expanding business and local government independence, along with downsizing state bureaucracy and governmental institutions.
Díaz-Canel urged local governments to take charge of various initiatives, including attracting foreign investment, creating partnerships between government and private enterprises, and developing investment opportunities with Cuban expatriates, state media reported.
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz emphasized that the nation’s immediate priorities center on boosting food production and overhauling the electrical infrastructure as the country continues to experience widespread blackouts and fuel shortages.
Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy told state media that local governments are moving too slowly in creating transition plans, despite efforts to distribute solar panels to medical professionals, educators, and students. He stressed that municipalities must develop self-reliant sustainability plans using local resources.
In recent weeks, Cuba has enacted strict fuel conservation policies, including suspending certain public transit services and shifting educational instruction to online platforms.
While the U.S. Treasury Department provided some relief last week by relaxing certain restrictions on Venezuelan oil sales to Cuba, experts predict the island’s energy and economic challenges will continue.
Beyond energy concerns, Cuba faces mounting difficulties from intensified U.S. sanctions, which government data shows have eliminated approximately $8 billion in revenue between March 2024 and February 2025 — representing a nearly 50% increase in losses compared to the previous year.
NEW YORK (TV Delmarva) — First Lady Melania Trump is set to make history Monday when she chairs a United Nations Security Council session focused on children caught in war zones, marking the first time a world leader’s spouse has led the UN’s most influential body.
The historic session will address “Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict,” with Trump’s office stating the discussion will “emphasize education’s role in advancing tolerance and world peace.” The meeting was planned before weekend hostilities erupted between the US, Israel, and Iran.
As the United States holds the Security Council’s rotating monthly presidency for March, Trump was granted the opportunity to lead the 15-member body that typically sees presidents, prime ministers, and foreign ministers at the helm.
The timing proves particularly significant as the administration faces scrutiny over military actions affecting civilian populations. Iranian state media reported that airstrikes on Saturday struck a girls’ school in southern Iran, resulting in at least 165 deaths and numerous injuries. Israeli military officials stated they had no knowledge of operations in that region, while US military representatives said they were investigating the reports.
All eyes will be on the First Lady’s remarks, particularly whether she addresses how current military operations impact children in conflict zones.
Saturday’s emergency Security Council session grew heated as Secretary-General António Guterres criticized both US and Israeli airstrikes as violations of international law and the UN Charter. He equally condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes for breaching Middle Eastern nations’ sovereignty and territorial boundaries.
Trump has previously engaged in diplomatic efforts regarding children in conflict situations. Last summer, she wrote directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin before his meeting with President Trump, which her office credited with helping reunite displaced children from the Russia-Ukraine conflict with their families.
Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine resulted in Ukrainian children being removed from their homeland to be raised as Russians, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to seek international assistance in family reunification efforts.
The appearance comes amid strained US-UN relations, as President Trump has withdrawn America from key UN organizations including the World Health Organization and UNESCO, while reducing funding to numerous others. The US has also fallen behind on mandatory contributions, owing the United Nations billions of dollars.
This financial shortfall has created a crisis at the UN, with Guterres warning in late January of “imminent financial collapse” unless payment structures are reformed or all 193 member countries fulfill their financial obligations.
When asked whether the First Lady’s participation signals improved US-UN cooperation, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric described it as demonstrating “the importance that the United States feels towards the Security Council and the subject.”
NEW YORK CITY — The nation’s largest city spent over $117 million during the past year resolving lawsuits related to police officer misconduct, with cases spanning from wrongful arrests of demonstrators in 2020 to flawed investigative work that resulted in innocent people being imprisoned in the 1980s, according to a fresh examination of municipal records released this week. The financial burden has reached almost $800 million across seven years.
Two men who served over two decades behind bars after being falsely arrested and found guilty of a deadly 1986 Manhattan robbery received the year’s biggest payouts, totaling $24.1 million combined. A separate $5.75 million settlement compensated a man who claims officers permanently damaged his left eye with a stun gun.
The Legal Aid Society, a nonprofit organization providing public defense services, published the examination on Monday while the city grapples with a $5.4 billion budget deficit. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has suggested reducing the NYPD’s $6.4 billion budget by $22 million alongside other spending cuts, even as officials highlight declining crime statistics. These misconduct settlements come from a different portion of the municipal budget, unlike other jurisdictions where such costs are deducted directly from police department operating funds.
“This examination focuses on bringing transparency to the true cost of the NYPD,” explained Jennvine Wong, supervising attorney for the organization’s Cop Accountability Project. “Based on our findings, it appears that substantial accountability measures have been missing within the police department. This represents a persistent issue requiring immediate attention.”
The city resolved 1,044 police misconduct cases in 2025, marking the highest number since 2019’s 1,276 settlements. This represented the fourth consecutive year with payouts surpassing $100 million. The previous year’s figure nearly doubled the $62.1 million paid in 2020 for 929 cases, while 2024 saw $206.4 million distributed across 980 lawsuits.
These figures represent only a portion of the city’s complete police misconduct expenses. The Legal Aid Society’s examination covers solely lawsuit settlements, excluding claims resolved by the city comptroller before formal legal proceedings began.
Among the previous year’s settlements, approximately $42 million addressed wrongful convictions while $28 million — roughly one-quarter of total payouts — involved incidents occurring over twenty years ago. Similar cases have comprised a significant portion of the $796 million the city has distributed for police misconduct lawsuit resolutions since 2019, according to NYPD officials.
“Although these cases require important attention, they provide no insight into current policing practices,” the department stated.
Under Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch’s leadership, the NYPD “has implemented substantial measures to enhance accountability, compliance, and modify outdated policies that could increase liability,” the statement continued. Officials noted the department collaborates closely with city district attorneys’ offices, supplying materials to support their examination of cases involving false arrest and conviction allegations.
Eric Smokes and David Warren, the men falsely convicted in the 1986 fatal robbery, received $13 million and $11.1 million respectively. Their 2024 federal lawsuit alleged that a dishonest detective relied on testimony from an emotionally impaired and drug-using 17-year-old attempting to escape his own robbery charges. Three of four witnesses who identified Smokes and Warren as perpetrators only did so after facing threats of criminal prosecution, according to court documents.
Steven Lopez received a $3.9 million settlement as the sixth individual arrested alongside the former Central Park Five, now called the Exonerated Five, after their convictions in a 1989 female jogger’s rape were reversed. While the Five proceeded to trial, Lopez accepted a plea deal for a reduced charge involving the mugging of a male jogger that same evening, succumbing to intense police and public pressure.
Additional settlements included $1.7 million for four demonstrators who claimed officers struck them with batons or forced them to the ground during a June 2020 Brooklyn protest following George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police.
The city distributed $5.2 million to nine individuals who alleged they were falsely accused in cases spanning 2014 to 2016 by two officers subsequently convicted of fabricating testimony and documentation.
Last week, a court-appointed oversight official criticized the NYPD for inadequate supervision and insufficient reporting of officers’ stop-and-frisk practices. A federal judge determined in 2013 that the NYPD’s widespread use of this search method for weapons and narcotics violated Black and Hispanic New Yorkers’ civil rights.
While the department has dramatically reduced stop-and-frisk encounters since then, it maintains “unacceptably low compliance rates” with constitutional safeguards, according to monitor Mylan L. Denerstein.
The NYPD’s enormous settlement expenses indicate additional efforts are needed to reduce misconduct, with “insufficient accountability continuing to foster a culture of impunity,” Wong stated.
“These judgments and settlement expenses are draining city resources while imposing not only financial burdens on police misconduct victims, but also inflicting genuine psychological harm that stays with them,” she concluded.
Military analysts are closely monitoring a joint American-Israeli aerial campaign against Iran that has reached a pivotal moment, with experts identifying two potential outcomes that could reshape Middle East dynamics for years to come.
According to Brigadier General (retired) Eran Ortal, who spoke with The Media Line, “There is no precedent for regime change through an air campaign.” However, the current military operations are testing whether sustained pressure and leadership elimination can trigger Iran’s internal collapse.
The coordinated strikes, which began February 28 under US Operation Epic Fury and Israeli Operation Roaring Lion, have evolved beyond typical military degradation campaigns. Experts say the key question is whether communication breakdowns, leadership losses, and mounting pressure can fracture Tehran’s control enough to spark revolution from within.
Professor Danny Orbach, a military historian at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, explained the strategy to The Media Line: “The goal is not for the regime to fall, but to create conditions that will enable the Iranian people to topple it. If the Iranians don’t take advantage of the opportunity, the war might end with less ambitious goals achieved—the destruction of the Iranian navy, its missile arsenal, and the remnants of its nuclear program.”
CENTCOM characterized the initial assault as one of the most intensive American firepower deployments in the region in decades, utilizing cruise missiles and advanced fighter jets launched from air, land, and sea platforms.
The conflict entered a new phase after social media footage showed Iranian citizens celebrating in streets following confirmation that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an airstrike. This development has pushed the confrontation beyond conventional capability degradation into uncertain political territory.
Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have urged Iranian citizens to capitalize on this moment and overthrow their government, though success remains far from guaranteed.
“The duration of the operation depends on its goal,” Ortal noted. “This goal could change as the success of the operation becomes apparent.”
Israeli sources report that initial strike phases involved hundreds of targets and over 1,200 munitions, suggesting a potentially extended campaign ahead.
Ortal outlined two possible scenarios emerging from current operations. The first involves leadership elimination and communication failures combining with public pressure to create governmental rupture—though he emphasized that airpower alone has never historically achieved regime change.
“Seeing Iranians celebrating the attack in the streets increases the optimism that this scenario could materialize,” Ortal said. “This could create a domino effect that cannot be foreseen in which the disappearance of senior leadership, major communications disruption, and extreme public pressure destabilize the leadership, who then abandons their positions.”
Should internal collapse fail to materialize, the alternative outcome would leave Iran’s government politically intact but strategically crippled. “This will leave the regime without military capabilities, weak and neutralized and fully subordinate to American whims and future coercion,” Ortal explained.
Orbach emphasized the strategic importance of targeting Iran’s naval capabilities, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz. “The navy is more important than what most people think,” he said. “The navy is the ability to project power, especially through the threat of blocking the Hormuz Strait. Its destruction will humiliate them and turn them into a country that cannot project power.”
The Hormuz Strait carries approximately one-fifth of global oil trade, making any disruption capable of affecting worldwide energy markets, shipping schedules, and commercial insurance costs. Eliminating Tehran’s maritime leverage would significantly reduce its ability to threaten neighbors or the global economy during future crises.
The strikes target the foundation of Iran’s decades-long regional strategy: proxy networks combined with missile and drone capabilities designed to deter direct attacks and impose escalation costs. Dismantling these tools fundamentally alters Iran’s negotiating position and battlefield options.
“Iran’s ability to influence the Middle East is tied to two abilities—its proxies and its missiles,” Ortal said. “Iran no longer has air defense systems, and its missile launchers are gradually depleting. Iran has no ability to face this, leaving the regime subdued to American pressure it will not be able to withstand.”
Iran’s nuclear program provides crucial context for current hostilities. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action temporarily limited Tehran’s enrichment activities in exchange for sanctions relief, but following US withdrawal in 2018, Iran expanded enrichment and reduced international oversight, escalating tensions that led to today’s confrontation.
Orbach argued that achieving complete regime collapse would require expanding targets beyond military assets to include internal enforcement mechanisms used for protest suppression and population control.
“The way to increase the odds of toppling the regime is to eliminate its leader and his heirs, in several rounds, rendering them weak and scared,” Orbach said, estimating slim survival chances for the current government. “In addition, the oppression mechanisms of the regime also need to be hit. The question is how long Israel and the US will persist in this effort.”
Iran’s domestic conditions may prove as significant as strike intensity. Years of sanctions, corruption, and heavy security expenditures have damaged the economy, while inflation, infrastructure deterioration, power shortages, and water crises have intensified public dissatisfaction—factors that could amplify political consequences if leadership and control systems continue deteriorating.
“Iran’s economy is in a catastrophic state and deteriorating further,” Orbach observed. “This will only worsen after the war, including raging inflation and the water crisis. Add to this a succession struggle and popular unrest, and it is hard to see the regime surviving in the long run.”
Even if political objectives become more modest over time, Ortal believes the military impact alone could transform regional dynamics for years. “Even if the goals of the operation will be downgraded, still Iran will be rendered extremely weak and subdued for a substantial number of years,” he said.
Analysts identify four key indicators that will reveal the campaign’s direction: whether strikes expand beyond military targets to internal enforcement apparatus; whether Iran’s naval influence around Hormuz Strait gets neutralized; whether domestic unrest grows from scattered incidents into sustained pressure; and whether Washington and Jerusalem begin describing success in narrower terms focused on long-term military degradation.
The central uncertainty remains what Ortal highlighted: while airpower can eliminate leaders, disrupt communications, and destroy capabilities, it cannot vote, demonstrate, or govern. Coming days will determine whether these strikes merely dismantle Iran’s security infrastructure—or create opportunities for Iranians themselves to dismantle the system controlling it, potentially defying historical patterns that Ortal says have defined previous air campaigns.
Soccer enthusiasts across the First State will have their chance to secure spots at Delaware’s official FIFA World Cup 2026 viewing events when ticket sales open Thursday, March 5 at 9 a.m.
The Delaware Tourism Office has planned one major watch party in each of the state’s three counties this June, creating opportunities for thousands of residents to come together and enjoy the international tournament. These gatherings represent Delaware’s exclusive official FIFA World Cup 2026 watch party series.
Officials promise each location will be converted into an exciting fan celebration featuring massive viewing screens, live entertainment before matches begin, food trucks from local vendors, hands-on soccer games, musical performances, and activities designed for attendees of every age group.
The events are being organized as Delaware finds itself in the international spotlight during what organizers call the planet’s most significant sporting competition.
The interim head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized Monday that vaccination remains the strongest defense against measles as the nation grapples with rising case numbers.
Acting Director Jay Bhattacharya stressed the importance of the MMR vaccination in a video message shared on social media platform X. “There is no cure for measles, which is why prevention is so critical,” Bhattacharya stated. “The MMR vaccine remains the most reliable and effective way to prevent it.”
The health official announced that the CDC is deploying additional resources to assist prevention and response initiatives nationwide, while maintaining regular communication with state and local health departments.
“We stand ready to provide CDC technical staff, laboratory support, vaccines and therapeutics upon request,” he explained in the video message.
According to the most recent CDC statistics, health officials documented 1,136 confirmed measles infections across the United States through February 26, 2026.
Bhattacharya assumed the interim CDC leadership role in February while simultaneously serving as director of the National Institutes of Health.
The ongoing U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran entered its third day Monday, creating widespread disruption across the aviation industry with carriers facing significant financial losses that insurance policies won’t cover, according to industry analysts and insurance experts.
Aviation stocks plummeted from Asian markets to Wall Street, erasing billions in market capitalization as the escalating conflict forced the cancellation of thousands of flights globally, closed major Middle Eastern aviation centers, and drove oil prices sharply higher.
Insurance industry professionals and market analysts provided insight into how the crisis affects coverage:
Jefferies analysts noted that commercial property insurance policies “almost always” contain exclusions for war-related damages, and unlike marine and aviation coverage, separate war insurance isn’t readily obtainable for most businesses.
The investment firm warned that significant commercial property damage, including potential harm to Dubai’s famous Palm Jumeirah development, would likely fall outside standard insurance protection.
According to Jefferies, aviation war insurance policies contain provisions allowing insurers to terminate coverage, while standard non-war aviation policies typically contain war exclusions either through direct language or force majeure clauses.
However, one industry insider informed Reuters that aviation insurers routinely handle such situations and noted that no insurance companies have issued cancellation notices thus far.
A second industry source explained that while airlines maintain aviation war coverage protecting their aircraft fleets from physical damage and liability claims, operational disruption losses typically fall under business interruption policies that exclude war-related events, forcing airlines to absorb these costs directly.
Credit rating agency Morningstar DBRS stated the conflict presents major underwriting and investment obstacles across marine, aviation, property, travel, and supply chain insurance sectors.
“From an aviation-hull perspective, insurers must consider the risk that missiles or air-defence interceptors could result in large hull and liability claims,” the agency explained in its analysis.
Morningstar DBRS further warned that if the Gulf conflict expands, it could drive up pricing while reducing available capacity in terrorism and political violence insurance markets.
The cost of insuring cargo shipments through Middle Eastern waters has jumped as much as five times normal rates over the past two days, with most underwriters refusing to provide coverage for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported Monday citing industry sources.
Officials in the United Arab Emirates reported Monday that a drone strike ignited a blaze at the Musaffah fuel storage facility, though the attack did not disrupt normal operations at the critical energy hub.
The Abu Dhabi media office confirmed authorities quickly managed the emergency situation. “Abu Dhabi authorities have responded today to a fire resulting from the targeting of a Musaffah fuel tank terminal by a drone. The situation was promptly contained,” the office said.
Officials confirmed no one was hurt in the incident.
The targeted facility serves as a key distribution point operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, where fuel products are loaded onto trucks for delivery. The site connects to an extensive pipeline system spanning 1,600 kilometers that supplies petroleum products throughout the Abu Dhabi emirate.
This marks another attack on the Musaffah facility, which previously came under fire from Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in 2022 during their ongoing conflict with the Saudi-led military coalition.
The strike occurred as regional tensions intensify following a series of attacks across the area. Earlier Monday, Saudi Arabia’s national oil company Aramco was forced to close its Ras Tanura refinery after a drone strike, marking what appears to be an escalation on the third consecutive day of regional attacks launched by Tehran following a U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran.
Meanwhile, QatarEnergy suspended production of liquefied natural gas and related products after attacks targeted facilities at Ras Laffan, according to an informed source speaking to Reuters.
Washington is preparing to cut ties with cornerback Marshon Lattimore following a brief stint that lasted just one and a half seasons, CBS Sports has learned.
The 29-year-old defender, who earned Pro Bowl honors four times and claimed Defensive Rookie of the Year recognition in 2017, is in the last year of his massive five-year contract worth $97.6 million that he inked with New Orleans back in 2021. Lattimore will celebrate his 30th birthday this May.
His scheduled salary for 2026 was $18.5 million, but since none of that money was guaranteed, Washington faces no financial penalty for cutting him loose.
Originally selected 11th overall by New Orleans in the 2017 NFL Draft, Lattimore joined Washington via trade last November. His time with the Commanders included just 11 total appearances – two games following the 2024 trade and nine contests this past season before suffering an ACL tear.
Legal troubles surfaced in January when Ohio authorities arrested him on weapons-related charges, including carrying a concealed weapon and improper firearm handling in a vehicle.
Throughout his eight-year NFL career, Lattimore has been a consistent starter, appearing in all 95 regular-season contests he’s been available for. His career statistics include 16 picks with two returned for scores, 98 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, and 436 total tackles.
SALISBURY, Md. – Salisbury University celebrated a remarkable week of athletic achievement as four Sea Gulls student-athletes earned recognition from the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) for their outstanding performances between February 23 and March 1, 2026.
The university’s tennis programs dominated the weekly honors, with Gurv Suri claiming the men’s award and Gibelle Beaujon taking home the women’s recognition, marking a clean sweep for the Sea Gulls tennis teams in their respective C2C categories.
Meanwhile, the women’s lacrosse squad contributed two honorees to the weekly awards list. Julianna Ott earned recognition for her offensive contributions, while Abby Fleishell was celebrated for her defensive prowess during the competition period.
The Jersey Mike’s A Sub Above Players of the Week program highlights exceptional student-athlete performances across the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, recognizing excellence both on and off the field of play.
Drivers should expect delays on Federal School Lane today as construction crews have closed the left lane between South DuPont Highway (Route 13) and River Road (Route 9).
According to DelDOT, the lane restriction will remain in effect until 5 PM this afternoon while construction work is underway in the area.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when driving through the work zone. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction during the construction period.
Delaware residents can expect warmer than usual weather in the coming week and a half, according to extended weather forecasts covering the next 6 to 10 days. The projection indicates that most areas across the nation will see temperatures at or above seasonal averages, with rainfall amounts also expected to meet or exceed normal levels.
The East Coast, including Delaware and surrounding states, shows the highest probability for experiencing temperatures warmer than typical for this time of year. Conversely, areas expecting below-average moisture include California and portions of the western Great Basin region.
Cold temperatures will begin moving northward this week but will remain present near the Canadian border stretching from North Dakota through New England. Early week weather patterns may bring icy conditions and freezing precipitation to areas as far south as the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic region before milder temperatures take hold.
The weather pattern is expected to shift during the week’s second half, with warmer air masses moving into the region.
SOFIA – Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev announced Monday that he has formed a new three-party coalition named Progressive Bulgaria to compete in the nation’s parliamentary elections scheduled for April 19.
The move marks the country’s eighth electoral contest in just seven years, highlighting Bulgaria’s ongoing political turmoil. Radev, who resigned from his largely ceremonial presidential position in January, remains widely favored among Bulgarian voters, with polling data indicating his new alliance could secure over 30 percent of voter support.
During his presidency, Radev exercised significant unofficial political influence throughout a turbulent period that culminated in the most recent government’s downfall on December 11. He stepped down from office nearly twelve months ahead of schedule.
The administration collapsed after sustained public demonstrations against increased taxes and what protesters viewed as inadequate efforts to combat corruption within the government.
Taking to Facebook, Radev declared: “‘Progressive Bulgaria’ is the answer to the expectations of Bulgarians for dismantling the oligarchic corruption model. In order to succeed, we will fight for a decisive victory and it depends on the voice of all Bulgarians.”
The new coalition unites three left-oriented political groups: Our People Movement, Social Democratic Party, and the Socialdemocrats movement.
Since becoming a eurozone member on January 1, Bulgaria has struggled with persistent governmental instability. Political parties have been unable to establish lasting governing partnerships since 2021 due to a divided parliament.
LONDON, March 2 – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned lawmakers Monday that Iran has intensified its military attacks on regional targets following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, describing the nation’s current tactics as increasingly dangerous.
Speaking before Parliament, Starmer cautioned that Khamenei’s death has not deterred Iran from conducting strikes against military and economic infrastructure across the region.
“The death of Khamenei will not stop Iran from launching these strikes,” Starmer addressed Parliament members. “In fact, their approach is becoming even more reckless and more dangerous to civilians.”
The Prime Minister’s comments highlight growing international concerns about Iran’s military activities in the aftermath of their longtime leader’s passing.
WASHINGTON – America’s emergency oil stockpile has served as a crucial tool for presidents seeking to manage fuel costs during times of international conflict, though the current administration has no immediate plans to tap into these reserves.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which represents the world’s largest emergency oil supply, currently contains 415.4 million barrels stored in underground salt dome facilities along the Texas and Louisiana coastlines. Officials indicate the Trump administration is not presently considering releasing oil from the SPR, according to a government source speaking Monday.
However, energy analysts suggest that continued price increases following recent U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran, which resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials, could prompt the administration to reconsider this position.
The reserve’s storage capacity reaches approximately 714 million barrels, primarily consisting of high-sulfur sour crude that American refineries are equipped to process.
Historical wartime deployments of the reserve include several significant releases:
During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, former President Joe Biden authorized the largest-ever emergency release of 180 million barrels over a six-month period beginning in March. While both Biden and Trump have initiated modest replenishment efforts, congressional funding remains necessary for substantial restocking.
When Iranian-backed Houthis targeted Saudi Arabian oil facilities in 2019, disrupting over half of the kingdom’s crude production, then-President Trump indicated readiness to utilize the reserve if necessary. The release ultimately proved unnecessary as Saudi Arabia’s Abqaiq facility and Khurais field quickly restored operations.
Former President Barack Obama coordinated with international partners in June 2011 to release 30 million barrels during Libya’s civil war, with the International Energy Agency facilitating an additional 30 million barrel release from member nations to address global market disruptions.
The reserve’s first major wartime deployment occurred during Operation Desert Storm in 1990-1991, when former President George H.W. Bush authorized sales totaling approximately 21 million barrels in two separate phases. An initial 3.9 million barrel test sale took place in October 1990, followed by a January 1991 authorization for 34 million barrels, of which 17.3 million were ultimately sold as coalition forces launched airstrikes against Iraqi military targets.
COPENHAGEN – Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced Monday that her country has formed a strategic nuclear defense partnership with France, marking a significant shift in European security cooperation.
The announcement came as French President Emmanuel Macron revealed plans to expand France’s nuclear capabilities and enhance deterrent measures through unprecedented collaboration with European allies, describing it as a fundamental shift in nuclear policy.
“Enhanced cooperation will help bolster Europe’s deterrent strength. Regrettably, this has become essential as we anticipate Russia’s military threat will grow in the years ahead,” Frederiksen explained to reporters.
The Danish leader emphasized that this new European partnership would work alongside existing security frameworks. “We want to make clear today that this strategic cooperation will supplement, not substitute for, our deterrent collaboration within NATO,” she stated.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen clarified that the strategic partnership will not involve placing nuclear weapons within Denmark’s borders.
Agricultural producers across the region are raising concerns that corporate mergers within the fertilizer sector are contributing to dramatically increased farming expenses. Despite companies expanding their production capabilities, growers say they’re not seeing the expected cost reductions at the farm level.
Mark Mueller, who serves as a farmer director with Iowa Corn, explains that agricultural producers anticipated lower prices as companies increased their manufacturing capacity. However, Mueller notes that reality has been different.
“For some reason the increased production doesn’t necessarily translate into savings that get passed along to the farmer. Let’s face it,” Mueller stated, highlighting the disconnect between industry expansion and farmer costs.
The situation has left many in the agricultural community questioning whether industry consolidation is working against their economic interests, as input expenses continue to climb despite greater production volumes.
Service station operators nationwide are expressing mounting frustration as Congress continues to delay action on legislation that would allow year-round sales of E15 ethanol-blended gasoline.
According to Geoff Cooper, who leads the Renewable Fuels Association as CEO, gas station owners and truck stop operators have grown weary of waiting for federal lawmakers to establish consistent, nationwide regulations for the higher ethanol blend.
“We’ve certainly heard that remark from the retailers and truck stop folks before, and I think there is” genuine exhaustion with the legislative process, Cooper noted.
The push for year-round E15 availability has been stalled in Congress despite ongoing advocacy from fuel retailers who want clearer federal guidelines for offering the ethanol blend to customers throughout all seasons.
A University of Delaware softball standout has earned recognition from Conference USA officials for her outstanding play on the mound.
Karli Challburg, a freshman pitcher for the Blue Hens, received Conference USA Freshman of the Week honors following her impressive showings in games against Le Moyne and Bryant during the Blue Hen Invitational tournament.
The conference made the announcement on Monday, March 2, highlighting Challburg’s contributions to the team’s performance at the home tournament.
The weekly recognition marks an early achievement in Challburg’s collegiate career as she continues to make her mark in her debut season with the Delaware softball program.
Weather officials have put the Delmarva Peninsula under a Winter Weather Advisory that began Saturday afternoon and will remain in effect until Sunday morning at 8:00 AM.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey activated the advisory at 1:18 PM on Saturday, March 2nd, warning residents across Delaware and surrounding areas to prepare for winter weather conditions.
The advisory will stay active until 8:00 AM on Sunday, March 3rd, giving local communities nearly 19 hours to navigate the anticipated weather challenges.
Residents throughout the region should monitor local conditions closely and take appropriate precautions for travel and outdoor activities during the advisory period.
A source with knowledge of the transaction tells The Associated Press that the Detroit Lions have sent veteran running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans in exchange for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, plus fourth and seventh-round draft selections.
The individual confirmed the trade details to the AP on Monday while requesting anonymity since the teams have not yet made an official announcement.
The move allows Detroit to acquire crucial offensive line reinforcement and additional draft capital while parting ways with a veteran back seeking expanded playing time.
Montgomery is expected to compete for a starting position with his new Houston team.
In Detroit, the running back found himself relegated to a reserve role with minimal opportunities to see the field behind Jahymr Gibbs, who has earned Pro Bowl recognition in each of his first three professional seasons.
This past season saw Montgomery post the lowest numbers of his career in both rushing attempts (158) and total rushing yards (716). Despite the reduced workload, he managed eight touchdown runs and averaged 4.5 yards per carry, just shy of his career-high 4.6 yards per attempt from 2023, when he accumulated 1,015 rushing yards and 13 ground scores in his first year wearing a Lions uniform.
The 28-year-old back brings substantial experience to Houston, having compiled 6,115 rushing yards and 59 rushing touchdowns throughout his seven-year career, along with 1,890 receiving yards and four receiving scores split between four seasons in Chicago and three in Detroit.
With Montgomery’s departure, Detroit will likely pursue another backup running back through either free agency signings this month or the upcoming April draft.
Houston originally drafted Scruggs during the second round of the 2023 selection process. The lineman could potentially fill a starting role at either center or guard for Detroit, where strengthening what was once a dominant offensive line has become a crucial offseason objective after the unit’s struggles contributed to the team’s playoff absence.
BOGOTA, Colombia — One-time guerrilla fighters who previously dominated Colombia’s countryside now face an uphill battle to maintain their existence as a legitimate political organization during this Sunday’s crucial congressional elections.
The former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia members, operating under the political banner Comunes (Commoners), face steep odds in securing sufficient votes to keep their legislative positions or even preserve their official party recognition.
During the previous two legislative terms, the organization held 10 assured congressional positions — a benefit provided through their 2016 peace agreement with Colombia’s government.
However, those guaranteed positions have now expired according to the peace accord’s provisions, forcing Comunes to compete alongside all other political organizations without special advantages.
Political analysts anticipate the former insurgents will struggle to maintain their legislative presence amid fierce competition from over a dozen parties vying for Senate and House positions.
“They have not really gained the support of the people,” stated Yan Basset, who teaches political science at Bogota’s Rosario University.
The ex-rebels conducted kidnappings affecting thousands of citizens and carried out bombing attacks on numerous rural communities throughout their 50-year war against Colombia’s government.
According to Basset, the conflict’s negative legacy persists, “and obviously for many Colombians it is difficult to forgive.”
Despite having secured legislative seats, Comunes demonstrated poor electoral performance in past voting cycles.
The organization captured 89,300 votes across Colombia during 2018’s congressional races. This figure dropped to 50,100 by 2022.
This downward trend poses serious consequences since Colombian election regulations mandate parties secure at least 3% of total votes to maintain official recognition for candidate nominations and government funding eligibility. The previous election required 509,000 votes to achieve that essential 3% threshold.
To boost their electoral prospects this cycle, Comunes has partnered with Fuerza Ciudadana, an organization established two decades ago by progressive activists and scholars that recently secured mayoral victories and a gubernatorial win in northern Colombia.
The former guerrillas also seem to be downplaying their brand identity to make their candidates more appealing to ordinary voters. Campaign materials including flyers, banners and stickers prominently display Fuerza Ciudadana’s branding, while Comunes’ red rose emblem is notably missing from most promotional content.
Comunes additionally registered their coalition under the Fuerza Ciudadana name with election officials, guaranteeing the partner organization’s orange symbol, not their own, will be visible on Sunday’s voting forms.
“Politics in Colombia is very complex,” remarked Carlos Carreño Marín, a former FARC military leader.
Marín participated in FARC’s negotiating team for the 2016 peace agreement and has served as a Comunes congressional representative since 2018.
The 48-year-old is now working to retain his Bogota legislative position while recognizing the difficulty ahead.
“We are in an intense struggle against parties that have been doing this for two centuries,” he explained.
Nearly 300 congressional positions will be decided during Sunday’s voting.
The election results could significantly impact President Gustavo Petro’s constitutional reform agenda. Petro has criticized judicial officials and lawmakers for obstructing his initiatives to nationalize Colombia’s healthcare infrastructure and overhaul the retirement system.
Energy markets experienced significant volatility Monday as escalating conflict involving Iran led to major disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the critical importance of this waterway to global oil distribution.
This narrow channel serves as the gateway from the Persian Gulf, facilitating the transport of approximately 20% of worldwide oil supplies. Vessels navigating these waters, which border Iran to the north, transport petroleum and natural gas from major producers including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Iran itself. The majority of these energy exports are destined for Asian markets.
Any interruption to shipping through this strategic waterway creates significant ripple effects throughout global energy markets.
“The scale of what is at stake cannot be overstated,” said Hakan Kaya, senior portfolio manager at investment management firm Neuberger Berman. He explained that while oil companies could manage a partial slowdown lasting one to two weeks, a complete or near-complete blockage extending a month or longer would drive crude oil prices, currently trading around $70 on Monday, “well into triple digits” and push European natural gas prices “toward or above the crisis levels seen in 2022.”
The Strait of Hormuz forms a curved waterway measuring approximately 33 kilometers (21 miles) across at its most constricted point. It links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, providing ships access to international waters and global destinations. Although Iran and Oman maintain territorial claims within the strait, international maritime law recognizes it as open waters accessible to all vessels. The United Arab Emirates, known for Dubai’s iconic skyline, is also positioned adjacent to this vital shipping lane.
Throughout history, the Strait of Hormuz has served as a crucial trade corridor, with ceramics, ivory, silk and textiles flowing from China through the region. In contemporary times, it accommodates massive oil tankers transporting petroleum and gas from regional producers. Most of these shipments reach Asian destinations, including China, which remains Iran’s sole remaining oil purchaser.
Although Saudi Arabia and the UAE operate pipelines that can bypass the strait, the U.S. Energy Information Administration notes that “most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region.”
Previous threats to this shipping route have triggered global energy price increases, including during the Israel-Iran conflict in June.
While the strait remains officially open, vessel traffic has declined dramatically due to disrupted satellite navigation systems, according to data analytics company Kpler in a Sunday statement on X. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Center documented attacks on multiple ships in waters surrounding the strait and issued warnings about increased electronic interference affecting vessel tracking systems.
A drone boat loaded with explosives attacked a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, the eastern approach to the strait, resulting in one crew member’s death, Omani officials confirmed.
Iran has been issuing threats to vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz and is suspected of conducting several attacks.
In mid-February, Iran temporarily blocked portions of the strait, claiming the action was part of military exercises. Oil prices surged approximately 6% in subsequent days.
This closure represented a rare, possibly unprecedented shutdown of the waterway.
During previous periods of regional tension and warfare, Iran has periodically interfered with shipping through the narrow passage. During the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, both nations targeted tankers and other vessels, deploying naval mines that completely halted traffic at various times. However, Iran has not followed through on repeated threats to completely close the waterway since the 1980s, even during last year’s 12-day conflict when Israel and the United States conducted strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities.
WASHINGTON — Hours after expressing frustration with stalled nuclear negotiations, President Donald Trump authorized a large-scale military operation against Iran that eliminated key leadership figures and disrupted global markets.
The sequence of events began Friday afternoon when Trump spoke to media outside the White House before departing for Texas, stating his dissatisfaction with ongoing indirect discussions with Iran.
“I’m not happy with the way they’re going,” Trump told reporters at 12:25 p.m. EST regarding the nuclear negotiations. When questioned about his next steps, he responded, “No, I haven’t,” regarding whether he had reached a final decision.
While traveling on Air Force One to Texas events at 3:38 p.m. EST, Trump authorized the military action dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.”
“The president directed, and I quote, ‘Operation Epic Fury approved … Good luck,’” General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, revealed during a Monday press conference.
According to Caine, this authorization triggered final preparations across all joint U.S. military branches, with air defense systems positioning themselves and flight crews conducting last-minute rehearsals of their attack plans. Simultaneously, aircraft began receiving final armaments while two U.S. carrier strike groups moved toward launch positions.
During his continued flight to Texas, Trump made multiple Truth Social posts, including one nine minutes after approving the strike that ordered the government to cease using Anthropic artificial intelligence technology following a public disagreement between the company and Pentagon regarding AI safety measures.
Upon arriving in Texas at 4:03 p.m. EST, Trump addressed reporters at the Port of Corpus Christi about the negotiations, reiterating his displeasure without revealing the approved operation. When asked about his proximity to deciding on strikes, he declined to answer.
“I’d rather not tell you,” Trump responded. “You would have had the greatest scoop in history, right? Yeah.”
The actual military action commenced at 1:15 a.m. EST, based on Caine’s Monday timeline presentation.
“Across every domain — land, air, sea, cyber,” American forces “delivered synchronized and layered effects designed to disrupt, degrade, deny and destroy Iran’s ability to conduct and sustain combat operations on the U.S. side,” Caine explained.
During the Pentagon briefing, Caine described the operation as involving “thousands of service members from all branches, hundreds of advanced fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, dozens of refueling tankers, the Lincoln and Ford carrier strike group and their embarked air wings.”
He emphasized that ammunition and fuel supplies maintained continuous flow with support from an extensive network including intelligence and surveillance operations, while additional forces continued deploying to the region.
The military action followed months of CIA efforts to monitor senior Iranian leadership movements, particularly Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This intelligence was shared with Israel, leading to adjustments in Saturday’s strike timing, according to an anonymous source familiar with the operation.
In Tehran, explosions were audible as Israel’s defense minister announced a state of emergency.
Three coordinated strikes at separate locations occurred within sixty seconds, eliminating Khamenei and approximately 40 senior officials, including the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard commander and Iran’s defense minister, an Israeli military official confirmed.
At 4:37 p.m. EST, Trump used his Truth Social platform to announce Khamenei’s death, stating the supreme leader was “unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems.”
On Sunday at 12:21 p.m. EST, Trump posted on Truth Social that American forces had “destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships,” would be “going after the rest” and “largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters.”
Later Sunday at 4:06 p.m. EST, the Republican president released a video message stating that U.S. military and allies struck hundreds of Iranian targets, including Revolutionary Guard installations and air defense systems “all in a matter of literally minutes.”
Trump indicated the strikes would persist until “all of our objectives are achieved” without specifying those goals.
Also Sunday, Trump administration officials informed congressional staff during private briefings that U.S. intelligence had not indicated Iran was planning a preemptive attack against America, according to three briefing participants.
Instead, administration officials acknowledged a broader regional threat from Iran’s missile capabilities and proxy forces, two sources reported.
A senior White House official also stated Sunday that Iran’s “new potential leadership” had expressed openness to discussions with the United States.
In a Sunday New York Times interview, Trump suggested the assault could continue for “four to five weeks.”
Monday at 8 a.m. EST, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clarified during a Pentagon briefing that the U.S. was not pursuing nation-building in Iran and that continued strikes would not lead to prolonged conflict.
“This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” he stated. “This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it.”
During Monday trading, oil prices surged as tanker disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz sparked concerns about Persian Gulf supply shortages. U.S. oil reached approximately $71.97 per barrel. MarineTraffic.com reported that strait transit had decreased 70% since Saturday.
The strikes also unsettled global markets, with U.S. futures following European and Asian markets downward. Both S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dropped roughly 1%.
Recent escalations in Middle East tensions have exposed just how dependent worldwide aviation has become on a select few major airport hubs, with Dubai’s international airport – the globe’s busiest – at the center of widespread travel disruptions.
The Gulf region’s commercial powerhouse has built an impressive aviation empire over four decades, growing from Emirates’ humble beginnings with just two leased aircraft and a pair of flight routes to today’s massive operation connecting 110 countries through 454,000 annual flights.
“That we’ve got such a well-spread geographic business model and are well spread between visitors and those in transit suggests it’s very robust and will continue to survive any geopolitical tension that exists, wherever it may be,” Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths told Reuters in a recent interview.
However, Saturday’s U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran brought these regional conflicts directly to Dubai’s front door, including a direct assault on the airport facility itself.
Now Dubai confronts the enormous challenge of managing tens of thousands of stranded travelers while rebuilding its flight network and protecting incoming traffic that makes up half of its operations.
Industry experts generally believe the Gulf aviation hubs will bounce back from this setback, provided regional warfare doesn’t drag on indefinitely. However, the simultaneous closure of all three primary Gulf hubs – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha – comes at a time when competitors from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and India are expanding their own operations.
“There’s no doubt at all this is temporary. They have seen major incidents before and recovered very quickly due to their importance as global hubs,” said UK-based travel consultant Paul Charles. “They will recover quickly, even if there is substantial uncertainty in the short term.”
Some analysts express more skepticism about the recovery timeline. While the aviation sector rebounded from pandemic losses due to demand exceeding available flights, this situation threatens passenger demand itself.
“Travellers are likely to consider more direct flights rather than stop over in Dubai or Doha. All this hub traffic is likely to take a hit,” said independent aviation adviser Bertrand Grabowski.
Despite these concerns, geography and economics continue working in the Gulf hubs’ favor.
“One third of the world’s population is within four hours’ flying time and two thirds within eight hours,” said Dubai Airports’ Griffiths.
“We’ve seen the incredible aggregation power that a hub delivers.”
Nevertheless, challenges to the Gulf’s aviation dominance are emerging. Turkish Airlines stands to gain significantly through its major hub positioned outside the conflict area, according to independent aviation analyst John Strickland.
Saudi Arabia is also expanding its aviation presence, with India following suit as Asian carriers capture more passengers.
Technical improvements in aircraft manufacturing, which previously benefited Gulf carriers, are now working against their hub model. Airbus recently started construction on a second ultra-long-range A350 aircraft to support Qantas plans for direct Sydney-to-London service.
Emirates launched operations during the height of the Iran-Iraq conflict in 1985. Its explosive expansion contributed to Gulf Air’s breakup – the airline that previously served Qatar, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Oman – as Qatar and Abu Dhabi established independent carriers, creating today’s three competing Gulf aviation hubs.
With Dubai’s reputation for stability now questioned following Iranian attacks and defensive missile debris, analysts say the biggest uncertainty surrounds future passenger traffic to Dubai itself.
The timing has also raised concerns about the already-postponed development of a massive new airport facility outside the city.
Dubai destination traffic “will doubtless recover, but there is likely to be some lasting damage”, Grabowski said.
For Emirates and its partner airline flydubai, recovery may require leveraging their market influence to restore normal operations.
“People have short memories and they might be incentivised by some bargain deals to bring people back, but I don’t think that would need to be there for long,” said Eddy Pieniazek, head of advisory at aviation and leasing consultancy Ishka.
WASHINGTON – The Biden administration announced Monday it has levied financial penalties against Rwanda’s military forces and high-ranking defense officials, the Treasury Department confirmed on its website, following ongoing combat operations across multiple areas in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The African nations had previously agreed to a ceasefire arrangement in Washington this past December, which was part of former President Trump’s initiative to establish stability in the area and encourage substantial Western financial investment totaling billions of dollars.
However, military conflicts have persisted since that agreement, undermining the previous administration’s peace-building efforts in the region.
The Treasury Department’s website shows that Monday’s penalties include Vincent Nyakarundi, who serves as Rwanda’s army chief of staff, along with the nation’s chief defense staff and two additional Rwandan officials.
Rwandan government representatives have not yet provided a response to requests for comment on the sanctions.
A recent federal policy change has shifted power dynamics between corporations and their investors, creating legal disputes and uncertainty in the process.
Last November, the Securities and Exchange Commission altered its longstanding practice of reviewing corporate decisions to exclude shareholder proposals from annual meeting ballots. Under the new approach, company executives gained broader authority to determine which investor resolutions will appear on proxy statements — the required documents distributed before shareholder meetings.
This regulatory shift has sparked at least three legal challenges against major corporations including AT&T, Axon Enterprises, and PepsiCo, with additional cases potentially on the horizon. Giovanna Eichner, a shareholder advocate with Green Century Capital Management, a Boston-based climate-focused investment firm, said the commission’s retreat from oversight has created confusion.
“More than anything, this lack of structure and rules is actually just leaving everyone unsure about the best way to move forward,” Eichner stated.
When the changes were announced in November, activist investors expressed concern that the move aligned with broader efforts by Trump administration appointees to limit environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment initiatives. Republican lawmakers from energy-producing regions have criticized ESG efforts as harmful to corporate profitability.
Despite gaining new authority, companies appear to be exercising restraint due to litigation risks. Shareholder advocacy organization As You Sow has submitted 47 proxy resolutions this year, with corporations blocking approximately half a dozen — similar to last year’s rate when companies rejected 8 out of 63 such proposals.
“Companies have to decide: Do you want to have a good relationship with your shareholders, or do you want to pay your corporate attorneys millions?” said Andy Behar, CEO of As You Sow.
SEC officials declined to provide comment, though a source familiar with the agency’s reasoning indicated the change was motivated partly by efforts to reduce staff workload.
The legal challenges have prompted some companies to reverse course. On January 5, PepsiCo informed the SEC it would exclude a proposal calling for review of animal welfare standards in its supply chain, including practices at Indian sugar facilities where bulls allegedly pull overloaded sugarcane carts. The company cited the proposal filer’s failure to adequately detail their availability for discussions.
Following a February 19 lawsuit, PepsiCo reversed its position the next day, agreeing to include the resolution on its proxy ballot.
“It was us bringing the lawsuit that forced Pepsi to follow the necessary procedure here,” said Asher Smith, attorney for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Foundation, which represented the proposal filer.
Similarly, telecommunications company AT&T faced legal action on February 17 from New York City pension funds after rejecting a shareholder proposal seeking workforce demographic information. A week later, New York Comptroller Mark Levine announced AT&T had settled the lawsuit by agreeing to allow the vote, describing it as a “major win for investors amid ongoing attempts to undermine transparency and accountability” by corporations.
Stun-gun manufacturer Axon continues to fight a pending lawsuit in federal court after deciding to exclude a vote on political contribution reporting, arguing it would “micromanage” company operations. The Nathan Cummings Foundation filed the legal challenge seeking to force the vote.
Laura Campos, senior director at the foundation, explained the lawsuit was necessary to protect shareholder rights. “When the Securities and Exchange Commission stepped back from providing substantive responses to no-action requests, it left shareholders hoping to preserve their rights with few options for doing so,” she said.
Not all companies have chosen confrontation. Starbucks requested permission in November to skip a resolution on transgender healthcare coverage filed by conservative organization National Center for Public Policy Research, claiming it involved “ordinary business” matters. Despite the new regulatory flexibility that would have allowed Starbucks to simply exclude the proposal, the company scheduled it for their March 25 annual meeting.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray faces potential release this month if the team fails to secure trade offers, according to NFL Network reports.
The former Heisman Trophy winner from 2018 and two-time Pro Bowl quarterback sat out 12 contests last season due to a foot injury. Throughout the past five seasons, Murray has completed a full regular-season campaign only once.
Despite injury concerns, the 2019 first overall draft selection would likely attract significant interest as a free agent. Multiple franchises dealing with quarterback uncertainty are reportedly monitoring Murray’s situation, including the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Arizona brought in Mike LaFleur as their new head coach in February, replacing Jonathan Gannon. LaFleur, who previously served as the Rams’ offensive coordinator and is the brother of Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur, recently attended the NFL Scouting Combine with Cardinals officials to evaluate quarterback prospects. The team holds the third pick in the upcoming 2026 draft.
Throughout his seven-year tenure with Arizona, Murray has thrown 121 touchdown passes against 60 interceptions across 87 regular-season appearances. He played under both Gannon and former coach Kliff Kingsbury during his time with the organization.
The Cardinals retain quarterback Jacoby Brissett as a potential starting option, as he performed well while filling in for the injured Murray during the previous season.
Major League Soccer announced Monday that its 2026 All-Star Game will bring back the popular format featuring top players from MLS competing against Liga MX stars on July 29 in Charlotte.
This will mark the fifth occasion overall that the competing North American soccer leagues have squared off in this All-Star format, continuing a trend that has run for three consecutive years.
Bank of America Stadium will host the event just 10 days following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup championship match, with the tournament being jointly hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Fan voting will determine 11 spots on the 26-player MLS All-Star squad, while the All-Star head coach will choose 13 players and MLS Commissioner Don Garber will select the final two roster spots.
“The 2026 MLS All-Star Game presented by Chime will feature a can’t-miss rematch between the best of MLS and LIGA MX,” said MLS executive vice president Camilo Durana. “With the energy and momentum our Leagues will experience coming out of a historic World Cup on home soil, we are thrilled to showcase our All-Stars and put on a great show for fans in Charlotte and those watching around the world on Apple TV.”
Liga MX officials have yet to reveal how they will choose their 26-player roster for the summer showcase.
“We are excited that LIGA BBVA MX will once again be part of the MLS All-Star Game for the 2026 edition,” said Francisco Iturbide, Liga MX director of operations, competitions and development. “This event reflects the value of our collaboration with MLS and provides us with an important opportunity to showcase the quality and competitiveness of our players. We are certain that it will be a great week for fans of all three countries.”
MLS enters the contest with a strong track record, having captured victory in three of the four previous All-Star battles against Liga MX, most recently defeating their Mexican counterparts 3-1 in Austin, Texas last year.
Charlotte will also host the 2026 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge on July 28 at Truist Field as part of the weekend festivities.
Young soybean producers throughout Missouri are participating in a specialized fellowship program designed to strengthen their leadership capabilities while expanding their understanding of agricultural operations. The Missouri Grassroots Fellowship brings together emerging farmers from different regions of the state for comprehensive training and development.
Among the participants is Luke Hopper, who previously served as an intern with Missouri Soybeans before joining the fellowship program. Hopper has been sharing insights about his involvement in the initiative and the valuable experiences it has provided to participating farmers.
The program focuses on building essential leadership qualities among the next generation of agricultural professionals while providing them with in-depth knowledge about soybean production and industry practices. Participants gain exposure to various aspects of farming operations and develop skills that will benefit their future careers in agriculture.
Monday’s livestock trading remained subdued as market participants focused on inventory management and weekly preparations rather than active transactions. The quiet trading environment is characteristic of the start of the market week.
Price negotiations have not yet begun in earnest, with neither purchase offers nor seller quotes being firmly established at this point in the week.
Market observers anticipate that substantial trading activity will likely emerge later in the week, consistent with patterns observed in recent trading sessions. Heavy transaction volumes are expected to materialize around Thursday or Friday, following established market rhythms.
Most dairy commodity values fell during Monday’s trading session at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, though butter bucked the downward trend with significant gains.
Dry whey dropped half a cent to close at $0.6275 per pound, with one transaction recorded at that level. Forty-pound blocks of cheese declined by three-quarters of a cent to $1.5150, supported by three transactions ranging between $1.5125 and $1.5150. Cheese barrels fell one cent to $1.55 per pound, though no transactions occurred in that category.
Butter stood out as the day’s winner, climbing $0.2650 to reach $2.1050 per pound. Trading activity was robust with fifteen transactions completed, spanning from $2.05 to $2.1075. Nonfat dry milk prices retreated four cents to $1.67 per pound, with eighteen sales executed in a range from $1.6575 to $1.71.
As economic pressures mount in the farming industry, agricultural producers are seeking strategies to maximize productivity on each acre while controlling expenses. Croplan Seed is assisting farmers in addressing this challenge through an emphasis on data analysis, field trials, and regional expertise.
Jeff Osterhaus, who serves as Seed Portfolio Manager for Croplan, noted that although numerous companies provide quality products, Croplan distinguishes itself through its commitment to data-driven decision making and localized agricultural knowledge to help farmers optimize their seed investments.
Traffic is being diverted around a section of North Chapel Street in Newark after a vehicle became wedged beneath a railroad overpass.
The Newark Police Department reports that the roadway is impassable between Cleveland Avenue and East Main Street while authorities work to free the trapped vehicle.
Officials have not yet provided a timeline for when the street will reopen to normal traffic flow. Police say they will issue an update once the roadway has been cleared and is safe for vehicles to pass through again.
Federal agencies are cutting all ties with artificial intelligence company Anthropic following a direct directive from President Trump to cease using the startup’s technology products.
On Monday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced via social media that his department would completely discontinue using all Anthropic services, including the company’s Claude AI platform. This action follows Trump’s Friday mandate ordering government entities to sever relationships with the AI firm.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency is also eliminating its use of Anthropic technology, according to Director William Pulte, who posted the announcement on X. Pulte indicated that mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would likewise stop using the company’s products.
The Pentagon has indicated it will classify Anthropic as a supply chain security concern, delivering a significant setback to the artificial intelligence company following disagreements over technology safety protocols.
Trump has established a six-month transition period for the Defense Department and other federal agencies currently utilizing Anthropic’s services to phase out their operations.
This government action represents an unusual rejection of a major American AI company that has helped maintain U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence technology critical to national security. The move could isolate Anthropic in a way typically reserved for foreign competitors.
Meanwhile, competing AI firm OpenAI revealed late Friday that it secured its own agreement to provide technology services to the Defense Department’s secure networks.
GENEVA – Swiss officials confirmed Monday that diplomatic communications between Washington and Tehran continue flowing through Switzerland’s neutral channels, even as military operations between U.S.-Israeli forces and Iran entered their third day.
The Swiss foreign ministry told Reuters via email that the diplomatic pathway “is available to both parties and operates in both directions,” though ministry officials declined to elaborate on specific details of the communications.
Switzerland has served as a diplomatic intermediary between America and Iran for more than four decades, taking on the role of neutral “protecting power” to represent American diplomatic interests in Iran after the two nations severed official relations following Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Swiss diplomatic officials also reported that all of their regional embassies continue normal operations and are providing assistance to Swiss citizens in the area who require support during the ongoing conflict.
ANKARA – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan condemned recent strikes against Iran carried out by the United States and Israel, calling them a “clear violation” of international law during remarks made Monday.
The Turkish leader made his comments while addressing attendees at a Ramadan iftar dinner in the capital city of Ankara, where he also expressed that Turkey stands with the Iranian people during this difficult time.
Erdogan announced that Turkey plans to increase diplomatic engagement across all levels of government to help broker a ceasefire and restore stability to the region. He warned that allowing the current conflict to persist poses significant dangers that extend beyond the immediate area and could create global consequences that no nation is equipped to manage.
Multiple sources confirmed Monday that the Detroit Lions have reached an agreement to send running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans in a multi-asset deal.
According to NFL Network, Detroit will acquire offensive lineman Juice Scruggs along with fourth- and seventh-round selections in the upcoming draft as compensation for the veteran back.
ESPN had reported Sunday that Montgomery was seeking a departure from Detroit following three campaigns with the franchise, hoping to find an opportunity where he wouldn’t be sharing backfield responsibilities with Jahmyr Gibbs.
The 28-year-old Montgomery carries a $6 million salary commitment for the 2026 campaign.
Houston’s ground game struggled significantly this past season, ranking 22nd league-wide with just 108.9 rushing yards per contest after Joe Mixon missed the entire year due to injury. First-year player Woody Marks paced the team’s rushing attack with 703 yards, while 30-year-old Nick Chubb contributed 506 yards.
Montgomery experienced his least productive season statistically, accumulating 716 rushing yards and eight scores across 17 appearances without a single start in 2025.
Throughout his NFL tenure, he has compiled 6,115 rushing yards with 59 touchdowns while adding 231 receptions for 1,890 yards and four receiving scores over 105 games (79 starts) between Chicago (2019-22) and Detroit. The Bears selected him in the third round of the 2019 draft.
The deal cannot be finalized until March 11, when the new league year officially begins.
Houston also reportedly reached terms earlier Monday to send starting right tackle Tytus Howard to Cleveland in exchange for a fifth-round draft selection.
The 26-year-old Scruggs has appeared in 37 contests with 20 starts since Houston selected him in the second round two years ago.
Meanwhile, Gibbs earned his third consecutive Pro Bowl selection in 2025 after rushing for 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns in 17 starting assignments. He will celebrate his 24th birthday on March 20.
Recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East may offer temporary financial benefits for American grain producers, according to an agricultural market specialist. Naomi Blohm, a senior market advisor at Total Farm Marketing, indicates that commodity prices experienced an uptick after weekend airstrikes targeted Iran, though she cautions the price boost might not sustain itself over time.
“If South America ends up getting rain, if the conflict doesn’t escalate further, we could see prices retreat,” Blohm explained, noting that several factors could quickly reverse the current price momentum in grain markets.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump confirmed Monday that he has authorized U.S. military forces to conduct strikes against Iran with the goal of stopping Tehran’s nuclear weapons development and rapidly expanding ballistic missile capabilities.
Speaking from the White House East Room, Trump revealed that military operations he initiated on Friday are moving faster than anticipated. The president had initially estimated the campaign would run four to five weeks, though he acknowledged it might extend longer than planned.
The president stated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons serves as a primary motivation for the military action, despite Tehran’s denials of pursuing such capabilities. Trump also cited the need to disrupt Iran’s long-range ballistic missile development as a key objective.
During his White House appearance, Trump provided his most detailed public remarks about the conflict, following earlier video statements and brief media interviews over the weekend that sometimes presented conflicting goals for the military engagement.
The president reported that U.S. forces had successfully destroyed 10 Iranian naval vessels and conveyed optimism about the campaign’s progress thus far.
The length of ongoing military tensions involving Iran will play a crucial role in determining market stability, according to an agricultural economics expert. Chad Hart from Iowa State University notes that this marks the second military strike carried out by the United States and Israel within the past year.
“We saw a brief spike up in prices, but we saw things calm,” Hart explained, referring to initial market reactions to the conflict.
Hart emphasizes that the duration of any sustained military action will be the determining factor in whether commodity markets experience significant volatility or return to more stable trading patterns.
Cleveland Browns officials have reached an agreement to bring offensive tackle Tytus Howard to their roster from the Houston Texans, trading away a fifth-round draft selection, according to a source with knowledge of the transaction who spoke to The Associated Press on Monday.
The source requested anonymity since neither franchise has publicly confirmed the transaction, which cannot be finalized until the NFL’s new league year begins on March 11.
Howard, entering his eighth professional season, is anticipated to receive a three-year contract extension valued at $63 million. Houston selected him in the first round of the 2019 draft, and he has made 93 starts during regular season play.
While Howard is projected to fill the right tackle position, he brings versatility having previously lined up at left tackle and right guard.
This transaction marks Cleveland’s initial move toward reconstructing an offensive line where the majority of starters face free agency. Last season, the Browns utilized 10 different offensive line configurations due to various injuries.
Dawand Jones remains the only returning Week 1 starter at left tackle, though he’s currently rehabilitating from knee surgery. Left guard Joel Bitonio, who appeared in all 17 Browns contests last season as the unit’s only constant, has yet to determine whether he’ll retire following 12 seasons or potentially return to the team.
During last week’s NFL Scouting Combine, General Manager Andrew Berry expressed admiration for how the Chicago Bears approached their offensive line reconstruction last year.
Chicago implemented four new starters through various methods: two via trades, one through free agency, and one second-round draft selection. The Bears also brought in new head coach Ben Johnson while retaining General Manager Ryan Poles.
Cleveland recently hired Todd Monken as their new head coach following Kevin Stefanski’s dismissal, while Berry enters his seventh campaign as general manager.
“If you think about it, they did a combination of internal development, veteran editions and draft, right?” Berry said about the Bears. “You had Darnell Wright, who he really came into his own at right tackle this past year. They traded for Joe Thuney, they traded for Jonah Jackson, they signed (Drew) Dalman in free agency and they drafted Ozzy Trapilo in the second round. So it’s a nice mixture of youth and experience and I think that we would look to take a similar approach if the player markets line up for us.”
Cleveland enters next month’s draft with nine selections, including both the sixth and 24th picks in the opening round.
Pakistan’s leader stood by his nation’s military operations against Afghanistan during remarks to lawmakers Monday, asserting that diplomatic solutions were exhausted before launching strikes against militant groups operating from Afghan soil.
The Pakistani government previously declared it was engaged in “open war” with Afghanistan, raising concerns among international observers. The disputed border region serves as a base for extremist organizations such as al-Qaida and ISIS.
“(The Afghan Taliban) must choose to dismantle the terror groups that survive on conflict and its war economy,” President Asif Ali Zardari told parliament members, emphasizing that “no state accepts serial attacks on its soil.”
Following Pakistani air operations last Sunday, Afghanistan responded with counter-attacks on Thursday. Pakistan has since conducted multiple border operations, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar asserting that 435 Afghan military personnel were eliminated and 31 Afghan positions seized.
Afghan officials dispute these assertions.
Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat reported that Pakistani military forces launched mortar attacks on a displaced persons camp in Kunar province’s eastern region, resulting in three children’s deaths and three additional injuries.
Afghan defense officials stated their forces targeted a Pakistani military installation near Paktia province, inflicting “substantial losses and heavy casualties.”
Pakistani military officials declined to comment but have maintained they exclusively target Afghan military sites to prevent civilian harm.
Pakistan has experienced increased violence recently, attributing the attacks to the banned Pakistani Taliban organization, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates within Pakistan and from Afghan territory.
Pakistani officials claim Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership provides sanctuary for TTP fighters, an allegation Kabul rejects.
The current border hostilities terminated a truce negotiated by Qatar and Turkey last October, after Istanbul peace talks failed to produce a lasting resolution.
Zardari emphasized Pakistan’s willingness to negotiate, stating, “We have never walked away from dialogue.”
The Pakistani president renewed accusations that Afghanistan serves as India’s proxy by harboring militant organizations. “Stop being used by another country as a battlefield for their ambitions,” he declared.
Zardari referenced a recent United Nations Security Council monitoring team assessment that characterized militant presence in Afghanistan as a threat extending beyond the region.
State fire investigators have concluded that an early morning blaze that damaged a Leipsic home was caused by accident, according to the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Emergency responders rushed to a house in the 100 block of Front Street around 2:40 AM on March 1, 2026, after receiving reports of a structure fire. The Leipsic Fire Company received the initial call for the residential blaze.
First responders arrived at the scene following reports that occupants might have been trapped within the burning home. Fire fighters from multiple companies responded to battle the flames.
