SEOUL, May 26 – A portion of a bridge in South Korea’s capital city came down Tuesday during demolition operations, leaving six people injured, according to reports from the Yonhap News Agency.
Authorities are working to determine if additional individuals were caught in the incident, according to the news report.
North Korea conducted a missile test Tuesday, firing several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea from its western coastline, according to South Korean military officials.
The missiles were launched from Jongju city along North Korea’s western shore, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported.
In response to the weapons test, South Korean military officials said they have increased their surveillance operations and are sharing intelligence with both U.S. and Japanese counterparts.
Tuesday’s missile launch marks the first weapons test conducted by North Korea since April 19, when the nation fired several short-range missiles that state media characterized as testing cluster bomb warheads.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has prioritized building up his country’s nuclear and missile capabilities following the breakdown of nuclear negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019. While Trump has publicly stated his interest in restarting diplomatic talks with Kim, North Korea has dismissed these attempts and insists Washington must abandon its demands for nuclear disarmament before any negotiations can proceed.
Kim has adopted an increasingly aggressive approach toward South Korea, labeling it his nation’s permanent and most hostile enemy while working to sever all diplomatic connections.
During a Cabinet session earlier Tuesday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for enhanced military development efforts. He highlighted the need for advances in artificial intelligence and drone technology, as well as the possible procurement of a nuclear-powered submarine, which has been a topic in discussions with Washington.
Lee, who advocates for better relations with North Korea, did not directly address the northern threat. However, he emphasized South Korea’s need to show “resolve to take responsibility for and protect our own security ourselves,” arguing that such independence would also strengthen the alliance with the United States.
South Korean military authorities reported Tuesday that North Korea launched multiple missiles, including at least one short-range ballistic missile, into waters along the nation’s western shoreline.
According to a statement from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the weapons were fired around 1 p.m. local time (0400 GMT) from Chongju, located in North Korea’s North Pyongan Province.
This represents the first documented missile test by North Korea since April 19, when the nation launched several short-range ballistic missiles that officials claimed were fitted with cluster bomb technology.
Earlier in April, Pyongyang announced it had conducted tests of a new cluster-bomb warhead attached to a ballistic missile along with an electromagnetic weapon. Military analysts characterized these tests as demonstrations of North Korea’s capabilities for contemporary warfare.
In March, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared that his nation’s nuclear weapons status could not be reversed and emphasized that building up a “self-defensive nuclear deterrent” remained crucial for the country’s security.
North Korea has intensified its weapons development programs under Kim’s leadership in recent years, despite facing U.N. sanctions on its nuclear and ballistic missile activities since 2006. These efforts have drawn criticism from South Korea, Japan and the United States.
A federal agency is moving forward with plans to extend its data gathering efforts aimed at keeping deadly bird diseases out of the country.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has announced its intention to seek renewed authorization for information collection activities tied to rules designed to block highly pathogenic avian influenza and Newcastle disease from entering the United States.
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the agency is required to provide public notice of its request to revise and extend approval for the data collection program.
The information gathering focuses on imports of pet, performing, and research birds, as well as poultry and unprocessed bird products, particularly bird carcasses that could potentially carry these dangerous diseases across U.S. borders.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Four years ago, the New York Knicks took a chance on Jalen Brunson, bringing him aboard as a free agent and constructing their roster with him as the centerpiece.
Brunson validated their faith by guiding the franchise to its first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years.
The All-Star floor general posted averages of 25.5 points and 7.8 assists as New York completed a four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference championship round, capturing the Larry Bird Trophy for series MVP honors. During Monday’s decisive 130-93 victory in Game 4, he contributed 15 points and five assists.
“It’s an honor to be here in this city and this organization,” Brunson said, flanked by former Villanova University teammates Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
“We’re still writing our story, but I like the journey that we’re on right now.”
Doubts circulated throughout the NBA when New York offered a four-year, $104 million deal to the former Dallas Mavericks guard in 2022. Brunson quieted numerous doubters by posting 24.0 points per game in his debut season, followed by three consecutive All-Star nods.
Following New York’s Eastern Conference finals appearance in 2025, where they fell to the surprising Indiana Pacers, Brunson dominated the Cavaliers series from beginning to end. His 38-point performance in the opener sparked the Knicks’ remarkable rally from a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit.
“He just puts in the work. He’s a testament of that,” Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said. “He believes in that, and he showcases that every single day to all of us and it drives us to be better.”
Brunson’s dedication immediately caught the attention of New York coach Mike Brown following his hiring last summer, eventually forcing the coach to modify his own sleep schedule as the 29-year-old’s intensity during morning practice sessions became legendary. Brown drew comparisons between Brunson’s drive and basketball icons Stephen Curry and Tim Duncan.
“Their quiet strength, all the time, is what they all have in common,” Brown said. “Jalen’s work ethic is off the chart and he makes me adjust because he goes so hard every day. When your leader is that way, it’s easy to be a coach.”
New York later added Bridges and Hart through trades, then completed their roster by obtaining Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves as the finishing touch. This quartet now stands four victories from delivering the organization’s first championship since 1973.
“There is no player, no other guard I’d want to be in this position with than J.B.,” Bridges said.
Financial markets across Asia showed varied results Tuesday following U.S. military operations in southern Iran that targeted missile launch facilities and vessels deploying mines, according to military officials who described the actions as defensive measures.
The military operations occurred despite President Donald Trump’s social media statements indicating that peace negotiations were “proceeding nicely.”
American market futures experienced significant gains while petroleum prices showed mixed movement, with Brent crude trading under $95 per barrel.
Military officials stated the Monday operations aimed “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.” They noted exercising restraint due to an existing ceasefire agreement with Iran, which has not provided an official statement. Additional information regarding specific Iranian threats and negotiation implications remained unavailable.
Financial markets continue responding to various developments and Trump’s statements as the future of peace discussions with Iran remains uncertain.
“Markets are behaving as though a full Iran breakthrough already exists, even though the hardest parts of the negotiation remain unresolved,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management wrote in a commentary. “Washington continues to signal optimism, while Tehran insists no agreement is imminent.”
Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.4% to 64,897.64, retreating from Monday’s record closing high.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index climbed 0.3% to 25,668.55, while Shanghai’s Composite index dropped 0.7% to 4,122.87.
South Korea’s Kospi surged 2.9% to 8,075.71, making up ground after Monday’s holiday closure.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.4% to 8,653.80.
Early Tuesday trading showed S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rising 0.6%.
U.S. benchmark crude oil dropped $5.01, more than 4%, reaching $91.59 per barrel. International standard Brent crude increased $1.57 to $94.99 per barrel following Monday’s nearly $5 decline.
American markets remained closed Monday for Memorial Day while European exchanges posted gains.
France’s CAC 40 advanced 1.1%, Germany’s DAX climbed 1.0%, and Britain’s FTSE 100 added 0.2%.
The increases followed indications of peace agreement progress. Regional officials reported Sunday that the United States was approaching a deal with Iran to conclude the conflict, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and secure Iran’s surrender of highly enriched uranium stockpiles.
The Strait of Hormuz reopening will significantly influence petroleum pricing direction. War-related closure has blocked oil tankers from leaving the Persian Gulf and delivering crude to global customers. Japan, which imports nearly all its oil primarily through the strait, exemplifies this impact.
Early Tuesday currency trading showed the U.S. dollar rising to 158.94 Japanese yen from 158.91 yen. The euro traded at $1.1634, down from $1.1645.
A devastating construction site accident in the Philippines has left families heartbroken as rescue teams officially ended their search for survivors following a building collapse that occurred early Sunday morning.
Lea Casilao, 47, described the daily routine she shared with her husband Joselito – morning text messages that began each day with her “Good morning” greeting and his response of “Good morning, love.” However, Sunday brought only silence.
Casilao explained that her spouse had been staying overnight in the workers’ housing facility on Saturday, as they had been texting until evening hours. This meant he was likely inside when the structure under construction in Angeles, located north of Manila, came crashing down at daybreak on Sunday.
Officials terminated search and rescue activities Monday night after emergency responders used specialized life detection equipment and found no indications of survivors trapped in the wreckage.
Recovery operations for the deceased began Tuesday.
“My hope of still finding him alive has collapsed,” Casilao expressed, her voice filled with emotion.
The grieving wife recounted how she and her husband had arranged to meet at the construction location Sunday afternoon, where he was supposed to collect her. When she couldn’t contact him, she traveled directly to the site and witnessed the destruction of concrete debris, twisted metal, and fallen scaffolding.
“I kept calling his number, but nothing,” Casilao shared while sitting in a temporary shelter as heavy machinery worked outside to remove debris from the roadway.
Other families sat nearby, anxiously awaiting updates about their missing relatives.
“We know how hard this is for you,” stated Maria Leah Sajili, information officer at the regional Bureau of Fire Protection, during a Tuesday news conference.
“We sympathise with what you are going through. Rest assured, we did everything we could to save lives, and now we have to move forward,” she added.
The confirmed death toll stands at four people, including one Malaysian citizen whose body was retrieved Sunday from an adjacent hotel structure also damaged in the collapse. Sixteen individuals, primarily construction workers, are still unaccounted for.
Among the fatalities was the father of 19-year-old Evelyn Alicaway. She learned about the accident from her uncle, and after viewing footage on social media, she recognized her father among those rescue workers were trying to extract from the debris.
“Even with his face blurred, I knew right away it was him. It hurt me so much to see my father like that,” Alicaway said through tears during her father’s funeral service.
Officials have initiated an investigation into the cause of the structural failure and whether the project exceeded its approved construction permits. While authorization was granted for only nine floors, a swimming pool was being built on a tenth level.
The Philippine labor agency had halted construction at the location in September 2025 due to safety infractions, but removed the work stoppage order one month later after the company addressed regulatory requirements.
“We hope the owner will take responsibility and address what happened to the workers. The families are also suffering. This is not what we wanted, but they need to coordinate with us,” said Rosenda, Alicaway’s mother.
Energy markets experienced volatility Tuesday as diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran encountered new obstacles, according to financial analysts tracking global developments.
Crude oil values increased following U.S. military operations in southern Iran, which American officials characterized as defensive measures. The timing proved particularly significant as negotiators had been pursuing diplomatic solutions to end the ongoing three-month conflict.
Iran’s chief negotiator and foreign minister traveled to Doha on Monday for discussions with Qatar’s prime minister regarding a possible agreement with the U.S. to conclude the war. However, both Washington and Tehran have tempered expectations for any immediate diplomatic breakthrough.
This cautious approach has influenced financial markets, with the dollar strengthening as investors seek safer assets while stock markets showed mixed performance.
Market participants remain focused on the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping corridor. Japan’s Nikkei newspaper indicated that both nations are exploring a framework to reopen this waterway approximately 30 days following any peace agreement, though specific details have not been disclosed.
The continued uncertainty is expected to keep energy costs elevated, creating challenges for policymakers and increasing financial pressure on businesses and consumers as inflationary concerns mount.
In other economic developments, Sri Lanka’s central bank surprised markets by implementing a substantial 100 basis point increase to its benchmark policy rate, aiming to address inflation and currency pressures.
Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino noted that Middle Eastern developments would influence the central bank’s decisions regarding interest rate adjustments.
Financial markets are now anticipating a 25-basis-point rate increase from the Federal Reserve by December, marking a significant shift from the two rate reductions that were expected at the beginning of the year. Similar policy tightening is anticipated from the European Central Bank and Bank of England.
Tuesday’s economic calendar includes the release of the Conference Board’s U.S. Consumer Confidence Index for May, with economists projecting a decline of eight-tenths of a point to 92. Rising gasoline prices related to the Iran conflict are expected to continue affecting consumer sentiment.
NEW DELHI (AP) — Top diplomats from four allied nations convened in India’s capital Tuesday to address ways to bolster their partnership across the Indo-Pacific region amid shared concerns over China’s expanding regional influence.
The diplomatic gathering brought together India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. According to India’s foreign ministry, the diplomats planned to review current Indo-Pacific developments and explore enhanced collaboration between their countries.
The diplomatic leaders are also anticipated to address the Iran war and disrupted energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
These four countries comprise the Quad group, an important strategic alliance focused on maritime security collaboration, supply chain coordination and regional planning as China extends its military and economic reach throughout the Indo-Pacific.
The Quad has consistently criticized China for demonstrating military strength in the South China Sea and forcefully advancing its ocean territorial demands. Beijing argues that its military presence serves defensive purposes to safeguard what it considers China’s rightful sovereignty and characterizes the Quad as an effort to limit its economic development and regional power.
The diplomatic session occurs following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent visit to China, a journey that New Delhi officials monitored carefully for potential changes in Washington’s strategy toward Beijing.
Rubio, who touched down in India on Saturday, stated that Washington seeks to transform the Quad from a discussion forum into an organization that implements concrete measures on topics such as maritime security and critical minerals. He also mentioned that officials are planning a summit of the four leaders sometime this year, though no specific date has been set.
The four nations had previously planned to conduct a leaders’ summit in India last year, but those arrangements were postponed due to tensions in U.S.-India diplomatic relations, including disputes over tariffs.
MELBOURNE, Australia — Nineteen Australian women and children with ties to the Islamic State group have arranged flights back from Syria, with some potentially facing criminal charges upon arrival, according to Australia’s government on Tuesday.
The group consists of seven women and 12 children who were scheduled to land in Sydney and Melbourne on Tuesday. This comes less than three weeks following the return of 13 individuals in comparable circumstances to Australia’s two most populous cities.
Among the four women from the previous flights, three were hit with slavery and terrorism charges and are currently incarcerated.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that any of the 19 individuals heading to Australia who committed crimes “can expect to face the full force of the law.”
“The government has not and will not provide any assistance to this group,” Burke declared in a statement.
“These are people who have made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation and to place their children in an unspeakable situation,” he continued.
Burke explained that Australian law enforcement and intelligence agencies have been making preparations for their return since 2014 and have established long-term plans to manage and monitor them.
“The priority of the government, as always, is the safety of the Australian community,” he stated.
Following this latest group’s departure, a minimum of two Australians will stay at Roj camp, a facility in northeastern Syria close to the Iraq border where individuals connected to IS have been detained since IS forces in the Middle East were defeated in 2019.
A mother who was blocked from returning to Australia in February through a temporary exclusion order was not part of this traveling group.
The government previously disclosed that one woman at Roj was subject to an order that can be utilized to prevent high-risk citizens from returning for as long as two years.
These exclusion orders were established through legislation passed in 2019 to stop defeated IS fighters from coming back to Australia.
The most recent Australian group returned from Syria on May 7, also without government assistance.
Kawsar Ahmed, also known as Kawsar Abbas, 53, and her daughter Zeinab Ahmed, 31, were taken into custody upon landing in Melbourne regarding allegations that their family had purchased a female Yazidi slave.
Janai Safar, 32, was arrested at Sydney Airport when she arrived with her 9-year-old son on charges of membership in a terrorist organization and entering or remaining in territory controlled by a terrorist organization.
Australian governments have brought Australian women and children back from Syrian detention camps on two separate occasions. Other Australians have returned discreetly without government support.
WASHINGTON — Each morning, Anna Gomez reaches for her phone with the same question: Has the president terminated her employment today?
As the only remaining Democratic member of the Federal Communications Commission, Gomez finds herself in an increasingly urgent battle against what she characterizes as government efforts to silence media outlets and restrict free expression.
Disney, which owns ABC, has become her primary concern as the company faces multiple FCC investigations initiated under Chairman Brendan Carr, an ally of the current administration.
Earlier this month, Gomez sent an extraordinary four-page communication to Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro, detailing what she termed the FCC’s “sustained, coordinated campaign of censorship and control” targeting the entertainment giant. Her letter highlighted investigations spanning diversity policies, ABC’s handling of a 2024 presidential debate, guest selections on “The View,” and administrative demands for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s dismissal.
Gomez expressed particular alarm over the FCC’s decision to expedite reviews of ABC’s broadcasting licenses for its owned stations, viewing this as an intimidation tactic. She characterized this move as “the most egregious assault on the First Amendment this FCC has taken to date.”
Her core message was direct: Resist these pressures. Gomez criticized Disney’s controversial choice to settle a $15 million defamation case just before the administration change, arguing it failed to protect the company and established a dangerous industry precedent.
“That settlement did not buy you peace,” she stated in her letter, which she simultaneously shared on social media platforms. “It only bought you time.”
While D’Amaro has not publicly addressed Gomez’s letter, he has indicated a shift in strategy through recent filings, claiming the FCC’s actions threaten to “chill critical protected speech.”
Speaking from her Washington headquarters, Gomez expressed encouragement about Disney’s new stance and urged other broadcasting companies to prepare for similar confrontations. She represents a rare presence in the capital – among the few Democrats retaining federal agency positions after widespread dismissals aimed at reshaping government bureaucracy.
The Supreme Court is currently examining the legality of these dismissals, with a ruling expected in coming weeks.
Gomez’s current term concludes June 30, though she can continue serving unless dismissed or replaced. Her continued presence enables the commission to maintain quorum, allowing Carr to advance his policy objectives. Given the Senate’s tight margins and limited time before midterm elections, securing a replacement would prove challenging.
Key excerpts from her recent interview:
When asked about her motivation for contacting Disney, Gomez explained: “At the beginning of this administration, I was growing increasingly alarmed by what I saw as this administration’s campaign to control and censor speech. And so I embarked on a tour across the country where I was talking to journalists, local broadcasters, legal scholars, press freedom advocates. And what I came back with was more of a conviction that we really needed to do something.”
She continued: “Then I started watching the capitulation. We saw CBS settle its lawsuit with the president and then agree to terms that basically require an ombudsperson to oversee the content of the network in order to get its transaction approved by the FCC. We saw ABC, of course, settle its lawsuit and I grew more and more and more concerned about the fact that this capitulation breeds capitulation.”
Regarding her strategy, Gomez stated: “I wrote the letter and the letter had two goals in mind. One was to basically put on the record and call out everything that this FCC has done to try to bring Disney to heel but also to encourage it and other broadcasters to stiffen their spine. We know, based on the record of this administration, every time it gets taken to court for these violations of the First Amendment and against the freedom of the press, it loses.”
On potential court challenges, she said: “In the end, what I want is for companies to push back because if this gets to court, any entity that challenges what this FCC is doing is going to win.”
Discussing the FCC’s proper role, Gomez explained: “Traditionally, the FCC has licensed the local broadcast stations, and what we license is actually their spectrum, their airwaves over which they broadcast their television, their radio. And it has done so with three basic principles in mind. Competition, because competition’s always good for consumers and for viewers and for the market. Localism, which really means serving your local market, whether that means actually airing 24 hours a day the content, but truly local content. And finally, viewpoint diversity. We want to encourage more voices, not fewer. And that is, I think, the right role for the FCC. Being a censor is not the right role for the FCC.”
Reflecting on her unexpected role, she noted: “No, never in my entire career did I think that I would be having to speak up this strongly for the First Amendment in our Constitution and our democracy. As you said, I’m a bit of a technocrat. I’m used to talking about the airwaves and I’m used to talking about broadband and how important it is for everyone to have access to broadband. I’m used to talking about really boring things like how to attach to light poles. But media wasn’t something that I particularly thought I would have to really delve into. But, like I said, this administration has just been alarming me so much and so I’ve had to pivot.”
On maintaining professional relationships despite disagreements: “You know, we do have a collegial relationship and we do work well together. He has been in my position and he understands my need to speak out and I do so freely, knowing that some day I may face the consequences for it. But we do work at maintaining a cordial relationship.”
Regarding potential dismissal: “Yes, especially when I saw last year when the administration was firing all the Democratic members of different independent commissions and bodies. I just checked my email every day. Literally every day I pick up my phone and I say, ‘Am I going to work today?’ And so far, so good.”
About her future plans: “I can continue serving for another year and a half-ish after my term expires as long as no one else is nominated and confirmed for my particular slot. So I intend to continue working and to continue speaking out as long as I can.”
Authorities in Southern California have allowed some residents to return to their homes after temperatures decreased sufficiently in a compromised tank holding dangerous chemicals, reducing the threat of a major explosion.
Emergency management officials announced that the risk of a significant blast at the GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems facility in Garden Grove has been eliminated, though smaller explosion or fire hazards persist, according to Orange County Fire Authority division chief Craig Covey during a Monday briefing.
A nighttime assessment of the container holding 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,700 to 26,500 liters) of methyl methacrylate, a highly combustible substance, revealed decreased internal pressure due to a fracture found on Sunday. This development allowed approximately two-thirds of displaced residents — around 34,000 people — to return home, Covey explained.
“It’s not over yet. We still have work to do,” Covey said. “We still have to mitigate a fire and very small explosion concern, and also a spill potential.”
Evacuation directives for Garden Grove residents, located near Los Angeles, began on Thursday when the tank experienced overheating, eventually affecting roughly 50,000 people by the weekend.
Authorities worked to reduce the tank’s temperature to prevent toxic discharge or detonation. The container’s internal temperature dropped to 93 degrees F (33.9 degrees C) on Monday, down from 100 degrees (37.7 degrees C) the previous day, Covey reported.
Orange County Health Director Regina Chinsio-Kwong emphasized safety assurances for returning residents. The federal Environmental Protection Agency warns that methyl methacrylate exposure can lead to severe breathing difficulties, neurological complications, and irritation of skin, eyes, and throat.
“There was no contamination. There were no fumes. There were not vapors that came from this incident,” she said at the news conference. “There was not a leak. So it should be, you should feel comfortable going home even if you’re across the street from that new zone line.”
Andrew Whelton, a Purdue University engineering professor specializing in environmental contamination research, suggested the tank might eventually cool sufficiently for crews to safely stabilize and empty the remaining contents without creating sparks or ignition.
Whelton warned that explosion risks continue while the chemical remains heated and reactive. He indicated temperatures must decrease to ambient conditions — approximately 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 21.1 degrees C) — before safety conditions improve significantly.
Rising internal tank temperatures caused methyl methacrylate — utilized in plastic manufacturing — to transform from liquid to vapor, increasing pressure and explosion potential, Whelton explained.
Portions of the methyl methacrylate may have already solidified into stable plastic resembling plexiglass, decreasing internal tank dangers, he noted.
Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen announced that the South Coast Air Quality Management District will conduct air monitoring for several months while the EPA examines sewer and storm drainage systems.
County health authorities indicated the chemical produces a distinctive odor that people can detect across wide areas without experiencing harm.
Officials have not specified what constitutes a catastrophic explosion but confirmed Monday that worst-case scenarios are no longer possible.
Kim Yen, a retired resident forced to evacuate her Garden Grove residence, said she has monitored news coverage closely and feels relieved learning the worst dangers have passed.
“I am happy and many of us are happy but, still, we are still on our evacuation,” she said.
Yen, whose home sits two blocks from the facility, expressed readiness to return while wanting safety confirmation first. She also voiced concern for emergency personnel.
“They are really our heroes,” Yen said.
A large Fountain Valley park, located southwest of Garden Grove, had a crowded parking lot Monday as displaced individuals sought temporary shelter or erected tents outside. Other visitors used the park for Memorial Day activities.
GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, the plant’s owner, operates as a British corporation manufacturing cockpit windows, canopies, and windshields for military and commercial aviation.
Technical experts from GKN Aerospace and the Orange County Fire Authority stripped external insulation from the tank to assist cooling efforts, according to a Monday company statement.
“We apologize for the ongoing disruption this incident is causing and our priority remains its safe resolution, so that residents can return to their homes as quickly as possible,” the statement said.
GKN Aerospace reports on its website employing approximately 16,000 workers across 32 production facilities in 12 countries, supplying technologies and components to major commercial and military aircraft manufacturers globally.
The facility’s reopening timeline remains undetermined.
GKN Aerospace agreed in 2025 to pay state regulators more than $900,000 to settle violations involving recordkeeping, permitting issues and nitrogen oxide emissions, according to a report on the South Coast Air Quality Management District website.
Interruptions at specialized aircraft component manufacturing sites create absorption difficulties for the global aerospace industry due to highly concentrated and already stressed supply chains, explained Richard Aboulafia, managing director of aerospace consulting firm AeroDynamic Advisory.
Aboulafia noted aerospace manufacturing differs from other industries because aircraft production volumes remain relatively limited, resulting in few suppliers for specialized components and systems.
“There’s just not a lot of margin in the system,” he said.
PLANO, Texas (AP) — Texas Republicans are deciding their U.S. Senate nominee in Tuesday’s runoff election, concluding a prolonged, contentious and costly primary campaign where President Donald Trump made a late intervention to influence the outcome in his ongoing effort to remove GOP officials he considers insufficiently loyal.
Trump’s backing of state Attorney General Ken Paxton against four-term Sen. John Cornyn provides the challenger with crucial momentum and threatens to make Cornyn the first Republican senator in Texas to lose a primary battle for renomination.
This comes even though Cornyn’s campaign and supporting organizations have invested approximately $90 million in television advertisements since last year, with most of those funds used to attack Paxton.
The race represents another GOP primary where Trump has attempted to retaliate against a Republican he views as not sufficiently faithful. This month, he has successfully supported challengers against sitting officials in Louisiana, Kentucky and Indiana, demonstrating his continued sway over primary election voters.
Paxton’s campaign team and a supportive super PAC launched advertisements highlighting the endorsement within one day of Trump’s announcement. Cornyn recognized that Trump’s intervention would affect the race but indicated he would continue fighting.
“I know who gets to choose our senators, and it’s the people of Texas,” he said hours after the endorsement.
The victor will face Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in November’s general election.
Tuesday’s runoff elections will also determine Democratic U.S. House candidates for districts in Dallas and Houston that strongly favor Democrats, plus a San Antonio-area seat the party aims to capture.
Cornyn outpaced Paxton in the March primary but couldn’t secure a majority in the three-candidate race that also featured U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, who placed a distant third.
This occurred following a sustained advertising effort by Cornyn’s campaign and allied organizations, primarily targeting Paxton over ethical and personal controversies. The two-term attorney general was cleared in a 2023 impeachment proceeding when accusations of extramarital relationships emerged. Last year, Paxton’s wife initiated divorce proceedings, citing “biblical grounds.”
The coalition of pro-Cornyn organizations has maintained its offensive strategy, outspending Paxton’s campaign and two allied super PACs $16.5 million to $5.9 million since March 3, according to ad-tracking firm AdImpact.
Trump had promised to make an endorsement right after the primary, requesting the unselected candidate to step aside. However, he delayed action until after early voting commenced on May 18.
“Ken Paxton has gone through a lot, in many cases, very unfairly, but he is a Fighter, and knows how to win,” Trump wrote in a social media post endorsing him. “Our Country needs Fighters, and also Loyalty to the Cause of Greatness.”
Pro-Cornyn organizations recently have broadcast advertisements criticizing the attorney general office’s management of a Waco sex abuse case. Pro-Paxton organizations have highlighted Cornyn’s strained relationship with Trump.
The hostile atmosphere could reduce participation in an election already challenged by occurring one day after Memorial Day, Texas Republican strategist Tyler Norris said. Approximately 2 million of Texas’ 18.7 million voters took part in the GOP primary.
The situation could benefit Paxton, whose supporters come more from the most dedicated Trump base in Texas, said Norris, who isn’t connected with either campaign.
“The defining battle lines are based around hyper-negative messaging, which dampens turnout to begin with,” he said. “So who is going to show up is the hardest of the hard core.”
Trump in his endorsement also criticized Cornyn, as he has done with other Republicans who don’t align completely with the president.
He attacked Republican Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy as “a Disloyal Disaster” on May 16, before Cassidy lost a GOP primary for the position he has occupied since 2015. The two-term senator had voted to find Trump guilty after his 2021 impeachment trial regarding the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump supported U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, who moved forward to a runoff with John Fleming, the state treasurer. Cassidy placed far behind them.
Last week, Trump expressed satisfaction as Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, a critic of the Trump administration’s approach to the Jeffrey Epstein files, lost his primary to Ed Gallrein. Trump labeled Massie “the worst congressman in the history of our country.”
In supporting Paxton, Trump said Cornyn “was not supportive of me when times were tough” and that “John was very late in backing me.”
Cornyn indicated in 2023 that Trump couldn’t secure the presidency again in 2024 and that his “time has passed him by.” He also initially opposed Trump’s proposal for a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico — a project he now endorses.
Senate GOP leadership supported Cornyn, arguing he would perform better in the general election. Some GOP strategists have contended a Paxton nomination would require millions of additional dollars to promote in the fall, when resources could be used defending Republican seats in more competitive states. Democrats need to gain a net of four seats to control the majority.
Newly elected Rep. Christian Menefee and veteran Rep. Al Green are competing for the party nomination in Texas’ 18th District, which the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature redesigned last year to assist the GOP. The new boundaries created a race between incumbents and concludes a complex series of elections in the Houston region. Menefee was elected in a special runoff in January to the seat previously held by the late Rep. Sylvester Turner, who died in March 2025.
Menefee finished slightly ahead of Green in the March 3 primary but didn’t achieve a majority to prevent the runoff.
Former Rep. Colin Allred and U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson are contending in the Dallas-area 33rd District. Johnson was elected to the position in 2024, the year Allred lost his U.S. Senate challenge to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. Allred was seeking Senate office again this cycle but abandoned his campaign and instead is attempting to return to the House.
Near San Antonio, Democratic leadership is working to stop Maureen Galindo, who has made antisemitic statements, from winning the party’s runoff against Johnny Garcia. While Texas lawmakers redrew the 35th District to favor Republicans, Democrats consider it attainable and don’t want Galindo’s previous remarks to hinder them.
Not too long ago, public schools nationwide were in a race to provide every student with a laptop computer. Los Angeles middle school educator Anna Soffer recalls those days clearly: “The idea was that technology is the future, so we need to put tech in every child’s hands.”
Today, that discussion has completely reversed course. Following massive investments in laptops, tablets and educational applications, numerous schools are confronting a technological reality check. Screen usage has overwhelmed classrooms, and increasing numbers of parents, educators and school systems are demanding a reduction.
“The Chromebook is just a world of distraction,” explains Soffer, who instructs 6th grade English and history. While she prefers traditional pen-and-paper work, she must utilize laptops and digital applications for specific classroom activities. “Every day, I’m battling, ‘Who would you rather listen to, Ms. Soffer or Minecraft?’”
The district where Soffer works, Los Angeles Unified, recently made history as the first major school system to announce it will discontinue providing devices to its youngest learners. This decision is part of comprehensive screen-time regulations being implemented this fall throughout the nation’s second-largest educational system.
An extensive resolution approved last month by the Los Angeles school board mandates the district to remove devices through second grade; establish daily and weekly screen limitations for all upper grades; restrict YouTube access on school equipment; and prohibit device usage during lunch and recess at elementary and middle school levels. The district will also examine its educational technology agreements, which the teachers union reports total $1.6 billion.
The Los Angeles restrictions are strengthening reform movements emerging nationwide. In numerous instances, parents who previously advocated for school cellphone prohibitions, which have now become standard practice, have shifted their focus to a different concern: school-provided devices.
This movement for change is evolving into a public policy matter. According to Ballotpedia, at least 14 states have introduced legislation to restrict screen time in educational settings. Federal authorities issued an advisory last week cautioning that excessive screen usage among young people is developing into a significant public health issue.
In Los Angeles, worried parents established a coalition called Schools Beyond Screens last year and applied pressure on the district through school board appearances, social media campaigns and private discussions with administrators. Many express frustration about attempting to control screen time at home while schools mandate screen usage.
Katie Pace, a mother of three children, works diligently to minimize screen exposure. Her household contains one shared iPad and one television, prohibits screen time on weekdays, and bans screens from bedrooms. Her 8th grade daughter, Clementine, does not own a phone.
However, once Clementine boards the wifi-equipped school bus, her day becomes digitally focused.
During the 30-minute journey to school, Clementine views YouTube videos on her school Chromebook.
In Spanish class, coursework utilizes the Duolingo application, though many students rely on Google Translate for answers, Clementine reported. Frequently, children play games on their phones, which should be secured. In algebra, Clementine uses her finger on a touch screen to work through equations. In history, quizzes, tests and writing tasks are computer-based.
Nearly all homework assignments are digital. Previously, Clementine would return home and read books, her mother noted, but this no longer occurs. Reviewing her daughter’s device activity, Pace discovers she spends hours daily streaming music, creating Spotify playlists, and viewing makeup tutorials and cat videos on YouTube.
“It makes me furious,” stated Pace, a Schools Beyond Screens member. “My daughter went to middle school and was sent home with a screen addiction in her backpack.”
The initiative to provide every child with a device and bridge the “digital divide” began more than ten years ago but gained significant momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Education transitioned online immediately in March 2020. Schools hurried to supply students with necessary devices for remote learning. When the 2021-2022 academic year began, 96% of U.S. public schools reported providing digital devices to students requiring them, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Many schools redirected funding from textbooks, workbooks and printed materials to digital options. Educational technology, or edtech, grew into a multibillion dollar sector.
“During the pandemic, getting kids devices was a lifeline. Now, it’s time that we reset,” said Nick Melvoin, the school board member who authored the new resolution.
Melvoin believes few Los Angeles classrooms utilize screens effectively to enhance learning. Too frequently, he noted, teachers substitute instruction with online applications and employ screens “as a crutch.”
The difficulty, educators explain, is that technology has become so integrated with learning, particularly for older students, that disconnecting from screens at school is complex.
In the wealthy Philadelphia suburb of Lower Merion, parents initiated a petition drive for the option to remove their children from digital device requirements during school, questioning edtech’s advantages. The district has stated that opting out is impossible.
“If there’s really no evidence that it helps, and in fact there’s evidence that it’s harmful, what are we doing? Test scores are at their lowest point,” said Alex Bird Becker, one of the founders of PA Unplugged.
Other schools are discovering financial benefits to discontinuing home device distribution for every child.
The third-largest district in California, Fresno Unified, spends $4 million annually on laptop repairs and replacements. Partially to reduce expenses, the district has instructed its 40,000 elementary students to return their take-home laptops and will limit computer access to classroom use only this fall, spokesperson AJ Kato reported.
Near Los Angeles, the district stopped sending devices home for younger students this year partly due to expensive repairs, but also because they were used for “inappropriate Google searches” and video games, according to a parent memo. The district now keeps the devices in school storage carts.
A group of parents in Arlington, Virginia, met on a recent Saturday evening to discuss their children’s battles with screen addictions and other consequences of school-issued devices.
“None of us are Luddites. I know that technology adds value, but I also don’t want my son on YouTube all the time,” said LuAnn Oliver, who hosted the gathering in her living room. Her 6th-grade son has difficulty tracking online assignments and resisting the iPad’s temptation for video games. “We get reports on websites he’s visited. He’s visiting a game site in nearly every class.”
The district has ceased distributing iPads before first grade and is implementing new elementary school restrictions, but students in 6th through 12th grades will continue to receive mandatory school-issued devices.
Another mother, Jenny Sullivan, reported noticing her 4th grade son capitalizing random letters without correction because paper-based work is minimal. She also has social concerns: Her 6th grader avoids the afterschool program because everyone uses their iPad. “I’d rather be home,” he tells his mother.
Following a three-hour meeting, the parents developed a strategy to approach the school in the fall with a collective request to “opt-out of technology and opt-in to textbooks and paper.”
“Ten years from now,” said one mother, Kristina Jackson, “I can’t imagine us looking back with any other reaction than: How could we have been so naive that we just handed these devices to our kids.”
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Multiple states have enacted new legislation this year criminalizing the disruption of religious services, responding to a controversial demonstration at a Minnesota church that sparked anger among religious leaders nationwide.
Republican legislators behind most of these measures argue that worshippers in religious sanctuaries need stronger protections than current trespassing statutes offer. They contend these new regulations will help prevent escalating confrontations between congregants and demonstrators, as houses of worship across the country remain anxious following recent mass shootings and violent incidents targeting faith communities.
“People should go to church to be able to sit in peace, worship as they please, without having to worry about people coming in and harassing them,” said Idaho Sen. Mark Harris, a Republican who co-sponsored legislation criminalizing protests inside places of worship. “I think the thing that happened in Minnesota was kind of a shock to some of us, that churches would be used as a place to berate people.”
However, critics from both political parties have cautioned that these measures could violate constitutional free speech protections.
The following provides an overview of these developments.
New legislation has been enacted in Republican-controlled Idaho, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Kansas will see its bill become law despite Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly declining to sign it.
Comparable measures have been proposed during this year’s legislative sessions in at least seven additional states and in Congress. Nassau County, New York, approved similar legislation this year. In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed federal legislation making it a crime to intentionally harm, interfere with, or intimidate individuals entering houses of worship or reproductive health facilities.
While the specifics vary among the bills, all establish criminal penalties for interfering with religious gatherings.
Current trespassing statutes already cover disruptions on church grounds or other private property. However, lawmakers argue these new measures would increase penalties and prohibit additional protest activities such as displaying signs near worship facilities.
The punishments could be more severe than those for trespassing. In certain states, offenders could receive up to one year imprisonment and fines reaching $10,000 for initial violations. These laws also provide states with authority to pursue prosecutions when local officials choose not to.
Thirty-nine individuals, including two journalists, faced charges in February for their involvement in a demonstration during a St. Paul, Minnesota, church service. The demonstrators had discovered that one of the church pastors also served as an official at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement who had been supervising an intensive Minnesota operation.
The U.S. Department of Justice charged the protesters with conspiracy against religious freedom and interfering with the right of religious freedom. The protestors and journalists have pleaded not guilty and the cases are pending in federal court.
Louisiana Rep. Gabe Firment, a Republican, said he was inspired to introduce legislation that allows protestors to be forcibly removed from churches and other places of worship after seeing videos showing the fearful expressions of children at the Minnesota church.
“The first thought that came to my mind was those poor kids,” Firment said. “You certainly have a right to protest, but just like you don’t have the right to come into someone’s home and act like that, you don’t have the right to come into private church property to do that.”
Oklahoma Sen. Todd Gollihare, a Republican, wrote his bill after anti-abortion protestors disrupted his church service last year. His law bars blocking highways within one mile of a service or approaching someone to hand them a flyer within 100 feet of a place of worship.
His Republican colleague, Sen. Kendal Sacchieri, described the law as extreme and said she was afraid of the precedent it would set.
The Nassau County ordinance is already facing a court challenge from the New York Civil Liberties Union, which says there’s no history of residents facing intimidation, harassment or violence outside places of worship — and that the statute denies people their constitutionally protected rights of expression in public places.
Kevin Goldberg, vice president at Freedom Forum, which advocates for First Amendment rights, said that if the laws are challenged in courts, governments would have to show there’s a need for them. “You can’t be guessing, you can’t be speculating,” he said. “There has to be some evidence that there’s an actual threat going on — that there’s been a problem there, that you can reasonably forecast there will be a problem.”
In Louisiana, Democrats raised concerns about mandatory jail time for disrupting services and warned that the laws were too arbitrary, suggesting that they could be applied against a congregant for singing out of turn as a pastor delivers a homily.
“If the spirit just hits me and I start singing during the middle of his homily, and it disrupts his homily in a way where he’s got to say ‘Hey, take a seat’, I mean that would materially disrupt his service and now I’m going to jail for 30 days,” Rep. Edmond Jordan said during a March hearing in the Louisiana Legislature.
The law’s proponents said police officers and judges would have discretion about how to apply the law.
TACOMA, Wash. — A group of four immigration judges in Washington state implemented a controversial detention policy years before it became a nationwide immigration enforcement strategy that overturned decades of established practice.
The refusal to grant bond for numerous individuals facing immigration charges has triggered more than tens of thousands of legal challenges since July, with plaintiffs claiming their constitutional protections against unlawful detention have been violated. The current administration faced a significant legal defeat this month when an appeals court struck down the policy, though two other appeals courts had previously upheld it, potentially leading to a Supreme Court review.
This approach had been in effect for years in Tacoma, where immigration judges at the Northwest ICE Processing Center began refusing bond requests early this decade. Outside of local immigration lawyers, the practice received little attention. However, when the Trump administration implemented the policy last year, it mirrored the judges’ legal reasoning.
Neil Floyd, the sole judge among the four Tacoma officials willing to speak with The Associated Press, explained that court clerks spent approximately six months researching before the judges concluded that Congress had not given them authority to approve bond requests.
“We made the decision that we were going to do it collectively because it was too big a decision for someone to step out that far on their own,” said Floyd, who became the top federal prosecutor in Seattle during President Donald Trump’s second term.
The judges based their decision on a 1996 statute declaring that “applicants for admission” to the United States must remain in custody. This law had traditionally been understood to apply to individuals who recently crossed the border illegally. Those who had lived in the country for extended periods fell under different regulations that permitted bond hearings.
The Tacoma judges appear to be unexpected leaders of such significant policy changes. All four officials — Theresa Scala, who served as chief Tacoma judge at the time; John Odell; Tammy Fitting; and Floyd — began their legal careers representing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, yet each approved asylum requests at rates somewhat above national averages.
Floyd, who departed Tacoma following Trump’s inauguration last year to provide immigration law guidance to the FBI before assuming his current role, described the judges’ determination as a fairness issue rooted in legal interpretation.
“It is the right interpretation of the law, and it’s the only fair one, because if you enter the United States the right way, by coming and knocking on the door to ask for asylum at a port of entry, the law is 100% clear,” Floyd said. “And it has been from the beginning that you are detained until we decide whether or not we’re going to let you in.”
Immigration attorneys in Tacoma expressed shock at the development. They searched nationwide for similar practices but found none.
“It was from our perspective, a pretty blatantly prosecutorial push to keep people locked up,” said Matt Adams, an attorney for Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, which sued over the practice. The case has not yet been scheduled for trial.
The lawsuit, filed in March 2025, alleges that the Tacoma judges ignored decades of precedent.
The Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review, which operates more than 70 immigration courts nationwide, did not respond to requests for comment.
In July, ICE announced a major change that mirrors the Tacoma judges’ view, stating that immigrants who have been in the U.S. for years are “applicants for admission” if they didn’t enter the U.S. legally and, as a result, were subject to mandatory detention.
The agency started opposing all bond hearings. The Justice Department’s Board of Immigration Appeals, which establishes policy for courts, supported ICE’s position in September.
The population in ICE custody approximately doubled last year, reaching a peak of around 75,000 in January. ICE intends to spend $38.3 billion to expand detention capacity to 92,300 beds by November’s end, primarily through opening warehouses, or “megacenters,” designed to hold up to 10,000 individuals each. Judges report that extensive ICE raids have intensified the burden.
Previously eligible for bond consideration, approximately 2 million immigrants now face mandatory detention if apprehended. Immigrant detainees have submitted more than 40,000 lawsuits since Trump returned to office 16 months ago, according to an AP tally.
Despite the Trump administration’s position, many immigrants have found success in federal courts. Some federal judges have ordered immediate release, while others return cases to immigration court for bond proceedings.
Victor Cruz, a handyman in Portland, Oregon, spent 24 days in the Tacoma detention center after ICE agents arrested him without a warrant. An immigration judge granted him a bond hearing, and he was released in October. He won his immigration case in February.
Cruz, 56, has U.S. citizens in his immediate family and spends weekends playing with his grandchildren. He keeps a folder in his car with all his immigration documents, wary that immigration authorities could detain him again. He said that he met people in detention who had “been there six months, nine months.”
On a recent Friday in Tacoma, Fitting — one of the original four judges — held bond hearings under orders of a federal judge.
She denied bond for an Oregon dishwasher with a 2002 drunken-driving conviction. But she granted $14,000 bond to another immigrant with no criminal record, while saying that his pathway to legal status is tenuous.
A tragic residential fire in Russia’s Omsk region has claimed the lives of six individuals, with four children among the deceased, according to reports from the TASS news agency citing regional officials.
The deadly blaze occurred at a private residence in the region, which is situated in southwestern Siberia approximately 1,370 miles east of Moscow.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday that reaching an agreement with Iran might require “a few days” more, diminishing expectations for a swift resolution to the conflict following new American military strikes in southern Iran on Monday.
The strikes targeted various locations including vessels attempting to place mines and sites for launching missiles, according to Rubio, who emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz must remain accessible “one way or the other.”
“The straits have to be open, they’re going to be open one way or the other, so they need to be open,” Rubio stated while speaking to journalists aboard his aircraft in India’s Jaipur.
U.S. Central Command announced Monday that despite an April ceasefire remaining in effect, American forces executed additional strikes intended “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.”
Iranian officials reported Monday that their military had shot down what they described as a “hostile” stealth drone using newly deployed air defense technology, though they did not specify the aircraft’s origin, according to Iranian media outlets.
The American military action occurred while Iran’s chief negotiator and foreign minister were meeting in Doha with Qatar’s prime minister to discuss a possible agreement with the United States to conclude the three-month conflict, according to a source familiar with the visit.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi earlier, Rubio indicated the U.S. would exhaust diplomatic options before exploring alternative approaches to dealing with Iran.
He described having a “pretty solid thing on the table” regarding discussions about reopening the strait and a “very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matter.”
President Donald Trump posted extensively on Truth Social Monday, stating that discussions with Iran were progressing “nicely” while cautioning about potential additional attacks if negotiations collapse. “It will only be a Great Deal for all, or no Deal at all,” he posted.
Highlighting regional tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that Israel would escalate attacks against the Iran-supported Hezbollah militia operating in Lebanon.
Israeli military forces subsequently confirmed they were striking Hezbollah facilities in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley and additional locations.
While Israel and Lebanon established a ceasefire in mid-April, Israeli airstrikes have continued, with Israel characterizing them as defensive measures against Hezbollah, which was not included in the truce agreement.
The source briefed on the Iranian delegation’s Doha visit told Reuters that conversations centered on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, with Iran’s central bank governor participating to address potentially unfreezing Iranian assets as part of any final agreement.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated earlier that nuclear discussions would only commence after establishing the framework agreement.
Trump has identified preventing Iran from creating nuclear weapons using its highly enriched uranium as his primary objective in the conflict. Tehran has repeatedly rejected claims that it intends to develop such weapons.
Baghaei noted that the proposed Iran agreement lacks specific provisions for managing the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes.
Iran would not impose transit fees for ships but would charge for services like navigation assistance and environmental protection measures, he explained, under a protocol to be established with Oman, located on the waterway’s opposite side.
Japan’s Nikkei newspaper, citing a Middle East diplomatic source, reported that the U.S. and Iran were considering a proposal to reopen the strait approximately 30 days after reaching a hostilities agreement.
Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran beginning February 28, vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to only dozens of ships compared to the previous daily average of 125 to 140.
This standoff has triggered rising oil prices and increased costs for fuel, fertilizer, and food products.
During early Tuesday Asian trading, U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude showed slight gains from Monday’s closing price but remained 5.5% below Friday’s close.
The Australian stock exchange operator experienced its steepest stock decline in over a decade on Tuesday after announcing plans for substantial technology spending increases that will drive up costs in 2027.
The company’s shares dropped more than 12% following the announcement, representing the worst single-day performance since August 2012. The operator disclosed that overall expenses would climb by as much as 21% in 2027 compared to the prior year.
Capital spending projections were revised upward to between A$180 million and A$200 million ($128.97 million to $143.30 million), an increase from the previously estimated A$160 million to A$180 million range. For 2028, capital expenditures are anticipated to fall between A$170 million and A$190 million.
The dramatic cost increases stem from multiple technology initiatives, including system upgrades, artificial intelligence investments, enhanced internal systems and automation improvements. Additional expenses will result from operating both legacy and updated systems simultaneously during the transition period.
Regulatory compliance is also driving higher spending. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission released findings in April documenting various operational failures, budget overruns, and delayed technology upgrade schedules at the exchange operator.
The regulatory report concluded that the company had focused on maximizing shareholder returns while implementing short-term fixes rather than solving underlying operational problems.
In response to the criticism, the exchange operator stated: “Final ASIC Inquiry Panel Report identified historical underinvestment compared to global peers, which ASX has committed to address with a faster pace and greater ambition.”
The projected expense growth of up to 23% for 2026 incorporates costs related to addressing the regulatory investigation findings.
Trading data showed shares fell as low as A$51.40, down 12.6%, while the broader ASX200 index declined only 0.4% as of 0315 GMT.
Despite the spending increases, the exchange operator maintained its previously reduced dividend payout ratio of 75% to 85% of underlying net profit after tax. The company also reported that preliminary revenue for the ten months ending April 30 increased 12.5% to A$1.03 billion.
French tennis veteran Gael Monfils expressed his desire to follow in the footsteps of sports legends Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James by competing into his 40s, as he outlined plans for upcoming tournaments at Wimbledon, Montreal and the U.S. Open before concluding his career at home during the Paris Masters.
The tennis player, who will celebrate his 40th birthday in September, said his emotional goodbye to Roland Garros following a first-round defeat to fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston on Monday, with scores of 6-2 6-3 3-6 2-6 6-0. He departed the court to thunderous applause from fans honoring his two-decade professional journey.
Monfils plans to conclude his playing career at season’s end as he works to maintain his physical condition through his 40s.
“Why do I want to get to the States? Because I want to play until 40. My wish is to be an athlete that plays until 40 years old,” Monfils said.
“Like Stan (Wawrinka), LeBron, Cristiano, (Patrice) Evra, like all of the athletes who have managed to continue their sport until the age of 40.
“That’s what I want to do. You know that whatever happens this summer, I’m locked in to train.”
The player, who achieved a career-high ranking of world number six and has found particular success on clay courts, noted that competing on the clay surface has become increasingly difficult in recent years.
He intends to request a wildcard entry for the U.S. Open while also scheduling appearances at Wimbledon and Montreal.
“Hopefully Wimbledon. Then need to decide if we go to Washington or not,” he said.
“I think we will ask Montreal, hopefully. I want to say goodbye to Montreal. Obviously I will ask the French Federation to have the U.S. Open wildcard. Hopefully I will have this one.
“Asia is a bit blurry, to be honest. Then the end of the year, I can tell you I will play Lyon, the new tournament. Nicolas (his agent) wants me to play Vienna, and then hopefully, Paris.”
Throughout his career, the 13-time ATP champion advanced to the French Open semi-finals in 2008 and contributed significantly to France’s Davis Cup campaigns in 2010 and 2014.
A labor organization representing workers in Samsung Electronics’ consumer product divisions filed a court petition on Tuesday seeking to stop a vote on a compensation package that disproportionately benefits employees in the company’s semiconductor operations.
The compensation agreement, brokered by government mediators last week, brought an end to an 18-day work stoppage involving 48,000 employees. The package offers substantial bonus payments to staff in Samsung’s memory semiconductor unit, which has experienced significant profit growth due to artificial intelligence demand.
Union members started casting ballots on Friday, with the voting period scheduled to end Wednesday morning.
The Samsung Electronics Co Union (SECU), representing approximately 13,000 workers primarily from smartphone, television and household appliance departments, issued a statement explaining their legal challenge came after being excluded from participation in the vote.
Internal disputes led the SECU to withdraw from the bargaining process before negotiators finalized the agreement.
The Samsung Electronics Labor Union (SELU) spearheaded the talks and announced Tuesday that over 90% of its 57,290 eligible members had submitted votes, though the results remain undisclosed.
The agreement requires both a simple majority of qualified union members to support the deal and majority participation in the voting process. Failure to meet these thresholds would force negotiators to begin discussions anew.
Another labor group, the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU), plans to skip the vote entirely due to dissatisfaction with the agreement terms, according to Yonhap news reports.
The NSEU represents both semiconductor and non-semiconductor employees and claims roughly 20,000 members based on its website information.
Samsung contributes approximately 25% of the nation’s export revenue, making the resolution of this labor dispute significant for South Korea’s economy. However, the controversy has highlighted sharp disagreements about distributing profits from the artificial intelligence industry surge.
Certain memory chip employees stand to collect total bonus payments reaching approximately $416,000 during the current year.
Staff members in Samsung’s foundry and logic chip design departments will earn considerably smaller but still noteworthy bonuses, while employees in divisions such as smartphones and home appliances will receive even more modest payments.
A small coalition of individual investors has also threatened legal action if union members approve the deal, claiming portions of the agreement violate regulations without shareholder consent.
Samsung’s stock price climbed 2.7% during morning trading sessions. Share values have increased nearly 9% since the agreement announcement last week, though this performance trails the 19% jump experienced by competitor SK Hynix.
The NBA Finals won’t begin until June 3, meaning the schedule will accomplish what the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers couldn’t manage in recent weeks.
It will stop the New York Knicks from winning.
At least for several days.
The Knicks have secured their spot in the NBA Finals, arriving there with one of the most impressive runs in league history. New York completed a four-game sweep of the Eastern Conference finals Monday evening, defeating the Cavaliers 130-93 and pushing their winning streak to 11 games.
Knicks coach Mike Brown gave all praise to his players.
“They’re just great, great human beings and they’re obviously fantastic basketball players,” Brown said.
The Knicks defeated the Hawks in six games during Round 1, then swept both Philly in Round 2 and Cleveland for the Eastern Conference championship.
Now, the Knicks await either Oklahoma City or San Antonio. The Western Conference title won’t be decided until Thursday at the earliest, and whichever team wins that Thunder-Spurs matchup will host the Knicks for Game 1 of the NBA Finals next week.
The Knicks, who last suffered a defeat on April 23 (they were actually down 2-1 to the Hawks in that opening-round series following consecutive one-point defeats), have joined an exclusive group of teams entering the championship round with such a lengthy winning streak.
Just three other franchises — the Los Angeles Lakers in 1989, the Lakers once more in 2001 and Golden State in 2017 — have entered the NBA Finals riding postseason winning streaks of 11 games or longer.
The Lakers posted an 11-0 record through the first three playoff rounds in 1989 (when the opening round was best-of-five) before Detroit swept them in the finals. The 2001 Lakers also went 11-0 in the initial three rounds, then dropped Game 1 of the finals to Philadelphia before sweeping the remaining games to claim the championship.
Golden State achieved a 12-0 mark in Rounds 1-3 during 2017, then captured the first three finals games against Cleveland — reaching 15-0 for the playoffs — before losing Game 4 of the finals and closing out the series in Game 5.
New York isn’t simply winning. The team is winning decisively. Overwhelmingly so.
The Knicks have outscored their opponents by 262 points during this 11-game winning streak. This represents the most dominant 11-game stretch in NBA history — whether regular season or playoffs.
Boston outscored opponents by 243 points across an 11-game period in 2024. Milwaukee recorded 11-game stretches where they outscored teams by 230, 231 and 236 points (with some games overlapping between two of those runs) during 1970-71.
Those Celtics and Bucks teams both captured NBA championships in their respective seasons.
The Knicks’ average scoring margin in playoff rounds leading up to the Finals this season stands at 19.4 points per game. The previous best combined differential for all pre-Finals rounds was Golden State’s 16.3-point average per game in 2017.
The Knicks have captured six straight road playoff games by double digits. No franchise in NBA history has ever achieved such a postseason streak.
They’ve won those contests by a remarkable combined total of 161 points.
The former record for consecutive double-digit road playoff victories was five, accomplished twice — by Miami in 2013 (by a combined 75 points) and Golden State in 2017 (by a combined 88 points). Both franchises won NBA championships in those years.
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ promising season came crashing down Monday night as they suffered a crushing 130-93 defeat to the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
The lopsided loss completed New York’s series sweep and secured the Knicks their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1999, while leaving Cleveland facing difficult questions about their future.
After finally breaking through to reach the conference finals, Donovan Mitchell and his teammates appeared overwhelmed by the moment and outmatched by their opponents. The pressure of the big stage seemed too much for a Cleveland squad that looked exhausted from grueling seven-game battles against Toronto and Detroit in previous playoff rounds.
The Cavaliers’ fate was essentially decided when they surrendered a 22-point fourth-quarter advantage in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden. From that point forward, New York controlled every aspect of the series, outperforming Cleveland in shooting, rebounding, and coaching.
Cleveland now enters what promises to be a chaotic offseason filled with major personnel decisions and potential roster reconstruction.
The team’s February trade deadline gamble – sending guard Darius Garland from their “Core Four” to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for James Harden – failed to produce the desired results. While Mitchell supported the Garland trade, the chemistry between him and Harden never developed as hoped, and the team struggled with consistency throughout the season.
Harden holds a $42.3 million player option for next season but is anticipated to decline it and potentially re-sign with Cleveland as a free agent. However, the 36-year-old’s performance fell short of offensive expectations while his defensive play was particularly problematic.
Mitchell’s situation presents even greater complexity. Cleveland can offer him a five-year, $350 million super-max extension as soon as this offseason, but financial considerations may lead the organization to delay that decision while evaluating whether the seven-time All-Star justifies such an enormous investment.
As the Knicks built a 33-point lead in the fourth quarter, Mitchell and Cleveland’s other key players were pulled from the game. The 29-year-old sat on the bench watching a franchise he once supported as a child celebrate their 11th consecutive playoff victory.
The disappointing conference finals exit will intensify questions surrounding coach Kenny Atkinson’s job security. Despite leading the team to a No. 1 seed in his debut season, last year ended with a frustrating second-round elimination against Indiana.
While Atkinson guided the Cavaliers one round deeper this postseason, it remains unclear whether that progress will satisfy owner Dan Gilbert, who has invested over $400 million in a franchise that has yet to deliver him a second championship.
New York’s dominant performance highlighted every weakness in Cleveland’s roster and may prompt Gilbert to pursue even more dramatic changes. The sight of his team being thoroughly dominated in Game 4 – with thousands of visiting fans chanting “Knicks in 4!” – likely left a lasting impression.
The Cavaliers will keep close tabs on superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo’s uncertain future in Milwaukee, as the Bucks have previously shown interest in 24-year-old Cleveland forward Evan Mobley.
Another intriguing possibility involves LeBron James and the chance for the NBA’s all-time scoring leader to complete another homecoming. Currently a free agent dealing with tensions in Los Angeles Lakers, James is exploring his options while Cleveland could certainly use his services once again.
A prominent international human rights organization released findings Tuesday alleging that the United Arab Emirates provided military instruction to Colombian fighters before deploying them in Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
Human Rights Watch’s latest findings represent another accusation against the Gulf nation, claiming it has provided financial and military assistance to the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary organization facing widespread allegations of committing serious violations including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
The UAE rejected these new claims when contacted by The Associated Press for comment.
“The recruitment of Colombian private military contractors adds to a growing body of evidence that the UAE provides military support to the Rapid Support Forces, which have repeatedly carried out heinous atrocities in Sudan,” said Mausi Segun, executive director of HRW’s Africa Division.
The conflict in Sudan began on April 15, 2023, after tensions between the country’s military leadership and the RSF escalated into armed confrontations in Khartoum and other areas throughout the large northeastern African nation.
The RSF emerged from the Janjaweed militias, Arab groups that gained infamy for brutal acts committed against East and Central African populations in Sudan’s Darfur region during the early 2000s.
According to Human Rights Watch’s investigation, hundreds of Colombian fighters received instruction from UAE citizens at a military installation in the Al Dhafra region, located approximately 250 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi, as well as at a second location in Abu Dhabi, before being sent to Sudan to support RSF operations.
The organization cited an unidentified Colombian fighter who said he provided training to RSF personnel at facilities near Nyala, South Darfur’s main city, in April of the previous year.
Numerous trainees were “young children,” according to the fighter’s account. The rights organization reported conducting interviews with another Colombian fighter and additional sources, including former Colombian military personnel.
A United Nations expert panel reported to the U.N. Security Council in September that Colombian fighters participated in combat operations across various regions of Sudan, including Khartoum, the neighboring city of Omdurman, and the Darfur and Kordofan areas. The panel noted that these fighters’ responsibilities included operating RSF unmanned aircraft, artillery equipment and armored vehicles, while also taking part in direct military operations.
In February video statements, RSF commander Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo confirmed that Colombian fighters have assisted his organization with drone operations.
Human Rights Watch identified Global Security Services Group, a private security company based in Abu Dhabi, as the entity responsible for hiring the fighters. The U.N. experts reported that Mohammed Hamdan Al-Zaabi, a UAE citizen, led the company.
While UAE authorities and the security firm did not respond to Human Rights Watch’s inquiries, the UAE’s Foreign Ministry disputed the claims in correspondence with the AP.
“The UAE does not permit its territory to be used for the recruitment, training, financing or transit of foreign fighters to any conflict, including Sudan,” the ministry stated.
The ministry added that any individual or organization, whether Emirati or foreign, providing assistance to non-state armed organizations “would be doing so without state authorization, in violation of Emirati law, and would be subject to criminal investigation and prosecution.”
Human Rights Watch reported authenticating video evidence showing fighters, believed to be Colombian, supporting RSF forces during their seizure of el-Fasher in Darfur this October. U.N.-commissioned experts characterized this military campaign as displaying “the hallmarks of genocide.” The United Nations reported that no fewer than 6,000 people died within three days.
The rights organization urged the global community, including the European Union, to pressure the UAE to cease its RSF support by halting military cooperation and weapons transactions.
“Other countries need to stop accepting the UAE’s blanket denials of support to the RSF which fly in the face of the facts, and should put an end to its impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity,” Segun said.
The United States has placed sanctions on numerous individuals and companies in Colombia’s capital, Bogota, for allegedly recruiting and sending Colombian fighters to support the RSF. However, it has not responded to reports regarding the UAE’s alleged RSF assistance, despite accusing the group of conducting “summary executions, ethnically motivated attacks, sexual and gender-based violence, and torture throughout areas under its control” during the conflict.
The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project reported that at least 59,000 people have died during the three-year period. The U.S.-based monitoring organization acknowledged that its casualty count likely underrepresents the actual toll due to reporting challenges.
CLEVELAND – The New York Knicks crushed the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night, completing a sweep and earning their first trip to the NBA Finals in 25 years. Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with 19 points and 14 rebounds in the decisive victory.
New York’s championship series berth ends a drought dating back to 1999, while their current postseason surge has reached 11 consecutive wins – a new franchise playoff record that ties the third-longest single-postseason streak in NBA history.
The Knicks received balanced scoring throughout their roster. OG Anunoby contributed 17 points while Landry Shamet came off the bench to add 16 points, connecting on all four of his three-point attempts. Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges each chipped in 15 points, and Josh Hart recorded six points along with 11 rebounds and six assists.
For Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell paced the scoring with 31 points and Evan Mobley added 15 points with seven rebounds. The Cavaliers had reached their first Eastern Conference finals since 2018 before falling to New York. James Harden struggled significantly, managing just 12 points while committing five turnovers and missing all six three-point attempts.
New York’s head coach Mike Brown will make his second NBA Finals appearance as a coach, having previously guided the Cavaliers to their first Eastern Conference title in 2007.
The 37-point margin of defeat represented the worst playoff home loss in Cavaliers franchise history.
The Knicks controlled the boards completely, out-rebounding Cleveland 60-33. Backup center Mitchell Robinson was particularly effective, collecting 10 rebounds in just 18 minutes of action.
New York seized control early with a devastating 20-0 scoring run spanning 5 minutes and 52 seconds from the end of the first quarter into the second period. Towns capped the surge with a thunderous dunk, pushing the score to 50-26.
The lead continued to grow as New York eventually stretched their advantage to 61-32 following Shamet’s third three-pointer of the opening half.
Cleveland started strong as Mitchell tallied 10 points and Mobley scored seven in the game’s first six minutes, giving the Cavaliers a 17-14 edge. However, a 9-0 New York run flipped the momentum permanently. Robinson’s entrance sparked the Knicks with six points and four rebounds, fueling a 24-9 run to close the first quarter.
Cleveland was dealt an additional blow when backup point guard Dennis Schroder was ruled out due to illness shortly before tipoff.
Several notable celebrities attended the game courtside to support the Knicks, including comedian Tracy Morgan, filmmaker Spike Lee and actor Timothee Chalamet.
Authorities in Malaysia took 51 men into custody during weekend operations at a Kuala Lumpur hotel, where officials say drugs were being used during what they characterized as illegal activities.
The arrests occurred across four different raids on Sunday, according to narcotics investigations department director Hussein Omar Khan, who released details in a Monday evening statement. The detained individuals ranged in age from 21 to 52 years old, with 28 being foreign nationals.
Officers confiscated illegal substances valued at approximately 103,070 ringgit ($26,021), which included MDMA, ecstasy in both pill and powder forms, and ketamine, Khan reported.
“This group was found to be using rooms in upscale hotels for entertainment, drug abuse, and is believed to be involved in immoral activities,” Khan stated, noting that investigators are proceeding under the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Before the raids took place, authorities discovered an unconscious man in the hotel lobby who they suspect was connected to the gathering. Emergency responders transported him to Kuala Lumpur Hospital, where medical staff declared him deceased upon arrival. Khan did not reveal information regarding what caused the death.
The detained men are being held for three to six days while the investigation proceeds, Khan explained, and drug tests came back positive for 36 of those arrested.
In Malaysia, a nation with a Muslim majority, homosexuality remains illegal under a dual legal framework that combines Islamic law for Muslims with civil statutes. Sodomy carries criminal penalties, while sharia law prohibits same-sex relationships and cross-dressing.
Advocacy organizations have cautioned that LGBT individuals in Malaysia are experiencing heightened surveillance and growing hostility.
In the previous year, Kuala Lumpur law enforcement announced they would examine their protocols following an incident where 171 people detained on suspicion of same-sex conduct were released without charges when no prosecutable evidence emerged. LGBT rights organizations criticized police for allegedly holding some detainees illegally for almost two days despite a court order for their release.
America’s top diplomat declared Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz must remain accessible following U.S. military strikes against Iran the previous day.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the emphatic statement while speaking with reporters aboard his aircraft in Jaipur, India.
“The straits have to be open, they’re going to be open one way or the other, so they need to be open,” Rubio declared.
The Secretary of State also indicated that finalizing the language for an agreement with Iran could require “take a few days” to complete.
The SEC’s top official tried to manage expectations Monday, making clear his conference won’t be making any decisions about College Football Playoff expansion during this week’s spring meetings taking place in Destin, Florida.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey supports growing the current 12-team format to 16 teams, while the Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 are all backing a larger 24-team structure.
Just last week, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti indicated his conference’s schools are prepared to support the 24-team proposal and would be willing to hold off if the SEC doesn’t agree.
Both commissioners face a December 1 deadline to reach consensus if any playoff growth is to take effect for the 2027-28 season.
Speaking to the media, Sankey acknowledged his conference wouldn’t “have a unanimous vote right now on a number.”
Rather than rushing to a decision, Sankey explained his league plans to examine every element of the 24-team proposal during this week’s meetings, including potential drawbacks.
“Four to 12 was monumental, I think it was justifiable, and you want to be careful about how far you go,” he stated.
Moving to 24 teams would likely mean the end of conference championship games, which Sankey strongly opposes. He pointed to existing SEC television deals as a barrier to such expansion, along with the significant financial hit from losing the SEC championship game.
Georgia president Jere Morehead publicly opposed the 24-team format last week.
“I was OK with going to 16,” he told The Athletic. “I thought that was a good number. But 24 scares me, particularly jumping from 12 to 24. If we went to 16 and tried that for a few years, see how it goes, and then we can evaluate whether we should go to 24. And from my standpoint, I would just stay at 12 then, if we can’t get an agreement on 16.”
Still, he left the final call to Sankey, and their shared perspective became clear Monday.
SEC presidents, athletics directors and coaches will also discuss their concerns this week about the lack of progress from the College Sports Commission in Washington, D.C. regarding NIL enforcement and oversight.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The chairman of South Korea’s Starbucks operations delivered his second public apology within two weeks on Tuesday, following intense criticism over a marketing promotion that many interpreted as disrespectful to victims of a 1980 military assault on democracy advocates.
Chung Yong-jin, who leads Shinsegae Group that controls a 67.5% ownership in Starbucks Korea, performed three ceremonial bows during a broadcast appearance while seeking forgiveness from relatives of democracy fighters killed under the nation’s previous military regime and from citizens at large.
The controversy erupted when the coffee company tried to market a large tumbler called a ‘tank’ by designating May 18 as ‘Tank Day.’ This date marks the anniversary of a democratic revolt in Gwangju, a southern city where military forces using troops, armored vehicles and aircraft violently crushed the movement, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries.
The marketing effort further inflamed public anger by featuring the phrase ‘Thwack it on the table!,’ which many interpreted as referencing an infamous 1987 police explanation that sought to conceal the torture killing of student protester Park Jong-chol. Authorities had claimed Park suddenly died after investigators ‘hit the desk with a thwack.’
Public fury was swift, prompting Shinsegae to halt the campaign within hours and dismiss Starbucks Korea’s chief executive. Law enforcement also launched an inquiry following complaints from families of Gwangju victims.
‘I take it very seriously the fact that many people felt deep pain and anger because of Starbucks Korea’s inappropriate marketing campaign,’ Chung stated Tuesday.
He additionally urged the public not to direct their anger toward store employees, emphasizing that leadership bears the responsibility. No significant incidents at retail locations have been reported.
Chung’s initial apology came on May 19, when he released a statement acknowledging the campaign brought ‘deep pain to the victims and bereaved families of the May 18 Democratization Movement as well as to the public.’
Jeon Sangjin, a top Shinsegae Group official, indicated the company hasn’t discovered definitive proof that Starbucks Korea marketing staff deliberately intended to ridicule the pro-democracy movement, claims the workers have rejected.
Nevertheless, he noted some staff members declined management’s requests to surrender their mobile phones during a seven-day internal investigation. Jeon stated the company would review findings from the police examination and terminate any employee proven to have intentionally mocked protesters.
The campaign backlash has generated widespread boycott demands, supported by government leaders including Interior and Safety Minister Yoon Ho-jung, who announced Starbucks items would be banned from government functions and criticized the company’s ‘anti-historical behavior.’
President Lee Jae Myung posted on X last week that the campaign demonstrated ‘inhumane and disgraceful behavior by cheap profiteers who deny the values of the South Korean community, basic human rights and democracy.’
The Gwangju suppression occurred months following General Chun Doo-hwan’s power seizure through a late 1979 military takeover. Official documents indicate approximately 200 deaths in Gwangju, though activists believe the actual casualty count was significantly higher. Chun’s administration also jailed tens of thousands under the guise of eliminating social problems.
Public fury regarding Chun’s authoritarian rule sparked massive nationwide demonstrations in 1987, compelling him to approve constitutional changes establishing direct presidential voting, commonly regarded as the beginning of South Korea’s democratic transformation.
Top diplomats from four major Indo-Pacific nations are convening Tuesday in New Delhi, working to breathe new life into their strategic alliance that observers say has lost steam during President Donald Trump’s administration.
The foreign ministers gathering represents the third such diplomatic meeting since September 2024, bringing together Australia’s Penny Wong, India’s S Jaishankar, Japan’s Toshimitsu Motegi and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Plans for a leadership summit in India last year fell through as tensions mounted between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Washington’s trade tariffs and other disagreements.
Despite these challenges, the four countries remain united in their concerns about China’s expanding influence in the region. Rubio, who touched down in India Saturday for a four-day diplomatic mission focused on strengthening ties with New Delhi, has emphasized the critical need to preserve a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Speaking to Indian media Sunday, Rubio outlined his vision for the partnership’s future. “We don’t just want the Quad to be a semi-annual meeting of like-minded countries,” he explained. “We want it to actually be a forum on which we continue to partner on things.”
The U.S. Secretary of State called for the Quad to pursue “concrete actions” in areas such as maritime security and critical minerals cooperation, while diplomatic teams work toward arranging a leaders’ summit before year’s end.
“I don’t have a date on that yet, but hopefully this year we’ll find a time for all four leaders to get together,” Rubio stated.
Japan has particular urgency in diversifying its critical mineral sources after Beijing halted shipments of materials essential for aerospace, defense and semiconductor manufacturing following a recent diplomatic clash.
The diplomatic gathering occurs amid ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations potentially aimed at resolving their three-month standoff and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran’s blockade of this vital shipping lane has thrown energy markets into chaos and disrupted the worldwide economy, creating an issue expected to dominate Quad discussions.
Earlier Quad initiatives have focused on preserving “the free and open maritime order” throughout the Indo-Pacific by enhancing intelligence-sharing about regional maritime activities.
A Japanese foreign ministry official indicated last week that Japan anticipates discussions will address the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, alongside rising tensions in the East China Sea and South China Sea, where China’s increased military activity in contested waters has heightened friction with Tokyo, the Philippines and neighboring nations.
Beijing has denounced the Quad as a Cold War-era mechanism designed to restrict its growth and development.
India also faces territorial disagreements with China, though Modi had indicated openness to improving relations with Beijing during his disputes with Trump.
New Delhi has advocated for a Trump visit to India, a trip that would likely coincide with a Quad summit. Political analysts have raised concerns that the absence of high-level leadership engagement may have diminished the Quad’s strategic significance.
The Japanese official noted that India, as the host nation, would determine when a leaders’ meeting could be scheduled.
“It is quite difficult to get all four leaders together,” the official acknowledged.
Trump’s attention has been divided by the Iranian conflict, failed attempts to resolve the Ukraine situation, and strained relationships with Quad partners due to his broad tariff policies.
However, Trump recently praised Modi during a phone call to a U.S. reception in New Delhi Sunday, expressing his affection for the Indian prime minister.
“India can count on me, 100%,” Trump declared.
The U.S. dollar experienced weakness on Tuesday as investors expressed growing optimism about potential diplomatic efforts to resolve the three-month Iran conflict and reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, despite continued American military strikes against Iranian positions affecting market confidence.
Although the likelihood of an immediate agreement remains low, peace prospects have driven oil prices under $100 per barrel, reduced strain on emerging market currencies, and enhanced appetite for riskier investments.
Top Iranian diplomatic officials and the foreign minister traveled to Doha for discussions with the prime minister of Qatar regarding a possible agreement. The U.S. president characterized negotiations with Iran as proceeding “nicely,” while cautioning about additional military action should talks collapse.
U.S. Central Command released a statement confirming it conducted additional strikes intended “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.”
Currency markets showed the euro maintaining strength at $1.16365 on Tuesday, with the Japanese yen trading at 158.95 against the dollar. American financial markets remained closed Monday for a holiday observance. The dollar index against multiple currencies stood at 99.031.
“Markets are right to price some optimism because even a path toward reopening Hormuz lowers the extreme tail risk around oil, inflation and global growth,” said Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo in Singapore.
“I would not confuse positive negotiation noise with a durable de-escalation yet, the real test is not the headline deal, but whether tankers can move freely, insurance premiums can fall, and energy flows can normalize,” Chanana added.
“Until then, this is likely to remain a stop-start risk-on trade.”
The Australian currency, frequently considered a risk indicator, remained stable at $0.71665, staying close to a one-week peak following Monday’s 0.65% increase.
New Zealand’s currency traded at $0.58575, declining 0.25% before Wednesday’s monetary policy announcement from the nation’s central bank, where a survey of economists shows 28 of 29 expect rates to remain unchanged.
“With so much of the good news around a peace deal now likely priced into risk markets, there’s certainly room for a ‘buy the rumour, sell the fact’ type reaction,” said Tony Sycamore, market analyst at IG.
Energy prices recovered some early Tuesday losses following reports of new American strikes against Iranian facilities. Brent crude futures climbed 1.5% to $97.76 per barrel after Monday’s 7% decline.
Market experts don’t anticipate energy costs returning to pre-conflict levels soon, even with near-term diplomatic progress, as supply networks will require time to stabilize, maintaining inflation and interest rate pressures.
“We still expect a slow oil unwind, even if prices fall sustainably below $100 per barrel in the second half of 2026. This suggests the USD’s terms of trade support should not fade quickly,” said OCBC strategists in a note.
“There is no strong case to be bearish USD,” they said, citing resilient U.S. growth and AI-driven inflation pressures that have nudged Federal Reserve rhetoric in a more hawkish direction.
Motorists traveling on westbound Route 4 should expect delays due to construction-related lane closures affecting traffic flow in the area.
The right travel lane and right turning lane are currently shut down on the westbound side of Route 4 between Route 273 and Salem Church Road while construction crews complete their work.
The lane restrictions are scheduled to remain in place until 5 a.m., according to traffic officials.
Drivers are advised to use caution when traveling through the construction zone and to allow extra time for their commute while the lane closures are active.
CLEVELAND — New York supporters turned Monday night’s Eastern Conference finals Game 4 into their own celebration at Rocket Arena, as the Knicks stood just one victory away from completing a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Standing on the brink of their first NBA Finals berth since 1999, the Knicks drew massive support from thousands of traveling fans, including several high-profile celebrity supporters who made the trip to Cleveland.
The volume of “Let’s Go Knicks!” cheers during pregame warmups suggested New York supporters may have actually outnumbered local fans, leaving Cleveland supporters clinging to slim hopes their team could achieve the impossible by overcoming a 3-0 series deficit. No NBA team in history has accomplished such a comeback, with teams holding a perfect 164-0 record when leading 3-0 in best-of-seven playoff series.
The star-studded New York contingent included actor Timothée Chalamet with his girlfriend Kylie Jenner, filmmaker Spike Lee, comedian Tracy Morgan, several rappers, and former Knicks legends Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Allan Houston.
Cleveland countered with rapper Machine Gun Kelly representing the home team, while also bringing back fan-favorite guard Matthew Dellavedova from their 2016 championship squad for good luck. The Cavaliers had previously hosted pop superstar Taylor Swift and her fiancé, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, during Game 3.
New York fans had already made their presence felt during the Knicks’ Game 3 victory, prompting Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell to acknowledge the crowd dynamics were affected by Cleveland’s poor performance.
“I’m from New York, this doesn’t shock me. They do it in every arena,” Mitchell said. “That’s how Knicks fans are. I was one back in the day.”
ARLINGTON, Texas — Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Tatsuya Imai completed six innings without surrendering a hit Monday night in his team’s game against the Texas Rangers.
The rookie hurler struggled with his control early, issuing walks to three of the initial four batters he encountered, though a double play in the opening frame helped limit the damage. From that point forward, Imai found his rhythm and set down 16 consecutive Rangers hitters.
Imai’s control issues continued sporadically as he walked Brandon Nimmo to start the fourth inning, marking his fourth free pass of the contest. However, Ezequiel Duran immediately followed with a ground ball that resulted in another double play.
The 28-year-old pitcher is experiencing his debut major league campaign after making the transition from professional baseball in Japan. Through his initial five outings with Houston, Imai had compiled a 1-2 record alongside an 8.31 earned run average. During Monday’s six-inning performance, he delivered 57 strikes among his 97 total pitches while recording two strikeouts. The Astros maintained a 4-0 advantage.
Texas leadoff man Joc Pederson was denied a hit in the third inning thanks to an impressive defensive sequence when shortstop Jeremy Peña executed a backhand stop followed by an off-balance throw to first base for the out. The Rangers came closest to breaking through in the fifth inning when Justin Foscue and Danny Jansen each made solid contact that resulted in deep fly balls.
The Los Angeles Dodgers welcomed back their veteran utility player Kiké Hernández on Monday night as he made his season debut against the Colorado Rockies following a lengthy recovery from elbow surgery.
Hernández, who calls himself the team’s “clown in the clubhouse,” was scheduled to start at third base batting ninth, filling in for the injured Max Muncy in the series opener.
“Just getting his energy back is going to be good for our group,” manager Dave Roberts commented.
The 34-year-old veteran missed the season’s opening 53 games while recovering from offseason elbow surgery to address an injury that had plagued him throughout the previous campaign.
“It’s fixed and I’m feeling pretty good right now,” Hernández stated from the dugout before Monday’s game.
The versatile player will contribute at second and third base, potentially fill in at outfield positions when needed, and serve as a pinch-hitting option from the bench. Muncy remains out with a right wrist problem but may return by Wednesday.
During the offseason, Hernández underwent surgery to repair damaged muscle tissue and a torn extensor tendon in his left elbow. The procedure addressed an injury he initially sustained during the season that progressively worsened over time.
“He’s a tough competitor, tough player,” Roberts noted. “I don’t think anyone appreciated how severe the injury was.”
Despite playing with the torn tendon, Hernández persevered through the discomfort and contributed to the Dodgers’ second straight World Series championship. He participated in all 17 playoff contests, posting a .250 batting average with nine runs scored, one home run, and seven RBIs. However, continuing to play caused the tendon to separate from the bone, necessitating surgical intervention.
“It was a rough year,” he explained. “The best description that I can put on it is every time I would get in my batting stance I would feel like I had a blowtorch on.”
Following the World Series victory, an MRI scan showed significant swelling, leaving Hernández to choose between rehabilitation or surgery. Uncertain about the decision, he allowed his family and agent to make the final call.
They reminded him of his previous attempt to play through a core injury for three seasons, which resulted in additional damage and multiple operations. They encouraged him to have another procedure performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
“I woke up with ElAttrache telling me, ‘This is the worst injury I’ve ever seen of this kind and I don’t know how you played,’” he recalled. “I told him, ‘Thank you, I take it as a compliment.’”
While still under the influence of post-surgery medication, Hernández contacted Andrew Friedman via FaceTime and asked ElAttrache to share his assessment with the president of baseball operations.
Before his phone was confiscated, Hernández told Friedman: “I did this for you so you better bring me back.”
In February, Hernández secured a $4.5 million, one-year deal to return for his 10th season with the organization.
Due to his surgery and rehabilitation schedule, Hernández was unable to participate in the World Baseball Classic representing his homeland of Puerto Rico.
“That hurt my soul a little more than I was in pain physically last year just because I’ve been dreaming about playing in the WBC in Puerto Rico since I was 13 years old and it kind of felt like it got taken away from me,” he shared. “You got to find a way to look at positives in life. I was like, it would have sucked a lot more if we’d lost the World Series and I still didn’t get to play in the WBC. It was a fair trade.”
Last October, Hernández set a franchise record with his 87th postseason appearance. He currently holds the eighth position in major league history with 103 playoff games.
Among players of Puerto Rican heritage, he ranks fourth with over 100 career postseason appearances, behind Jorge Posada (125), Bernie Williams (121), and Yadier Molina (104).
“Doing that as a Latino is very important, especially in the city where there’s such a big Latino community and we’re living in some rough times,” he said. “Especially in this city, the last two years there’s been a lot of weird things going on, so I take the responsibility to not only represent this organization but the Latino community, the Puerto Rican community. It’s something that’s very touching to my heart.”
Beginning the season on the injured list provided an unexpected benefit, allowing Hernández to spend quality time with his newborn son born in February and his daughter.
Once he stopped experiencing daily pain, he realized he could return by the end of his IL period.
“It didn’t feel like I had to rush, it didn’t feel like I was going to lose my spot,” he said. “That was very key.”
He completed 12 rehabilitation games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, hitting .214 with two doubles and three RBIs.
“I had lot of fun with those guys,” he said. “Now I’m back with my guys here and I’m ready to go.”
As the Dodgers pursue a third consecutive World Series title, Hernández plans to mentor younger teammates when he’s not providing comic relief.
“I’m in charge of checking guys,” he said. “I think guys know if I’m on them, and I’m tough on them, it means I care a lot about them.”
To make room for Hernández on the roster, utility player Santiago Espinal was designated for assignment.
The 31-year-old former All-Star recorded a .220 batting average with three doubles, one home run, and four RBIs across 26 games with the Dodgers.
“I’ll lob a call to him in the next couple days to thank him for everything he did for us,” Roberts said. “He was fantastic. Obviously, we had a tough decision to make. We were very forthright up front about the expectations. I think he respected that.”
Stock prices for South Korean retail company Shinsegae dropped on Tuesday following a public apology from Chairman Chung Yong-jin regarding a controversial Starbucks Korea marketing effort that appeared to reference a deadly 1980 military assault on democracy activists.
The retail company, which runs Starbucks operations in Korea, encountered significant public criticism over its “Tank Day” promotional campaign featuring tumblers on May 18, coinciding with the nation’s remembrance of the student-led Gwangju Uprising from May 1980.
“I take it very seriously that Starbucks Korea’s inappropriate marketing hurt and angered many people,” Chung said. “I will take all responsibility for the incident.” While Shinsegae stock initially rose Tuesday morning, it subsequently declined 2.6% after the chairman’s statement.
Military forces and tanks were deployed by the military dictatorship of Chun Doo-hwan to suppress the demonstrations, resulting in an estimated hundreds of deaths and disappearances.
Last week, Shinsegae dismissed the leader of Starbucks Korea following an apology for “inappropriate marketing.” The global Starbucks corporation has also issued an apology and announced the start of an investigation.
In response to the controversy, South Korea’s Interior Minister announced that his department would cease purchasing products from businesses that “make light” of the nation’s democratic heritage.
According to company documents, Starbucks Korea ownership is split between E-Mart at 67.5% and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC at 32.5%.
A labor organization representing Samsung Electronics workers outside the semiconductor business has petitioned a South Korean court to halt an ongoing compensation vote, according to reports from Newsis on Tuesday.
The labor group includes approximately 13,000 employees from the smartphones, television and home appliances divisions, the news agency reported.
The non-chip union pursued legal action after being informed it could not participate in the ballot by unionized workers in the semiconductor division, Newsis reported, quoting a union representative.
Approximately 57,000 Samsung employees started casting ballots on Friday regarding a compensation package that would provide substantial bonuses for memory chip workers to prevent a planned 18-day work stoppage.
The Russian leader has authorized financial relief for military recruits joining the Ukraine conflict and their families, according to an announcement from Moscow late Monday, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen military forces in the prolonged war.
Those who enter into military service agreements with Russia’s defense ministry starting May 1, along with their spouses, will have debts up to 10 million roubles ($139,700) forgiven if legal collection proceedings were active prior to that date, according to the official decree published on Moscow’s government website.
Military service agreements for what Russia terms its ‘special military operation’ — Moscow’s designation for its February 2022 invasion and occupation of Ukraine — must span at least one year, officials stated.
The debt forgiveness amount equals roughly the cost of a 35 square meter studio apartment in Moscow, based on Cian real estate data.
This financial incentive joins other support programs for Russian military personnel, including substantial payments and preferential university admission policies, as Moscow works to expand its military capacity while U.S.-led peace negotiations remain stalled.
Both nations blame each other for escalating tensions, with Ukraine preparing to deploy additional forces to northern territories in response to suspected Russian plans for renewed offensive operations.
The Russian leader also signed additional legislation Monday permanently extending state land rental agreements for those participating in the Ukraine conflict, according to government officials.
($1 = 71.6000 roubles)
A Dominican Republic court handed down a suspended sentence Monday to Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco for sexually abusing a minor, allowing the former All-Star to avoid prison time.
Judge Jose Ramon Nunez cited “particular circumstances” as the reason for the lenient ruling in the case, which was prosecuted in the Caribbean country where the alleged crimes occurred.
The court also convicted the victim’s mother on charges of trafficking the minor to Franco and attempting to extort money from him.
Franco, who earned All-Star honors with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023, had previously been convicted in June 2025, but that decision was reversed and a new trial was ordered.
Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Franco appealed to his supporters, saying “to please continue supporting me and trust God, that soon, through God’s faith, we are heading up again.”
The alleged abuse occurred over approximately four months starting in December 2022, when Franco was 21 years old and the victim was 14.
The Dominican-born player became a star with the Tampa Bay Rays and earned All-Star recognition in 2023.
Franco inked a $182 million deal with the Rays in 2021 and was considered among baseball’s most promising young players before the accusations surfaced publicly in August 2023.
Franco remains on unpaid leave, with the Rays stating he has not reported to the team in Florida.
In a statement Monday, the Rays indicated they respect the legal proceedings and the court’s ruling, adding they will continue collaborating with Major League Baseball’s abuse policy organization. The team did not specify whether they plan to continue their relationship with Franco.
The decision may be challenged on appeal, and the complete legal reasoning has not been made public. Franco’s legal representative said they would review the full details before deciding on future actions.
Financial markets are generating significant excitement over the anticipated June launch of Elon Musk’s space exploration company SpaceX on public exchanges, though a comprehensive review reveals that most major stock debuts in recent years have disappointed investors who purchased shares at launch.
A comprehensive review of the 50 largest public offerings by valuation over the past five years demonstrates that investors would have achieved better results purchasing an S&P 500 index fund approximately 75% of the time. This data highlights the challenge of identifying good deals among companies whose market values have frequently skyrocketed well before their public trading begins.
An investor purchasing each of the public offerings examined would have gained an average of 27% through May 21. This performance falls short of the S&P 500’s average 53% increase over the same timeframes. The review assumes buyers could acquire shares at the initial offering price — frequently impossible for individual investors — or alternatively purchase the broad-market index.
Past performance for investors purchasing during the chaotic first trading day shows even poorer results, the review demonstrated.
“It’s difficult to make money unless you’re in the early stages of these things and buying these things before the IPO,” said Dennis Dick, a proprietary trader at Triple D Trading.
The rocket manufacturer’s market debut is anticipated to precede offerings from OpenAI and Anthropic, capitalizing on investor appetite for artificial intelligence companies that has pushed U.S. markets to new records.
Planning to trade under the symbol ‘SPCX’, the space company submitted its prospectus Wednesday, with potential share sales beginning as soon as June 11. Company founder Elon Musk is offering some shares to individual investors through Robinhood, SoFi and additional trading platforms that would provide access at reduced prices.
The aerospace firm is reportedly seeking a $1.75 trillion market value that would surpass all previous Wall Street public listings, though the analysis demonstrates that such records provide no assurance investors will profit.
University of Florida professor Jay Ritter, who researches public offerings, explained that while most stock debuts underperform the S&P 500 long-term, companies with exceptionally high valuations measured by price-to-sales ratios typically perform worst.
At a $1.75 trillion valuation, the space company’s price-to-sales ratio would reach nearly 100, compared to artificial intelligence leader Nvidia’s price-to-sales ratio of 24. The rocket manufacturer reported losses of nearly $5 billion last year.
“Every one of these companies where investors are willing to pay a very high price-to-sales ratio has a compelling story for why the future potentially can be really bright,” Ritter said. “But, you know, stuff could go wrong.”
Among the public offerings studied, artificial intelligence chip designers Astera Labs and Arm Holdings have delivered the strongest performance. Astera has climbed over 700% since its 2024 debut, while Arm has risen approximately 400% since its 2023 launch. Both performances exceeded the S&P 500.
Cerebras Systems, another AI chip designer, jumped 52% from its May 14 offering price; it has declined around 27% from its first trading day peak.
Among the most significant letdowns recently, Chinese ride-sharing company Didi Global was removed from the New York Stock Exchange in 2022 following its heavily demanded offering the previous year. Currently trading over-the-counter, Didi Global shares have fallen approximately 74% from their $14 offering price.
Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian Automotive has dropped 82% since its 2021 debut that temporarily made it the second-most valuable U.S. automaker. The company continues losing money on every vehicle produced and burns roughly $1 billion in cash quarterly.
Design software company Figma’s shares nearly quadrupled during their first trading session last July. However, with investors concerned that generative AI could make Figma’s technology commonplace, its stock has declined 35% from the $33 offering price.
Even the most popular offerings can disappoint. Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, excluded from this analysis, maintains the record for largest U.S. public offering by valuation. Promoted as the “Amazon of China,” its shares have doubled since its 2014 Wall Street debut, while the S&P 500 has returned over 300% during the same period.
Pope Leo has established a Vatican research team focused on artificial intelligence, marking the latest example of religious leadership engaging with emerging technology. The Vatican revealed this month it created the internal research group as preparations continue for Leo’s inaugural encyclical. The upcoming papal letter is anticipated to stress the importance of ethical AI development that puts human dignity and peace first. In a historic decision, the Pope has asked Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah to participate in the encyclical’s announcement. Technology executives have been building relationships with religious and faith community leaders in recent months.
The United Nations has voiced serious concerns regarding new Taliban legislation in Afghanistan addressing marital separation that contains child marriage elements. The law’s most disputed sections include language suggesting that a pubescent girl’s silence may constitute marriage consent. Additional provisions address the separation of married girls who have reached puberty, suggesting child marriage acceptance. Taliban officials dispute these claims, asserting their decree aligns with Islamic principles and maintaining that Afghanistan prohibits forced marriages of girls.
Warsaw officials have recorded the city’s initial same-sex marriage registration, following court decisions requiring Poland to acknowledge gay unions performed internationally. Last autumn, the European Union’s top court mandated the nation recognize same-sex marriages conducted in fellow EU member states despite Polish law currently prohibiting such unions. In March, Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court referenced that decision when directing officials to acknowledge two Polish men’s German marriage. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has pledged to legalize gay marriage in Poland but encounters resistance from his governing coalition partners.
The House has turned down legislation creating a new Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum on the National Mall due to transgender disagreements. Democrats chose to abandon the widely supported measure after Republicans insisted the women’s museum exclude displays about men identifying as women. Republican amendments to the legislation also grant President Trump final authority over the building’s placement. The Democratic Women’s Caucus spearheaded efforts to defeat the bill without transgender inclusion. The Democratic decision leaves the museum proposal’s future uncertain.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued official congratulations Monday to King Abdullah II and Jordan’s citizens as the kingdom marked eight decades of independence, highlighting Jordan’s important contribution to Middle East peace and security.
In a statement released to commemorate Jordan’s National Day on May 25, Rubio declared: “On behalf of the United States of America, I extend my best wishes and congratulations to His Majesty King Abdullah II and the Jordanian people on the 80th anniversary of Jordan’s Independence.”
The secretary of state emphasized that the relationship between Washington and Amman stems from “our shared commitment to a peaceful, prosperous, and secure Middle East.”
“We deeply value Jordan’s critical role in advancing our shared priorities for the region,” he stated.
Rubio also voiced America’s commitment to maintaining the ongoing partnership between the nations.
“As you celebrate Jordan’s National Day, the United States wishes the people of Jordan lasting prosperity under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, and we look forward to continuing our steadfast, decades-long partnership,” Rubio declared.
An additional statement released under Rubio’s authority noted that the United States “deeply value[s] the pivotal role Jordan plays in advancing our shared priorities in the region” and confirmed Washington’s dedication to preserving its enduring alliance with the kingdom.
Each year on May 25, Jordan celebrates its independence day, marking when the British Mandate concluded and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was founded in 1946.
After World War I ended, the region came under British control. An agreement reached during King Abdullah I’s reign terminated the mandate in March 1946, and the Jordanian Legislative Council officially proclaimed independence on May 25 of that same year.
The milestone is celebrated as a national holiday throughout Jordan featuring government ceremonies, military parades, cultural events, concerts, and public celebrations.
Traditional festivities include gatherings with Hashemite royal family members, government leaders, and international diplomats, alongside fireworks, flag ceremonies, and community events in locations such as Amman.
A traffic collision has resulted in the complete closure of North DuPont Highway (Route 13) at Lepore Road, according to transportation officials.
The roadway remains blocked in both directions as emergency responders work at the crash site. Drivers traveling through the area should anticipate major delays and consider using alternative routes.
No additional details about the circumstances of the accident or potential injuries have been released at this time.
Israeli military officials confirmed Monday the death of Sgt. Nehorai Leizer, a 19-year-old soldier from Eilat, following a drone attack on Israeli forces conducting operations in southern Lebanon. The explosive device also left another service member from his unit with serious injuries.
According to military sources, Leizer was assigned to the 601st Combat Engineering Battalion within the “Iron Tracks” Brigade (401). The injured soldier was transported to a medical facility for treatment, with his family receiving notification of the incident.
Military officials stated that the attack happened when an explosive-laden drone targeted the location where Israeli troops were positioned during their southern Lebanon mission.
This announcement follows Sunday’s funeral for Staff Sgt. Noam Hamburger, a 23-year-old from Atlit who died during military operations in northern Israel.
Military reports indicate Hamburger was fatally injured when an explosive drone from Lebanese territory hit a position near the Lebanon border where Israeli forces were stationed within Israeli boundaries. The same attack left one soldier with severe wounds and caused minor injuries to a noncommissioned officer.
Hamburger had been serving as a technology and maintenance specialist in Battalion 9 of the “Iron Tracks” Brigade (401) and was scheduled to finish his military duty in just one month.
His funeral drew hundreds of mourners, with local residents from the Hof HaCarmel Regional Council lining the streets with Israeli flags as the funeral convoy proceeded to the burial site.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid delivered sharp criticism of settler violence during a Foreign Press Association briefing, declaring without hesitation that “Settler terror is terror” when questioned about extremist actions in the West Bank.
During the press conference, Lapid addressed foreign policy matters involving Iran, Gaza and the West Bank, but made headlines when he outlined potential leadership arrangements for a future government headed by Naftali Bennett.
“I assume that the ideal government for most Israelis will be Naftali Bennett as prime minister, and former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot as defense minister, and former finance minister Avigdor Lieberman as finance minister, and myself as foreign minister,” Lapid stated. “Again, this will be subject, I assume, to political results, but this is what we’re trying to do.”
Lapid characterized this potential partnership as “a union between the center and the liberal right” while indicating that additional political groups might still join the coalition. He expressed hope that Eisenkot would formally participate, saying “he will eventually.”
When pressed about whether settler violence constitutes terrorism, Lapid responded immediately and forcefully. “I never thought that in my lifetime we would talk about Jewish terrorism,” he declared. “But this is Jewish terror.”
The opposition leader argued that radical settler actions in the West Bank create both security risks and diplomatic problems for Israel. “These people are the greatest gift anti-Semites around the world could ask for,” Lapid explained. “It allows anti-Semites on both the right and the left to claim that this is Zionism and these are the values of the State of Israel. It is not.”
Lapid also targeted National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir regarding treatment of Gaza flotilla activists, describing the situation as “a national disgrace” and emphasizing that “democracy comes with a price,” which includes “upholding international law.”
International relations emerged as a major focus when The Media Line questioned what Israel’s Foreign Ministry had accomplished recently and what changes he would implement. “You’re asking what the Foreign Ministry has done right in the last three and a half years?” Lapid responded. “Nothing.”
He blamed the current administration for damaging Israel’s bipartisan support in the United States, mismanaging European relationships, and choosing public confrontation over diplomatic engagement. “Part of foreign relations is dealing with these issues, not calling everybody an anti-Semite,” Lapid stated. “There are enough anti-Semites. We don’t have to create new ones.”
To illustrate his point, he referenced Israel’s decision to withdraw its ambassador from Ireland during a diplomatic disagreement, while Ireland kept its diplomatic presence in Israel. “So now if you’re an Israeli in Ireland, you have no one to talk to if you lost your passport,” Lapid observed. “But if you’re an Irish man or woman in Israel who lost his passport, you have an ambassador to talk to. This doesn’t make any sense.”
Lapid also expressed concern that Israel’s Washington influence had declined substantially despite the close ties between Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. “In Washington, the Israeli government is actually at an all-time low in its ability to influence decisions in Washington,” Lapid warned. “Israel is not a vassal state and we are not a protectorate.”
Despite his harsh assessment of current diplomatic efforts, Lapid maintained tough positions on Iran and security matters. He supported Israel’s right to take military action against Iran when needed and expressed concerns about developing agreements between Washington and Tehran that could threaten Israeli interests.
“There will be no two-state solution in the coming years,” Lapid declared later during the session, explaining that Israelis have lost confidence that a Palestinian state could avoid becoming “another failing terror state on our border.”
However, he indicated that a Bennett-led administration would pursue a cautious approach in the West Bank, avoiding major policy shifts. The government would implement neither annexation nor significant diplomatic efforts toward Palestinian statehood in the immediate future. “We will make sure that nothing will happen that is irreversible,” Lapid promised.
The head of Australia’s domestic intelligence agency testified that anti-Jewish sentiment had become commonplace and went unaddressed prior to a deadly incident at Bondi Beach that claimed 15 lives during a Hanukkah gathering last December.
Michael Burgess, who serves as director-general of security for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, delivered these statements while appearing before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, a panel established to examine circumstances that led to the Bondi incident.
“There is no doubt that the war in the Middle East invoked a range of emotions in Australia,” Burgess told the commission. “Some of those violent aspects … and those behaviors, including antisemitism that, in our view, were left unchecked, were therefore normalized and gave more permission for violence … and Jewish Australians were on the receiving end.”
The intelligence leader explained that anti-Jewish hostility grew more severe starting in late 2024, evolving from harassment and intimidation into physical assaults aimed at Jewish individuals and organizations.
“From late 2024,” he said, antisemitism escalated from “threatening, intimidating behavior to direct targeting of people, businesses, and places of worship.”
Burgess pointed to destructive acts and fire-bombing incidents against residences, educational facilities, houses of worship, and automobiles in the period leading up to the Bondi incident.
According to Burgess, the intelligence organization also concluded that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps orchestrated strikes against a kosher dining establishment in Sydney and Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue.
“They use their network of proxies and agents to do their bidding, and that is to bring harm to Jewish people wherever they are in the world,” he said.
The security official revealed that his agency elevated Australia’s national terrorism alert status to “probable” in August 2024 following an assessment that terrorist incidents had become more likely.
The alert level had been previously reduced in November 2022 from “probable” to “possible,” which Burgess characterized as the second-lowest designation on the nation’s five-level threat system.
He explained that the prior reduction came after the collapse of the Islamic State group in the Middle East and a decrease in foreign fighter recruitment efforts.
OTTAWA, Ontario — A recent diplomatic visit by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to India has helped establish a pathway for completely resetting relations between the two nations, according to India’s trade minister speaking on Monday. The diplomatic relationship had deteriorated under Carney’s predecessor following the 2023 death of a Sikh activist on Canadian soil.
India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal made these statements during his visit to Canada, where he held discussions with Canada’s International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu.
Goyal arrived with more than 100 senior business leaders representing India’s mining, energy, automotive and aerospace industries, forming what New Delhi describes as its largest business delegation ever sent to Canada.
“This is a partnership that is being reset very, very rapidly,” Goyal stated on Monday.
According to Goyal, Carney’s late February visit — marking the first time a Canadian prime minister had traveled to India in eight years — “completely changed the way Canada and India looked at each other.”
“It has set in motion the pathway to a complete overhaul of this relationship, setting new agendas, new goals,” he explained.
Trade negotiations between the two countries began in 2010 but were suspended by Ottawa in 2023 when Canadian officials claimed India played a role in the death of Canadian Sikh activist Hareep Singh Nijjar, who was killed near Vancouver in June of that year.
New Delhi strongly rejected these claims and criticized former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration for providing refuge to Sikh extremists associated with the Khalistan movement. This movement seeks to establish an independent Sikh nation and is prohibited in India.
Prior to his meeting with Sidhu, Goyal expressed that both nations are eager to finalize a free-trade agreement within this year.
During Carney’s India trip, he held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the countries executed multiple agreements — including a 2.6 billion Canadian dollar ($1.9 billion) contract to provide approximately 22 million pounds of uranium to India for nuclear power production.
A Canadian trade delegation traveled to New Delhi earlier this month for negotiations, and another Indian delegation plans to visit Canada later this year to advance discussions.
Goyal also mentioned that both countries aim to increase their trade volume threefold to $50 billion by 2030.
While in Ottawa, Goyal held meetings with Carney and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand. His itinerary also includes discussions with chief executives from major corporations, startups and pension funds.
Vina Nadjibulla, vice president of research and strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, noted that both nations seek to broaden their partnerships and decrease reliance on the United States, which some allies increasingly view as unpredictable.
India has recently completed trade agreements with the European Union, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
“India is now pivoting to Europe as well as to other Western economies like Australia and Canada to be able to meet its needs for capital, technology and innovation,” Nadjibulla said.
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has received a judicial pardon in the Dominican Republic despite being found guilty of sexually abusing a minor, avoiding any prison time.
A Dominican Republic judge determined Monday that Franco was both a perpetrator and a victim in his case, following his initial conviction in June 2025. Franco had been sentenced to two years of suspended prison time for an unlawful relationship with a 14-year-old girl in his home country.
Following an appeal by Franco’s legal team, a new trial was ordered. A three-judge panel reviewed the case and on Monday found Franco guilty while also determining he was victimized through extortion by the minor’s mother.
“In this case, the court has considered not only the conduct regarding an anomalous or abnormal relationship between the defendant and a minor, but also that the defendant in this specific case is also a victim,” Judge Jose Ramon Nunez said, per Listin Diario. “A victim of rapacious human behavior, which forgets principles and values and, once the problem arises, tries to profit from it at the expense of the very dignity of the one who should have been protected.”
Investigators discovered Franco made two payments exceeding $100,000 to the victim’s mother, reportedly to permit the relationship to persist for approximately two months beginning in 2022.
The victim’s mother received another conviction for trafficking and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering and additional charges.
Regarding Franco’s professional baseball future, the conviction remains on his record and he continues on Major League Baseball’s restricted list. Franco may face suspension under the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.
“We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time,” MLB said in a statement to multiple outlets.
Franco remains under contract with the Rays, who signed him to an 11-year, $182 million extension in 2021. He receives no pay while on the restricted list.
“The Tampa Bay Rays are aware of today’s ruling in the Dominican Republic involving Wander Franco,” the team said in a statement to the Tampa Bay Times. “We respect the legal process and the decision issued by the court. This is a serious matter, and our thoughts remain with those affected by the case.
“The Rays will continue to cooperate fully with Major League Baseball as it completes its review under the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. Out of respect for the legal process and all parties involved, we will have no further comment at this time.”
Franco, now 25, hasn’t appeared in an MLB game since Aug. 12, 2023. He was selected as an All-Star that season during his third year in the majors, posting a .282 career batting average with 30 home runs and 130 RBIs across 265 games.
Japan has dropped another spot in global creditor standings, now ranking third worldwide after being overtaken by China, according to Tuesday’s announcement from the country’s Finance Ministry.
The nation’s combined external assets held by government entities, corporations, and private citizens climbed 4.4% compared to the previous year, reaching 561.75 trillion yen, equivalent to $3.53 trillion.
This represents the eighth consecutive year of asset expansion, fueled by Japanese corporations’ aggressive international investment strategies, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, plus increased valuations of foreign securities owned by Japanese residents.
Despite this record-breaking asset growth, Japan’s global standing has continued to slide. The country previously lost its decades-long top position to Germany just one year ago, ending a 34-year reign as the world’s leading creditor nation.
Ministry statistics, compiled using International Monetary Fund data, show Germany maintaining its leading position with net external assets worth 675.5 trillion yen, while China now holds second place at 636.3 trillion yen.
Officials noted that both Germany and China have strengthened their creditor positions through consistent annual trade surpluses.
Japan’s asset growth has been partially offset by a substantial increase in external liabilities. The robust performance of Japanese equity markets resulted in a 62.2 trillion yen upward revaluation of Japanese securities owned by foreign investors.
The current exchange rate stands at $1 equals 158.9800 yen.
Taiwan’s military forces responded to China’s second major military exercise near the island within a seven-day period, deploying naval vessels and fighter aircraft for monitoring operations.
Beijing has intensified military pressure on Taiwan through expanded naval and air operations in the region, prompting heightened vigilance from Taiwanese officials following recent discussions about Taiwan between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing.
Beijing considers the democratically-run island part of its sovereign territory and conducts near-daily military operations with naval vessels and aircraft in the area. Taiwan’s leadership disputes China’s territorial assertions.
Taiwan’s defense ministry reported Monday evening that surveillance detected 21 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets and unmanned vehicles, conducting operations around the island’s perimeter alongside naval vessels in what officials termed a “joint combat readiness patrol.”
Beijing’s defense ministry has not yet provided comment regarding the military activities.
Taiwanese defense officials released three photographs captured by their personnel – including an image from an F-16 aircraft showing two Chinese fighters following a Y-20 refueling plane, a photo of the Chinese naval vessel Yinchuan, and documentation of a Taiwanese naval crew member observing the vessel with field glasses.
Beijing conducted a comparable “readiness patrol” the previous Tuesday, one day prior to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te commemorating his second anniversary in office. Chinese leadership regards Lai as a “separatist” and has rejected his repeated diplomatic overtures.
During the weekend, Taiwan reported that its coast guard encountered a Chinese coast guard vessel near the Taiwan-administered Pratas Islands, which hold strategic importance at the northern edge of the South China Sea.
On Saturday, Taiwan’s National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu used social media to highlight what he described as 100 Chinese vessels currently positioned in the first island chain, an area extending from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines.
Australian officials announced Tuesday that seven women and 12 children with connections to the Islamic State have arranged to depart a Syrian refugee camp and return to Australia, marking the second such group to make this journey within the month.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized that the government is providing no assistance with their travel arrangements and warned that anyone who has broken laws “can expect to face the full force of the law.”
“These are people who have made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation and to place their children in an unspeakable situation,” Burke stated.
While Burke did not specify an arrival date for this second group, and his office has not yet provided additional details, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported the group departed a northeastern Syrian camp last Thursday and may arrive within days.
Earlier this month, four women and nine children returned to Australia following more than seven years in Syrian detention facilities. Authorities subsequently charged two of the women with slavery-related crimes, while a third faced terrorism charges, including allegations of joining the Islamic State.
The upcoming arrivals have sparked opposition criticism, with detractors arguing the center-left government has failed to prevent these repatriations. Government officials countered that there are “very serious limits” on their ability to block Australian citizens from re-entering their home country.
Officials stated that law enforcement and intelligence services have spent over ten years preparing for such returns and have established monitoring protocols for arriving individuals.
During the period from 2012 to 2016, several Australian women traveled to Syria to reunite with husbands who were reportedly ISIS members. After the caliphate’s fall in 2019, many ended up in detention camps.
This January, the United States initiated the relocation of detained ISIS members from Syria following the breakdown of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which had been overseeing approximately twelve facilities housing fighters and associated civilians, including foreign nationals.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Monday that Iran’s national soccer team will establish their base in Mexico and make daily trips to the United States for their World Cup matches, following Washington’s decision not to accommodate the squad during the tournament.
According to Sheinbaum, FIFA contacted her administration after American officials indicated they preferred Iran not remain in the country for the duration of the June 11-July 19 competition, despite Iran being slated to compete in three Group G games on US soil.
“We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,” Sheinbaum stated during her daily press briefing.
Iran’s schedule includes matches against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Neither the White House nor the State Department provided immediate responses to requests for comment.
In March, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that while Iran was welcome to participate in the World Cup, he felt it wasn’t suitable for Iran’s team to remain in the United States “for their own life and safety.”
On Saturday, Mehdi Taj, who leads Iran’s football federation, announced the team’s headquarters would relocate from Arizona to Tijuana, the Mexican border city, for the duration of the tournament. FIFA validated this change on Monday.
Taj explained that this relocation would help prevent visa complications and enable direct Iran Air flights to Mexico.
Iran’s World Cup participation has faced examination since late February, when the United States participated alongside Israel in strikes against Iran, sparking a conflict that created uncertainty about whether Tehran would deploy its team to compete in one of the host nations.
In March, Taj revealed Iran was discussing with FIFA the possibility of relocating its group matches to Mexico for security reasons, with Sheinbaum indicating Mexico’s willingness to host them. FIFA maintained the original schedule.
This situation sparked broader questions about Iran’s tournament participation. In April, Trump’s envoy for global partnerships, Paolo Zampolli, proposed Italy as Iran’s replacement, which drew dismissive reactions from Italian officials and FIFA.
Iran secured its fourth straight World Cup berth by finishing first in its group during the third round of Asian qualifying last year.
As the World Cup approaches, Charlotte FC defender Tim Ream is focused on earning a spot on the U.S. Men’s National Team roster while recognizing the tournament’s broader significance for American soccer.
The Major League Soccer player understands that the upcoming competition carries weight beyond individual performance, as the team’s success could help cultivate interest in soccer among a new wave of American supporters.
Ream, who plays for the Charlotte-based MLS franchise, is working toward what would be his second World Cup appearance with the national team. The defender sees the tournament as a crucial opportunity for both personal achievement and the sport’s development in the United States.
Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi is nursing a hamstring injury with less than three weeks remaining until the World Cup kicks off, his club Inter Miami announced Monday following his early exit from what was expected to be his last match before the international tournament.
The 38-year-old star was substituted out of Sunday’s high-scoring 6-4 Major League Soccer win against the Philadelphia Union during the 73rd minute after he grabbed the back of his leg following a free kick attempt.
“After undergoing further medical tests this Monday, the initial diagnosis indicates an overload associated with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring,” Inter Miami said in a statement.
“The timeline for his return to physical activity will depend on his clinical and functional progress.”
Inter Miami’s head coach Guillermo Hoyos minimized concerns following the game, suggesting Messi looked tired after competing on what he described as a “heavy” playing surface.
The Major League Soccer season is now on break for the World Cup tournament, scheduled to take place across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 through July 19.
Argentina’s national team coach Lionel Scaloni has named the eight-time Ballon d’Or recipient to a preliminary 55-player roster released this month, with the title-defending squad set to face Algeria in Kansas City on June 16 for their tournament opener.
Messi served as captain when Argentina claimed their third World Cup championship in Qatar during 2022 and is anticipated to once again lead the national team in what may mark his sixth World Cup appearance.
PARIS – Tennis veteran Gael Monfils played his final match at the French Open on Monday, falling to fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston in a five-set first-round encounter that ended 6-2 6-3 3-6 2-6 6-0. The 39-year-old received an emotional send-off from fans who celebrated his two decades of entertaining tennis at Roland Garros.
The match came just hours after veteran player Stan Wawrinka also concluded his French Open career. Monfils battled through the contest on Court Philippe Chatrier, giving supporters the extended match they hoped to witness despite struggling to reach his peak performance level.
Following a video tribute highlighting his memorable moments and special bond with Paris crowds, Monfils addressed the audience with heartfelt remarks.
“Here we are, I love you all so much. I’ll try to be quick and to the point,” Monfils told the crowd after watching the tribute presentation.
The emotional farewell included gratitude to his family members, including his parents and wife, fellow professional player Elina Svitolina, along with his coaching team and the French Tennis Federation. He then turned his attention to the fans who supported him throughout his career.
“I’d like to thank you all,” he continued. “Every year I come to play at the French Open, I get goosebumps. Every time, I say to myself ‘this is magical’. I’ve created something powerful, unique, exceptional.”
“I’m going to miss you. This tournament is fabulous, it’s magical. Roland Garros, I love you, I owe you everything.”
The match itself provided drama as Monfils, who plans to retire when this season concludes, dropped the opening set before attempting a comeback in the second. Though fans erupted when he showed signs of mounting a challenge, Gaston quickly regained control to take a two-set advantage.
Spectators hoping for a dramatic finish got their wish as Monfils secured a crucial break to lead 5-3 and claim the third set. He then dominated the fourth set to force a deciding fifth set, but Gaston composed himself to win the final set without dropping a game.
Gaston expressed mixed emotions after defeating his countryman in such a significant moment.
“There are a lot of emotions,” Gaston reflected. “There is joy but mostly sadness, I’m so sorry for you, Gael. I want to congratulate you, thank you for all you have done for us, the young players, and for your incredible career.”
“You’re a French legend, a legend of our sport.”
The ceremony continued with video messages from tennis stars including Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Gilles Simon, Richard Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Wawrinka, bringing smiles to Monfils’ face as his Roland Garros career officially came to an end.
The Los Angeles Dodgers welcomed back versatile player Enrique Hernandez on Monday night as he returned from the 60-day injured list to face the Colorado Rockies in his first game of the season.
The 34-year-old utility player has bounced back from left elbow surgery and will take the field at third base while batting in the ninth position.
Hernandez went under the knife in November following elbow problems that sidelined him for two months during the 2025 campaign. He inked a one-year deal valued at $4.5 million in February to rejoin the Dodgers organization.
The surgical procedure also kept Hernandez from representing Puerto Rico during the World Baseball Classic in March.
His return comes at an opportune moment as third baseman Max Muncy continues to battle right wrist discomfort after taking a pitch from Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Aaron Ashby on Friday. Muncy has been absent from the starting lineup for three consecutive days, though he participated in outfield throwing exercises before Monday’s contest.
To make room for Hernandez on the roster, the Dodgers placed utility man Santiago Espinal on waivers for assignment.
The 31-year-old Espinal compiled a .220 batting average with one home run and four RBIs across 26 appearances this season. The former 2022 All-Star selection for Toronto posted a .260 career batting mark with 31 homers through 604 games spanning time with the Blue Jays (2020-23), Cincinnati Reds (2024-25) and Dodgers.
Last season, Hernandez managed a .203 batting average alongside 10 home runs and 35 RBIs in 92 contests. Throughout his 12-year major league career, including nine seasons with the Dodgers across two different periods, Hernandez maintains a .236 career batting average with 130 home runs and 470 RBIs over 1,275 games.
Hernandez has built his reputation on delivering in high-pressure postseason moments. He has connected for 16 home runs with 42 RBIs across 103 career playoff contests while contributing to the Dodgers’ World Series championships in 2020, 2024 and 2025.
During his time with the Boston Red Sox in 2021, Hernandez launched five home runs in the postseason as the team advanced to the American League Championship Series before losing to the Houston Astros.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Right when Colorado welcomed back their reigning Norris Trophy recipient Cale Makar, the Avalanche may now be facing the loss of Hart Trophy candidate Nathan MacKinnon.
At minimum, they’ll have a severely restricted MacKinnon, which described his condition after a puck struck his right knee during Sunday evening’s 5-3 defeat to the Vegas Golden Knights.
This series has been challenging for the Avalanche, with the Presidents’ Trophy champions now trailing 3-0 in the Western Conference Final. Facing potential elimination on Tuesday evening, coach Jared Bednar expressed willingness to utilize MacKinnon however possible.
“For him to be able to come back out, get some work done late in the second period and intermission and be able to come out and even help us on the power play and empty-net situations, if that’s all he can do, we’ll take it,” Bednar said. “It’s better than anything else, in my opinion, we can put on the ice.”
While that statement might draw considerable discussion within the Avalanche dressing room, the Golden Knights currently command Colorado’s complete attention.
Although the Avalanche may have entered the series as favorites — the league’s top regular season team facing one so eager to reach the playoffs they dismissed their coach with eight contests left — circumstances have changed dramatically.
The statistical reality is overwhelming.
This marks the 50th occasion in conference finals or league semifinals where a series has reached 3-0. Every one of the previous 49 teams holding that lead advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, with 47 completing the series within six games.
Just four teams have overcome 3-0 series deficits in any playoff round. Los Angeles in 2014 became the latest team to achieve this feat when they eliminated San Jose in their opening-round matchup.
Additionally, there’s the notorious Presidents’ Trophy curse. Chicago in 2013 represented the last franchise to capture both that award and the Stanley Cup during the same campaign. Colorado already experienced the challenge of achieving this double, earning the Presidents’ Trophy during the 2021 COVID-shortened season before falling in six games during the second round… to the Golden Knights.
“There’s going to be a sense of urgency, but it’s got to be smart urgency,” defenseman Josh Manson said. “It’s got to be desperation. It’s got to be our best style of play the whole night. You’ve got to maintain that sense of do or die, while playing up to the edge. That’s what makes it so difficult.
“The margin of error is so thin now, and you’ve got to be able to balance that for at least 12 periods.”
Colorado needs exactly that many periods minimum to achieve something no other team has managed this late in playoff competition. They must perform like the squad that appeared to be the NHL’s finest for six months and during the initial two playoff rounds when they posted an 8-1 record.
“We know where we’re at,” wing Martin Necas said. “We know it doesn’t happen very often, but we still feel confident in this group. It’s not like we’ve been outplayed every game and their team is better than ours. We had a lot of stretches this season where we won four in a row. So we just focus on the next game and take it home and anything can happen.”
Bringing the series back to Denver for Game 5 would represent progress.
“Our team’s played with more intensity and more desperation as the series (has) gone on,” Bednar said. “Hasn’t worked out for us yet. I think with the hill to climb, it’s definitely a tough one. It just doesn’t happen very often, and we’re certainly understanding of that, but I think we have a lot of pride and a lot of character in our room that displayed that time over time throughout the course of the year,
“This will be our most difficult challenge, but I believe that we will show up and we will be ready to play.”
DAKAR, Senegal — A former banking executive has been chosen to lead Senegal’s government after the country’s president dismissed his previous prime minister last week amid mounting political tensions and economic difficulties.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced through a televised statement on Monday his selection of Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo to serve as the nation’s new head of government, taking over from Ousmane Sonko.
The dismissal of Sonko occurred on Friday following several months of growing friction between the former prime minister and the president. This action led to the complete dissolution of the government as all ministers submitted their resignations.
Lo brings extensive financial experience to his new role, having previously worked as an executive with the Central Bank of West African States where he helped develop monetary and economic strategies across the region. He also held positions as state minister to the president and secretary-general under Sonko’s administration.
The relationship between Faye and Sonko had deteriorated over recent months due to disagreements on major policy decisions, particularly regarding discussions with the International Monetary Fund about potential loan arrangements. In May, Faye publicly stated that Sonko’s continued employment depended on his job performance.
Both leaders previously worked together within the political party Pastef, which stands for Patriotes Africains du Sénégal pour le Travail, l’Éthique et la Fraternité in French.
The party gained control following the March 2024 parliamentary elections after campaigning against the incumbent Alliance pour la République party, amid widespread concerns that former President Macky Sall might exploit a 2016 constitutional amendment to extend his time in office.
Due to a defamation conviction confirmed by Senegal’s highest court and subsequent rejection by the Constitutional Court, Sonko was prohibited from seeking the presidency. Faye stepped in as the party’s candidate and later named Sonko as prime minister after winning the election.
Brazilian authorities announced Monday they are dedicating 3.1 billion reais ($617.5 million) to support sustainable economic development in the Amazon rainforest region. The funding represents an expansion of a federal initiative called Eco Invest that officials unveiled during last year’s COP30 climate summit.
Officials say the money will support companies focused on sustainable tourism, infrastructure improvements throughout the Amazon, and expansion of what they call the “bioeconomy” — economic activities using natural resources while protecting the forest.
The financing structure involves the National Treasury providing loans to banks at a 1% annual interest rate. Banks must then generate at least four times that amount through private investment, with international investors providing a minimum of 60%. The program has secured 140 billion reais ($28 billion) in combined public and private funding to date.
Monday’s announcement included the National Treasury’s allocation of 3.1 billion reais ($617.5 million) and commitments from eight banks for an additional 10.1 billion reais ($2 billion) through the latest Eco Invest auction, according to the Ministry of Environment.
Carina Pimenta, the national secretary for the bioeconomy at the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, explained the funding could assist cooperatives that produce Amazon goods like acai and Brazil nuts, along with tourism facilities in protected areas.
The Amazon rainforest, which is the planet’s largest, serves a vital function in global climate regulation. Brazil contains over 60% of the forest, with much of it located in some of the nation’s most economically disadvantaged states. Regional projects typically involve high costs and significant investor risks, prompting the administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to create the Eco Invest program in 2024 to minimize those risks through guarantees.
João Paulo Capobianco, Brazil’s environment minister, stated that Eco Invest advances Brazil’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through financial incentives for Amazon economic activities that don’t depend on deforestation. Although agricultural expansion has historically driven deforestation, Capobianco noted Brazil has decreased forest loss while maintaining productivity since 2023.
The funding announcement follows a challenging week for Brazil’s environmental policies.
Last week, the lower house — predominantly conservative and supportive of agricultural business interests — passed expedited legislation that undermines environmental crime enforcement efforts, including measures that restrict action against illegal deforestation based only on satellite data.
This enforcement approach has been fundamental to Brazil’s environmental protection strategy and, according to Brazil’s natural resources agency known as IBAMA, contributed to approximately 50% reduction in Amazon deforestation since 2023.
The legislation requires Senate approval and the president’s signature, but has generated worry among environmental advocates.
“By weakening oversight tools, territorial protection and environmental governance, the measures reduce the Brazilian state’s ability to prevent, control and respond to the economic, social and climate impacts of climate change,” Climate Observatory, a network of environmental nongovernmental associations, said in a statement Monday.
Capobianco acknowledged that such congressional actions might create uncertainty about Brazil’s environmental commitments, but emphasized the country remains dedicated to meeting its climate goals.
“We will show that Brazil remains on a path of controlling and reducing deforestation,” he said.
TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney drew comparisons Monday between an upcoming Alberta independence vote and Britain’s Brexit decision, describing the provincial referendum as a potentially “dangerous bluff.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced last week that residents will vote October 19th on whether the oil-rich province should remain part of Canada or pursue constitutional measures toward holding a binding separation referendum.
Drawing from his Brexit experience as Bank of England governor in 2016, Carney helped steer the central bank through Britain’s European Union departure process.
“I saw firsthand what happened in the United Kingdom when the view was, ‘Vote for this, it’ll be soft and then we’ll negotiate, etc.,’ Carney said. “They’re still 10 years later trying to undo what people didn’t think they were voting for, but what they ended up having.”
The referendum proposal wasn’t part of Smith’s party platform during their most recent provincial election campaign.
Carney expressed concern that the vote undermines his efforts to bring investment into Canada, questioning its democratic legitimacy.
“Is it the democratic will of Albertans? Did they vote for this in the last provincial election? No, they didn’t. It wasn’t on the ballot paper,” Carney said.
Smith has publicly stated her preference for Alberta to stay within Canada. Observers have noted similarities between her position and former British Prime Minister David Cameron’s approach to Brexit — using the referendum to manage internal party divisions while personally opposing separation.
Carney is currently working to develop a new oil pipeline connecting Alberta to Canada’s Pacific coastline. Alberta residents have historically criticized Ottawa for insufficient efforts to connect the province’s substantial oil resources with Asian markets.
“We have to be very careful about this. There’s a very strong positive case for Canada, a strong Alberta in a united Canada,” Carney said. “I look forward to making that case with many, many other Albertans and Canadians over the course of the next 150 days.”
In response to Carney’s Monday remarks, Smith maintained that separation decisions belong exclusively to Alberta residents.
“Albertans’ frustrations have been fueled by the last 10 years of disastrous policies from Ottawa under … Justin Trudeau,” Smith said in a statement from her office, referencing the previous prime minister.
“I would also remind all Canadians that we should not dismiss the legitimate grievances of Albertans. Instead, we should focus on addressing these issues, restoring hope in Canada, and demonstrating that our country can work and is working.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney strongly criticized Israel’s treatment of detained activists during a conversation with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday, according to a statement from Carney’s office.
Carney described the handling of civilians aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla as “appalling” and characterized the Gaza situation as “catastrophic” during the diplomatic exchange.
“The Prime Minister reiterated that the appalling treatment of civilians, including Canadian citizens, aboard the Gaza-bound flotilla was unacceptable, and he called for an independent investigation,” the official statement read.
The Canadian leader also restated his country’s stance against unauthorized Israeli settlement growth, violence by settlers in the West Bank, and attacks on Palestinian civilians, according to the statement.
While Carney had previously criticized Israel’s flotilla response last week, Monday’s comprehensive rebuke demonstrates the growing tension between Israel and some of its traditional allies.
Israeli embassy officials in Ottawa could not be reached for immediate response.
Flotilla organizers report that activists faced mistreatment during detention, with several requiring hospital care for injuries and at least 15 alleging sexual violence, including rape. Israel’s prison service has rejected these claims.
Israel’s ambassador to Canada recently told the Globe and Mail that diplomatic relations between the two nations had reached their lowest point in history.
In a related development, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand revealed she spoke with Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar on Monday, informing him that Ottawa would share evidence of Canadian citizens’ mistreatment aboard the flotilla.
“I raised that denying Canadian citizens access to consular services while they were detained violates the Vienna Convention and must never happen again,” Anand wrote on social media platform X.
Saar responded by claiming the activists were motivated by Hamas and criticized Canada’s handling of antisemitic incidents.
“I also highlighted the horrific antisemitic wave in Canada — an average of 19 incidents a day. The Canadian government must take steps against antisemitic incitement and attacks,” Saar posted on X.
Professional golfer Wyndham Clark has decided to skip this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge tournament after capturing victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on Sunday, joining Brooks Koepka in withdrawing from the event.
Clark delivered a spectacular final-round performance, shooting 11-under-par 60 to secure a total score of 30 under par for the tournament. His winning total came within one stroke of matching Scottie Scheffler’s record-tying performance from the previous year.
The victory represents Clark’s fourth career PGA Tour triumph and his first win since capturing the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am earlier this season.
Clark’s impressive performance significantly improved his standing in professional golf rankings, moving him up from 75th to 44th position in the Official World Golf Ranking. His FedEx Cup position also saw a dramatic jump from 82nd place to 34th.
Lanto Griffin has been called up from the alternate list to fill Clark’s vacant spot in the Charles Schwab Challenge field at Colonial Country Club. The tournament marks the second consecutive week of competition in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area.
Koepka made his withdrawal decision on Sunday following a tied-for-14th finish at the Byron Nelson tournament.
The international soccer governing body FIFA announced Monday that Iran has officially moved its World Cup preparation facility from an American location to Mexico due to Middle East conflict concerns and security issues.
The Iranian national soccer team had initially chosen a training facility in Tucson, Arizona, as their primary base for World Cup preparations, but decided to relocate following joint military operations by the United States and Israel against Iran that began in late February.
FIFA released its complete roster of team training locations on Monday, showing Iran will now use Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana as their base of operations.
Iran’s scheduled group matches remain unchanged at this time. The team is placed in Group G and will face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by Belgium on June 21 in the same city, and conclude group play against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
The proximity of Tijuana to the U.S.-Mexico border near San Diego may assist with visa complications when the team must cross into the United States, according to Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation.
Taj first revealed the training camp relocation on Saturday before FIFA provided official confirmation.
“All team base camps for the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved FIFA,” Taj said in a statement. “Fortunately, following the requests we submitted and the meetings we held with FIFA and World Cup officials in Istanbul, as well as the webinar meeting we had yesterday in the Tehran with the respected FIFA secretary general, our request to change the team’s base from the United States to Mexico was approved.”
Iranian representatives indicated earlier this month that their athletes and coaching staff had not yet obtained United States visas.
The World Cup tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is scheduled from June 11 through July 19.
Professional golfer Tyrrell Hatton from England will skip this week’s LIV Golf Korea tournament after he and his wife Emily celebrated the arrival of their first baby last week, according to an announcement from his LIV Golf team on Monday.
Taking Hatton’s place on the Legion XIII roster will be 33-year-old German golfer Max Rottluff, who will be making his first appearance in LIV Golf competition.
The 34-year-old Hatton plans to rejoin competition next week when he competes in LIV Golf Andalucia at Real Club Valderrama located in Sotogrande, Spain.
Currently experiencing one of his strongest competitive periods, Hatton has achieved four top-10 results across 10 tournament appearances, highlighted by a third-place tie at The Masters tournament in April. This Masters performance represents his best showing in any major championship event.
For this week’s competition, Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII squad will consist of Rahm himself along with Tom McKibbin, Caleb Surratt and Rottluff.
Toronto manager John Schneider announced Monday that the team’s ace pitcher Dylan Cease will be sidelined on the 15-day injured list after suffering a left hamstring strain.
The 30-year-old right-handed pitcher exited Sunday’s matchup with the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning after experiencing what the organization described as “mild left hamstring discomfort.”
During the game, Cease was observed shaking his left leg while pitching, prompting Schneider and head athletic trainer Jose Ministral to visit the mound to evaluate the eight-year veteran. Cease managed to get Spencer Horwitz out before Mason Fluharty took over pitching duties.
“It doesn’t look too terrible, knock on wood,” Schneider told reporters Monday. “Just trying to be smart and not have it get worse. Don’t know the exact timeline yet … hoping it’s a minimal stay.”
During his abbreviated outing, Cease allowed two runs on four hits while recording eight strikeouts and issuing one walk over 4 2/3 innings. This marked just the second occasion in 11 starts this season where he was unable to pitch at least five complete innings.
In other injury news, Blue Jays star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero was scratched from Monday’s starting lineup against the Miami Marlins due to elbow discomfort.
Guerrero sustained the injury when he was struck by a pitch on his right elbow during Sunday’s contest against the Pirates.
Schneider classified Guerrero’s condition as day-to-day.
“See how he feels as the day goes on,” Schneider explained to the media. “But didn’t want to push it with him, just in talking to him last night and today.”
Guerrero has struggled offensively this season, managing only three home runs across 53 games. The five-time All-Star is currently hitting .287 with 22 RBIs.
After signing a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Blue Jays in December, Cease has established himself as one of baseball’s most reliable starting pitchers. Over the past five seasons, he joins just three other starters – fellow Blue Jays Kevin Gausman, Patrick Corbin and Jose Berrios – in making 30 or more starts each year.
This injury represents the first time in Cease’s major league career that he will be placed on the injured list due to a physical condition.
Cease played the previous two seasons with the San Diego Padres, where he threw the franchise’s second no-hitter in 2024 while posting a 14-11 record with a 3.47 ERA across 33 starts. He recorded 224 strikeouts and earned fourth place in National League Cy Young voting.
His first five big league campaigns were spent with the Chicago White Sox. He finished as the American League Cy Young runner-up in 2022 after going 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA and a career-best 227 strikeouts in 32 starts.
Cease has achieved 200 or more strikeouts in five consecutive seasons and holds a career record of 68-61 with a 3.83 ERA over 199 starts.
The 10th anniversary of the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast has brought renewed focus to concerns about growing antisemitism worldwide, according to the organization’s global director Albert Veksler.
In discussing the current climate, Veksler expressed deep concern that hatred toward Jewish people has reached alarming levels of acceptance in society. He warned that many people now view violence against Jews as something that can be justified or understood.
During his remarks, Veksler shifted between discussing international concerns, including Iran and hopes for freedom among its citizens, while emphasizing the urgent need for moral courage from Christian communities in supporting Jewish people facing increased threats.
According to Veksler, who oversees the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast organization, the intersection of faith and political realities has become impossible to separate in today’s world. He stressed that spiritual and political concerns now exist in the same space, requiring immediate attention and action.
A Milwaukee Brewers pitcher made baseball history Monday night by delivering an unprecedented number of triple-digit fastballs during his team’s 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Jacob Misiorowski launched 57 fastballs clocking 100 mph or higher, shattering the previous mark of 47 set by Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene in a September 2022 matchup against St. Louis. The feat represents the most high-velocity pitches recorded in any single contest since official pitch tracking technology was implemented in 2008.
The 24-year-old hurler struck out 12 batters to equal his personal best while improving his season record to 5-2. During his seven-inning performance, Misiorowski surrendered just two hits and one walk, lowering his earned run average to 1.83.
Of his 96 total pitches, 40 registered at 101 mph, while 22 reached 102 mph. Nine of his offerings hit at least 103 mph, with his fastest clocking 103.4 mph on three separate occasions.
Misiorowski tied another record held by Greene from that same 2022 contest by recording nine strikeouts on pitches exceeding 100 mph.
After walking JJ Wetherholt on a 3-2 inside pitch to start the game, the Cardinals managed just one baserunner until Pedro Pagés blooped a single leading off the sixth inning. St. Louis scored their lone run later that inning, ending Misiorowski’s streak of 29 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings.
The franchise record for consecutive scoreless innings belongs to Teddy Higuera, who threw 32 straight shutout frames in 1987. Misiorowski entered Monday’s contest having blanked opponents across his previous four starts.
Israeli warplanes conducted bombing missions against Hezbollah positions throughout Lebanon, including targets in the eastern Bekaa Valley region, on Monday evening after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to escalate military operations against the Lebanese militant organization.
The prime minister’s pledge followed recent weeks of Hezbollah deploying fiber optic drones against Israeli military personnel in southern Lebanon and northern Israel – the same type of weaponry that has been extensively utilized during the conflict in Ukraine.
“We will hit them. It’s true that they are shooting drones at us, fiber optic drones. We have a special team working on that and we will solve that too,” Netanyahu said in a video posted on social media. “What this requires of us now is to increase the blows, to increase the intensity. We will smite them hip and thigh.”
Following Netanyahu’s social media statement, some civilians began evacuating Beirut’s southern neighborhoods where Hezbollah maintains a significant presence, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. The same agency reported multiple bombing runs targeted the eastern community of Mashghara in the Bekaa area Monday evening.
Hezbollah announced it conducted eight separate operations during the day, including launching a drone strike against Israeli soldiers stationed in Misgav Am in northern Israel.
These daily exchanges of fire between both forces have continued even with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that took effect on April 17.
A U.S. State Department official reported Monday that Hezbollah has disregarded multiple calls to cease attacking Israel, including a recent ultimatum. The official, who lacked authorization to speak publicly and requested anonymity, stated that Israel cannot be expected to passively endure assaults on its military personnel and citizens.
The official revealed that since the ceasefire began, Hezbollah has launched more than a thousand drones and over 700 rockets in an effort to disrupt ongoing diplomatic discussions between Lebanon and Israel, describing “the status quo is untenable.”
Lebanon and Israel initiated their first face-to-face negotiations in over thirty years last month through meetings conducted in Washington. Military representatives from both Lebanese and Israeli forces are scheduled to reconvene Friday at the Pentagon to review the ceasefire agreement. Both Israel and the United States are working toward Hezbollah’s disarmament.
The State Department official explained that the direct diplomatic engagement between Lebanon and Israel, along with the possibility of substantial U.S. assistance to Lebanon, poses a challenge to the Iran-supported Hezbollah and undermines its anti-Israel resistance messaging.
“A successful ceasefire led by the government of Lebanon would strip Hezbollah of their power and their narrative,” the official said.
Earlier Monday, an Israeli bombing attack on the southern community of Kfar Rumman resulted in four deaths and three injuries, the Lebanese NNA documented. Additional Israeli drone operations in southern areas – including an attack on a roadway near Kfar Rumman’s municipal center – caused three more fatalities.
Israeli military officials confirmed striking more than 70 Hezbollah infrastructure locations throughout Monday.
The current Israel-Hezbollah conflict started March 2, when Hezbollah launched rockets toward northern Israel, occurring two days following the commencement of U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran.
Lebanese Health Ministry data shows more than 3,000 people have died in Lebanon during the recent hostilities. Additionally, 22 Israeli soldiers and one defense contractor have been killed in or around southern Lebanon, while two civilians have died in northern Israel, according to Netanyahu’s office.
Scorching temperatures at the French Open are creating unprecedented conditions at Roland Garros, with players and spectators struggling with the extreme heat
PARIS (AP) — Competitors at the French Open report they haven’t faced such sweltering conditions at Roland Garros since the 2024 Paris Olympics, which took place during the summer months of July and August. The mercury has climbed to 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) during the tournament’s first two days, well above typical late May temperatures in Paris. Weather forecasts predict these scorching conditions will persist throughout the opening week. Beyond creating discomfort for spectators and athletes, the oppressive heat has accelerated court conditions. Russian-born Australian competitor Daria Kasatkina noted, “I don’t remember the last time it was so hot at Roland Garros.”
Western Conference basketball finals stand even at 2-2 as Spurs and Thunder prepare for decisive Game 5
Victor Wembanyama appears unfazed by high-pressure situations. On December 28, 2024, during a chilly, wet morning in New York, Wembanyama had free time before the San Antonio Spurs’ charter departure to Minnesota. He used social media to invite people to meet him at Washington Square Park for chess matches. That morning brought four games with an even split: two victories, two defeats. Now, the Spurs face Oklahoma City in a different type of strategic battle — the Western Conference finals, with Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday at the Thunder’s home venue. The current tally mirrors that New York morning: two victories, two defeats for each side.
Mexican leader expresses support for hosting Iran’s World Cup squad after venue change from United States
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed comfort with her nation serving as host for Iran’s World Cup team following the relocation of their training facility from the United States to Mexico for the summer soccer tournament. While the Iranian squad will continue playing their matches on U.S. soil, their preparation base has shifted to Tijuana, Mexico, located just south of San Diego, California. FIFA officially announced this change on Monday. This development unfolds amid ongoing conflict in Iran. During a press briefing, Sheinbaum revealed that a FIFA official informed her that the United States preferred not to have the Iranian soccer team spending extended time on American soil outside of competition.
Indianapolis 500 champion Felix Rosenqvist embraces hectic post-victory schedule
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The reality of Felix Rosenqvist’s Indianapolis 500 triumph began settling in rapidly. Following his ceremonial milk consumption and the traditional celebratory dousing, the victor of the most closely contested race in Indy 500 history commenced his champion obligations. He dedicated two hours to media interviews while still in his racing suit before proceeding to additional photography sessions. A brief celebration followed before early morning television appearances, more photo opportunities, and Monday evening’s traditional post-race banquet where his prize money will be revealed. Despite another race approaching in Detroit next weekend, the 34-year-old Swedish driver had no complaints. Instead, he focused on enjoying the rewards of his victory.
Spire Motorsports celebrates growth following second victory but maintains higher aspirations
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Daniel Suarez’s unexpected triumph at the Coca-Cola 600 delivered Spire Motorsports their second win of the season, equaling the success of racing powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports. However, Suarez emphasized the team’s continued hunger for more achievements. He commended the organizational framework established by team owner Jeff Dickerson and crew chief Ryan Sparks. Spire, previously viewed as a smaller NASCAR operation, is reshaping industry perceptions. Dickerson has set goals of placing two vehicles in the playoffs and securing three race victories this season, while Suarez believes the team has yet to maximize its capabilities.
UCLA secures top NCAA baseball tournament position, leading offensive powerhouse Georgia Tech
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — UCLA has claimed the top national seed position for the NCAA baseball tournament following their commanding season-long performance. The tournament commences Friday with 16 double-elimination regional competitions. Regional champions progress to eight best-of-three super regional matchups, with those winners advancing to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, starting June 12. The Bruins dominated both the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships. Their 51 victories represent the highest win total entering regionals since Tennessee’s 53 wins in 2022. Atlantic Coast Conference champion Georgia Tech earned the second seed, followed by Georgia, Auburn, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, and Florida.
Milwaukee pitcher establishes new benchmark with 57 triple-digit fastballs in single contest
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski delivered 57 pitches reaching at least 100 mph — establishing a new single-game record since pitch monitoring began in 2008 — while recording 12 strikeouts to equal his career best Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals. The prior mark for 100-mph pitches in one game was 47, set by Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene against St. Louis on September 17, 2022. The 24-year-old right-handed pitcher hit 101 mph on 40 of his 96 total pitches. He reached 102 mph on 22 deliveries and achieved at least 103 mph nine times, with his peak velocity measuring 103.4 mph.
Messi adds to growing list of star player injury worries before major tournament
A mounting number of injuries to soccer’s elite performers are emerging before next month’s World Cup competition. Lionel Messi has been added to a concerning list that previously included Lamine Yamal. While Kylian Mbappé and Mohamed Salah have recovered from their injuries before the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, attention now turns to Messi. The Argentine superstar exited the field after grabbing his left hamstring during an Inter Miami Major League Soccer match on Sunday. Spain’s Yamal missed Barcelona’s season finale due to a muscle injury in his left leg. Other players definitively ruled out include France’s Hugo Ekitike and Brazilian stars Rodrygo and Éder Militão.
Atlanta Dream maintains perfect start with remarkable comeback ability in WNBA standings
The Atlanta Dream has demonstrated exceptional comeback capability by overcoming 15-point deficits twice this season, including Sunday’s victory against Phoenix. According to ESPN, no other WNBA franchise has accomplished this feat. The Dream tops the WNBA standings with a 4-1 record and remains the sole team with only one loss. Coach Karl Smesko credits challenging competition with strengthening the team’s resolve. Atlanta achieved the top position in power rankings for the first time this season. Los Angeles’ Kelsey Plum received recognition as the AP player of the week.
Extended games create unique tactical opportunities, though star players rarely determine outcomes
The automatic runner rule has made extra innings one of the remaining situations where managers readily employ intentional walks, a tactic that had been declining in popularity. From 1974 to 2019, before the automatic runner implementation, intentional walks occurred every 140 plate appearances overall but every 27 in extra innings. Since 2020, intentional walks happen every 335 plate appearances in regular play, yet in extra innings, they occur every 16.7 plate appearances. Extra-inning intentional walks have actually become more frequent than in previous eras.
HAVANA, May 25 – Cuban officials on Monday made public the full roster of inmates who were freed during a prisoner release program in April, which took place while the island nation engaged in complex diplomatic talks with the United States.
In April, Cuba announced plans to release more than 2,000 inmates from its correctional facilities, marking the second prisoner amnesty declared by the communist-led administration this year.
Prior to Monday’s announcement, officials had not disclosed the names of those who benefited from the release program.
Iranian news agencies reported Monday that multiple explosions were detected in coastal regions of Iran near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, though officials have not determined what caused the blasts.
According to Tasnim news agency, three separate explosions were detected in the port city of Bandar Abbas. Meanwhile, Fars news agency reported that comparable explosive sounds were registered near the towns of Sirik and Jask, both located close to the crucial maritime passage.
Iranian authorities have not yet provided an explanation for the source of the explosions in the area.
Canadian national team captain Alphonso Davies is expected to sit out his country’s World Cup opening match next month due to injury, though he should see action later in the tournament, according to head coach Jesse Marsch’s announcement on Monday.
The captain sustained a hamstring injury on May 6 while playing for Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final second leg. When questioned about whether this injury would prevent Davies from participating in Canada’s World Cup kickoff match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto, Marsch provided an update.
“I think Alphonso will play in the World Cup,” Marsch stated during a press conference at Canada’s training facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, before discussing the captain’s availability for the tournament opener. “No, I don’t think he’ll be ready quite on June 12 … but we’ll see.”
While Davies was included among the 32 players selected for Canada’s training camp roster announced earlier Monday, Marsch confirmed the player would not participate in the Charlotte sessions. Instead, Davies will rejoin his teammates just before their June 1 exhibition match against Uzbekistan in Edmonton.
This latest injury adds to a series of physical setbacks that have prevented Davies from representing his country for an entire year of international competition.
The quick left back sustained an ACL injury while competing for Canada in March 2025. After returning to action with Bayern Munich in December, he experienced a torn muscle fiber in his right hamstring during February, followed by another hamstring strain in March that forced him to miss two Canadian friendly matches.
The official World Cup squad announcement is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (2300 GMT) this Friday.
Following their tournament opener, Canada’s schedule includes matches in Vancouver against Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.
A California court has ordered San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. to pay approximately $3.74 million to Big League Advance following a legal battle over a financial agreement the baseball player signed as a teenager.
The dispute stems from a contract Tatis entered into with Big League Advance (BLA) in 2017, when he was just 18 years old. Under the terms of that agreement, the company provided Tatis with $2 million upfront in exchange for 10 percent of his future major league baseball earnings. At the time, Tatis had spoken positively about the arrangement, noting that the immediate funding enabled him to employ a personal trainer and make other career-enhancing investments.
The legal trouble began when Tatis ceased making his required payments in 2024, leading BLA to initiate arbitration proceedings to recover the money they claimed was due. In response, Tatis filed a lawsuit against the company in June 2025, arguing that BLA had enticed him into what essentially constituted an illegal lending arrangement.
The lawsuit stated: “Defendants have built a business model that preys on young, financially unsophisticated athletes, offering lump-sum advances in exchange for significant portions of their future earnings.”
An arbitrator ruled in favor of BLA last fall, determining that Tatis owed the full $3.74 million amount that had accumulated since he stopped making payments. Tatis then sought relief from the San Diego County circuit court, but California state judge Judy S. Bae ruled on Friday that his petition was filed too late to be valid.
Judge Bae determined that Tatis had forfeited his right to judicial review because his petition should have been submitted before the arbitration process commenced. However, Tatis’ legal team indicated they plan to challenge this decision.
“The court made significant findings against BLA, and the only thing they prevailed on was timeliness of the challenge,” attorney Mitts explained to Front Office Sports, referencing the judge’s determination that BLA could be classified as a lender and that California law applies to the case. “That is something which we are very likely to appeal, and we feel strongly we have a very good chance.”
The financial stakes are substantial for Tatis, who signed a massive 14-year, $340 million contract with the Padres in 2021 when he was considered one of baseball’s most promising young talents. Based on that contract, his total obligation to BLA under their original agreement would amount to $34 million.
Now 27 years old, Tatis has established himself as one of baseball’s premier players, earning three All-Star selections, two Gold Glove awards, a Platinum Glove award, and two Silver Slugger honors. Throughout his seven-season career with San Diego, spanning 722 games, he has maintained a .275 batting average while hitting 152 home runs, driving in 409 runs, and stealing 136 bases. His career was interrupted in 2022 when he missed the entire season due to a combination of a wrist injury and an 80-game suspension for using a prohibited substance.
Delaware State Police are looking into a deadly collision that happened Saturday night in Harrington.
According to investigators, the incident took place on May 23, 2026, around 9:57 p.m. when a Nissan Altima was heading west on Sandbox Road near McCauley Pond Road. Initial findings show the vehicle was unable to make it through a moderate turn in the road, causing the driver to lose control and spin off the pavement. The car’s back right section collided with a large tree.
A 34-year-old Lincoln man who was driving without proper seat belt restraints died at the crash site. Authorities are not releasing his identity while they work to inform his relatives.
Traffic on the roadway was shut down for about three and a half hours as officials examined and cleaned up the crash scene.
The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to examine the case. Officials are requesting anyone who saw the incident or has relevant details to reach out to Master Corporal W. Booth at (302) 698-8451. Tips can also be submitted through private messages to the Delaware State Police Facebook page or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.
Anyone who has been affected by crime or sudden loss and requires support can contact the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit and Delaware Victim Center, which provides assistance around the clock at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). The Victim Services Unit can also be reached via email at [email protected].
Proposed border barrier construction in West Texas’s Big Bend region has sparked unexpected opposition from both sides of the political aisle. While the Trump administration appears to be reconsidering plans for physical barriers in certain sections of the area – including protected national and state parkland – officials continue pushing forward with more than 170 miles of border fencing planned across agricultural areas and small border towns. This region experiences some of the state’s lowest rates of illegal border crossings, and area residents argue that constructing physical barriers makes little sense in terrain where steep canyon walls and harsh landscape already create natural obstacles. The planned construction would slice through what experts consider the state’s oldest continuously farmed agricultural land, would separate a local rancher from her family’s burial ground, and would disrupt the operations of cattle ranchers located upstream in the area.
A grassroots initiative is taking shape across Connecticut as volunteers dedicate their time to revitalizing forgotten burial sites that have been left to deteriorate over time.
These dedicated individuals, who call themselves ‘cemetery citizens,’ are focusing their efforts on providing care and attention to abandoned graveyards that have suffered from years of neglect.
The volunteer-driven effort aims to restore these overlooked burial grounds, many of which serve marginalized communities whose final resting places have been forgotten by time and circumstance.
Through their restoration work, these volunteers are breathing new life into spaces that hold significant historical and cultural value for their communities.
Public debate has erupted in Dallas after city officials decided to paint over a whale-themed conservation mural to create space for FIFA World Cup promotional artwork. The environmental mural was replaced in preparation for the international soccer tournament scheduled to begin next month.
The decision to cover the conservation-focused artwork with World Cup promotional material has sparked disagreement among residents and observers about the city’s priorities in public art choices.
When Darrell Barber entered sixth grade as the newest student at his school, he quickly found himself facing harassment from bullies. However, his difficult situation took a positive turn when Marcus, a student in eighth grade, decided to intervene and became Barber’s defender.
The protective actions of the older student proved to be a pivotal moment that would have a lasting impact on Barber’s life trajectory.
CBS and Paramount have retreated from copyright enforcement efforts aimed at restricting the spread of Stephen Colbert’s guest stint on a Michigan cable access program. The former “Late Show” host wrapped up his final episode on Friday.
Following his departure from his hosting duties at “The Late Show,” Colbert made an appearance on a local cable access program in Monroe, Michigan. The appearance quickly gained widespread attention online.
The media companies had initially moved to challenge the distribution of content featuring Colbert’s cable access show appearance on copyright grounds, but have since stepped back from those legal efforts.
With the nation’s 250th birthday on the horizon, enthusiasm for historical war reenactments is experiencing significant growth – and this rising popularity extends well beyond spectators to those eager to take part as costumed performers.
Italian tennis professional Matteo Berrettini described himself as having a “psycho” mindset when it comes to battling back from injuries after defeating Marton Fucsovics 6-7(2) 7-5 6-1 6-2 on Monday at the French Open, his first time competing in the tournament since 2021.
The player, who previously held the world number six ranking, has faced ongoing health challenges that caused him to miss eight of the last 18 Grand Slam tournaments since finishing second to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon five years ago.
Now ranked 105th globally while fellow Italian Jannik Sinner holds the top spot and carries his country’s major tournament expectations, the 30-year-old athlete explained that physical setbacks have been a constant throughout his tennis journey.
“When injuries come, you’re always negative and you don’t want to stop, and you think ‘I could have done this’ or ‘I could have done that’ but I look in the mirror and I’m so proud of my career and what I’ve achieved,” Berrettini shared with media members.
“Those who know me since I was a kid know I’ve been getting injured since I was 12, basically. It’s a part of who I am. If I have a big serve, big forehand, I also have this issue.
“I also have a resilient mind and always work hard to come back … I like to compete. I like to put myself in situations where most people would struggle … I’m a little bit psycho.
“I like to compete. I like to have fun with it. I like to win as many matches as possible. It’s been five years since I played Paris. It feels good to be here talking about a win.”
Berrettini will face Arthur Rinderknech in Roland Garros’ second round and is already anticipating Wimbledon’s start next month, though he may require a wild card entry to compete at the All England Club.
“My agent is here. I don’t know if he’s going to ask for a wild card, but I don’t think they’re going to give me one,” the Italian player said.
“We’ll see. If I get in, I get in. Otherwise, I’ll play the qualifiers. I know the level that I have. I know that I’ve been in worse situations in terms of rankings. Of course, Wimbledon is one of my favourite tournaments.
“Last year I was seeded in Wimbledon and I couldn’t really compete the way I wanted to. So it’s more important the way I’m competing than what I’m competing for.”
Evangelist Franklin Graham is traveling to Spain this weekend to deliver gospel messages in the country’s capital city. Graham is set to speak on both Saturday and Sunday in Madrid as part of a special outreach event.
According to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, “The Festival de la Esperanza is an opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ with people across Madrid who are searching for purpose and meaning in life. The free event will feature a message of hope from Franklin Graham and music from Christian artists.” Local churches throughout the Madrid area are working together to organize the festival.
New research from the Barna Group, a Christian research organization, reveals that believers across the United States are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence technology. The study indicates that significant majorities of Christians express willingness to rely on AI assistance when making decisions about their finances and healthcare. According to the findings, approximately half of all believers surveyed would also consider using artificial intelligence tools to support their spiritual development. However, the research highlights a notable contrast in attitudes among religious leadership, with significantly fewer pastors expressing comfort with incorporating AI technology for spiritual purposes.
The White House has announced that the president will undergo what officials describe as a standard yearly physical examination, coming seven months after his previous visit to Walter Reed medical facility.
Administration officials are highlighting the president’s “excellent health” as ongoing discussions continue regarding the medical realities facing the oldest person ever to be inaugurated as president.
The upcoming medical evaluation is being characterized by the White House as part of routine annual health monitoring procedures.
The Vatican has announced that Pope Leo has formed an internal artificial intelligence research team as part of his continued focus on emerging technology concerns. This month’s announcement comes as the Pope prepares to issue his inaugural encyclical, which is anticipated to stress the importance of ethical AI development that puts human dignity and peace at the forefront. In a historic decision, the pontiff has asked Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah to participate in the encyclical’s unveiling. Recent months have seen increased collaboration between technology executives and religious leaders.
The United Nations has voiced serious concerns regarding new marriage separation legislation from Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership that contains child marriage allowances. The most disputed element of the law states that when a girl who has reached puberty remains silent, this can be viewed as marriage consent. Another section addresses the separation of married girls who have reached puberty, suggesting child marriage acceptance. Taliban officials dispute these claims, asserting the law aligns with Islamic principles and maintaining that Afghanistan has already prohibited forced marriage of girls.
Poland has recorded its first same-sex marriage registration in Warsaw, following court decisions requiring recognition of gay unions performed in other countries. The European Union’s top court ruled last autumn that Poland must acknowledge same-sex marriages conducted in fellow EU nations, despite current Polish law prohibiting such unions. Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court referenced this decision in March when directing officials to recognize a German marriage between two Polish men. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has pledged to legalize gay marriage in Poland, though he encounters resistance from members of his governing alliance.
The House has voted down plans for a new Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum on the National Mall due to disagreements over transgender representation. Democrats chose to abandon the widely supported proposal after Republicans insisted on excluding exhibits about men living as women from the women’s museum. Republican modifications to the legislation also grant President Trump authority over the building’s location. The Democratic Women’s Caucus spearheaded efforts to defeat the bill without transgender inclusion. This Democratic decision has left the proposed museum’s future uncertain.
Advocacy groups supporting LGBT rights have withdrawn their court challenge against Idaho legislation governing bathroom access in public educational facilities. The legal action sought to strike down the law that prohibits males from entering female restrooms within the state’s public school system. The legislation extends beyond bathrooms to include protections for locker rooms, shower facilities, and overnight student accommodations across all grade levels from kindergarten through high school. Multiple states across the nation are enacting comparable restrictions, with many also implementing prohibitions on males participating in female athletic competitions at both public school and university levels.
A California policy designed to address transgender athlete participation in high school sports is facing widespread criticism from families across the spectrum. Under the current system, when male competitors participate in female events, dual first-place awards are given if a male athlete finishes ahead of female competitors.
This dual-winner approach was implemented during this month’s California Interscholastic Federation state track and field meet, resulting in multiple instances where both male and female athletes shared the top spot on the awards platform. However, the compromise solution has failed to satisfy families involved, with parents from both sides of the competition expressing dissatisfaction and calling for policy revisions.
Hospital officials in Gaza report that an Israeli airstrike on Monday resulted in the deaths of a Palestinian woman and a young girl in the southern region of the territory.
According to the Kuwait field hospital that treated the victims, the attack targeted a temporary shelter housing a displaced family in Muwasi, located on Khan Younis’ western edge. Medical staff confirmed that another young girl sustained injuries in the incident.
Israeli military officials acknowledged conducting a strike against what they described as a militant target, though they provided no additional information about the operation.
These deaths add to the ongoing casualties among Palestinians in the territory following an October ceasefire agreement that sought to end more than two years of conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant Hamas group controlling Gaza. Despite the reduction in major combat operations, the fragile truce continues to experience nearly continuous Israeli military action.
Since the ceasefire began, Israeli military operations including repeated aerial bombardments and regular gunfire targeting Palestinians in proximity to military-controlled areas have resulted in over 880 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
While the ministry operates under Hamas leadership, United Nations agencies and independent experts generally consider its casualty reporting credible. However, the ministry does not distinguish between civilian and militant fatalities in its counts.
Palestinian militants have conducted armed attacks against Israeli forces, with Israel justifying its military responses as necessary to address ceasefire violations or protect its personnel from threats. Israeli military casualties since the truce began total four soldiers.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s most talented young spellers are gathering this week for the 98th Scripps National Spelling Bee, carrying forward a tradition that has lasted more than a century. The competition spans three days, starting Tuesday and wrapping up Thursday evening.
The inaugural competition took place in 1925, when the Louisville Courier-Journal extended invitations to other newspapers to organize local spelling contests and send their winners to the nation’s capital. Following many years at a convention facility in suburban Maryland, this year’s event returns to Washington at Constitution Hall, located just a few blocks from the White House.
A notable update for this year includes the addition of ESPN NFL analyst and recent “Celebrity Jeopardy!” champion Mina Kimes as the competition’s television host.
While this marks the 98th spelling bee, the champion will actually be the 111th winner due to interruptions during World War II from 1943 to 1945 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Multiple ties over the years, including an eight-way tie in 2019, have also contributed to the higher winner count.
Indian heritage contestants have dominated recent competitions, claiming 30 of the last 36 championships, including last year’s victor, Faizan Zaki.
Scripps, the Cincinnati-based media company, will broadcast and stream the competition across its various channels and platforms.
Tuesday’s preliminary rounds will be available on Scripps Sports Network and spellingbee.com from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT.
Wednesday’s quarterfinals stream on Scripps Sports Network and spellingbee.com from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by semifinals from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the same platforms. ION will air tape-delayed semifinals from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Thursday’s finals will air on ION from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Both semifinals and finals will also be available on additional Scripps-owned channels and services: ION Plus, Bounce, Grit, Laff, The Spot, Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More, Scripps News and Scripps Sports Network.
Participants earn their spots by succeeding in regional competitions organized by sponsors nationwide. Eligibility requires spellers to be no older than 15 and not have progressed beyond eighth grade.
Competitors must navigate two preliminary rounds featuring words from a pre-distributed list. These include one spelling challenge and one multiple-choice vocabulary test.
Successful preliminary round participants take a written spelling and vocabulary examination, with approximately the top 100 scorers moving to quarterfinals. All test words and subsequent round words come from the Merriam-Webster Unabridged dictionary.
During quarterfinals and semifinals, contestants face elimination through oral spelling and vocabulary challenges at the microphone.
Roughly a dozen spellers reach the finals. When two contestants remain, Scripps may employ a lightning-round tiebreaker called a “spell-off” to crown the winner.
This year’s competition features 247 spellers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories and five additional countries: The Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.
Sarv Dharavane of Dunwoody, Georgia, returns as the highest-finishing competitor from 2025, having placed third last year as an 11-year-old fifth-grader. Even with a loss this year, he maintains two more years of eligibility.
Additional notable competitors include:
— Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Rancho Cucamonga, California, who placed third in 2024. He has excelled in recent competitions, capturing victories at the South Asian Spelling Bee, the SpellPundit National Spelling Bee and the Words of Wisdom Spelling Bee.
— Oliver Halkett, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Los Angeles who tied for seventh place last year.
— Esha Marupudi, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Chandler, Arizona, who also tied for seventh place last year.
The champion receives a custom trophy and more than $50,000 in cash and prizes. Prize distribution includes:
— First place: $52,500 in cash, reference works from Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster, a custom trophy and commemorative medal, and $1,000 in flight credits from Delta Air Lines.
— Second place: $25,000.
— Third place: $15,000.
— Fourth place: $10,000.
— Fifth place: $5,000.
— Sixth place: $2,500.
— All other finalists: $2,000.
The Portland Timbers announced Monday they have terminated head coach Phil Neville’s contract by mutual agreement, with the team currently sitting in 13th place in the Western Conference as they enter the World Cup break.
The coach from England led the team to a disappointing 4-8-2 start this season and compiled a 27-31-24 overall record since taking over before the 2024 campaign.
“We are appreciative of Phil’s commitment and efforts during his time with the Portland Timbers,” said Timbers general manager Ned Grabavoy in a statement. “This offseason we had pointed discussions about the areas we needed to build on and improve. Ultimately, we have not seen the progress we’ve needed to, and, most importantly, results have fallen well short of expectations.”
The team is scheduled to resume play in July with 20 matches left in the regular season.
During Neville’s inaugural season in Portland, the club set a franchise record with 65 goals scored and earned their first playoff berth since 2021. The team also qualified for the postseason last year.
“To my staff, thank you for your incredible loyalty and hard work,” Neville stated in a release. “And to the most incredible bunch of players: thank you for the effort, the good times, the good results, the bad results, and all the laughs we shared together. I realize we are in a results business, and the results haven’t been to the expectation of this football club.”
The 49-year-old Neville previously played for Manchester United (1994-2005) and Everton (2005-13) in the English Premier League, earning 59 caps for England’s national team. His coaching experience includes leading England’s women’s national team (2018-21) and Inter Miami (2021-23).
The NCAA announced Monday that UCLA has earned the top overall seed for the 2026 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, with the Southeastern Conference placing a dozen teams in the 64-team tournament field.
Regional play gets underway Friday across 16 different locations, with each site being hosted by the tournament’s top 16 seeded programs.
The Bruins compiled an impressive 51-6 record throughout the regular season, capturing both the Big Ten Conference title and the conference tournament championship.
Following UCLA in the seeding are Georgia Tech (48-9) at number two, then Georgia (46-12), Auburn (38-19), North Carolina (45-11-1), Texas (40-13), Alabama (37-19), Florida (39-19), Southern Mississippi (44-15), Florida State (38-17), Oregon (40-16), Texas A&M (39-14), Nebraska (42-15), Mississippi State (40-17), Kansas (42-16), and West Virginia (39-14).
The Southeastern Conference’s dominance is evident not just in total representation with 12 teams, but also in holding five of the tournament’s top eight seeds.
Each regional location will conduct four-team round-robin competition to determine 16 Super Regional participants, who will then advance to compete at eight separate venues. Super Regional action is set to commence June 5.
The Men’s College World Series, featuring eight teams, opens June 12 in Omaha, Nebraska.
Last year’s champion LSU failed to qualify for the 64-team bracket after completing the regular season with a 30-28 record.
Regional matchups and participating teams, listed by seeding at each location:
At UCLA (51-6): Virginia Tech (30-24), Cal Poly (36-22), Saint Mary’s (CA) (34-25)
At Georgia Tech (48-9): Oklahoma (32-21), The Citadel (35-24), UIC (27-27-1)
At Georgia (46-12): Boston College (36-21), Liberty (41-19), LIU (30-20)
At Auburn (38-19): UCF (31-21), NC State (32-22) Milwaukee (25-31)
At North Carolina (45-11-1): Tennessee (38-20), East Carolina (36-22-1), VCU (37-23)
At Texas (40-13) UC Santa Barbara (38-18), Tarleton State (37-19), Holy Cross (25-28)
At Alabama (37-19): Oklahoma St. (37-20), USC Upstate (33-28), Alabama St. (34-21)
At Florida (39-19): Miami (FL) (38-18), Troy (32-29), Rider (33-18)
At Southern Miss. (44-15): Virginia (36-21), Jacksonville St. (46-13), Little Rock (36-26)
At Florida St. (38-17): Coastal Carolina (37-21), NIU (35-17), St. John’s (33-24)
At Oregon (40-16): Oregon St. (43-12), Washington St. (30-26), Yale (30-13-1)
At Texas A&M (39-14): Southern California (43-15), Texas St. (36-24), Lamar (34-25)
At Nebraska (42-15): Ole Miss (36-21), Arizona St. (37-19), South Dakota St. (24-31)
At Mississippi St. (40-17): Cincinnati (37-20), Louisiana (39-23), Lipscomb (29-24)
At Kansas (42-16): Arkansas (39-20), Missouri St. (34-19), Northeastern (38-20),
At West Virginia (39-14): Wake Forest (38-19), Kentucky (31-21), Binghamton (31-20)
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov contacted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio by phone on Monday to inform him of Moscow’s plan to target military-connected locations in Kyiv, according to an announcement from Russia’s Foreign Ministry.
The ministry released a statement indicating that Lavrov explained the action to Rubio as a response “in response to the continuing terrorist attacks by the Kyiv regime against the peaceful population and civilian sites on Russian territory.”
According to the statement, Russian military forces “are starting systematic strikes on facilities located in Kyiv that are used for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as on centres where the corresponding decisions are being made.”
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition secured a surprising victory in Venice’s mayoral race on Monday, according to election projections, maintaining their grip on Italy’s most high-profile city in nationwide local elections.
The electoral contest took place across more than 600 Italian municipalities, marking the government’s first major political test following a significant loss in a justice referendum this past March – a defeat that represented Meloni’s biggest political setback since assuming office in 2022.
Venice, which has remained under right-wing leadership for ten years, appeared headed for a political shift based on recent polling data that indicated the center-left held a commanding position. The city recently faced diplomatic tensions regarding Russia’s participation in the Biennale Art Festival.
Despite the polling predictions, center-right candidate Simone Venturini captured approximately 51% of voter support, latest projections indicated, significantly outpacing his primary challenger who received 39%. This margin eliminated the need for a runoff election that occurs when no candidate reaches the 50% threshold.
Polling firm Youtrend declared Venturini the winner, stating his substantial lead made the election outcome certain.
Giovanni Donzelli, a high-ranking member of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, commented on the victory: “(Opposition) turned up in Venice convinced they could push the narrative that Meloni was finished, that the centre-right was in crisis. Then Italians went to the polls and those expectations ran up against reality.”
These local elections represent some of the final contests before national elections scheduled for next year, with political analysts viewing the two major coalitions as evenly matched in a competition that will determine the country’s political direction through 2027.
In other election results, Vincenzo De Luca secured his fifth consecutive term in Salerno, located near the Amalfi Coast in southern Campania, after previously completing a decade as regional governor within a center-left alliance.
The Sicilian city of Messina saw former Mayor Federico Basile, who operates independently of the major coalitions, win another term. Meanwhile, the center-right achieved significant gains in Reggio Calabria, displacing leftist leadership that had controlled the city since 2014.
MADRID – Health officials in Spain confirmed Monday that a Spanish citizen quarantined at a Madrid military hospital has contracted hantavirus after being evacuated from a cruise ship earlier this month.
This represents the second confirmed infection among 14 Spanish citizens who were brought to the Spanish island of Tenerife from the luxury vessel MV Hondius. The ship was transporting approximately 150 passengers and crew members from 23 nations when health authorities first notified the World Health Organization about a cluster of serious respiratory infections on May 2.
Following the positive test result, the infected individual was transferred to an isolation ward at Gómez Ulla Hospital, according to the Health Ministry’s announcement on X. Officials emphasized that discovering this case among individuals already under quarantine “does not modify the risk situation” for the general public.
Motorists heading north on Route 1 between Dover and Smyrna are facing traffic delays this morning due to congestion along that stretch of highway.
The backup is currently adding between 5 and 10 minutes to normal travel times for drivers in the northbound lanes of Route 1 in that area.
Commuters may want to allow extra time for their morning drive or consider alternate routes if possible.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced Monday that his country has encountered significant obstacles in discussions with America about boosting missile defense manufacturing capabilities.
“Unfortunately, there has been no progress for a long time with America regarding the expansion of anti-ballistic missile production,” he stated during his evening video address.
“We are trying to accelerate this work in Europe, the production of our own anti-ballistic systems on the continent in sufficient quantities.”
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that his nation continues diplomatic discussions with America about potential assistance, noting that American leadership remains crucial to Ukraine’s defense efforts.
Zelenskiy expressed appreciation to French President Emmanuel Macron for his contributions to developing defense systems and highlighted Europe’s significant role in providing financial support for Ukraine’s weapons procurement.
“Europe is helping us financially. But the leadership of the United States is also very much needed. Today it is very, very important to say this,” he remarked.
While acknowledging gratitude for American technical knowledge, Zelenskiy stressed the importance of achieving tangible outcomes. “Very important that there are results. The same applies to diplomacy. We expect new diplomatic measures with representatives of the President of the United States of America.”
American-led diplomatic efforts to reach a resolution in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has persisted for more than four years, have encountered delays as attention has shifted toward the war with Iran. Last week, Zelenskiy indicated he anticipated fresh American proposals for advancing peace negotiations.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A new military draft law in Cambodia is now active, establishing prison terms as long as five years for individuals who dodge mandatory service, according to the country’s Prime Minister Hun Manet, who announced the development Monday.
Senate president Hun Sen signed the legislation Saturday while serving as interim head of state as King Norodom Sihamoni receives treatment in China for prostate cancer.
The push for updated conscription rules came after deadly border clashes with Thailand that erupted on two occasions last year, killing roughly 100 individuals and forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes.
The updated legislation features eight chapters and 20 articles, taking the place of a 2006 law that was never put into practice and had become obsolete. Under the new rules, Cambodian males between 18 and 25 must complete two years of military duty, while females can volunteer for service. Those called to serve have 30 days to report after notification or face charges for avoiding service, unless they have legitimate reasons for absence.
Punishment for dodging service depends on whether the nation is experiencing peace or conflict.
In times of peace, violators could receive six months to two years behind bars plus fines between $250 and $1,000. If the country faces war or foreign invasion, sentences jump to two to five years in prison with fines from $1,000 to $2,500.
The law provides exceptions for monks, priests, disabled individuals and people with specialized expertise in science and technology. Following completion of mandatory service, citizens join reserve units until reaching age 45.
Speaking to legislators earlier this month, Hun Manet characterized the law as a framework for shaping young Cambodians’ thinking to develop love for their homeland, build patriotic feelings and create readiness to serve militarily in defense of the nation.
PARIS, May 25 – Four-time French Open winner Iga Swiatek advanced smoothly into the second round with an easy win on Monday, while another beloved champion at Roland Garros could not extend his tournament run as Stan Wawrinka played his final match in Paris.
French favorite Gael Monfils, who like Wawrinka plans to retire at season’s end, hopes to continue his tournament when he faces fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston during the evening session on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Swiatek has struggled to find her best form on tour in recent months, but returning to Paris’s clay courts provided the ideal setting to regain her timing with a 6-1 6-2 victory over Australia’s Emerson Jones.
“I’m really happy with the way I played,” said the Polish player, who seeks her seventh Grand Slam championship. “It was a solid match from the beginning to the end. I technically knew how to play, so I just did it, and it was a good day, for sure.”
While Swiatek played during cooler conditions, Paris Olympics gold medalist Zheng Qinwen battled the intense heat and fell 6-4 6-0 to Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska.
Zheng has shown uneven results following elbow surgery last year and explained to media that Chwalinska’s high-bouncing shots disrupted her game plan on the smaller court seven.
“She has a good game on clay and the court was really small when she played high balls to me,” said Zheng, whose ranking will fall from world number 56 to outside the top 100. “I couldn’t go more back like on the big courts. That also makes a difference … honestly, the conditions were tough for me. The weather has been really hot.”
HUGE SCARE
Recent Rome champion Elina Svitolina also faced difficult conditions during the afternoon but managed to overcome a major challenge, defeating Anna Bondar 3-6 6-1 7-6 (10-3) before her husband Monfils represents the veteran players later in the day.
Wawrinka, another member of the veteran group at age 41, battled hard in a 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4 loss to Dutch lucky loser Jesper de Jong before receiving recognition from supporters on Court Simonne Mathieu and tennis legends in a video tribute.
“I’m always surprised to receive so much love and so much support from other players or from the fans or from tournaments in general,” the 2015 champion told reporters. “I’ve been on tour for more than 20 years. When I was young, my dream was to be a professional player, to be in the top 100, to have the opportunity to play those tournaments.”
“I never expected to achieve so much in the tennis, but I never put any limit on my career. I always wanted more. I always walk out to get more, push myself, push my own limits, and try to find my own way to get there.”
“I’m happy and proud of what I achieved all these years. Today it was really tough. It’s never easy to say goodbye to something you love so much and you dedicate your life to.”
As Wawrinka concluded his Paris story, Spain’s Rafael Jodar started his with a dominant 6-1 6-0 6-4 victory over Aleksandar Kovacevic in his Roland Garros main draw debut, supporting the rising expectations surrounding him.
In other matches, world number two Elena Rybakina dispatched Veronika Erjavec easily with a 6-2 6-2 win for her tour-leading 31st victory this season, while Matteo Berrettini defeated Marton Fucsovics 6-7(2) 7-5 6-1 6-2 in his first Roland Garros appearance since 2021.
Former finalist Jasmine Paolini, Daria Kasatkina, Anastasia Potapova and Amanda Anisimova all secured straightforward wins to advance to the next round.
The European Union is preparing to impose a substantial fine on Alphabet’s Google totaling hundreds of millions of euros as part of an ongoing antitrust probe, according to a report from Germany’s Handelsblatt newspaper citing commission sources.
The ruling is approaching finalization and is anticipated to be formally revealed prior to the summer recess, the publication stated, noting this would represent the largest penalty ever levied under the EU’s recently implemented Digital Markets Act.
The probe, which formally began in March 2025, centers on allegations that Google gives preferential treatment to its own services within search results and aims to guarantee that the globe’s leading internet search platform adheres to regional regulations.
Neither the European Commission nor Google provided immediate responses when contacted for comment.
Previously this month, the European Commission indicated it had granted Google additional time to address regulatory concerns following an earlier company proposal that was deemed insufficient.
Iran’s president has directed the restoration of global internet connectivity following an almost three-month restriction period, according to state media outlets reporting Monday.
The directive was confirmed by the head of public relations at Iran’s Communications Ministry, though details about the timeline and implementation process remain unclear.
According to internet monitoring group NetBlocks, Iranian citizens have been largely cut off from worldwide web access for 87 days as of Monday. Only a small number of residents with costly and sophisticated VPN technology have been able to bypass the restrictions.
The initial internet shutdown began January 8 in response to widespread anti-government demonstrations across the country. Service had started returning to normal in February before officials implemented another blackout on February 28, coinciding with military strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces against Iran.
Even during typical periods, Iranian internet access faces significant limitations through website censorship. Government officials have increasingly shifted toward using a domestic intranet system to deliver online services without depending on global internet infrastructure, particularly for educational institutions currently operating with digital learning programs.
