When tragedy struck Barbara Alvarez’s family in 2017, she found herself navigating uncharted territory as a newly widowed mother. Her husband’s death came at a particularly challenging time – just as their daughter Monica Dreesen was preparing to begin her college journey.
The timing couldn’t have been more difficult. Alvarez was dealing with her own grief while trying to support her daughter through a major life transition. The responsibilities of helping Monica settle into college life felt overwhelming for someone adjusting to life as a single parent.
During this vulnerable period, an unexpected source of support emerged. A stranger recognized Alvarez’s struggle and offered assistance that would prove invaluable. This individual’s intervention came at exactly the right moment, providing the help Alvarez needed to find her footing as a single mother.
The assistance this good Samaritan provided helped Alvarez discover inner strength she didn’t know she possessed. With this support, she was able to be present for her daughter during the crucial college transition period, despite dealing with her own profound loss.
The story highlights how acts of kindness from unexpected sources can make all the difference during life’s most challenging moments. For Alvarez and her daughter, this stranger’s willingness to help became a turning point in their journey through grief and adjustment to their new reality.
Northern Kenya is confronting a devastating return of drought conditions, leaving communities struggling with severe food shortages as international relief organizations face significant funding cuts that limit their ability to provide assistance.
Just four years following a catastrophic dry period that ravaged the region, insufficient rainfall has once again brought widespread hunger to northern Kenya, with humanitarian groups forced to reduce operations and serve fewer people in need.
In Turkana county’s desolate landscape, 76-year-old widow and grandmother Echakan Amaja endures harsh conditions outside her earthen dwelling in Loperot village, relying on wild gingerbread fruit she gathers and minimal relief supplies.
Her family’s situation became even more dire two weeks ago when cattle thieves killed her son during a livestock raid and made off with all their animals. “When my livestock were stolen by bandits, all my grandchildren came back home,” Amaja explained to Reuters, describing how she now bears responsibility for feeding her five daughters and seven grandchildren.
The household depends on gathered wild fruit and approximately 43.2 kilograms of food supplies plus 3.2 liters of cooking oil provided monthly through the United Nations’ World Food Programme.
According to Kenya’s National Drought Management Authority, more than nine counties throughout the nation – primarily in northern and eastern regions – were experiencing developing drought conditions as of December, potentially severely impacting food availability, water supplies, and grazing land.
Officials have cautioned that repeated dry periods are intensifying competition over limited resources and heightening the potential for violent disputes as the emergency extends into previously unaffected areas.
Sarah Ayodi, who leads the WFP’s Turkana field operations, stated that 333,000 county residents need food assistance, but warned the organization cannot continue supporting them beyond next month.
Save the Children reported last August that at least four African nations, Kenya among them, would exhaust their supplies of specialized nutrition products for severely undernourished children due to shortages resulting from aid reductions.
The United States has dramatically reduced humanitarian funding under President Donald Trump’s administration, while other Western countries have similarly decreased their contributions as part of broader long-term cuts.
Families in Turkana report that even wild fruits, which have historically sustained them during difficult periods, are vanishing or withering due to the extreme dry conditions. Asinyen Akol, 81, characterized the current drought as unlike anything she has witnessed.
“This year is so bad that this is the worst drought I have ever experienced. You can’t survive here because of drought … even trees and wild fruits are nowhere to be seen, not even a green leaf,” Akol stated.
The drought has created a visible path of destruction throughout Kenya, with dead cattle scattered across pastoral lands.
The emergency has also impacted other Horn of Africa nations, with Somalia announcing a national drought emergency in November following consecutive seasons of poor precipitation.
The WFP issued a warning last month that millions of Somalis are confronting acute hunger, with nearly half of all children suffering from malnutrition and requiring immediate medical intervention.
BAGHDAD – A representative from the Kurdistan Workers Party described Turkey’s parliamentary commission decision to endorse a peace plan as a significant breakthrough that signals a major shift in Turkish government policy, according to statements made to Reuters Thursday.
The commission delivered an overwhelming endorsement Wednesday of the comprehensive report, which outlines legal changes paired with the dissolution of the PKK militant organization, moving forward a peace initiative aimed at concluding decades of warfare.
“The vote is considered an achievement and an important step toward consolidating democracy in Turkey,” said the PKK source.
The PKK – classified as a terrorist entity by Turkey, the United States and European Union – suspended its attacks in the previous year and announced in May its intention to dissolve and abandon armed resistance.
Wednesday’s parliamentary decision moves the peace initiative into the legislative arena, as President Tayyip Erdogan, who has led Turkey for over twenty years, works to conclude a conflict responsible for more than 40,000 deaths, creating significant internal division and extending violence beyond Turkey’s borders into Iraq and Syria.
LONDON – British law enforcement officers made an appearance Thursday at the home of Prince Andrew, brother to King Charles III, according to reports from The Daily Telegraph.
The publication reported that half a dozen unmarked police vehicles along with approximately eight officers in civilian clothing were observed arriving at Wood Farm, located on the Sandringham royal estate in eastern England, during Thursday morning hours.
This development follows earlier announcements from Thames Valley Police in February regarding their examination of claims that Prince Andrew provided classified government materials to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, based on information from recently disclosed documents.
The Duke of York has rejected any allegations of misconduct and has expressed regret over his association with Epstein. However, he has remained silent regarding specific inquiries following the release of the most recent files by United States authorities.
When contacted about Thursday’s reported police presence, Thames Valley Police declined to provide immediate commentary on the matter.
SEOUL, South Korea — Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was handed a life sentence Thursday by a Seoul court for his December 2024 martial law declaration, which judges determined amounted to rebellion against the state.
The historic ruling concluded nearly a year of intense legal battles, throughout which Yoon showed no remorse and continued defending his actions as proper presidential powers used to fight his political opponents. The sentence brings closure to South Korea’s worst political upheaval in recent memory.
Below is a timeline of critical moments leading to Yoon’s unprecedented conviction:
According to prosecutors, Yoon instructed Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun about plans for “emergency measures” targeting liberal opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly, following their majority votes to impeach government officials and slash budgets.
Around 10:30 p.m., Yoon shocked the nation with a televised martial law announcement, calling the opposition-led legislature a “den of criminals” that was crippling government operations. He promised to “eradicate” what he termed “anti-state” liberal opponents. Armed forces and police quickly surrounded the National Assembly building.
Just after midnight, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik announced via YouTube that lawmakers would use “constitutional procedure” to counter Yoon’s declaration. By 1 a.m., 190 legislators—including 18 from Yoon’s own People Power Party—unanimously voted to end martial law. Military and police forces withdrew from the assembly grounds. At 4:30 a.m., a Cabinet meeting officially terminated martial law.
An impeachment attempt against Yoon failed when most ruling party members refused to participate in the vote.
Authorities arrested former Defense Minister Kim for his involvement in planning and implementing the martial law order.
The Justice Ministry prohibited Yoon from leaving the country as multiple agencies launched competing investigations into rebellion and related charges.
Kim received formal arrest on charges of conspiring with Yoon and others in the martial law plot. Officials revealed Kim attempted suicide hours before a Seoul court approved his detention warrant.
Yoon characterized his martial law order as legitimate governance and rejected rebellion accusations, promising to “fight to the end” against impeachment efforts.
Lawmakers successfully impeached Yoon with a 204-85 vote, elevating Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to acting president.
The National Assembly also impeached acting President Han for refusing to appoint Constitutional Court justices before the court’s decision on Yoon’s removal.
Seoul Western District Court authorized Yoon’s detention for questioning.
Investigators attempted to arrest Yoon at the presidential residence but were prevented by security personnel and physical barriers.
Anti-corruption officials and police successfully raided the presidential compound and detained Yoon, marking the first arrest of a sitting South Korean president.
Seoul Western District Court issued Yoon’s formal arrest warrant over evidence tampering concerns. His arrest sparked violent protests by supporters who stormed the courthouse, breaking windows and damaging equipment. Police arrested approximately 90 rioters.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office charged Yoon with orchestrating attempted rebellion, alleging he illegally tried to control the legislature and election facilities while planning to arrest political rivals.
Seoul Central District Court ordered Yoon’s release from custody due to unresolved questions about investigators’ detention authority. He was freed the next day.
The Constitutional Court reversed Prime Minister Han’s impeachment, reinstating his role as acting leader.
The Constitutional Court confirmed Yoon’s impeachment and presidential removal, mandating an election within 60 days. Officials set June 3 as the election date.
Seoul Central District Court conducted the initial hearing for Yoon’s rebellion case.
Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae Myung, Yoon’s liberal opponent, won the presidential election.
Seoul Central District Court approved Yoon’s re-arrest after special prosecutors argued he might destroy evidence.
Authorities arrested Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, as investigators prepared bribery and other criminal charges.
Special prosecutors charged Kim Keon Hee and former Prime Minister Han with assisting Yoon’s martial law declaration, document falsification and destruction, and perjury.
Investigators added charges against Yoon for allegedly ordering drone flights over North Korea to increase tensions and justify martial law plans.
A special prosecutor requested the death penalty for Yoon on rebellion charges.
Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon to five years for resisting arrest and fabricating the martial law declaration in the first verdict against him.
Seoul Central District Court gave Han a 23-year sentence for supporting Yoon’s martial law and other offenses.
Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon’s wife Kim to 20 months in jail on corruption charges.
Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon’s former interior minister Lee Sang-min to seven years for supporting the martial law decree.
Seoul Central District Court imposed a life sentence on Yoon for rebellion charges. His attorneys expressed disappointment with the verdict and said they would consider whether to file an appeal.
A prominent economist is warning that Japan’s anticipated interest rate increase to 1% could spark a major reshuffling of money that might make monetary policy more difficult to manage for the country’s central bank.
Japan’s central bank ended its decade-long massive economic stimulus program in 2024 and has increased rates multiple times, reaching 0.75% in December – the highest level in three decades. Financial markets expect another possible increase to 1.0% as early as March or April.
Ikuko Samikawa, the chief economist at Japan Center for Economic Research, explained that as Japan moves away from its extended period of zero interest rates, the country could witness massive fund movements as citizens transfer money into interest-earning bank accounts.
According to Samikawa, who serves on a finance ministry advisory panel and regularly participates in central bank discussions, historical patterns show households typically move cash into bank deposits when the policy rate climbs above 0.5%.
Such an increase in bank deposits would boost the total reserves that financial institutions maintain with Japan’s central bank, creating downward pressure on money market rates.
“The next anticipated rate hike to 1% could be a trigger point of such inflows… If the flow of funds back to bank accounts turns out to be big, it could complicate the BOJ’s effort to guide short-term interest rates around its target,” Samikawa explained.
She noted that the extended period of aggressive money printing has made it extremely difficult to forecast how funds might shift as interest rates climb.
Japan’s central bank is working to reduce its balance sheet, which expanded five times larger over the past twenty years to approximately 756 trillion yen ($4.88 trillion), primarily due to stimulus measures implemented in 2013.
Currently, financial institutions maintain reserves of about 454 trillion yen with the central bank.
Samikawa estimates the central bank could decrease this balance to around 280 trillion without causing short-term rates to spike, though she cautioned these figures could change based on future bank lending activity.
BORMIO, Italy – Thursday marked a historic day for winter sports as ski mountaineering, known as SkiMo, made its Olympic premiere amid heavy snowfall in the Italian Alps.
The preliminary rounds for both men’s and women’s sprint competitions kicked off at Bormio’s renowned Stelvio slope, drawing 36 elite athletes from around the world. Despite challenging weather conditions, enthusiastic spectators filled the venue to near capacity for this groundbreaking event.
SkiMo represents the first addition to Winter Olympic competition since snowboarding was introduced in 1998. The discipline traces its origins to 19th-century mountain skiing, developed long before mechanical lifts existed to transport skiers uphill.
The sprint format features multiple challenging segments. Competitors begin by ascending steep terrain using specialized skis equipped with “skins” – adhesive strips that provide traction for uphill movement. Athletes then transition to running up stairs while carrying their equipment on their backs, return to uphill skiing, and conclude by removing the skins for a downhill slalom run to the finish line.
Each race lasts approximately three minutes, with seamless transitions between segments proving crucial for success. Competitors spend countless training hours perfecting these changeovers, as time penalties during transitions often determine race outcomes.
The competition structure begins with three preliminary heats containing six athletes each. The top three finishers from each heat advance to semifinals, joined by the three fastest remaining competitors. Semi-final races will also feature six participants each, with the fastest six earning spots in the medal rounds.
Women’s finals are set for 1:55 PM local time, followed by men’s competition at 2:15 PM.
France’s Emily Harrop enters as the favorite in women’s competition, currently holding the top ranking in International Ski Mountaineering Federation standings for 2025. Her main challengers include Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez, who recently returned from injury, and Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton.
In men’s competition, Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll leads the world rankings, with Switzerland’s Jon Kistler and France’s Thibault Anselmet considered strong medal contenders.
Mining heavyweight Rio Tinto delivered disappointing annual financial results on Thursday, with profits remaining unchanged from the previous year despite strong performance in its copper operations.
The global mining giant, recognized as the world’s top iron ore producer, announced underlying profits of $10.87 billion for the year ending December 31. This figure matched the previous year’s earnings but came in below analyst forecasts of $11.03 billion.
The company announced it would pay shareholders a final dividend of 254 cents per share, representing 60% of underlying profits and an increase from the 225 cents distributed in 2024.
Trading in London saw Rio Tinto shares drop 3.4% by mid-morning, performing slightly worse than other mining companies in the market.
The earnings report underscores the mining industry’s growing emphasis on copper production as demand surges from artificial intelligence data centers and renewable energy infrastructure development.
This strategic shift toward copper has sparked numerous acquisition attempts throughout the mining sector as companies compete for long-term copper assets.
Rio Tinto’s potential merger discussions with Glencore fell apart in February when both companies couldn’t reach agreement on company valuation and control structure. The failed deal would have formed the world’s biggest publicly traded mining operation and substantially increased copper production capacity.
Competitor BHP, the world’s largest publicly listed mining company, reported earlier this week that copper revenues exceeded iron ore income for the first time in company history.
“A good result, perhaps as not as impressive as BHP, particularly with capital liberation,” said Andy Forster of Argo Investments in Sydney, commenting on Rio’s asset divestiture strategy.
Both mining leaders have committed to liquidating existing assets to generate funds for reinvestment and shareholder returns. BHP announced this week a $4.3 billion agreement with Wheaton Precious Metals for future silver production from a Peruvian mining operation.
Rio Tinto revealed it is exploring market interest in selling its titanium and borates business units while examining opportunities to monetize portions of its infrastructure holdings across all operational divisions.
“Without M&A, we expect freed up cash to be used to strengthen Rio’s balance sheet and maintain returns within its 40-60% dividend payout range,” analysts at Jefferies said.
Iron ore earnings dropped to approximately 60% of total company profits, declining from 70% in the previous year. Meanwhile, copper division earnings doubled annually to represent roughly 30% of total profits, with aluminum and lithium operations accounting for the remaining portion.
The iron ore business faced challenges from increased annual production costs at the company’s Pilbara operations in Western Australia, rising about $0.50 per metric ton compared to 2024 due to inflation and weather-related operational interruptions.
Pilbara production costs are projected to climb further this year, reaching between $23.50 and $25 per ton.
The copper division reported average selling prices increased 17% year-over-year in 2025, while production volume grew 11% from 2024, boosted by expanded operations at the Oyu Tolgoi facility in Mongolia.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde reached out to her fellow policymakers to confirm her dedication to her current role following reports suggesting she might leave her position early, according to four sources who spoke with Reuters.
Earlier this week, the Financial Times published a story claiming Lagarde was considering departing from her ECB leadership role before France’s presidential election next year, potentially allowing outgoing President Emmanuel Macron to influence the selection of her replacement.
Following that report on Wednesday, Lagarde sent a private communication to her colleagues at the central bank, emphasizing that she continues to concentrate on her ECB responsibilities and promising that any future departure announcements would come directly from her rather than through media outlets, the sources revealed.
Those who received Lagarde’s message interpreted her communication as indicating she has no immediate plans to leave the European Central Bank, though they noted her statement didn’t completely rule out the possibility of a future departure.
When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for the ECB chose not to provide a statement on the matter.
Security officials in the nation of Georgia have taken two foreign nationals into custody after they attempted to buy nuclear materials worth $3 million, including uranium and a dangerous radioactive substance used in nuclear weapons programs, authorities announced Thursday.
The arrests took place in Kutaisi, where the State Security Service apprehended the suspects from undisclosed countries, according to an official statement.
“They were planning to illegally purchase nuclear material uranium and radioactive substance Cesium 137 for $3 million and illegally transport it to the territory of another country,” the security service stated.
Officials revealed that additional foreign individuals have been coming to Georgia in recent weeks with similar intentions to buy and smuggle nuclear and radioactive substances, though they provided no further details about these activities.
Authorities did not disclose how much material the suspects were trying to obtain, nor did they reveal where the substances came from or their intended final destination.
Cesium 137 represents a particularly dangerous radioactive material that typically appears following nuclear weapons tests and nuclear power plant disasters, including the catastrophic Chernobyl accident that occurred in what was then Soviet Ukraine in 1986.
Nuclear material security became a major international concern following the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, when Georgia was still part of the former communist bloc. The country has experienced multiple serious cases involving illegal nuclear material trafficking over the past several decades.
In the most recent previous incident, authorities in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi arrested three Chinese nationals who were attempting to purchase two kilograms of uranium described as “nuclear material.”
The United States experienced a reduction in international tourist arrivals during the previous year, according to recent data analysis.
Travel industry experts are investigating the underlying causes of this decrease in foreign visitors, with some questioning whether political climate changes or broader economic factors played a role in deterring overseas travelers from choosing America as their destination.
The tourism industry continues to monitor these trends as they assess the impact on local economies that depend heavily on international visitor spending.
Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Meta, testified before a jury in a groundbreaking legal case examining whether social media platforms are intentionally designed to be addictive and cause harm to young users.
The Meta CEO answered challenging questions during what marks the first trial in the United States to examine the addictive nature of social media and its potential negative effects on children and teenagers.
The head of Facebook’s parent company faced questioning in court over claims that social networking platforms are designed to be addictive and cause harm to users. Mark Zuckerberg, who leads Meta, provided testimony as part of legal proceedings examining whether social media companies bear responsibility for negative effects on their users.
The case represents part of broader scrutiny facing major technology firms regarding their platforms’ impact on public health and user wellbeing. NPR’s Leila Fadel discussed the implications of the testimony with Darrell West, who studies technology policy at the Brookings Institution.
The legal challenge adds to mounting pressure on social media giants to address concerns about how their platforms affect users, particularly regarding potentially addictive design features and mental health impacts.
A devastating gas cylinder explosion brought down a multi-story residential building in Pakistan’s largest city Thursday, leaving at least 13 people dead, according to local authorities.
The deadly blast occurred on the ground level of the residential complex located in Soldier Bazaar, a neighborhood on the eastern side of Karachi, the major southern port city, officials reported.
Among the fatalities were seven children, with the youngest victim being just two years old, according to police official Summaiya Syed.
Authorities are still working to determine what caused the gas cylinder to detonate, police stated.
Rescue teams pulled more than a dozen injured survivors from the wreckage, though emergency responders warn additional victims may still be trapped beneath the debris.
This tragedy follows another deadly incident in Karachi just last month, when a massive blaze at a shopping mall claimed more than 70 lives.
SEOUL – Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol received a life prison sentence Thursday from a Seoul court for orchestrating an insurrection during his short-lived martial law declaration in December 2024.
The dramatic events began on December 3, 2024, when Yoon announced on national television just before 10:30 p.m. that he was implementing martial law to eliminate what he called “anti-state forces” and break through political gridlock.
Within an hour, military orders banned all political party activities and legislative functions. Security forces surrounded the opposition-controlled parliament building, where staff members fought back using barricades and fire extinguishers against special operations troops. Lawmakers climbed over fences to bypass security barriers as demonstrators gathered outside.
By early December 4, with 190 legislators in attendance, parliament unanimously rejected Yoon’s martial law order, prompting military forces to withdraw. Approximately 3.5 hours later, Yoon reversed his decision. The entire martial law period lasted roughly six hours.
Opposition lawmakers immediately filed impeachment proceedings against Yoon. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell stated that Yoon had “badly misjudged” his martial law decision.
On December 7, Yoon delivered a public apology to the nation, stating he would leave his political future to his ruling People Power Party (PPP), though he stopped short of announcing his resignation. An initial impeachment vote failed due to a PPP boycott that prevented the required quorum.
Criminal investigations began December 8, with prosecutors targeting Yoon over the martial law incident. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was taken into custody that same day.
Army Special Warfare Command leader Kwak Jong-geun testified before parliament on December 10 that Yoon had instructed him to “drag out” legislators from the parliament building following the martial law announcement.
Yoon declared he would “fight to the end” on December 12, making accusations that North Korea had infiltrated South Korea’s election systems and questioning his party’s significant electoral losses in April.
Parliament successfully impeached Yoon on December 14 with support from 204 out of 300 lawmakers, including at least 12 members from his own PPP. His presidential authority was immediately suspended, with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stepping in as acting president.
The Constitutional Court started examining the impeachment case on December 16. However, parliament also impeached acting President Han on December 27, leading Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok to assume acting presidential duties.
A Seoul court issued an arrest warrant for Yoon on December 31 after he failed to appear for questioning. Yoon’s legal team denounced the warrant as illegal and claimed investigators lacked proper authority.
Between January 3-15, 2025, authorities made unsuccessful attempts to arrest Yoon during confrontations with presidential security and military personnel at his residence. Yoon eventually surrendered after a local court extended his arrest warrant.
During his Constitutional Court impeachment hearing on January 21, Yoon refuted claims that he had ordered military leaders to remove lawmakers from parliament by force.
Prosecutors formally charged Yoon with insurrection on January 26 and requested his continued detention.
A court canceled Yoon’s arrest warrant on March 9, leading to his release from custody.
The Constitutional Court ruled on April 4 that Yoon had breached his constitutional obligations and permanently removed him from the presidency.
The liberal Democratic Party selected former leader and 2022 presidential candidate Lee Jae Myung as their nominee for the special election on April 27.
Lee won the presidency in the emergency election held June 3.
Yoon returned to jail on July 10 after a court granted the special prosecutor’s detention request.
In a historic first for South Korea, Yoon’s wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, was detained on August 13 following court approval of an arrest warrant, making them the first presidential couple simultaneously imprisoned in the nation’s history.
Special prosecutors charged former first lady Kim with bribery and additional offenses on August 29.
On October 10, special prosecutors indicted Han Hak-ja, head of South Korea’s Unification Church, for allegedly orchestrating bribes to former first lady Kim.
Additional charges related to the martial law incident were filed against Yoon on November 10, including accusations of assisting an enemy nation.
Special prosecutors sought a 15-year prison term for former Prime Minister Han on November 26 for allegedly supporting insurrection and committing perjury.
On December 15, special prosecutors claimed Yoon had attempted to provoke North Korea into armed conflict to validate his martial law declaration.
The special prosecutor requested the death penalty for Yoon on insurrection charges on January 13, 2026.
Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon to five years in prison on January 16 for charges including obstruction of arrest attempts.
The same court imposed a 23-year sentence on former Prime Minister Han on January 21 for his central role in the insurrection.
Former first lady Kim received a 20-month jail sentence on January 28 for accepting bribes.
On February 12, Seoul Central District Court sentenced former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min to seven years in prison for his involvement in the martial law attempt.
The legal proceedings concluded Thursday with Seoul Central District Court’s life sentence for Yoon Suk Yeol for leading the insurrection.
The Japanese automaker Nissan announced Thursday it will pull nearly 643,000 Rogue SUVs from American roadways following two distinct mechanical failures that federal safety officials say could result in complete power loss while driving.
Federal transportation safety regulators reported that Nissan will retrieve 318,781 Rogue vehicles due to faulty throttle body components that have suffered mechanical breakdown.
In a second action, the car manufacturer will also collect 323,917 additional Rogue SUVs because of compromised engine bearing systems. These defective bearings may leak extremely hot engine oil, creating dangerous fire conditions and potentially causing complete engine failure.
Transportation safety officials have recommended that authorized service centers update the vehicles’ computer control systems and install new parts where necessary to address both mechanical problems.
Technology executives from around the world converged in New Delhi this week for a significant artificial intelligence conference, where they announced massive financial commitments to expand AI capabilities in India.
The India AI Impact Summit produced several major investment announcements totaling hundreds of billions of dollars over the coming decade.
Leading the charge was Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries and its telecommunications division Jio, with billionaire chairman Mukesh Ambani announcing Thursday that the companies will pour $109.8 billion into artificial intelligence and data infrastructure development over the next seven years.
Another major Indian corporation, the Adani Group, revealed Tuesday its plans to spend $100 billion on renewable energy-powered AI data centers by 2035. The ports-to-power company estimates this investment will generate an additional $150 billion in related sectors, including server production and sovereign cloud platforms, ultimately creating a $250 billion AI infrastructure ecosystem throughout India over the next ten years.
Technology giant Microsoft announced Wednesday it is targeting $50 billion in investments by 2030 to expand artificial intelligence access across ‘Global South’ nations. The company had previously revealed $17.5 billion in AI investments specifically for India last year.
Indian data center company Yotta Data Services disclosed Wednesday it will construct one of Asia’s most extensive AI computing facilities using Nvidia’s newest Blackwell Ultra chips, with the project requiring more than $2 billion in funding.
In another significant development, Tata Consultancy Services announced Thursday it has secured ChatGPT creator OpenAI as the inaugural client for its data center division under the global AI infrastructure program Stargate.
Infrastructure company Larsen & Toubro also revealed a partnership proposal with Nvidia to develop AI-ready data center infrastructure, sophisticated computing platforms, and ecosystem support necessary for large-scale artificial intelligence operations.
In a thrilling double-overtime battle Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the 25th-ranked Crimson Tide mounted an incredible comeback from a 14-point deficit to edge 20th-ranked Arkansas 117-115.
Labaron Philon Jr. delivered a spectacular performance for Alabama, dropping a season-best 35 points while dishing out seven assists to lead the dramatic turnaround victory.
The Crimson Tide managed to secure the win despite allowing Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. to pour in an astounding 49 points, establishing a new school record for first-year players.
Alabama received strong support from Aiden Sherrell, who posted season-high numbers with 26 points and 13 rebounds, while Amari Allen contributed a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds. The victory extended the Crimson Tide’s winning streak to five games and improved their record to 19-7 overall and 9-4 in Southeastern Conference play.
For Arkansas, Meleek Thomas provided 24 points to complement Acuff’s record-setting night. Both Thomas and Acuff connected on six three-pointers each. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Razorbacks, who fell to 19-7 overall and 9-4 in SEC action.
The decisive moment came when Houston Mallette drained a three-pointer with 51 seconds remaining in the second overtime period, giving Alabama a 117-113 advantage. Arkansas responded when Trevon Brazile slammed home a dunk to cut the deficit to two points, but Acuff’s floating layup attempt in the closing seconds missed its mark, sealing Alabama’s victory.
In other Top 25 action, fourth-ranked Arizona bounced back from a two-game losing streak by defeating 23rd-ranked BYU 75-68, with reserve Anthony Dell’Orso scoring a career-high 22 points. Creighton pulled off a major upset by knocking off fifth-ranked UConn 91-84, led by Josh Dix’s 21 points in an emotional performance following his mother’s recent passing from cancer.
Eighth-ranked Kansas handled Oklahoma State 81-69 behind Darryn Peterson’s 23 points, while 10th-ranked Illinois dominated USC 101-65 with seven players reaching double figures. Eleventh-ranked Gonzaga continued their dominance over San Francisco with an 80-59 victory, extending their winning streak against the Dons to 35 consecutive games.
Fourteenth-ranked Virginia crushed Georgia Tech 94-68 to extend their winning streak to seven games, and 17th-ranked St. John’s moved atop the Big East standings with a 76-70 victory over Marquette, pushing their winning streak to 12 games. In an upset, Missouri edged 19th-ranked Vanderbilt 81-80 after nearly blowing a 21-point lead in the final minutes.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Military tensions between the United States and Iran escalated Thursday as both countries engaged in shows of naval force while nuclear negotiations remained uncertain, with Tehran conducting joint exercises with Russia as Washington moved an aircraft carrier closer to Middle Eastern waters.
The Iranian military exercise alongside the positioning of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier near the Mediterranean Sea entrance highlight growing tensions between the two nations. Earlier this week, Iran also conducted live-fire exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway that handles one-fifth of global oil shipments.
The deployment of additional American naval vessels and aircraft doesn’t necessarily signal an imminent U.S. military strike against Iran, but it provides President Donald Trump with operational capabilities should he decide to take such action. Trump has thus far refrained from military action despite establishing clear boundaries regarding the deaths of peaceful demonstrators and Tehran’s mass executions, while attempting to restart nuclear discussions previously interrupted by the Iran-Israel conflict in June.
“Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social website, seeking to pressure the United Kingdom over its plans to settle the future of the Chagos Islands with Mauritius.
Concurrently, Iran faces domestic turmoil following its harsh response to protests, with families now conducting memorial services for those killed 40 days after their deaths at the hands of security forces. Several of these gatherings have featured anti-government demonstrations, despite official warnings from authorities.
Thursday’s military exercise involved Iranian and Russian naval personnel operating in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean waters, according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency. The exercise focused on “upgrading operational coordination as well as exchange of military experiences,” IRNA reported.
While China participated in the “Security Belt” exercise in previous years, there was no confirmation of Chinese involvement in this iteration. Recently, what appeared to be a Russian Steregushchiy-class corvette was observed at Iran’s Bandar Abbas military facility.
Iranian authorities also issued warnings to regional pilots about potential rocket launches, indicating plans to test anti-ship missiles during the exercise.
Tracking information revealed the Ford positioned off Morocco’s Atlantic coast Wednesday afternoon, suggesting the carrier could pass through Gibraltar and potentially deploy to the eastern Mediterranean alongside its escort destroyers.
Stationing the carrier in that region would provide American forces with additional aircraft and defensive missile capabilities to potentially safeguard Israel and Jordan if hostilities with Iran develop. The U.S. employed similar naval positioning during the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza to counter potential Iranian attacks.
Memorial ceremonies for protest victims killed by security forces last month have intensified. Iranian tradition calls for commemorating deceased family members 40 days after their passing. Eyewitness accounts and social media footage documented memorial gatherings at Tehran’s expansive Behesht-e Zahra cemetery. Some ceremonies featured participants chanting against Iran’s religious government while performing patriotic songs.
The protest movement started December 28 at Tehran’s historic Grand Bazaar, initially triggered by Iran’s currency collapse, then expanded nationwide. Tensions peaked January 8, coinciding with demonstrations organized by Iran’s exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi.
Iran’s administration has provided only one official casualty count for the violence, claiming 3,117 deaths. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has maintained accuracy during previous Iranian unrest periods, estimates over 7,000 fatalities, with additional deaths suspected.
KARACHI, Pakistan — At least 16 people lost their lives Thursday morning when a devastating gas explosion tore through an apartment complex in Karachi, Pakistan’s major port city, causing a partial building collapse that trapped victims under debris, according to police and emergency response teams.
The deadly blast occurred as residents were cooking their pre-dawn meal to mark the beginning of Ramadan in a neighborhood within Karachi, located in Sindh province, local police commander Rizwan Patel reported. Emergency crews continued digging through the wreckage searching for anyone who might still be alive beneath the collapsed sections, Patel explained.
Officials initially confirmed 13 fatalities, but Patel announced the count climbed to 16 after rescue workers recovered three additional bodies from the destruction.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari issued a statement expressing grief and offering sympathy to bereaved families while ordering officials to provide top-quality medical care for those wounded. He also demanded rapid completion of search and rescue efforts and pressed the Sindh provincial leadership to strengthen construction regulations, improve gas cylinder safety measures, and launch a comprehensive investigation to prevent future tragedies.
Throughout Karachi and other Pakistani cities, residential buildings typically receive natural gas service for cooking purposes. Many families supplement this with liquefied petroleum gas tanks due to inadequate natural gas pressure in their neighborhoods.
A similar tragedy struck Pakistan’s capital city of Islamabad this past July, when a gas explosion at a wedding celebration claimed eight lives, including the newlywed couple. Officials reported the deadly blast happened while wedding guests had come together to honor the bride and groom.
Detectives investigating the vanishing of Nancy Guthrie are exploring the possibility of utilizing DNA genealogy databases, the same approach that cracked high-profile cases including a string of California murders spanning decades and the brutal killings of four Idaho university students.
This approach shows promise: When unidentified DNA samples can be linked to individuals — including distant family members — within public genealogy databases, investigators gain valuable leads that could potentially identify a suspect in Guthrie’s Arizona abduction.
“It’s a fantastic tool,” explained Ruth Ballard, a California-based geneticist who focuses on DNA analysis and has provided expert testimony in hundreds of legal proceedings. “If it’s a good quality sample and they’re able to get a profile, they could find a hit on that fairly quickly.”
Officials with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in Arizona confirmed that DNA samples gathered during their investigation have yielded no matches within CODIS, the national criminal database containing genetic profiles from individuals with criminal convictions and, in certain states, those arrested for specific offenses.
“Investigators are currently looking into additional investigative genetic genealogy options for DNA evidence to check for matches. CODIS is one option of many databases that are available,” the sheriff’s department announced Tuesday.
Department officials revealed Wednesday that biological material from Guthrie’s residence in the Tucson area is undergoing testing, with DNA profiles currently at a laboratory for examination.
Nancy Guthrie, whose daughter Savannah Guthrie co-hosts NBC’s “Today” show, vanished from her residence on February 1st. Federal investigators reported that gloves discovered approximately 2 miles away seemed to correspond with those seen on a masked individual captured by a doorbell camera.
Major genealogy platforms including Ancestry, 23andMe and MyHeritage indicate they will respond to judicial orders requesting data access. GEDmatch, another genealogy service, maintains a policy requiring users to specifically consent to law enforcement access of their information. The Associated Press contacted these companies Wednesday evening to inquire about any involvement in the Guthrie case.
GEDmatch played a crucial role in identifying the notorious Golden State Killer. Law enforcement used crime scene DNA to locate a distant family member and construct a family lineage that ultimately led to Joseph DeAngelo Jr. He admitted guilt in 2020 to 13 murders and numerous sexual assaults throughout California during the 1970s and 1980s.
In the Idaho case, genetic material from a knife cover helped investigators focus on Bryan Kohberger in connection with the 2022 deaths of four University of Idaho students. Detectives employed genealogy websites to develop family connections and collected discarded items from Kohberger’s family residence in Pennsylvania to establish a link. Kohberger entered a guilty plea and received a life sentence.
Ballard noted that the origin and condition of DNA samples in police possession can influence success rates when searching genealogy platforms.
“It does require a much better sample than CODIS searching does,” she explained.
Additional obstacles may arise as well.
“There are a lot of unknowns when you go into these databases,” Ballard observed. “The databases are not equal in terms of ethnic distribution. It’s comparatively easier to find a Caucasian because more have uploaded their data and there are more family trees to mine.”
An extended period without snowfall in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains created the dangerous conditions that led to Tuesday’s fatal avalanche near Lake Tahoe, according to avalanche experts analyzing the tragedy.
Craig Clements, a meteorology professor at San Jose State University who studies avalanches, explained that several feet of fresh snow landed on top of a hardened layer from earlier in the season. The two layers failed to properly connect, creating hazardous and easily triggered conditions.
“The new snow did not have time to bond to the earlier layer before the avalanche,” Clements said. The disaster claimed the lives of at least eight backcountry skiers, while six others survived the ordeal. Search teams continued looking for one missing person on Wednesday.
The skiing party had embarked on a three-day wilderness expedition in the Sierra Nevada mountains when the avalanche struck Tuesday morning, coinciding with a powerful winter storm battering the West Coast.
According to Clements, avalanche risks typically peak during the initial 24 to 48 hours following significant snowfall, and officials had already posted avalanche advisories for the region.
The meteorology expert described how prolonged dry conditions, which had persisted in the Sierra Nevada since January, cause snow crystals to transform and develop angular or rounded shapes over time.
When substantial amounts of new snow accumulate on these altered crystals, the different layers frequently cannot form proper connections. This creates what avalanche specialists call a storm slab positioned above a weaker foundation layer.
“Because it’s on a mountain, it will slide,” Clements explained, noting that any shift in pressure from above or below can trigger the slide. While some avalanches occur naturally, human activity in the area can also set them off. Officials have not yet determined what caused Tuesday’s avalanche to begin.
Clements noted that more regular snowfall throughout the winter season would have allowed different snow layers to bond more effectively. However, even when dangerous storm slabs develop, the hazardous conditions typically last only a few days before the new snow becomes more stable.
While climate change can create weather extremes including both drought conditions and intense precipitation events, scientists say it remains challenging to determine how this might influence avalanche patterns or locations.
Clements characterized this week’s avalanche as typical for California’s Sierra Nevada region and does not believe it connects to climate change impacts.
He described avalanches as dependent on snowfall amounts and the stability of underlying layers, calling this incident “a meteorological phenomenon, not a climate phenomenon.”
Weather reports indicate that between 3 and 6 feet of snow accumulated since Sunday, when the group began their expedition. The region also experienced below-freezing temperatures and powerful winds. The Sierra Avalanche Center warned Wednesday that additional avalanche threats remained, leaving snow conditions unstable and unpredictable.
Recovery teams located eight bodies near California’s Lake Tahoe following Tuesday’s avalanche, which authorities describe as the nation’s most deadly in nearly 50 years. Six members of the guided tour were rescued six hours after the slide occurred.
Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon announced Wednesday that investigators will examine the decision to continue with the planned trip despite storm forecasts.
The skiers had traveled Sunday to isolated mountain huts located at 7,600 feet elevation in Tahoe National Forest, bringing their own food and equipment. At 6:49 that morning, the Sierra Avalanche Center had issued an avalanche watch for the area, warning that large slides were probable within the following 24 to 48 hours.
A former prosecutor turned president has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars after his risky political maneuvers finally caught up with him.
Yoon Suk Yeol, 65, received a life sentence Thursday from Seoul Central District Court for orchestrating an insurrection, marking a dramatic conclusion to his meteoric rise and spectacular collapse from South Korea’s highest office.
The former leader’s reckless decision to impose martial law ultimately sealed his fate, according to those who worked alongside him during his career in law enforcement and politics.
A telling glimpse into Yoon’s mindset emerged from former judge Han Dong-soo, who recalled a 2020 dinner conversation where the then-powerful prosecutor made a startling admission.
“If I had gone to the military academy, I would have staged a coup,” Han quoted Yoon as saying during the evening gathering with flowing alcohol.
The court determined Thursday that Yoon violated constitutional principles by implementing martial law, sending military forces to invade parliament and attempt to arrest his political rivals.
Looking noticeably thinner than when he was arrested a year ago, Yoon appeared pale and shaken as he listened to the verdict while dressed in a dark suit. His legal team expressed opposition to the ruling and indicated they would consider filing an appeal.
Yoon has consistently maintained his innocence, claiming his martial law declaration served as a necessary alert that democratic principles and liberty faced danger from “anti-state” elements attempting to seize control of South Korea.
His path to the presidency began through his work as a prosecutor investigating sitting presidents, which made him widely recognized across the nation.
“Yoon Suk Yeol was the most powerful prosecutor-general ever,” Han observed, having overseen internal affairs at the prosecutor’s office during Yoon’s tenure.
“He used the office to carry out his plan to become president and in doing so, his actions were daring.”
By 2022, following his leadership of a corruption probe involving the justice minister, conservative voters who had grown frustrated with then-President Moon Jae-in’s liberal agenda embraced Yoon as their presidential nominee.
However, his time in office brought constant conflicts with opposition forces, which former prosecution colleague Lee Sung-yoon said revealed the reckless tendencies that had always characterized Yoon’s approach.
When Yoon declared martial law in December 2024, his political standing had severely deteriorated due to controversies surrounding his wife, Kim Keon Hee, who faced accusations of improperly receiving gifts, though charges weren’t filed initially.
Following Yoon’s removal from office, a special prosecutor’s investigation led to Kim’s bribery conviction in January, resulting in her current 20-month prison sentence.
The year leading up to Yoon’s martial law announcement was marked by continuous opposition battles that prevented his policy initiatives and legislative priorities from moving forward.
Despite domestic struggles, Yoon achieved notable success in international relations.
His efforts to end a longstanding diplomatic dispute with Japan and establish trilateral security partnership with Japan and the United States stand out as among his limited policy victories.
Yoon’s ability to connect personally with world leaders was memorably demonstrated at a 2023 White House gathering, where he surprised then-President Joe Biden and thrilled the audience by performing the 1970s classic “American Pie.”
Coming from a wealthy background, Yoon performed well academically and gained admission to prestigious Seoul National University law school. However, his love of social activities caused him to fail the bar examination multiple times before finally succeeding on his ninth attempt at 30 years old.
During his prosecution career, colleagues knew him for his relaxed demeanor, but associates noted increased ambition following his marriage to Kim, an accomplished art curator.
His presidency began controversially when he relocated the presidential office away from the historic Blue House complex, raising speculation about whether feng shui beliefs regarding the location’s supposed curse influenced the decision.
Yoon rejected claims that he and his wife had any connection to a shaman.
Critics accused him of protecting his “yes men” when he declined to dismiss senior officials after a Halloween crowd disaster claimed 159 lives.
Among those he protected was Safety Minister Lee Sang-min, a fellow graduate of Yoon’s high school, who later received a seven-year sentence for his involvement in the martial law declaration.
Another high school classmate, Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, previously served as presidential security chief and now faces insurrection charges for allegedly being the primary advisor who encouraged Yoon to impose martial law. Kim has denied any wrongdoing.
Political science professor Shin Yul from Myongji University believes Yoon’s downfall resulted from following bad advice, suggesting the former president likely “still thinks he did the right thing” regarding his martial law decision.
Four individuals with ties to the Chagos Islands found themselves facing eviction orders from British officials after arriving on a remote atoll earlier this week in what they hoped would disrupt Britain’s plans to hand over the territory to Mauritius.
The group touched down Monday on Ile du Coin, located within the Peros Banhos atoll, with additional people expected to join what organizers described as a permanent community.
A British Foreign Office representative condemned their arrival as an “illegal, unsafe stunt” that would not assist the collaborative efforts between the UK and Mauritius to restart heritage visit programs to the Chagos Islands.
According to a 2025 deal, Britain plans to hand over control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while maintaining authority over the strategically vital U.S.-UK military facility on Diego Garcia through a 99-year lease arrangement.
British politician Nigel Farage, who leads the Reform UK party, described the four as British passport holders attempting to “reclaim their birthright” and indicated he was researching legal options to assist them.
“They were this morning served an eviction notice on behalf of the British government, and told that unless they comply, they could face up to three years in prison,” he stated during a London press conference.
Documents reviewed by Reuters show the eviction notices, sent to each individual by a British Indian Ocean Territory immigration officer, declared their presence unlawful and ordered their departure.
The paperwork cautioned that violating the directive by returning would constitute a criminal act carrying penalties of up to three years behind bars, a fine of 3,000 pounds sterling ($4,060), or both punishments combined.
During the 1960s and 1970s, as many as 2,000 Chagossians were forced from their homes in the archipelago and relocated primarily to Mauritius and Britain.
Some Chagossians have voiced opposition to the sovereignty transfer agreement, claiming Mauritius has ignored their needs for decades, though Mauritius disputes these accusations.
Technology giant Google has formed a strategic alliance with Sea Ltd, a major Southeast Asian tech company, to create advanced artificial intelligence applications for online retail and video game development, the companies revealed Thursday.
The partnership will focus on creating what the companies describe as “an AI agentic shopping prototype” for Shopee, Sea’s popular online marketplace, according to their joint announcement.
This collaboration represents part of a broader industry trend where technology companies are working to expand their AI capabilities beyond basic question-and-answer functions, aiming to handle more complex tasks like automated shopping across multiple platforms and managing sophisticated business processes.
The competitive landscape is heating up, as Chinese tech giant Alibaba introduced a new AI system earlier this week, marketing it as designed “for the agentic AI era.” Alibaba’s Lazada platform directly competes with Shopee across Southeast Asian markets.
According to research firm Momentum Works, Shopee maintained its position as the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia throughout 2024, capturing 52% of the regional market.
The partnership will also extend to Sea’s gaming division, Garena, where both companies plan to implement AI technologies to “transform” how efficiently games are developed and produced.
This new agreement builds upon a previous collaboration established in 2024 between Shopee and Google’s YouTube platform, which targeted the Southeast Asian online commerce sector.
A United Nations investigation has concluded that the brutal takeover of a Sudanese city by paramilitary forces shows clear signs of genocide, according to a report released Thursday.
The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan found that when the Rapid Support Forces seized control of al-Fashir in late October, they systematically murdered members of non-Arab ethnic groups during three horrific days of violence.
Al-Fashir had served as the final government stronghold in Sudan’s western Darfur region before falling to the RSF after an 18-month blockade. During that siege, investigators say the paramilitary group deliberately created living conditions designed to physically destroy the Zaghawa and Fur communities.
According to the UN mission, evidence shows the RSF systematically targeted people based on their ethnicity, gender, and perceived political loyalties. The attacks included mass executions, sexual assault, torture, and other acts that constitute core elements of genocide under international law.
Mission Chairman Mohamad Chande Othman emphasized the organized nature of the violence. “The scale, coordination, and public endorsement of the operation by senior RSF leadership demonstrate that the crimes committed in and around al-Fashir were not random excesses of war,” Othman stated.
“They formed part of a planned and organised operation that bears the defining characteristics of genocide,” he continued.
The report describes how al-Fashir’s population consisted primarily of the Zaghawa people, while surrounding refugee camps housed members of the Fur, Berti, Masalit, and Tama communities before the attack.
Survivors told investigators about explicit threats from RSF forces to “clean” the city. The paramilitary group used drones and heavy artillery to attack displacement camps, community kitchens, and medical facilities while conducting widespread killings, theft, beatings, and sexual violence throughout al-Fashir.
The investigation found that the RSF’s “exterminatory rhetoric” and other violations demonstrated clear intent to destroy the Zaghawa and Fur populations either completely or partially.
“Witnesses heard the Rapid Support Forces saying, ‘Is there anyone Zaghawa among you? If we find Zaghawa, we will kill them all’,” the report documented.
Survivors described point-blank executions of civilians and streets filled with the bodies of men, women, and children. The report also details how women and girls between ages 7 and 70 from non-Arab communities, especially the Zaghawa, were subjected to rape and other forms of sexual violence, including whipping and forced nudity.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called for strong international action in response to the findings. “The findings of this UN report are truly horrific — atrocities including systematic starvation, torture, killings, rape and deliberate ethnic targeting used on the most horrendous scale during the Rapid Support Forces siege of al-Fashir,” Cooper said in a statement.
The UN mission received its mandate from Human Rights Council members, including Britain, to urgently examine violations of international law in and around al-Fashir. Investigators shared their final report with Sudan’s government but received no response, while the RSF declined to meet with mission leadership.
Neither the RSF nor Sudan’s Armed Forces immediately responded to requests for comment from Reuters. The RSF has previously rejected similar allegations, claiming such reports are fabricated by opponents while making counter-accusations against their enemies.
Britain’s foreign secretary is strongly denouncing Iran’s decision to hand down decade-long prison sentences to two UK citizens accused of spying, calling the punishment completely without merit.
Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper issued a sharp rebuke Thursday regarding the sentencing of Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who face 10 years in Iranian custody after being accused of collecting intelligence across multiple regions of the country.
“We will pursue this case relentlessly with the Iranian government until we see Craig and Lindsay Foreman safely returned to the UK and reunited with their family,” Cooper declared in her official response.
According to Joe Bennett, who is Lindsay’s son, the pair faced a three-hour court proceeding on October 27 where they were denied the opportunity to mount any defense against the charges.
“We have seen no evidence to support the charge of espionage,” Bennett stated, expressing his family’s serious worries about the couple’s well-being and criticizing the lack of openness in Iran’s legal proceedings.
Motorists traveling on Lancaster Pike in New Castle County should expect delays as utility crews have shut down the westbound right lane for ongoing work.
The lane closure affects the stretch of roadway between Hedgerow Place and Courtney Road, according to Delaware Department of Transportation officials.
Drivers are advised to use caution when traveling through the work zone and allow extra time for their commute. Traffic is being directed around the construction area using the remaining open lanes.
DelDOT has not provided an estimated timeline for when the utility work will be completed and normal traffic patterns restored.
Violent demonstrations erupted in Albania’s capital last week as citizens threw gasoline bombs at government offices while law enforcement deployed tear gas and water cannons to control the crowds. Protesters could be heard shouting demands for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation, calling his administration corrupt.
The unrest stems from corruption charges filed in December against Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku by Albania’s special anti-corruption prosecutor’s office, SPAK. Balluku faces allegations of manipulating the bidding process for two major infrastructure projects in 2021 valued at more than 200 million euros.
Balluku, considered a political rising star and potential heir to Rama’s leadership, maintains her innocence. The Prime Minister has continued supporting her despite mounting pressure.
The corruption allegations pose a significant threat to Albania’s European Union membership aspirations, with the country aiming to join the bloc by 2030. The ongoing crisis represents one of the most serious challenges for Rama, who has governed the Balkan nation since 2013 and secured his fourth consecutive term last year.
“Albania has to understand that to become an EU member, respecting the rule of law is a prerequisite,” stated Andi Hoxhaj, a Balkan expert at King’s College London. “That has to hit home, or it will not look good with the EU.”
Rama’s representative Manjola Hasa defended the government’s anti-corruption efforts when contacted by Reuters. “Albania deserves to join (the EU) for many reasons and fighting corruption with no second thoughts is one of them,” Hasa responded.
Following nearly five decades of communist isolation that ended in the early 1990s, Albania experienced widespread corruption issues common throughout post-communist Eastern Europe. The country made significant progress through judicial system overhauls in 2016, establishing SPAK in 2019, and achieving steady economic development.
EU membership negotiations commenced in 2022, and Albania reached a milestone on November 17 when it entered the final phase of accession discussions, positioning itself as a leading candidate in the EU’s Balkan expansion initiative.
Just three days following this achievement, SPAK announced the charges against Balluku.
The accusations center on two 2021 infrastructure projects – a highway tunnel construction contract and a section of Tirana’s ring road development. As infrastructure minister, Balluku allegedly manipulated the tender processes to benefit particular construction companies.
Court documents reviewed by Reuters contain text message exchanges between Balluku and associates, including the Albanian Road Authority director, who also faces charges.
One September 10, 2021 message shows Balluku apparently requesting the director arrange a meeting with a NOVA Construction 2012 representative.
Within four days of this meeting, NOVA partnered with two other firms to create a consortium that subsequently secured the ring road project.
According to SPAK, Balluku “predetermined the winner” and “created unfair advantages and privileges.”
Reuters could not confirm whether the requested meeting occurred. NOVA Construction declined to comment, as did Balluku’s legal counsel.
After an anti-corruption court suspended Balluku in November, she stated she would not address the case or respond to “half-truths and lies.”
Relations between SPAK and Prime Minister Rama have grown increasingly tense. The prosecutor’s office seeks to remove Balluku’s protection from pre-trial detention, but Rama opposes this action and accuses SPAK of exceeding its authority.
During Monday’s parliamentary session, Rama revealed he had rejected Balluku’s resignation attempts three times. “There is no such thing as a resignation under pressure from a power that has stepped outside its territory,” he declared while Balluku observed.
That same day, Rama announced plans to modify legislation protecting ministers from suspension during criminal investigations, a proposal opposition leaders claim is designed to shield him and his political allies.
European Union officials are monitoring the situation closely.
“Rhetoric that sows public mistrust in the judiciary and in the independence, impartiality and integrity of the judicial and prosecutorial systems is counterproductive,” the EU’s Tirana office stated to Reuters.
“Fighting corruption effectively is of paramount importance for Albania’s progress towards EU membership.”
MUNICH – Five senior European intelligence officials are casting doubt on President Trump’s optimistic assessment that a Ukraine peace deal is “reasonably close,” telling Reuters they believe Russia has no intention of ending the conflict anytime soon.
The intelligence chiefs, who requested anonymity when speaking with Reuters recently, indicated that Moscow is primarily using ongoing diplomatic discussions with the United States to pursue sanctions relief and business opportunities rather than genuine peace negotiations.
One European intelligence leader characterized the discussions – including the latest round held in Geneva this week – as “negotiation theatre.”
These assessments reveal a significant divide between European intelligence services and the White House, which according to Ukraine hopes to secure a peace agreement by June, ahead of November’s U.S. congressional midterm elections. Trump has expressed confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin is interested in making a deal.
“Russia is not seeking a peace agreement. They are seeking their strategic goals, and those have not changed,” stated one intelligence chief. Moscow’s objectives continue to include removing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from power and transforming Ukraine into a “neutral” buffer zone between Russia and Western nations.
A second intelligence official emphasized that Russia has neither the desire nor the necessity for rapid peace, noting that the Russian economy is “not on the verge of collapse.”
While the intelligence leaders did not reveal their information sources, their agencies employ human intelligence assets, communications intercepts, and various other collection methods. All five confirmed they prioritize Russia as a key intelligence target.
Russia’s foreign ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Putin has indicated willingness to pursue peace, but only under his conditions. Russian officials maintain that European governments have consistently misjudged Russia in their analyses.
DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS CONTINUE
Ukrainian and Russian representatives conducted their third U.S.-facilitated meeting of 2026 this week without achieving breakthroughs on major disputes, particularly territorial issues.
Russia demands that Ukraine withdraw its military forces from the remaining 20% of eastern Donetsk region not under Russian control, a requirement Ukraine categorically rejects.
According to the second intelligence official, while Russia might accept territorial gains limited to the rest of Donetsk, this would not satisfy Moscow’s broader goal of removing Zelenskyy’s pro-Western administration.
A third intelligence chief warned against assuming that Ukrainian territorial concessions in Donetsk would rapidly produce a comprehensive peace agreement.
“In the case of the Russians getting these concessions, I (think) that this is maybe the beginning of actual negotiations,” the official predicted, suggesting Russia would then present additional demands.
This same official also criticized what they described as “very limited” negotiating expertise regarding Russia throughout the West, including Europe, despite Zelenskyy’s call for active European participation in the talks.
The U.S. negotiating team is headed by Steve Witkoff, a real estate developer and longtime Trump associate, along with Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law.
While both men have handled other conflicts for Trump, neither possesses formal diplomatic training or specialized knowledge of Russia or Ukraine.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly responded to the criticism by stating that anonymous complaints do not assist U.S. peace efforts. “President Trump and his team have done more than anyone to bring both sides together to stop the killing and deliver a peace deal,” Kelly said.
ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS
Two officials reported that Moscow is attempting to divide negotiations into separate tracks – one addressing the war itself and another focusing on bilateral U.S.-Russia agreements that would include sanctions relief.
Zelenskyy revealed that his intelligence services informed him that U.S. and Russian negotiators have discussed bilateral cooperation deals worth up to $12 trillion, proposed by Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
The European officials did not elaborate on these discussions.
The second intelligence chief suggested this proposal targets both Trump’s interests and Russian oligarchs who have not benefited from the war due to sanctions but whose support Putin requires as Russia’s economy faces increasing challenges.
This official characterized Russia as a “resilient society” capable of withstanding hardship.
However, the third official identified “very high” financial risks facing Russia in the latter half of 2026, citing factors including Moscow’s restricted capital market access due to sanctions and elevated borrowing costs.
Economic analysts suggest Russia’s economy is experiencing somewhere between stagnation and recession after achieving only 1% growth last year.
Russia’s central bank has set its key interest rate at 15.5%, directly affecting borrowing costs nationwide. The liquid portion of Russia’s emergency fund used to address budget deficits has decreased by more than half since the 2022 invasion began.
Food and beverage giant Nestle announced Thursday that it exceeded fourth-quarter sales projections while revealing plans to divest its ice cream operations as part of a strategic business restructuring.
The Swiss-based company, known for producing Maggi seasoning cubes and Nescafe coffee products, will concentrate its efforts on four primary divisions: Coffee, Pet Care, Nutrition, and Food & Snacks. Company officials disclosed they are in final-stage discussions to transfer the ice cream division to Froneri, a partnership between European investment firm PAI Partners and Nestle that currently owns the Haagen-Dazs brand.
CEO Philipp Navratil faces significant challenges in his mission to accelerate operations at the consumer goods corporation, particularly due to the company’s largest infant formula product recall in recent years. The recall has created inventory shortages and product returns that will affect sales volumes through 2026.
“While there is more to be done, we are confident that our faster execution of a more focused strategy will deliver sustained improvement through 2026 and beyond,” Navratil stated.
Company projections indicate organic sales growth of 3-4% for 2026, with expectations for enhanced underlying trading operating profit margins this year, improving from the 16.1% recorded in 2025.
Navratil, who assumed leadership in September and subsequently announced workforce reductions of 16,000 positions, continues to address obstacles including U.S. import duties, currency fluctuations, and reduced consumer spending power.
The company completed its evaluation of mainstream and budget vitamin and supplement product lines and is actively seeking potential purchasers. Additionally, Nestle anticipates removing its water business from consolidated reporting beginning in 2027, having initiated formal partnership discussions during the first quarter.
Revenue growth excluding currency changes and acquisitions reached 4% for the quarter ending December 31, surpassing analyst predictions of 3.4% growth.
SEOUL – Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was convicted Thursday on insurrection charges stemming from his unsuccessful effort to impose martial law on the nation in December 2024.
The court’s decision represents a major legal milestone in the case against Yoon, who was found guilty of orchestrating what prosecutors described as an insurrectionary plot when he attempted to declare martial law last year.
The failed martial law declaration had thrown South Korea into political turmoil before being quickly reversed.
TIVOLI, Italy (AP) — Centuries ago, Roman builders would travel to quarries near Tivoli to extract chunks of porous limestone called lapis tiburtinus — what we now call travertine — then transport the stone blocks on rafts down the river to construction sites.
This ancient process created the iconic Colosseum two millennia ago. The same method was used centuries later for St. Peter’s Basilica and Bernini’s magnificent colonnade.
The identical quarries that supplied Rome’s legendary travertine continue operating today, providing their signature hole-filled stone for modern religious structures, houses of worship, and mosques worldwide — plus banks, cultural institutions, government facilities and residential properties.
Although other nations produce similar sedimentary limestone, Roman travertine stands apart because workers extract it from underground sulfuric springs and pools surrounding Tivoli. Composed primarily of calcium carbonate minerals, this Roman stone developed over hundreds of thousands of years through calcium, sulfur and mineral deposits, displaying the area’s volcanic past, ancient forests and fossil remains in its layered bands.
Architects value the material for multiple qualities: durability, abundance and resistance to various weather conditions and environmental challenges. The cutting method and location determine its appearance, ranging from rough to smooth textures, warm white with irregular dark pockets to sandy tan with gray, brown or green streaks.
The Mariotti Carlo SpA stone-cutting company has shaped travertine to specification for four generations, completing some of the globe’s most notable architectural projects: Los Angeles’ Getty Center, Beijing’s Bank of China headquarters, and the Great Mosque in Algiers, Algeria.
During a recent work session, components for a temple reconstruction by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called the Mormon church, sat arranged across Mariotti’s Tivoli warehouse floor — travertine chunks extracted from local quarries and shaped into custom puzzle-like sections for assembly at the New York City location.
Following their travertine supply work for the Latter-day Saint temple in Rome, church architects selected Mariotti to renovate the Manhattan Upper West Side temple. This temple stands opposite Lincoln Center and Julliard School, both constructed with Mariotti-processed travertine decades earlier when the stone first entered American markets.
“Travertine represents a classic stone recognized globally. It’s similar to spreading Rome’s illumination everywhere, since travertine’s light reflection qualities are truly unique,” explained Fabrizio Mariotti, who leads the family enterprise.
Throughout the Tivoli quarry areas, sulfur odors fill the atmosphere alongside continuous hammering, chiming and splitting sounds from massive jackhammers breaking ancient rock formations.
At Degemar quarries, excavated 30 meters below sea level, brilliant blue sulfur spring pools collect travertine debris while flatbed trucks transport 33-ton stone slabs to ground level.
This location provided Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the renowned Baroque sculptor and architect, with brilliant white travertine for the 284 columns and 88 pillars forming St. Peter’s Square colonnade, plus his other Catholic and Roman masterpieces.
Bernini visited so frequently to choose his stones that he maintained a residence overlooking the quarry, which remains standing.
Current quarry director Vincenzo De Gennaro points out that Bernini’s tower still contains the pigeon coop that housed homing birds carrying stone measurement orders from Rome to the quarry.
Today, the quarry serves clients across much greater distances: Riyadh’s new airport in Saudi Arabia and the Chinese governing party’s new Shenzhen headquarters, among others.
“This is exceptional, a unique stone because it lives and breathes, born from a mixture of mineral waters,” De Gennaro commented while navigating earth-moving equipment and walking past sulfur pools.
Anyone doubting travertine’s longevity need only examine Rome itself, he noted.
“We have the physical proof of a civilization spanning thousands of years that remains visible today, glowing continuously for 2,000 years,” he stated. “That serves as our warranty.”
Marco Ferrero, civil engineering professor at Rome’s La Sapienza University, explained that travertine’s attraction partly stems from its connection to ancient Rome “and consequently to the enchantment of the classical era.”
He said the stone captures Rome’s character in multiple ways: Travertine demonstrates strength, endurance and dignity without the flashiness of marble, which deteriorates faster when facing weather exposure.
“Here’s an appropriate comparison: Marble communicates in elegant Italian, in literary Italian, while travertine speaks in Roman dialect,” he observed. “It truly represents the Romans’ stone. Similar to Roman cooking, which features simple meals often using leftover ingredients, travertine remains an authentic and traditional material.”
NEW DELHI (AP) — At a major technology conference in New Delhi on Thursday, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi promoted his nation as a crucial force in the worldwide artificial intelligence landscape, emphasizing India’s goal to create technology domestically and share it globally.
“Design and develop in India. Deliver to the world. Deliver to humanity,” Modi declared to an audience of international leaders, tech industry executives, and policy makers at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
Modi’s statements reflect India’s ambitions as one of the world’s rapidly expanding digital markets to capitalize on its expertise in creating extensive digital public infrastructure and establish itself as an affordable center for AI development.
The conference also featured addresses from French President Emmanuel Macron, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, who proposed a $3 billion funding initiative to assist developing nations in establishing fundamental AI capabilities, including training, data accessibility, and affordable computing resources.
“The future of AI cannot be decided by a handful of countries, or left to the whims of a few billionaires,” Guterres declared, emphasizing that AI must “belong to everyone.”
India is utilizing the conference to establish itself as a connector between developed nations and the Global South. Government representatives point to the nation’s digital identification and electronic payment infrastructure as examples of how to implement AI affordably, especially in emerging economies.
“We must democratize AI. It must become a tool for inclusion and empowerment, particularly for the Global South,” Modi stated.
With close to one billion online users, India has emerged as a crucial marketplace for international technology corporations expanding their artificial intelligence operations.
In December, Microsoft revealed a $17.5 billion commitment over four years to enhance cloud computing and AI infrastructure within India. This followed Google’s $15 billion investment spanning five years, which includes establishing its first AI center in the nation. Amazon has similarly committed $35 billion through 2030, focusing on AI-powered digital transformation.
India is additionally pursuing up to $200 billion in data center investments in the upcoming years.
However, the nation falls behind in creating its own comprehensive AI systems comparable to U.S.-based OpenAI or China’s DeepSeek, revealing obstacles including restricted access to cutting-edge semiconductor technology, data facilities, and the challenge of processing hundreds of regional languages.
The conference began Monday with operational problems, as participants and vendors experienced extended waiting times and delays, with some reporting on social platforms that personal items and exhibition materials had been taken. Event organizers later announced the missing items were found.
Issues continued Wednesday when a private Indian university was removed from the summit after a staff member presented a commercially available Chinese-manufactured robotic dog while falsely claiming it as the school’s original creation.
The difficulties persisted Thursday when Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates canceled a planned keynote presentation. Officials provided no explanation, though the Gates Foundation stated the decision was made “to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities.”
Gates has been facing scrutiny regarding his connections to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
International human rights investigators have concluded that paramilitary forces in Sudan conducted operations in October that exhibit characteristics of genocide against ethnic minority groups in the Darfur region.
The United Nations-supported fact-finding team released findings Thursday showing the Rapid Support Forces executed mass killings and other brutal acts in el-Fasher following an 18-month blockade. The investigators determined these actions were designed to physically eliminate non-Arab populations, specifically targeting Zaghawa and Fur ethnic groups.
According to UN officials, the RSF’s conquest of el-Fasher resulted in several thousand civilian deaths. The city had been the Sudanese military’s final remaining position in Darfur. Of el-Fasher’s 260,000 inhabitants, only 40% successfully escaped the assault, with thousands suffering injuries. The whereabouts of remaining residents is unclear.
The conflict in Sudan began in April 2023 when tensions between military and paramilitary leadership erupted in Khartoum before spreading to additional areas including Darfur.
This devastating conflict has claimed over 40,000 lives based on UN data, though humanitarian organizations believe the actual death toll could be significantly higher.
The RSF along with allied Arab militia groups called Janjaweed captured el-Fasher on October 26 and conducted widespread violence throughout the area. Their offensive included mass executions, sexual assault, torture, and kidnappings for financial gain, according to the UN Human Rights Office.
Between October 25 and 27, the forces killed more than 6,000 people within the city limits. Prior to the main attack, rebels attacked the Abu Shouk displacement facility near the city, killing at least 300 individuals over two days.
The RSF did not provide a response to requests for comment. Their leader, General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, has previously admitted to misconduct by his troops while questioning the extent of reported atrocities.
The international Genocide Convention from 1948 establishes five standards for determining genocide: killing group members; causing severe physical or psychological damage; implementing birth prevention measures; intentionally creating conditions for physical elimination; and forcibly moving children to different groups.
The investigation team found evidence of at least three criteria being satisfied by RSF actions. The convention allows for genocide determination if even one criterion is met.
According to the team, RSF activities in el-Fasher included murdering members of protected ethnic groups, inflicting serious physical and mental trauma, and intentionally creating life conditions designed to destroy the group partially or completely.
The findings cited systematic ethnically-motivated killings, sexual violence, destruction, and public declarations calling for non-Arab community elimination.
Mohamed Chande Othman, the team’s chairman and former Tanzania chief justice, stated the RSF operations were not “random excesses of war” but indicated a deliberate and coordinated effort displaying genocide characteristics.
“Physically exhausted, malnourished, and in part unable to flee, leaving them defenseless against the extreme violence that followed,” the report described el-Fasher residents. “Thousands of persons, particularly the Zaghawa, were killed, raped or disappeared during three days of absolute horror.”
The investigation documented mass killings, extensive rape, sexual violence, torture, arbitrary imprisonment, extortion, and forced disappearances during the RSF takeover in late October.
The report recorded survivor accounts of fighters making statements such as: “Is there anyone Zaghawa among you? If we find Zaghawa, we will kill them all” and “We want to eliminate anything black from Darfur.”
Investigators noted “selective targeting” of Zaghawa and Fur women and girls, “while women perceived as Arab were often spared.”
The Geneva-based Human Rights Council, the UN’s primary human rights organization with 47 member nations, established the fact-finding team in 2023.
The team demanded accountability for those responsible and emphasized that civilian protection is needed “more than ever” as the conflict spreads to additional Sudanese regions.
Throughout the conflict, both sides have faced accusations of international law violations, though most atrocities have been attributed to the RSF. The Biden administration recently declared the group committed genocide in Darfur.
UN experts and rights organizations report that the United Arab Emirates has supported the RSF during the war, though the UAE denies these claims.
The RSF originated from Janjaweed militias that gained infamy for atrocities in the early 2000s during a brutal campaign against people of East or Central African identity in Darfur. That earlier campaign resulted in approximately 300,000 deaths and displaced 2.7 million people.
TRUCKEE, Calif. — A devastating avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains has claimed eight lives and left one person missing after striking a group of experienced backcountry skiers attempting to return home following days of harsh winter conditions.
The deadly slide occurred Tuesday as 15 skiers departed from remote mountain cabins at high elevation, making their way back toward the trailhead. The incident represents the most fatal avalanche in the United States in nearly five decades.
Recovery efforts for the victims’ remains have been delayed as avalanche warnings remain active through early Thursday, with officials waiting for the dangerous storm system to pass. Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of those who perished.
The skiing party had strong connections to Lake Tahoe’s mountain recreation scene, particularly the prestigious Sugar Bowl Academy. The institution released a statement Wednesday evening expressing grief over losing individuals with “strong connections to Sugar Bowl, Donner Summit and the backcountry community.”
The academy did not specify the exact relationship between the victims, who ranged from 30 to 55 years old, and the school that provides alpine and backcountry skiing training along with education for aspiring young athletes.
“We are an incredibly close and connected community,” Sugar Bowl Academy executive director Stephen McMahon was quoted as saying in the statement. “This tragedy has affected each and every one of us.”
Among the group were four professional guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides, a company specializing in mountaineering expeditions and backcountry skiing adventures throughout the western United States and abroad. One guide survived the disaster.
The three-day excursion, which started Sunday, was designed for skiers with intermediate to advanced abilities, according to information on the outfitter’s website.
Blackbird Mountain Guides announced Wednesday evening that it has initiated a comprehensive investigation and suspended all field activities through the weekend at minimum while focusing on assisting the families of those affected.
The company’s guides possessed training and certification in backcountry skiing techniques and served as instructors with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.
During expeditions, guides “are in communication with senior guides at our base, to discuss conditions and routing based upon conditions,” founder Zeb Blais explained in the company’s statement.
“We don’t have all the answers yet, and it may be some time before we do,” the company stated. “In the meantime, please keep those impacted in your hearts.”
Mill Valley Mayor Max Perrey, representing the Marin County community located approximately 14 miles north of San Francisco, verified that several group members were women from his city. He declined to share additional information via email to The Associated Press but indicated more details would be made available later.
The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued an avalanche watch Sunday morning, which was upgraded to a warning by 5 a.m. Tuesday, signaling that avalanche conditions were anticipated. It remains unclear whether the guides received notification of this escalation before beginning their descent.
Officials described a tragic scene as survivors searched through snow for their missing companions and endured a six-hour wait for rescue teams to reach them amid blizzard conditions. The survivors located three bodies, according to Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon.
All skiers carried emergency beacons capable of transmitting location signals to rescue personnel, and at least one guide managed to send text messages for help. However, it’s uncertain whether the group used avalanche airbags, which are inflatable safety devices designed to keep skiers closer to the snow surface during slides, noted Sheriff’s Captain Russell “Rusty” Greene.
One survivor remained in hospital care as of Wednesday, Sheriff Moon reported.
The region has received between 3 and 6 feet of fresh snowfall since Sunday, accompanied by below-freezing temperatures and powerful winds reaching gale force.
This avalanche stands as the most deadly in the United States since 1981, when 11 mountain climbers lost their lives on Washington state’s Mount Rainier. It also marks the second fatal avalanche near Castle Peak this year, following the death of a snowmobile rider in January. Avalanches typically claim 25 to 30 lives annually across the country, according to National Avalanche Center data.
The location near Donner Summit where the skiing expedition occurred ranks among the snowiest regions in the Western Hemisphere and remained off-limits to public access until recent years. The summit bears the name of the notorious Donner Party, pioneer travelers who became stranded there during the winter of 1846-1847 and resorted to cannibalism for survival.
A major French alcoholic beverage company experienced declining sales during the first six months of its fiscal year, though conditions began showing improvement in recent months.
Pernod Ricard, the company behind well-known brands including Absolut vodka, Mumm champagne, and Martell cognac, saw revenue drop by 5.9% during the six-month period ending December 31. The company brought in 5.25 billion euros, equivalent to about $6.19 billion.
While the overall numbers remained negative, the second quarter showed signs of recovery with a 5% decrease in comparable sales – an improvement from the steeper 7.6% drop experienced during the first quarter. Company officials attributed the better performance to stronger business in India and improved sales in global travel retail locations.
The beverage manufacturer, which ranks as the world’s second-largest Western spirits company after Diageo, continues facing headwinds from reduced consumer spending and inventory reductions by retailers in both the United States and China.
Company leadership indicated they anticipate fiscal year 2026 will serve as a transitional period, with sales improvements expected to accelerate during the latter half of the year. The company’s fiscal calendar begins July 1.
Operating profits also declined during the reporting period, falling 7.5% on a comparable basis. Industry analysts had projected a slightly larger decrease of 7.7%, making the actual results marginally better than expected. The sales figures also aligned closely with analyst predictions of a 5.7% decline.
One of India’s most prominent business leaders announced Thursday that his company will commit a staggering $110 billion toward artificial intelligence development over the coming seven years.
Billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani, who serves as Chairman of Reliance Industries, revealed that his conglomerate along with its telecommunications subsidiary Jio will dedicate 10 trillion rupees to AI initiatives through 2031.
The massive financial commitment represents one of the largest private sector investments in artificial intelligence technology announced by any company worldwide.
French hospitality giant Accor announced Thursday that its annual core earnings narrowly exceeded Wall Street forecasts, buoyed by strategic portfolio diversification and growth in its customer loyalty initiatives.
The company behind popular hotel chains including Ibis and Novotel posted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of 1.20 billion euros ($1.41 billion) for the past year, up from 1.12 billion euros in 2024. The figure topped analyst projections of 1.19 billion euros.
“The rapid integration of artificial intelligence into our digital roadmap and the robustness of our pipeline allow us to accelerate our development and be even more efficient,” Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin said in a statement.
Earlier this month, the hospitality company unveiled an artificial intelligence booking platform powered by ChatGPT technology, designed to decrease reliance on third-party travel booking sites and lower distribution expenses.
Revenue per available room, a key hospitality industry metric, climbed 4.2% to reach 76 euros in 2025.
The hotel group reaffirmed its medium-term financial projections and announced plans to maintain its stock repurchase program, targeting 450 million euros in buybacks during 2026.
SYDNEY – Law enforcement officials in Australia have opened an investigation following the delivery of a menacing letter to Sydney’s largest Islamic worship center, marking the third threatening incident as Muslims prepare for their holy month of Ramadan.
The correspondence, delivered Wednesday to Lakemba Mosque in western Sydney, included an offensive drawing of a pig along with death threats targeting what the sender called the “Muslim race,” according to local news outlets.
Authorities have collected the letter for laboratory analysis and announced plans to increase patrols around houses of worship, including the targeted mosque, as well as community gatherings.
This most recent threat follows a previous menacing message delivered to the same mosque several weeks earlier, which showed an image of Muslim worshippers trapped in a burning religious building.
Law enforcement has also apprehended and filed charges against a 70-year-old individual connected to a third threatening correspondence sent to mosque personnel in January.
The organization that operates the mosque, the Lebanese Muslim Association, has contacted government officials requesting additional funding for extra security personnel and surveillance equipment, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
During Ramadan, approximately 5,000 worshippers are anticipated to visit the mosque nightly. Government census data shows that more than 60% of Lakemba’s population identifies as Muslim.
Canterbury-Bankstown council Mayor Bilal El-Hayek, whose jurisdiction includes Lakemba, described the community as feeling “very anxious.”
“I’ve heard first-hand from people saying that they won’t be sending their kids to practice this Ramadan because they’re very concerned about things that might happen in local mosques,” he said.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed strong disapproval of the recent series of threats.
“It is outrageous that people just going about commemorating their faith, particularly during the holy month for Muslims of Ramadan, are subject to this sort of intimidation,” he told ABC radio.
“I have said repeatedly we need to turn down the temperature of political discourse in this country, and we certainly need to do that.”
A government-commissioned study indicates that hostility toward Muslims has increased across Australia since the Gaza conflict began in late 2023.
The Islamophobia Register Australia has recorded a 740% surge in incident reports following the December 14 Bondi mass shooting, where officials say two attackers with Islamic State connections killed 15 people at a Jewish holiday gathering.
“There’s been a massive increase post-Bondi,” Mayor El-Hayek said. “Without a doubt, this is the worst I have ever seen it. There’s a lot of tension out there.”
WASHINGTON – Federal immigration authorities now have enhanced powers to detain legal refugees while they undergo additional background screening, according to a new government directive that marks a significant policy shift.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a memorandum on February 18 requiring refugees to report back to government custody for “inspection and examination” one year after entering the United States. This coincides with when refugees are required by law to apply for permanent resident status.
“This detain-and-inspect requirement ensures that refugees are re-vetted after one year, aligns post-admission vetting with that applied to other applicants for admission, and promotes public safety,” department officials stated in the memo, which was filed in federal court.
The directive represents a complete reversal from 2010 guidance that specified failing to obtain permanent resident status was not grounds for detention or removal from the country. Immigration officers can now hold individuals throughout the entire re-inspection period.
The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to requests for additional information about the policy change.
Refugee assistance organizations have strongly condemned the new approach.
Shawn VanDiver, who leads AfghanEvac, described the policy as “a reckless reversal of long-standing policy” that “breaks faith with people the United States lawfully admitted and promised protection.”
HIAS, previously called the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, warned the “move will cause grave harm to thousands of people who were welcomed to the United States after fleeing violence and persecution.”
Immigration detention numbers have surged under President Trump’s leadership, reaching approximately 68,000 people this month – a 75% increase since he returned to office last year.
Immigration enforcement served as a central campaign theme that contributed to Trump’s 2024 electoral victory.
Federal courts have already intervened in some cases. In January, U.S. District Judge John Tunheim in Minneapolis issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of the policy against roughly 5,600 legal refugees in Minnesota who are waiting for green cards.
Judge Tunheim determined that federal agents likely broke multiple federal laws when they arrested some of these refugees for additional screening purposes.
KHENIFRA, Morocco (TV Delmarva) — A man who spent decades building trust as a community helper and educator in Morocco now faces shocking criminal charges that have stunned two North African nations.
Jacques Leveugle, a 79-year-old French citizen, is currently imprisoned and facing formal charges in France for allegedly raping and sexually assaulting 89 boys spanning more than 50 years across multiple countries. French prosecutors revealed the case to the public last week, also stating that Leveugle admitted to suffocating his terminally ill mother and later murdering his 92-year-old aunt.
For years in the Moroccan city of Khenifra, residents knew Leveugle as a skinny French man who cleaned streets before sunrise, provided no-cost language instruction, and arranged educational trips for local students. His fluency in Arabic, Morocco’s local dialect, and Shilha — a regional Berber language — allowed him to become deeply embedded in the community, according to neighbors.
The unassuming man would bicycle to local markets wearing simple jeans and collared shirts, and established a small children’s library in the working-class Lassiri district.
Most of the alleged sexual crimes took place in North Africa, where Leveugle established himself as a dedicated educator and trustworthy individual throughout his lifetime.
Authorities uncovered the alleged crimes after a family member discovered Leveugle’s electronic diary on a USB device and provided it to law enforcement.
Grenoble Prosecutor Etienne Manteaux confirmed to The Associated Press that Leveugle is suspected of victimizing more than a dozen boys in Morocco, where he resided until his 2024 arrest. During his eight-year tenure as a foreign language instructor in Algeria during the 1960s and 1970s, he allegedly abused at least two children.
The disturbing allegations have created widespread shock throughout both nations and brought renewed focus to child exploitation issues in a region where advocates report abuse continues to be widespread and frequently unreported.
“This case demonstrates exceptional gravity and understandably creates profound outrage,” stated Najat Anwar, who leads the Moroccan child protection organization Don’t Touch my Child. “We stand ready to participate as a civil party in legal proceedings if Moroccan witnesses or victims step forward.”
The Associated Press interviewed twelve individuals who personally knew Leveugle, including Moroccan neighbors and former Algerian students, plus Moroccan officials familiar with the investigation. Those acquainted with him characterized a person widely regarded as reserved, supportive, and someone who enjoyed spending time around children.
Throughout the narrow pathways of Khenifra’s Lassiri district, populated by many traditional Moroccans, the pleasant atmosphere of a winter morning stands in stark opposition to what locals describe as deep embarrassment they’ve experienced since prosecutors disclosed Leveugle’s alleged offenses last week.
Community members report feeling disrespected and degraded. Several are now contemplating relocating. All requested anonymity due to concerns about potential harassment or retaliation.
They indicated Leveugle’s residence, an incomplete, unpainted single-level structure encircled by fig trees, positioned beside a river where children frequently play nearby.
Local residents explained that “Monsieur Jacques,” his common nickname, financially supported community initiatives and assisted people in securing employment, occasionally distributing cash directly. Khenifra has historically maintained among Morocco’s highest jobless rates, with many inhabitants working in unofficial employment sectors. Residents frequently relocate seeking improved opportunities.
Community members recalled how Jacques once brought children to Agelmam Agezga, a popular regional lake, and instructed them to swim without clothing, beginning with himself and claiming health benefits. This behavior conflicts with Moroccan cultural norms and broader Islamic customs, which prohibit men from being unclothed in each other’s presence.
One neighbor explained that the revelations have so severely damaged his ability to trust others that he now refuses to allow his 5-year-old son to spend nights at his brother’s home.
According to a knowledgeable Moroccan official, Leveugle was born during the 1940s in Annecy, France, and initially came to Morocco in 1955. His father served at the French Embassy, and Leveugle attended school in Morocco’s capital city during the concluding years of French colonial rule.
A Moroccan justice official confirmed that Leveugle maintained Moroccan residency status and faced no documented criminal complaints within the kingdom. Both officials requested anonymity in accordance with Moroccan governmental protocols.
Neighbors reported that Leveugle relocated to Khenifra’s Lassiri neighborhood during the early 2000s. Local residents noted his regular interactions with teenage boys ranging from 13 to 15 years old.
He operated as a private instructor and, according to community members, provided complimentary lessons, coordinated educational excursions, and occasionally offered financial support to families. Some neighbors reported that he also purchased homes and vehicles for local residents and assisted with European immigration processes.
His extensive time spent with teenage boys sometimes raised questions about his minimal engagement with adult community members.
French investigators identified 89 victims of Leveugle, all boys between ages 13 and 17, through examination of a 15-volume electronic memoir discovered on a USB drive that a relative provided to police, according to the Grenoble prosecutor. He confirmed that Leveugle’s Moroccan victims date to at least 1974.
French authorities believe additional victims exist and have issued a global request for witnesses. The prosecutor informed The Associated Press that French investigators plan to travel to Morocco for evidence collection. Moroccan authorities have not issued public statements.
The French prosecutor did not indicate whether Algeria has opened an investigation, despite Leveugle’s teaching positions at three Algerian schools. The revelations have deeply affected his former students.
“I felt completely shocked upon learning this information,” Ali Bouchemla, who studied French under Leveugle during the late 1960s at a northern Algerian school, told The Associated Press. He remembered a “committed and excellent teacher” who never aroused suspicion.
Lahlou Aliouate, another former student, similarly described a dedicated educator who maintained professional conduct.
Child protection experts say Leveugle’s characteristics mirror patterns observed globally.
“Offenders frequently present themselves through educational or cultural programs, develop respectable reputations and use social or cultural influence to establish trust,” explained Najat Anwar from Don’t Touch my Child. “They subsequently focus on children experiencing vulnerable emotional or social circumstances.”
The militant organization Hamas is strengthening its authority across Gaza by positioning loyal supporters in crucial government positions while resuming tax collection and salary payments, according to Israeli military intelligence documents obtained by Reuters and Palestinian sources within the territory.
This expanding control by Hamas has raised serious questions about the viability of President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace initiative, which demands the organization surrender its weapons in return for Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza.
Trump’s newly formed international Board of Peace, tasked with overseeing Gaza’s transition period, convened its first session in Washington on Thursday.
“Hamas is advancing steps on the ground meant to preserve its influence and grip in the Gaza Strip ‘from the bottom up’ by means of integrating its supporters in government offices, security apparatuses and local authorities,” military officials stated in documentation provided to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during late January.
While Hamas claims readiness to transfer administrative control to a U.S.-supported panel of Palestinian technical experts led by former Palestinian Authority official Ali Shaath, the organization maintains that Israel has prevented committee members from entering Gaza to begin their duties.
Netanyahu’s office did not respond to inquiries regarding Hamas’ territorial control. However, an unnamed Israeli government representative rejected any future involvement by the group as a “twisted fantasy,” declaring: “Hamas is finished as a governing authority in the Gaza Strip.”
Israeli military leadership declined commentary on Hamas’ claims.
Military sources indicate that Hamas, which continues to refuse disarmament, has utilized the October ceasefire agreement to reestablish dominance in regions previously occupied by Israeli forces. While Israel maintains control over more than half of Gaza’s territory, nearly all 2 million residents live within Hamas-controlled zones.
Reuters was unable to verify the complete extent of Hamas’ personnel appointments and revenue collection efforts.
The organization has designated five regional governors, all connected to its military wing known as the al-Qassam Brigades, according to two Palestinian sources with direct operational knowledge. Additionally, Hamas has installed new leadership within Gaza’s economic and interior departments, which oversee taxation and security functions, these sources confirmed.
A newly appointed deputy health minister appeared in ministry footage touring Gaza medical facilities released this month.
“Shaath may have the key to the car, and he may even be allowed to drive, but it is a Hamas car,” one source explained to Reuters.
Israeli military analysis appears to support this assessment.
“Looking ahead, without Hamas disarmament and under the auspices of the technocrat committee, Hamas will succeed, in our view, to preserve influence and control in the Gaza Strip,” the military evaluation concluded, initially reported by Israel’s Channel 13 news.
Ismail al-Thawabta, spokesperson for the Hamas-controlled government’s media department, disputed claims of new appointments, explaining that interim replacements were necessary for positions vacated during wartime to “prevent any administrative vacuum” and maintain essential services for residents while peace negotiations continue.
Neither the U.S. State Department nor Shaath’s National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) immediately provided responses to requests for comment.
A source familiar with the 15-member NCAG indicated awareness of Hamas’ activities and expressed dissatisfaction with these developments.
On Saturday, the committee released a statement calling on international mediators to accelerate resolution of pending issues, noting it cannot fulfill its responsibilities “without the full administrative, civilian, and police powers necessary to implement its mandate effectively.”
The establishment of Shaath’s committee in January initiated the subsequent phase of Trump’s Gaza war resolution strategy, despite incomplete fulfillment of first-phase requirements, including complete cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
The Board of Peace anticipates receiving progress reports on the committee’s activities Thursday.
Trump is also expected to announce participating countries that will provide personnel for a U.N.-authorized stabilization force and assist in training new Palestinian police units, which the NCAG would supervise.
Hamas seeks to integrate 10,000 of its police officers into the new force, Reuters previously reported. This includes hundreds from its influential internal security division, which has merged with police operations, according to two Gaza sources.
Hamas did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding this claim.
When asked whether Israel would address Hamas’ entrenchment concerns during Thursday’s meeting, Netanyahu’s office provided no comment.
Israel has repeatedly stated its opposition to any Hamas involvement in Gaza following the group’s October 2023 attack on southern Israel, which killed over 1,200 people according to Israeli records. Israel’s subsequent air and ground offensive has resulted in more than 72,000 deaths, according to Palestinian health ministry figures.
“Dismantling Hamas governing capabilities” in Gaza was identified as a primary objective of Israel’s military campaign.
Hamas assumed territorial control following a brief 2007 civil conflict with political rival Fatah. Since then, government ministry and municipal appointments have been determined by Hamas’ political leadership, which also established an independent civil service employing tens of thousands.
Currently, at least 14 of Gaza’s 17 ministries are operational, compared to five during peak warfare, according to Israeli military documentation. Additionally, at least 13 of 25 municipalities have resumed services.
Hamas spokesperson Thawabta characterized “this relative recovery” as unrelated to “political considerations.”
“The organisational measures taken during the past period were necessary to prevent the collapse of the service system and do not conflict with any future arrangements agreed upon,” he stated to Reuters.
According to sources, Hamas appointed five governors and four mayors to replace individuals killed or removed during the conflict. The selection of candidates with armed wing connections for gubernatorial positions was intended to suppress criminal gangs, some of which had received weapons and funding from Israel, sources explained.
Netanyahu acknowledged Israeli support for anti-Hamas tribal groups in June, though Israel has disclosed limited details.
Following a violent crackdown against opponents during the truce’s initial weeks, Hamas has concentrated on maintaining public safety and collecting taxes within its portion of the “yellow line” demarcating Israeli and Hamas territories, according to Israeli military officials and Gaza sources.
“There is no opposition to Hamas within the yellow line now, and it is taking over all economic aspects of daily life,” an Israeli military official told Reuters.
Gaza political analyst Mustafa Ibrahim reported that theft and robbery have ceased.
“Hamas is trying to organise markets and streets through the traffic police,” Ibrahim observed. “Police stations have reopened… The tax department and economy ministry are working and collecting.”
Hamas primarily collects revenue from private sector businesses, according to military documents. This includes fees imposed on Gaza merchants importing smuggled items such as cigarettes, batteries, solar panels, and mobile phones, according to three additional sources, including one merchant.
The organization has generated hundreds of millions of shekels through cigarette smuggling taxes since the war began, according to an Israeli indictment filed this month against a suspected smuggling network that includes Israeli reservists deployed in Gaza.
Hamas has continued salary payments to government employees and fighters, averaging approximately 1,500 shekels (about $500) monthly, according to at least four Hamas sources.
“Every moment of delay in allowing the technocratic committee to enter the Gaza Strip leads to the imposition of a de facto reality,” stated Palestinian political analyst Reham Owda, “increasing the administrative and security control of the Hamas government in Gaza.”
Chemical giant Bayer’s Monsanto division has unveiled a massive $7.25 billion settlement proposal designed to resolve tens of thousands of current and future cancer lawsuits linked to its popular Roundup herbicide. The company is positioning this agreement as the long-sought solution to end years of costly legal battles.
The proposed settlement, which requires court approval, would establish a compensation fund distributed over as many as 21 years. This program would provide payments to individuals claiming their non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis resulted from Roundup exposure.
Compensation amounts would be determined by several factors including the claimant’s age, level of exposure, and cancer severity. Workers with occupational exposure who received aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnoses before turning 60 could expect average payments of $165,000. Meanwhile, qualifying patients over 78 years old would receive $10,000.
The agreement aims to address most of the 65,000 existing claims currently pending in state and federal courtrooms nationwide. Additionally, it would provide compensation for individuals who used Roundup and later develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the coming years.
However, the level of plaintiff support remains uncertain. While Bayer states that multiple law firms representing Roundup claimants back the settlement, the company hasn’t revealed specific numbers. Bayer retains the right to withdraw from the agreement if insufficient plaintiffs participate, though they won’t specify the minimum participation threshold required.
The negotiating attorneys are seeking to represent all current and future claimants rather than guaranteeing specific client numbers for the deal. Legal experts suggest Bayer’s approach of creating a new class action to override existing cases, rather than addressing current claims directly, may face resistance from claimants or the presiding judge.
Several major law firms are still evaluating the proposal, with at least one already expressing opposition to the settlement terms.
The extended 21-year timeframe is specifically designed to capture future cancer claims and compensate people who used Roundup before February 17, 2026, and subsequently develop cancer. Bayer didn’t eliminate glyphosate—Roundup’s active ingredient that plaintiffs claim causes cancer—from residential products until 2023. Since non-Hodgkin lymphoma may have a latency period of a decade or longer, new claims could emerge for years to come.
The settlement mandates yearly public notifications to inform potential future claimants, who would have two years following their cancer diagnosis to decide on participation.
Bayer is gambling that future claimants will choose the settlement over the uncertainty of litigation. However, since individuals can decline participation, the company may still face jury trials in the future. Previous verdicts demonstrate the significant financial risks involved—while Bayer has won several recent Roundup trials, plaintiffs have secured substantial judgments, including a $2.1 billion Georgia jury award in 2025 and a $332 million California verdict in 2023.
A crucial Supreme Court case adds another layer to Bayer’s legal strategy. Oral arguments are scheduled for April 27 in a case that could determine whether Bayer can face state law lawsuits for allegedly failing to warn about Roundup’s cancer risks when federal regulations don’t mandate warning labels.
A favorable Supreme Court ruling could eliminate thousands of claims potentially worth billions in damages, as most current litigation relies on failure-to-warn theories. Even with a Supreme Court victory, plaintiffs might pursue alternative legal theories, making the settlement important for addressing other potential liability risks.
The proposed agreement doesn’t guarantee complete legal closure for Bayer. The deal could collapse without adequate support, or courts could reject it entirely. Even if finalized, there’s no mechanism to force all claimants to participate, as current and future plaintiffs retain the right to opt out and pursue individual claims.
Should both the settlement gain approval and the Supreme Court rule in Bayer’s favor, plaintiffs would face increased pressure to resolve their claims through the settlement, which could provide faster compensation, particularly if the high court makes litigation more challenging.
Markets across Asia remained subdued Thursday as many regions continued observing Lunar New Year festivities, while global investors kept a watchful eye on mounting tensions between the United States and Iran that could spark the next major geopolitical crisis.
The two countries have maintained a contentious relationship centered around Iran’s nuclear program, with American officials claiming Iran harbors military intentions while Iranian leaders maintain their nuclear activities serve peaceful purposes. Although this week’s diplomatic discussions in Geneva showed some advancement, the White House confirmed Wednesday that significant gaps remain between the nations.
According to a senior U.S. official speaking to Reuters, Iran plans to present a proposal outlining potential solutions to resolve the ongoing disputes.
However, heightened American military presence in the oil-rich region has kept market watchers anxious. Rabobank Senior Global Strategist Michael Every warned that risks favor a potential U.S. military action after markets close Friday, suggesting any such operation would likely extend for weeks rather than concluding by Monday’s market opening.
These concerns have driven oil prices higher, building on gains from the previous trading session as fears mount over possible supply interruptions. Thursday saw Brent crude futures climb 0.36% to reach $70.60 per barrel, while U.S. crude increased 0.43% to $65.47.
In contrast, equity markets found support from renewed enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence developments, particularly after Nvidia revealed this week a multi-year agreement to supply Meta Platforms with millions of current and next-generation AI processors.
Market analysts noted this announcement provided crucial relief for technology shares, which had declined this month due to concerns about excessive valuations and uncertainty regarding when AI investments might translate into meaningful revenue increases.
Currency markets saw the U.S. dollar strengthen after Federal Reserve meeting minutes revealed no urgency to reduce the central bank’s benchmark interest rate, with multiple officials expressing willingness to implement increases if inflation remains persistent.
The released minutes exposed internal disagreements at the Fed, especially regarding artificial intelligence’s impact on America’s economy, with some policymakers anticipating a productivity surge that could help control inflation, while others warned that substantial AI investments might create financial instability.
Thursday’s key market-moving events include Walmart’s earnings report, weekly U.S. unemployment claims figures, and speeches from Federal Reserve officials Bostic, Bowman, Kashkari, and Goolsbee.
BEIJING — While President Donald Trump implements tariffs against various nations, China is seizing the opportunity to restructure international commerce in ways that could shield its $19 trillion economy from American influence for decades to come.
According to a Reuters investigation, Beijing is taking advantage of the disruption caused by Trump’s policies to integrate China’s massive manufacturing sector into major economic partnerships worldwide, including deals with the European Union, Gulf nations, and trans-Pacific trading groups. This strategy involves fast-tracking approximately 20 trade agreements that have been under development for years, despite global concerns about China’s excess production capacity, limited market openness, and weak domestic consumer spending.
An analysis of 100 Chinese-language publications by government-supported trade experts since 2017 shows a coordinated effort by China’s policy consultants to counter U.S. trade strategies and undermine Washington’s efforts to limit Chinese economic influence.
China is now implementing this strategy. The agreement signed with Canada during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s January trip to Beijing — reducing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles — represents the first of multiple deals designed to diminish U.S. economic leverage, according to conversations with 10 sources including Chinese government representatives and trade officials.
“Don’t interrupt your opponent when he is making a mistake,” commented one Chinese official regarding Trump’s disruptive trade policies.
The analysis, based on more than 2,000 trade strategy documents endorsed by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Peking University, which provide guidance to senior leadership, demonstrates that policy experts widely believe that difficult structural adjustments are worthwhile for China’s long-term control of international trade. These document contents are being disclosed publicly for the first time.
If Beijing succeeds, it could overturn more than ten years of American trade policy by positioning itself as the center of a new, Chinese-influenced multilateral system, according to two Western diplomatic sources.
“The Chinese have a golden opportunity now,” stated Alicia Garcia Herrero, senior fellow at the Bruegel think tank.
China’s commerce ministry did not respond to requests for comment regarding Beijing’s approach.
When asked about China’s strategy, a U.S. official told Reuters it was predictable that nations with significant trade surpluses would try to preserve globalization.
“President Trump is fixing the problems globalization caused for the United States while other countries are trying to double down on globalization as free market access to the United States goes away,” the official stated.
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS
The change in China’s messaging reflects its strategic thinking. Twelve months ago, Beijing was using military-style rhetoric, referencing Mao Zedong and China’s resistance against Western forces during the Korean War.
Currently, as China prepares for Trump’s April visit, its diplomats are traveling globally, encouraging trade partners to join in protecting multilateral cooperation and open commerce.
In January, China sent its senior diplomat to small nation Lesotho — initially targeted by Trump with a 50% tariff — to promise development assistance. On Saturday, state media announced China would eliminate tariffs on imports from 53 African nations. Meanwhile, China is promoting AI-enhanced customs technology to neighboring countries and working to modernize digital infrastructure supporting international trade.
These actions highlight an objective outlined in policy documents: to integrate China so thoroughly into global trade networks that partners cannot afford to disconnect under U.S. pressure.
“In countering U.S. strategic competition with China, ‘anti-decoupling’ should become China’s primary focus,” wrote Ni Feng, fellow at CASS’s Institute of American Studies, in 2024.
Chinese representatives are now working to expedite delayed trade negotiations. Since 2017, China has been in discussions with nations including Honduras, Panama, Peru, South Korea and Switzerland.
“We are willing to negotiate bilateral and regional trade and investment agreements with interested countries and regions,” commerce ministry spokesperson He Yongqian told Reuters during Carney’s visit, without providing details.
China’s foreign minister Wang Yi caught European negotiators off guard in November by suggesting a free-trade agreement with Brussels during discussions with his Estonian counterpart.
One month later, Wang urged the Gulf Cooperation Council to finalize ongoing free-trade negotiations. In January, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to begin a feasibility study for a services trade agreement that could lower barriers for British companies. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced plans to pursue “strategic partnerships” with China during an upcoming trip.
China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao has made membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) a top priority. This agreement originated from the U.S.-supported Trans-Pacific Partnership, created partly to counter China before Washington withdrew in 2017.
However, China’s massive trade surplus complicates these efforts. Some member nations worry Chinese manufacturers might use improved market access to export excess low-cost products while China’s domestic consumption remains weak.
Wendy Cutler, chief negotiator during the Obama administration for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, recognized Beijing’s opportunity to promote trade and multilateralism but emphasized China needed to move beyond rhetoric.
“And with its huge trade imbalances, as well as some of the coercive measures it’s now taking against countries like Japan, it’s hard to see how they’re walking the walk,” Cutler told Reuters.
A senior European trade diplomat characterized Beijing’s proposals as “pure Chinese propaganda,” stating Brussels had no intentions for a trade agreement.
Chinese advisers remain determined. Speaking to Reuters, one referenced the EU and China’s landmark 2020 investment agreement negotiated during Trump’s first presidency. However, the deal was suspended in 2021 before implementation due to disputes over human-rights sanctions.
STRATEGIC INSIGHTS
Some Chinese advisers argue in the documents that Beijing should examine how Washington has “weaponized” international organizations to contain China, and take advantage of opportunities created by Trump’s willingness to abandon or marginalize multilateral institutions like the World Trade Organization.
Others suggest Beijing should concentrate on shaping global standards in areas such as intellectual property through programs like Xi’s Belt and Road initiative and China’s participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, covering approximately 30% of worldwide GDP.
China is now implementing these strategies.
Its recently enhanced agreement with Southeast Asian nations, for instance, emphasizes AI-driven and digital commerce, where China aims to establish early dominance.
China’s customs processing vision is demonstrated at its “Friendship Port” on the Vietnamese border, where state media reports domestically-developed AI technology has reduced waiting times by 20%, enabling faster deliveries. Reuters could not independently confirm this claim.
MASSIVE TRADE SURPLUS
The challenges that China’s $1.2 trillion trade surplus creates for trading partners’ manufacturing industries are difficult to ignore.
Pascal Lamy, former WTO director-general and EU trade commissioner, said Chinese companies are exporting more goods to Europe than the region can handle.
“It’s a mystery how, given the nature of the regime, given the sort of collective cleverness, how is it that they have not succeeded in rebalancing their economic model?” he stated.
Not everyone views closer Chinese relationships as the best method to reduce U.S. dependence.
Stephen Nagy, China project lead at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa, said Carney’s tariff-reduction agreement with Xi appears intended to create negotiating power before discussions over the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement.
“I think his bet is wrong,” he added, predicting Trump would not be influenced.
Carney has stated Canada honors its USMCA commitment to avoid free-trade agreements with non-market economies. His office did not respond to comment requests.
Mexico, meanwhile, is cautious about risking U.S. market access by developing closer Chinese ties.
“We see no need for a free-trade agreement with China right now,” said a Mexican trade official. “We are already in the CPTPP and have 60% of world GDP covered.”
Beijing’s trade partners genuinely need China to boost its consumer spending, said Fred Neumann, chief economist for Asia Pacific at HSBC.
Wang, China’s commerce minister, has stated that increasing imports is a priority as Beijing prepares to unveil its next five-year plan in March, consistent with commitments to raise consumption’s portion of GDP.
But economic rebalancing is a long-term undertaking. Trump has three years remaining in office, and the following administration could return to building coalitions to contain China.
China must “study in depth the logic of U.S. actions within international institutions and the possible next steps it may take to better respond to increasingly fierce strategic offensives in the future,” Zhao Pu, then at Renmin University and now a researcher at CASS’s Institute of American Studies, wrote in 2023.
Stock markets throughout Asia climbed Thursday, following a strong performance on Wall Street powered by semiconductor leader Nvidia.
However, U.S. market futures dipped slightly while crude oil prices increased amid growing media speculation about potential military confrontation with Iran.
President Donald Trump continues to evaluate possible military action against Iran while his administration increases military presence in the region and maintains indirect negotiations with Tehran regarding its nuclear activities. These developments have sparked fears that any military strike could escalate into broader Middle Eastern warfare.
Trading remained suspended in Greater China due to Lunar New Year celebrations, though several other regional markets resumed operations.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 climbed 0.8% to reach 57,582.93, while South Korea’s Kospi surged 2.8% to 5,661.22 as trading resumed after earlier holiday closures.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.9% to finish at 9,088.70.
Markets across Southeast Asia showed strong performance, with Thailand’s SET rising 0.9%. India’s Sensex posted modest gains of 0.1%.
During Wednesday’s European session, London’s FTSE 100 jumped 1.2% following fresh inflation data that strengthened predictions the Bank of England might reduce interest rates soon.
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 increased 0.6% to 6,881.31 while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3% to 49,662.66. The Nasdaq composite advanced 0.8% to 22,753.63.
Nvidia drove market gains with a 1.6% increase after Meta Platforms revealed an extensive partnership utilizing millions of Nvidia chips and additional hardware for Meta’s artificial intelligence data facilities.
“No one deploys AI at Meta’s scale,” stated Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Given Nvidia’s position as Wall Street’s most valuable company, its stock movement served as the primary force driving the S&P 500 upward.
This performance highlighted artificial intelligence development’s positive impact on U.S. markets. However, investors have recently concentrated on AI’s potential negative effects, creating volatile price movements.
Meta’s shares initially dropped as much as 1.7% before bouncing back to close up 0.6%.
Another concern involves AI’s potential to develop cost-effective tools for complex tasks, which could threaten businesses across diverse sectors including software development, legal services, and transportation logistics. Investors have rapidly sold shares of companies perceived as vulnerable, adopting what analysts describe as a “shoot first-ask questions later” approach.
Multiple corporate earnings reports contributed to Wednesday’s stock gains, extending what has been a robust reporting period for major S&P 500 companies.
Beyond earnings announcements, Moderna soared 6.1% after announcing that Food and Drug Administration regulators would review its flu vaccine candidate following an earlier rejection.
In bond markets, Treasury yields increased following economic reports that exceeded economist predictions. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 4.08% from Tuesday’s close of 4.05%.
One report showed industrial production expanded more than anticipated last month. Another indicated orders for computers, fabricated metal products, and other durable manufactured goods rose beyond December forecasts when excluding aircraft and transportation equipment. A third report revealed homebuilders started construction on more new homes in December than expected.
Such robust economic data might encourage the Federal Reserve to maintain current interest rates.
The Fed has paused rate reductions, though many Wall Street observers anticipate resumption later this year. The prevailing expectation points to summer timing, coinciding with a new Fed chair’s scheduled appointment.
Wednesday’s released minutes from the Fed’s most recent meeting revealed many officials prefer seeing further inflation decline before supporting additional rate cuts this year.
Reduced rates can stimulate economic growth and investment prices, but risk intensifying inflation.
In early Thursday trading, U.S. benchmark crude oil rose 30 cents to $65.36 per barrel. Brent crude, the international benchmark, increased 27 cents to $70.62.
Gold and silver prices remained stable.
Bitcoin’s value declined 1.3% to approximately $67,000.
SEOUL, South Korea — Ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in a Seoul courtroom Thursday to learn whether he’ll face the ultimate punishment for rebellion charges connected to his failed martial law declaration.
The charges stem from what experts call South Korea’s worst political upheaval in decades, when Yoon declared martial law and deployed military forces to encircle the national legislature on December 3, 2024.
Prosecutors are pushing for capital punishment against Yoon, arguing his actions threatened the nation’s democratic foundations and warrant the harshest available penalty.
However, legal experts widely anticipate a life imprisonment sentence instead, noting that Yoon’s bungled power seizure didn’t lead to deaths. The country hasn’t carried out an execution since 1997, maintaining what’s effectively a freeze on death sentences while abolition advocates push for reform.
Seoul Central District Court Judge Jee Kui-youn was scheduled to announce the ruling and punishment Thursday.
Outside the courthouse, competing demonstrations unfolded as Yoon’s transport arrived under heavy police presence. His backers voiced support while opponents demanded his execution.
The court will simultaneously decide cases against seven former military and law enforcement leaders accused of implementing Yoon’s martial law order, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun.
The conservative leader has justified his martial law declaration as essential to counter liberal opposition lawmakers he branded as “anti-state” forces blocking his political agenda through their parliamentary control.
The emergency order survived roughly six hours before collapsing when enough legislators broke through military barriers and voted unanimously to overturn it.
Parliament suspended Yoon from his presidency on December 14, 2024, following his impeachment, and the Constitutional Court officially ousted him in April 2025. He’s remained in custody since July while battling various criminal cases, with the rebellion charge carrying the severest potential consequences.
A separate court handed Yoon a five-year prison term last month for resisting detention, creating fraudulent martial law documents, and bypassing required Cabinet consultations before announcing the measure.
Seoul Central Court has also found two of Yoon’s Cabinet officials guilty, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who received 23 years behind bars for trying to validate the decree through forced Cabinet approval, document falsification, and perjury. Han is challenging that conviction.
WASHINGTON — A scene of political cooperation unfolded in the nation’s capital this week that has become increasingly uncommon in today’s polarized environment.
Republican Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Democratic Maryland Governor Wes Moore appeared together on stage, exchanging friendly banter and praise rather than the heated rhetoric that typically dominates political discourse. The two leaders represent the National Governors Association, among the few remaining bipartisan organizations in American politics.
The association is conducting its yearly gathering this week, though maintaining its reputation as a haven from political division may prove challenging. President Trump has departed from longstanding protocol by choosing not to extend invitations to all governors for the customary White House reception and dinner.
Trump has publicly criticized Stitt, who serves as the NGA’s chairman, labeling him a “RINO” (Republican in name only). The president has also continued his disputes with Moore, the organization’s vice chairman, holding him responsible for a sewage incident involving a federally overseen pipeline.
This departure from established customs mirrors Trump’s overall strategy for his second presidency. He has adopted an adversarial position toward certain states, threatening to withhold federal funding or deploy military personnel despite local officials’ opposition.
As the Republican-led Congress appears reluctant to check Trump’s authority, numerous governors are positioning themselves as a balance against White House power.
“Presidents aren’t supposed to do this stuff,” remarked Utah Governor Spencer Cox regarding the growth of executive authority in recent years. “Congress needs to get their act together. And stop performing for TikTok and actually start doing stuff. That’s the flaw we’re dealing with right now.”
Cox, also a Republican, stated that “it is up to the states to hold the line.”
Moore shared similar views during his conversation with The Associated Press.
“People are paying attention to how governors are moving, because I think governors have a unique way to move in this moment that other people just don’t,” he explained.
Despite these challenges, governors maintained a positive outlook during Wednesday’s discussions and interviews. Stitt described the conference as “bigger than one dinner at the White House.” Moore anticipated “this is going to be a very productive three days for the governors.”
“Here’s a Republican and Democrat governor from different states that literally agree on probably 80% of the things. And the things we disagree on we can have honest conversations on,” Stitt commented while seated next to Moore.
Disputes over White House event invitations highlighted the week’s uncertainties. During the ongoing disagreement, Trump clashed with Stitt and declared that Moore and Colorado Governor Jared Polis were excluded because they “are not worthy of being there.”
Whether the cooperative spirit demonstrated Wednesday evening will persist throughout the conference and beyond remains uncertain.
“We can have disagreements. In business, I always want people around me arguing with me and pushing me because that’s where the best ideas come from,” Stitt noted. “We need to all have these exchange of ideas.”
WASHINGTON — Maryland Governor Wes Moore finds himself repeatedly in President Donald Trump’s crosshairs, but the Democratic leader says he harbors no ill will toward the commander-in-chief.
Trump has excluded Moore from an upcoming White House gathering with state leaders from across the political spectrum, declaring the governor “not worthy” of attending. The president has also blamed Moore for a sewage leak contaminating the Potomac River, despite the damaged pipeline being under federal jurisdiction.
Additional friction may arise as Moore, currently the nation’s sole Black governor, pushes to restructure Maryland’s congressional districts to benefit Democrats. This effort is part of a broader national map-drawing fight that Trump initiated to aid Republican prospects in upcoming midterm races.
Speaking with reporters Wednesday during the National Governors Association’s annual Washington conference, Moore addressed the president’s escalating attacks with measured restraint.
Regarding Trump’s blame for the Potomac sewage incident, Moore called the situation almost laughable if it weren’t so serious. “This is a Washington, D.C., pipe that exists on federal land. How this has anything to do with Maryland, I have no idea. I think he just woke up and just said, I hate Maryland so I’m just going to introduce them into a conversation. This literally has nothing to do with us, with the exception of the fact that when we first heard about what happened, that I ordered our team to assist Washington, D.C.,” Moore explained.
When asked whether Trump’s criticism feels personal, Moore took the high road. “I know it’s not for me. I have no desire to have beef with the president of the United States. I didn’t run for governor like, man, I can’t wait so me and the president can go toe to toe. I have no desire on that. But the fact that he is waking up in the middle of the night and tweeting about me, I just, I pray for him and I just feel bad for him because that has just got to be a really, really hard existence,” he said.
The governor, who serves as vice chair of the National Governors Association and is often mentioned as a potential Democratic presidential contender, defended his redistricting efforts as a response to Trump’s actions. “All we’re asking for is a vote. And however the vote goes, however the vote goes. But that’s democracy,” Moore stated after meeting with Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Moore characterized his redistricting push as necessary oversight rather than partisan politics. “I don’t look at it as I’m doing it because I’m trying to help a party per se. I’m doing it because I think we have an unchecked executive and right now Congress does not seem interested in actually doing its job and establishing real checks and balances,” he explained.
He placed responsibility for the current redistricting battles squarely on Trump’s shoulders. “This would not be an issue had it not been for Donald Trump saying, you know what, let me come up with every creative way I can think of to make this pain permanent. And one of the ways he did was he said, let’s just start calling states — the states I choose — to say let’s have a redistricting conversation mid-decade. This would not even be an issue had Donald Trump not brought this up and introduced this into the ecosystem.”
When questioned about Trump’s relationship with Black Americans during Black History Month, Moore pointed to what he sees as a troubling pattern. “Listen, I think the president has long had a very complicated history with the Black community. We’re talking about a person who has been sued from his earliest days from his treatment of Black tenants. We’re talking about a person who is one of the originators of birtherism. We’re talking about a person who has now spent his time trying to ban books about Black history, a person who has spent his time now doing the greatest assault on unemployment of Black women in our nation’s history. You know, so, I’m not sure what anyone is going to gain from an event by Donald Trump about Black history.”
Looking at the broader political landscape, Moore emphasized governors’ crucial role as “the final line of defense” and stressed the importance of remaining true to one’s principles. “You stay consistent with who you are. I think if you’re a polarizing person or polarizing personality, then that’s just who you are. That’s just never been me,” he concluded.
MINNEAPOLIS — A staffing crisis at Minnesota’s federal prosecutor’s office has allowed dangerous criminals to walk free as career attorneys abandon their posts over disagreements with current administration policies.
The chaos enabled repeat offender Cory Allen McKay, with a dozen felony convictions spanning three decades, to escape justice. McKay, whose violent history includes choking a pregnant woman and placing a shotgun beneath someone’s chin, was facing methamphetamine trafficking charges that carried a potential 25-year sentence. However, when his assigned prosecutor retired unexpectedly, authorities dropped the case entirely.
The Trump administration credits its strict immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota with enhancing community safety. However, this approach has severely damaged the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where numerous prosecutors have expressed frustration with how Trump’s Justice Department appointees have managed operations.
Similar resignation waves have struck prosecutor offices nationwide, from New York to Virginia, as attorneys protest what they perceive as political interference in legal decisions under Trump’s leadership. Minnesota’s office has experienced particularly severe impacts.
An increasing number of accused criminals like McKay are avoiding consequences as overwhelmed remaining prosecutors must abandon cases, halt investigations before filing charges, and negotiate plea deals and postponements.
Regional authorities express concern that the office may temporarily lose its capacity to prosecute the state’s most dangerous criminals.
“The consequence will be reduced capability to pursue dangerous con artists, sexual predators, violent criminal organizations and narcotics dealers,” stated John Marti, a Minneapolis attorney who previously served as a fraud prosecutor in the office until 2015.
Following a request for additional time to assign someone to McKay’s case, the office under Trump appointee Daniel Rosen dismissed it so suddenly that McKay’s attorney learned of her client’s release only afterward.
“This development completely caught me off guard,” McKay’s attorney Jean Brandl remarked. Though she hasn’t contacted him yet, “I can assure you he’s pleased with this outcome.”
During the past year, the Minnesota office’s assistant U.S. attorney count has dropped from more than 40 prosecutors before Trump’s return to office to under two dozen. This information comes from a former federal prosecutor who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to discuss staffing issues with The Associated Press.
The departures started last year as multiple prosecutors “anticipated changes ahead” regarding their positions and the government’s approach to justice under the new administration, the former federal prosecutor explained.
The situation worsened after Trump’s Justice Department appointees intervened to halt a collaborative state-federal investigation into the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Jonathan Ross. While Trump administration officials labeled Good a “domestic terrorist” and claimed Ross acted in self-defense, some office members considered the killing potentially criminal.
Career prosecutors also opposed orders to redirect significant resources toward immigration cases and were frustrated by repeated ICE violations of court orders that angered judges.
“They could not in good conscience participate in what they have seen,” stated a letter published last week by eight former permanent or acting U.S. attorneys in Minnesota.
Notable departures last month included former acting office leader Joe Thompson and criminal division chief Harry Jacobs. Thompson, a Justice Department veteran recognized for major fraud investigations, worked with Jacobs to expose the $300 million Feeding Our Future scandal, resulting in charges against more than 75 defendants for defrauding a COVID-19-era child nutrition program.
When experienced attorneys depart, leadership evaluates their caseloads and determines how many cases can be transferred to remaining staff and which must be abandoned due to reduced resources.
Court documents reveal the office operating in emergency mode, bringing in out-of-state prosecutors, requesting hearing delays from judges, and attempting to resolve cases through dismissals and plea agreements. Defense attorneys are capitalizing by demanding swift trials and filing motions requiring prosecutor responses.
The Justice Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office have not responded to comment requests. Former office spokesperson and prosecutor Melinda Williams was among those who departed.
McKay, age 47, is not the sole drug trafficking defendant to benefit from this situation.
The office also dismissed a case last month against a man arrested in September after investigators allegedly discovered him with drugs intended for Twin Cities distribution, including 7,600 fentanyl pills and 15 pounds of cocaine.
A third dropped case involved a man charged with methamphetamine distribution conspiracy after Rochester police discovered three pounds of the drug during a January 2025 vehicle search.
“With the mass departures there, it’s creating difficulties for everyone statewide,” said Clay County Sheriff Mark Empting, who described McKay as presenting “a major public safety threat” if he returns to Moorhead. “Hopefully they will reconstruct the office and resume handling these cases.”
McKay’s case originated in 2024 when FedEx workers in Fargo, North Dakota, found a package containing nearly 10 pounds of high-purity methamphetamine shipped from California and addressed to McKay. Police valued the drugs at $80,000 on the street.
An undercover detective disguised as a FedEx worker delivered the package to McKay, leading to his arrest. Investigators claim cellphone searches revealed text messages connecting McKay to suspected drug dealers in Minnesota, California, Chicago and Mexico.
McKay remained in jail nearly a year awaiting state charges before a federal grand jury issued an indictment in May 2025 with two methamphetamine distribution charges. The indictment included enhanced sentencing due to his multiple prior violent felonies.
His record includes aggravated assault in 2013, domestic assault by strangulation in 2017, and assault causing substantial bodily harm in 2021. Prosecutors noted at least a dozen felony convictions, beginning at age 16 when he fired a short-barreled shotgun under a victim’s chin.
Veteran assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Hollenhorst argued last summer that McKay posed too great a danger for pre-trial release, even to substance abuse treatment, stating his violent history would “endanger numerous people.”
A judge concurred, observing McKay’s pattern of missing court appearances, providing false identities to police, and violating probation terms.
However, last month the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Hollenhorst was “retiring unexpectedly” and requested a delay. A judge rescheduled the trial from February 12 to March 2. The office dismissed the case days later without explanation. A judge ordered McKay’s immediate release. Hollenhorst declined to comment.
On January 31, McKay left the Sherburne County Jail in Elk River, 30 miles from Minneapolis. AP attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.
McKay’s attorney Brandl said while the result favored her client, Hollenhorst’s retirement after 40 Justice Department years represented “a significant loss.”
“He was an excellent prosecutor,” she said. “He was fair and viewed our clients as people, not just case numbers.”
ATLANTA — While President Donald Trump juggles multiple policy initiatives including potential military action against Iran and immigration enforcement, his administration says Thursday’s Georgia visit will center on economic messaging to strengthen Republican prospects before crucial midterm elections.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the strategic importance of the trip, stating that “Georgia is obviously a very important state to the president and to the Republican Party.” She indicated Trump’s Georgia speech would emphasize “his efforts to make life affordable for working people.”
The president’s chosen location reveals additional motivations beyond economic messaging. Trump is visiting the congressional district formerly held by Marjorie Taylor Greene, his one-time ally who stepped down in January following public disputes with the president. Voters will select Greene’s replacement in a special election scheduled for March 10.
Despite administration promises to prioritize economic themes — an area where Trump frequently argues he receives insufficient recognition — recent months have been overshadowed by other controversies, including violent incidents during deportation operations in Minneapolis.
Thursday’s schedule reflects Trump’s competing priorities, beginning with a gathering of representatives from over two dozen nations participating in his Board of Peace initiative, an alternative diplomatic framework to the United Nations.
The Georgia appearance occurs just weeks after federal authorities confiscated voting materials and ballots from Fulton County, the state’s most Democratic stronghold.
Georgia remains central to Trump’s persistent and debunked assertions that Democrats fraudulently secured the 2020 presidential election. He reinforced these false claims Wednesday during a White House Black History Month event, declaring: “We won by millions of votes but they cheated.”
Multiple audits, state election officials, judicial rulings, and Trump’s former attorney general have all dismissed allegations of widespread electoral irregularities sufficient to change the outcome.
Several Republicans now advocate for Georgia’s Trump-majority State Election Board to assume control of Fulton County elections, utilizing powers granted by contentious 2021 state legislation. The timing of any potential board action remains uncertain.
When questioned about Trump’s weekend social media hints regarding a possible executive order targeting voter fraud, Leavitt said the president was “exploring his options.”
Trump’s social media post, prominently displayed on his account, branded Democrats as “horrible, disingenuous CHEATERS” and urged Republicans to emphasize such accusations “at the top of every speech.”
The president may face additional criticism from Greene, who has transformed from ardent supporter to prominent conservative opponent. Anticipating Trump’s visit, Greene criticized White House and Republican leadership strategy sessions, suggesting they were “on the struggle bus” regarding healthcare costs affecting her former constituents.
“Approximately 75,000 households in my former district had their health insurance double or more on January 1st of this year because the ACA tax credits expired and Republicans have absolutely failed to fix our health insurance system that was destroyed by Obamacare,” Greene wrote. “And you can call me all the petty names you want, I don’t worship a man. I’m not in a cult.”
Early voting has commenced for Greene’s replacement, with leading Republican contenders expressing strong Trump loyalty.
Trump recently backed Clay Fuller, a district attorney handling prosecutions across four counties. Fuller characterized the presidential endorsement as “rocket fuel” for his campaign and promised to maintain America First policies beyond Trump’s presidency.
Another Republican candidate, former state Senator Colton Moore, gained recognition defending Trump against Georgia legal proceedings. Despite Trump’s Fuller endorsement, Moore claims ongoing communication with the president while calling the endorsement decision “unfortunate.”
“I think he’s the greatest president of our lifetimes,” Moore stated.
Democrat Shawn Harris, who previously challenged Greene in 2024, leads his party’s ticket. While Democrats express optimism about potential victory, the Cook Political Report ranks this district as Georgia’s most Republican.
MINNEAPOLIS — A federal court will consider Thursday whether to extend safeguards for legally admitted refugees in Minnesota who face potential arrest and removal from the country.
Federal Judge John Tunheim issued a temporary court order last month preventing the government from targeting these refugees, stating the case plaintiffs would likely succeed in proving “their detention and arrest, along with the policy used to justify these actions, violate the law.” The judge’s January 28 restraining order expires February 25 unless he approves a longer-lasting preliminary injunction.
Advocacy organizations for refugee rights filed suit against federal authorities in January following the December launch of Operation PARRIS by the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The operation’s name stands for Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening.
Officials described the effort as a “comprehensive initiative” to review cases involving 5,600 Minnesota refugees who had not yet received permanent resident status, commonly called green cards. Federal agencies pointed to fraudulent activity in Minnesota public programs as their reasoning.
The operation was one component of the Trump administration’s wide-ranging immigration enforcement efforts focusing on Minnesota, which included deploying thousands of federal agents to the state. Homeland Security called it their most extensive immigration enforcement action in history. The operation prompted widespread demonstrations following the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. White House border czar Tom Homan said last week the large-scale operation was concluding, though some federal personnel would stay.
According to the legal challenge, ICE agents conducted home visits under Operation PARRIS, detaining refugees and transporting them to Texas detention facilities where they couldn’t access legal representation. Some detainees were subsequently released onto Texas streets and had to arrange their own transportation back to Minnesota, the lawsuit claims.
Tunheim dismissed the government’s argument that it had authority to detain and arrest refugees who hadn’t secured green cards within one year of U.S. arrival. The judge called this position illogical and unreasonable, noting refugees cannot submit permanent residency applications until completing one year in the United States.
In his ruling, which only applies to Minnesota, Tunheim emphasized that refugees undergo thorough screening by multiple government agencies before U.S. resettlement. He noted that none of those detained in the operation had been classified as community threats or flight risks, and none faced criminal charges that could warrant deportation.
The judge referenced specific cases from lawsuit plaintiffs, including an individual identified as U.H.A., a refugee with no criminal background. This person entered the U.S. in 2024 and was detained by ICE on January 18 while traveling to work. “He was stopped, forced from his vehicle, restrained with handcuffs, and held in custody without a warrant or clear justification,” Tunheim wrote.
The judge emphasized that refugees covered by his order had been admitted to the U.S. due to persecution in their native countries. He banned additional arrests under Operation PARRIS and mandated the release and return to Minnesota of all individuals still detained from the operation.
“These individuals are not engaging in criminal activity in our communities, nor did they enter the border illegally. Refugees possess legal authorization to remain in the United States, authorization to work, authorization to live in peace — and crucially, authorization not to face the fear of warrantless or unjustified arrest and detention in their homes or while attending religious services or shopping for necessities,” he stated.
“At its finest, America provides sanctuary for individual freedoms in a world frequently marked by oppression and brutality. We betray that principle when we subject our community members to anxiety and disorder,” he added.
In a subsequent February 9 order, Tunheim denied a government request to remove the temporary restraining order.
Four men wrongly implicated in a notorious 1991 Texas murder case are seeking official recognition of their innocence from a judge on Thursday, including one individual who was originally sentenced to death for the brutal slayings of four teenage girls at an Austin yogurt shop.
State District Judge Dayna Blazey will hear arguments for a formal innocence declaration that would bring closure to the men, their families, and a community that remained haunted by the unsolved crime for more than three decades.
Last year, investigators working cold cases revealed they had identified the actual perpetrator as someone who died during a police confrontation in Missouri back in 1999.
Two of the four original defendants, Michael Scott and Forrest Welborn, plan to attend Thursday’s proceedings. Robert Springsteen, who faced execution after his initial conviction and remained on death row for years, will not be present. Maurice Pierce passed away in 2010.
Travis County District Attorney José Garza emphasized the significance of the moment when announcing the hearing, stating: “It has been over twenty-five years since the four men wrongfully accused have been waiting for the criminal justice system to clear their names.”
An official “actual innocence” determination would enable the men and their relatives to pursue monetary compensation for the time they spent incarcerated.
The victims were Amy Ayers, 13; Eliza Thomas, 17; and sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, ages 17 and 15. All four were restrained, silenced with gags, and executed with gunshots to their heads at the “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt” shop where two held jobs. The perpetrator then ignited the building.
Law enforcement pursued countless tips and investigated multiple bogus admissions of guilt before taking the four men into custody in late 1999.
Courts convicted Springsteen and Scott primarily on confessions both men claimed police had forced from them through coercion. Appeals courts reversed both verdicts during the mid-2000s.
Authorities charged Welborn but never brought him to trial after two separate grand juries declined to issue indictments. Pierce remained behind bars for three years until prosecutors dropped the charges and freed him.
Officials planned to retry Springsteen and Scott, but a judge dismissed all charges in 2009 after advanced DNA testing unavailable in 1991 identified genetic material from an unknown male suspect.
The investigation stalled until 2025, when an HBO documentary series examining the unsolved murders brought renewed public interest to the case.
Authorities announced in September that fresh evidence analysis and reexamination of existing materials identified Robert Eugene Brashers as the killer.
Beginning in 2018, law enforcement had used sophisticated DNA technology to connect Brashers to the strangulation murder of a South Carolina woman in 1990, the sexual assault of a 14-year-old Tennessee girl in 1997, and the shooting deaths of a mother and daughter in Missouri in 1998.
The Austin connection emerged when DNA material collected from beneath Ayers’ fingernail matched Brashers’ genetic profile from the 1990 South Carolina homicide.
Austin detectives also discovered that officers had arrested Brashers at a border checkpoint near El Paso just two days following the yogurt shop killings. His stolen vehicle contained a handgun matching the same caliber used to kill one of the Austin victims.
Investigators noted striking parallels between the yogurt shop crime and Brashers’ other offenses: victims were restrained using their own garments, subjected to sexual assault, and several crime scenes were deliberately set ablaze.
Brashers took his own life in 1999 during an extended police standoff at a motel in Kennett, Missouri.
HONOLULU (AP) — Mason Aiona’s day begins with unwelcome sounds long before dawn breaks over his Hawaiian residence.
However, the 74-year-old retiree says the 3 a.m. rooster calls aren’t his biggest concern. Instead, he spends his days constantly chasing off feral chickens that create holes throughout his property, enduring nonstop noise and wing-beating, and confronting individuals who provide food to these wild birds at a nearby park.
“It’s a big problem,” he said of the roosters, hens and chicks waddling around on the narrow road between his Honolulu house and the city park. “And they’re multiplying.”
Municipalities throughout Hawaii have struggled with widespread fowl populations for numerous years. Honolulu has invested thousands in trapping efforts with minimal success. State legislators are now evaluating potential remedies — including proposals allowing citizens to eliminate wild chickens, classify them as a “controllable pest” on Honolulu public property, and impose penalties on those feeding or abandoning them in parks.
However, what troubles some residents serves as a cultural emblem for others, a tension that has emerged in Miami and additional cities hosting wild chicken populations.
Kealoha Pisciotta, who practices Hawaiian culture and advocates for animals, opposes eliminating feral chickens merely due to inconvenience. Many current chickens trace their lineage to those transported to the islands by original Polynesian travelers, she explained.
“The moa is very significant,” she said, using the Hawaiian word for chicken. “They were on our voyaging, came with us.”
The Hawaiian Humane Society opposes letting residents kill the chickens “as a means of population control unless all other strategies have been exhausted.”
Democratic Representative Scot Matayoshi, who serves the Honolulu suburb of Kaneohe, explained he began developing chicken management legislation after learning from a local elementary educator that the birds were intimidating students.
“The children were afraid of them, and they would kind of more aggressively go after the children for food,” Matayoshi said.
Representative Jackson Sayama explained he proposed the chicken elimination legislation due to currently restricted removal options. The lethal approach would remain up to individual property owners.
“If you want to go old-school, just break the chicken’s neck, that’s perfectly fine,” said the Democrat who represents part of Honolulu. “There’s many different ways you can do it.”
Previous chicken elimination proposals have been unsuccessful over the years, Matayoshi noted. Chicken reproductive control was one concept considered during his neighborhood board tenure.
“I think there are people who are taking it more seriously now,” he said.
Aiona has resided for over three decades in a valley close to downtown Honolulu in his wife Leona’s childhood home. Wild chickens didn’t appear in their area until approximately ten years ago, the couple reported. The bird population expanded significantly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
He witnessed someone remove a chicken from their vehicle, abandon it in the park, and depart, he recalled.
When chickens initially appeared near his residence, he captured one manually and placed it in a plastic garbage container, then transported it to a park close to the airport. “I took off the cover, tipped it over and the chicken ran right out,” he said. “I said … ‘Don’t come back again.’”
However, he soon recognized the labor-intensive approach was pointless.
He personally has no interest in eliminating chickens, preferring someone collect them for relocation to a countryside farm. A municipal trapping initiative costs too much, he noted.
The city employs a pest management company for chicken trapping services. Property owners pay $375 for week-long service, plus $50 for cage rental and $10 per chicken for disposal.
The program captured over 1,300 chickens during the previous year, according to Honolulu Department of Customer Services spokesperson Harold Nedd, who noted the department experienced a 51% rise in feral chicken complaints in 2025.
Wild chickens don’t provide an economical meal option. The meat is more difficult to chew than commercially raised poultry, and these feral birds may carry diseases.
One of Aiona’s neighbors uses a leaf blower to drive them away. “I have a blower, too, but mine is electric,” Aiona said. “It can only go so far with the cord.”
Aiona has grown weary of spending his retirement years instructing park visitors to stop providing food to the chickens. While he doesn’t suggest anyone consume them, he welcomes anyone interested in taking one.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump hosted the first meeting of his newly formed Board of Peace on Thursday, bringing together officials from more than 40 nations and the European Union to discuss rebuilding Gaza and establishing international peacekeeping forces in the war-torn region where a fragile ceasefire continues.
Before the gathering, Trump revealed that board participants have committed $5 billion toward reconstruction efforts, though this represents only a small portion of the estimated $70 billion experts say will be required to rebuild the Palestinian territory following two years of devastating conflict. Attendees are also expected to announce commitments involving thousands of personnel for international security and police operations in the area.
“We have the greatest leaders in the world joining the Board of Peace,” Trump stated to reporters earlier this week. “I think it has the chance to be the most consequential board ever assembled of any kind.”
Originally conceived as part of Trump’s comprehensive 20-point peace proposal to resolve the Gaza conflict, the board’s mission has expanded significantly since the October ceasefire agreement. Trump now envisions the organization taking on a broader role that extends beyond achieving lasting peace between Israel and Hamas to addressing global conflicts worldwide.
However, as the board holds its inaugural session, the Gaza ceasefire remains unstable, and Trump’s expanded ambitions for the organization have raised concerns among some that the U.S. president seeks to establish an alternative to the United Nations. Earlier this week, Trump expressed hope that the board would encourage the U.N. to “get on the ball.”
“The United Nations has great potential,” he remarked. “They haven’t lived up to the potential.”
According to a senior administration official who spoke anonymously, representatives from more than 40 countries and the European Union confirmed their attendance at Thursday’s session. Several nations including Germany, Italy, Norway, and Switzerland, while not board members, are participating as observers.
The United Nations Security Council conducted a high-level session Wednesday addressing the ceasefire agreement and Israel’s expanding activities in the West Bank. Originally planned for Thursday, the U.N. meeting was rescheduled earlier to avoid conflicts with the Board of Peace gathering that would have complicated diplomatic travel arrangements.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin expressed this week that “at the international level it should above all be the U.N. that manages these crisis situations.” The Trump administration responded to these Vatican concerns on Wednesday.
“This president has a very bold and ambitious plan and vision to rebuild and reconstruct Gaza, which is well underway because of the Board of Peace,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated. “This is a legitimate organization where there are tens of member countries from around the world.”
U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz also addressed skeptical allies, emphasizing that the board is “not talking, it is doing.”
“We are hearing the chattering class criticizing the structure of the board, that it’s unconventional, that it’s unprecedented,” Waltz commented. “Again, the old ways were not working.”
A primary focus of Thursday’s discussions involves establishing an armed international stabilization force to maintain security and ensure the disarmament of Hamas militants, which represents both a key Israeli requirement and a fundamental element of the ceasefire agreement.
However, only Indonesia has made a concrete commitment to Trump’s proposed force so far. Hamas has shown little indication of willingness to proceed with disarmament. While the administration acknowledges it is “under no illusions on the challenges regarding demilitarization,” officials report encouragement from mediator feedback, according to a U.S. official speaking anonymously.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto committed to collaborating closely with other prominent Islamic nations invited by Trump to “join in the endeavors to try to achieve lasting peace in Palestine.”
“We recognize there are still obstacles to be overcome, but at least my position is at least we have to try, and we have to do our best,” he said during a Wednesday event at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he engaged with business community members.
Thursday’s agenda includes updates from the Gaza Executive Board, the organization’s operational division, regarding efforts to establish functional government systems and services for the territory, according to the anonymous official who outlined the meeting’s general framework.
Alongside Trump, other scheduled speakers include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, executive board high representative Nickolay Mladenov, and Waltz.
Michael Hanna, U.S. program director at the International Crisis Group, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conflict prevention, indicated that skepticism from some U.S. allies appears justified.
“Without any clear authorization for the expansion of its mandate beyond Gaza, it is unsurprising that many U.S. allies and partners have chosen to decline Trump’s offer to join the board,” Hanna explained. “Instead, many of the states most invested in Gaza’s future have signed up with the hope of focusing U.S. attention and encouraging Trump himself to use the influence and leverage he has with Israel.”
Microsoft has pushed back against allegations that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is utilizing the company’s technology to conduct widespread surveillance of civilians, though the tech giant confirmed it does supply cloud-based services to the federal agency.
The company’s response came after The Guardian published a report Wednesday suggesting ICE has significantly expanded its dependence on Microsoft’s cloud services while intensifying arrest and deportation activities. The news outlet based its findings on internal documents that were leaked.
According to The Guardian’s investigation, ICE increased the volume of information stored on Microsoft’s Azure cloud system by more than 300% during a six-month span ending in January 2026. This timeframe coincided with substantial budget increases and rapid staff expansion at the immigration agency. The report indicated ICE appears to be utilizing multiple Microsoft productivity applications, including artificial intelligence-powered tools, to examine and process data housed in Azure.
A Microsoft representative addressed the allegations in an official statement: “As we’ve previously said, Microsoft provides cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools to DHS (Department of Homeland Security, of which ICE is a part) and ICE, delivered through our key partners.”
The spokesperson added: “Microsoft policies and terms of service do not allow our technology to be used for the mass surveillance of civilians, and we do not believe ICE is engaged in such activity.”
Microsoft called on lawmakers, the executive branch, and judicial system to establish “clear legal lines” defining acceptable ways law enforcement can utilize new technologies.
ICE declined to provide detailed information about investigative methods and tools used in active criminal cases, but stated the agency employs various technological resources to assist in apprehending criminals.
President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policies have drawn criticism from human rights organizations, who argue the approach creates dangerous conditions and fails to provide adequate legal protections. ICE has emerged as the primary face of Trump’s immigration crackdown, particularly following last month’s deadly shootings involving two American citizens.
Trump has defended his administration’s actions, stating they are designed to enhance national security and reduce illegal border crossings.
Technology companies have worked to strengthen relationships with Trump during his current presidential term.
This isn’t the first time Microsoft has faced questions about government use of its services. In September, the company terminated certain services being used by an Israeli military division after initial findings supported media reports of widespread monitoring of Palestinian communications. The connection to Israel’s armed forces had sparked internal company protests, resulting in the termination of some employees who participated.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials have shut down the exit ramp connecting northbound Interstate 295 to Route 141 after a vehicle accident occurred in the area.
The closure is currently impacting traffic patterns as emergency responders and cleanup crews work at the crash site. Motorists traveling northbound on I-295 who planned to exit onto Route 141 will need to find alternate routes.
DelDOT has not yet provided information about when the ramp might reopen or details about the severity of the collision. Drivers are advised to expect delays and plan accordingly if their commute typically includes this route.
New Mexico state authorities announced Wednesday they are examining disturbing allegations that the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein directed the burial of two foreign girls near his secluded ranch property.
The claims surfaced in recently disclosed federal documents, prompting the New Mexico Department of Justice to seek complete, unredacted versions of the materials from federal officials.
“We are actively investigating this allegation and are conducting a broader review in light of the latest release from the U.S. Department of Justice,” stated Lauren Rodriguez, spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Justice, in response to media inquiries about the case.
Federal authorities have not yet responded to requests for comment, and the FBI has declined to provide statements regarding the matter.
Just one day prior, New Mexico’s state legislature initiated its first thorough examination of claims that Epstein sexually victimized girls and women at the Zorro Ranch, located 30 miles south of Santa Fe, spanning over twenty years.
The disturbing allegations originated from a partially censored 2019 email that was included in the most recent batch of Epstein-related documents released by federal justice officials. The message was sent several months following Epstein’s death to Eddy Aragon, a New Mexico radio personality who had previously discussed the Zorro Ranch on his show.
The email’s author, who identified themselves as a former ranch worker, demanded payment of one bitcoin in exchange for videos allegedly taken from Epstein’s residence showing the financier engaging in sexual acts with minors.
During a telephone conversation, Aragon confirmed he considered the email credible and immediately shared it with the FBI. He indicated he never received payment from or maintained further communication with the sender, though he recently attempted to respond but found the email address was no longer active.
According to the censored email sent to Aragon, two foreign girls had been interred on Epstein’s instructions “somewhere in the hills outside the Zorro” and that both had perished “by strangulation during rough, fetish sex.”
A 2021 FBI document, also part of the recent file disclosure, confirmed Aragon visited an FBI facility to report the email, which proposed seven videos documenting sexual abuse and the burial location of two foreign girls at Zorro Ranch in return for one bitcoin.
A review of additional documents within the Justice Department’s releases revealed no other mentions of these specific allegations or investigators’ assessment of the claims.
Federal justice officials cautioned last year that some disclosed files from their Epstein investigation “contain untrue and sensationalist claims,” noting they include anonymous allegations that investigators could not verify, or in certain instances determined to be fabricated.
New Mexico State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard revealed Wednesday that her office discovered the censored email while reviewing the latest Epstein document release.
In a February 10 correspondence to federal justice officials and accompanying statement, Garcia Richard urged both federal and state authorities to thoroughly examine allegations of criminal activity on Epstein’s ranch and surrounding state property.
Epstein had leased approximately 1,243 acres of state land surrounding the ranch in 1993. Garcia Richard terminated these leases in September 2019 after determining Epstein failed to use the property for ranching or farming purposes, instead utilizing it as a privacy barrier around his ranch.
Epstein died in a New York detention facility in August 2019. Officials determined his death was suicide.
Philadelphia Union delivered a commanding performance Wednesday night, overwhelming Defence Force 5-0 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, during the opening match of their CONCACAF Champions Cup first-round matchup.
The Union now holds a commanding advantage heading into the return leg scheduled for February 26 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Should they avoid a historic meltdown in the home match, Philadelphia will earn a spot against Mexican club powerhouse Club America in next month’s round of 16.
The scoring began in the first half when Milan Iloski bent a free kick around the wall and into the near post during the 30th minute. Just two minutes later, Ezekiel Alladoh found the back of the net with a well-placed header to make it 2-0.
Philadelphia’s offensive explosion continued after halftime. Olwethu Makhanya rose high to connect with Iloski’s corner kick service in the 64th minute. Substitute Bruno Damiani then took over the show, netting two goals to complete the rout. His first came in the 69th minute when he finished off a crisp feed from Cavan Sullivan, followed by a penalty conversion to the bottom left corner in the 81st minute.
The Union dominated the statistical categories as well, registering eight shots on goal compared to Defence Force’s single attempt. The Trinidadian squad struggled with discipline throughout the match, collecting four yellow cards before Joevin Jones received a straight red card during stoppage time for bringing down Sullivan on a breakaway opportunity.
Meanwhile, FC Cincinnati also secured a convincing 4-0 victory over O&M FC in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. The Orange and Blue scored twice in each half to take control of their first-leg encounter.
Cincinnati will look to seal their advancement when they return home on February 25. The victorious team from this two-leg series will advance to meet Tigres UANL, who already secured their spot with a 4-0 combined victory over Hamilton, Ontario’s Forge FC last week.
Substitute Ayoub Jabbari provided the finishing touches for Cincinnati with a pair of late strikes. He found the near post from a difficult angle in the 86th minute, then hammered home a half-volley from near the penalty area during the second minute of added time.
Tom Barlow got Cincinnati on the scoreboard early, firing home a rebound with his left foot from distance in the 12th minute. Kevin Denkey extended the lead in the 33rd minute when his 20-yard effort slipped between the legs of O&M goalkeeper Omry Bello.
The twentieth-ranked Texas Tech Lady Raiders delivered a commanding performance Wednesday night, crushing fifteenth-ranked Baylor 87-56 in Lubbock, Texas, behind a stellar bench effort from Snudda Collins who poured in 23 points.
Bailey Maupin contributed 22 points as the Lady Raiders (24-4, 11-4 Big 12) controlled the contest from opening tip to final buzzer, recovering impressively from their weekend defeat to Oklahoma State. Sarengbe Sanogo and Gemma Nunez each chipped in 10 points for Texas Tech, which connected on an efficient 55.7% of their field goal attempts.
Baylor (22-6, 11-4) received 13 points each from Darianna Littlepage-Buggs and Taliah Scott, but the Bears have now posted a 3-3 record since their eight-game victory streak came to an end.
After establishing a 22-15 advantage following the opening quarter, Texas Tech opened the second period with a Sanogo layup followed by a Maupin three-pointer. The margin never shrunk to single digits again, eventually ballooning to as many as 35 points.
In other Top 25 action, top-ranked UConn defeated Villanova 83-69 as Azzi Fudd tallied 25 points while connecting on 4 of 6 attempts from beyond the arc, helping the Huskies preserve their perfect season.
Sarah Strong recorded 21 points and 12 rebounds for UConn (28-0, 17-0 Big East), extending their winning streak to 44 consecutive games dating to last year’s championship team. The Huskies shot an impressive 53.3% from three-point range and 52.5% overall from the field.
Villanova (21-6, 14-4) got 26 points from Jasmine Bascoe and 21 from Denae Carter, but saw their six-game winning streak snapped. The Wildcats held a three-point halftime lead before UConn opened the second half with a decisive 12-2 run.
Twenty-third-ranked Minnesota knocked off tenth-ranked Ohio State 74-61, using a dominant 27-13 third-quarter run to pull away from the Buckeyes in Minneapolis for their ninth straight victory.
The Buckeyes (22-5, 11-4 Big Ten) led 29-26 at intermission, but Minnesota (21-6, 12-4) seized control early in the third quarter. Sophie Hart scored two layups around a Mara Braun three-pointer, then Tori McKinney added another layup to give the Golden Gophers a 35-29 advantage they would not relinquish.
Hart and Braun each finished with 18 points to pace Minnesota’s attack. Amaya Battle recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Grace Grocholski added 12 points. Ohio State received 23 points from Jaloni Cambridge and 17 from Chance Gray.
Twelfth-ranked TCU maintained their Big 12 Conference lead with a 72-50 road victory over Houston, as Marta Suarez posted 21 points and nine rebounds in the wire-to-wire triumph.
Olivia Miles added 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals for TCU (24-4, 12-3 Big 12), which captured its third consecutive win to stay one game ahead of Texas Tech, Baylor and West Virginia in the conference standings.
Houston (7-19, 1-14) managed just one double-figure scorer in Kyndall Hunter, who finished with 20 points. The Cougars have now dropped five games in a row.
Eighteenth-ranked Michigan State reached triple digits for the first time in Big Ten play this season, overwhelming Northwestern 104-68 in East Lansing as five Spartans reached double figures in scoring.
Grace VanSlooten equaled her season-best performance with 22 points for Michigan State (21-6, 10-6 Big Ten). Kennedy Blair nearly recorded a triple-double with 17 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and five steals. Jalyn Brown contributed 15 points, Marah Dykstra had 14, and Sara Sambolic added 13.
Northwestern (8-18, 2-13) got 23 points from Grace Sullivan and 14 from Casey Harter but suffered their eighth consecutive defeat. Despite shooting 51.9% from the field, the Wildcats committed 17 turnovers that Michigan State converted into 22 points.
NBA point guard LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets walked away without harm after being involved in a vehicle collision in downtown Charlotte on Wednesday, according to news reports from multiple outlets.
The basketball star appeared to be in good condition as he stepped out of the driver’s seat of his customized 2022 Hummer following the crash.
Television station WSOC-TV secured dashcam video that captured the collision as it happened.
According to the footage, Ball was driving westbound on Trade Street when he tried to make an unprotected left turn onto Tryon Street, which is a one-way road. At the same time, a Kia sedan was heading eastbound on Trade Street. Ball’s Hummer tried to dodge the oncoming sedan but couldn’t avoid contact, striking the Kia’s front passenger side.
Emergency responders transported the Kia’s driver to a local medical facility with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Tow trucks removed both damaged vehicles from the crash site.
This season, Ball has seen his playing time reduced to career-low levels, currently posting averages of 19.3 points per game along with 7.4 assists and 4.8 rebounds.
KITENGELA, Kenya — In the classrooms of an innovative Kenyan institution, traditional teaching methods have been completely transformed. Rare Gem Talent School has revolutionized education by replacing standard lectures with interactive, sensory-based instruction specifically designed for students living with dyslexia.
While Kenya has made significant strides in expanding educational opportunities, children with learning differences often struggle to keep pace in conventional settings. Rare Gem represents one of only a few educational facilities nationwide that caters specifically to youngsters facing dyslexia and similar learning obstacles, requiring only minor adjustments to standard academic programs.
Research shows dyslexia impacts approximately 10% of all students and creates significant barriers to developing reading skills. Without proper support, this condition could sideline enormous numbers of young people throughout Kenya and the broader African continent.
Student Jason Malak Atati experienced firsthand the difference specialized instruction can make. “Teachers didn’t understand me,” he explained about his previous educational experience. “This school is much better.”
Dennis Omari, who specializes in teaching students with special needs, explained that dyslexic children typically struggle with fundamental literacy skills, often confusing letters such as ‘b’ and ‘p’ or even numbers like ‘9.’ “The early signs to look out for are if children have issues with phonological awareness — not able to listen to exact sounds in a particular language — and when kids fail to read,” Omari noted.
The school tackles these obstacles through what Omari describes as a comprehensive sensory-based teaching strategy, with instructors focusing on different learning preferences. Methods include visual techniques like assigning specific colors to represent different sounds, audio approaches such as teaching spelling through musical patterns, and hands-on activities using physical objects to demonstrate how words are built.
Dorothy Kioko, an instructor at the facility, emphasized the personalized nature of their teaching philosophy. “You teach step by step until the learner gets what you’re teaching, not a lecture method where the teacher stands in front,” she said. “You have to have additional knowledge on how to handle them with patience.”
The institution was established in 2012 by the Dyslexia Organisation Kenya, beginning operations with fewer than 10 pupils. Currently, the school serves approximately 210 students, primarily those with dyslexia, while also supporting children with additional learning differences including autism.
Phyllis Munyi, who founded Rare Gem after witnessing her own son’s struggles with unaddressed dyslexia, stressed the importance of early intervention. “If they are identified early and intervention given early, they improve their skills and learn to identify their talents — and they complete school,” she stated.
Families pay tuition costs of $180 per semester, which falls below fees charged by elite private institutions but remains considerably more expensive than government-funded schools that serve most Kenyan students.
According to Munyi, the primary obstacles preventing children from accessing specialized education like that offered at Rare Gem include social stigma and insufficient awareness, particularly among parents. Additionally, many students arrive having endured harassment at their former schools.
Geoffrey Karani, a Rare Gem graduate who now works as an art instructor there, recalled his own difficult experiences. “In other, normal schools, there was a lot of discrimination, a lot of bullying,” he shared. Karani views mentoring as essential to his current role. “I’m not only teaching, I’m showing kids that I’ve been on the same journey,” he explained.
Kenya has achieved remarkable progress in educational expansion over recent decades, with primary school enrollment climbing from 5.9 million students in 2002 to 10.2 million in 2023—growth that has exceeded population increases.
However, educational opportunities for students with disabilities continue to lag significantly. Despite 11.4% of Kenyan children having special needs, only 250,000 such students participate in the nation’s educational system, according to data from So They Can, a nonprofit organization working to expand educational access across Africa.
Rare Gem potentially demonstrates how to broaden educational access without requiring extensive curriculum overhauls. Rather than creating entirely new academic content, the school adapts Kenya’s standard curriculum to better serve students with dyslexia and other learning challenges, Munyi explained. She emphasized: “The curriculum was not designed as a standalone … nor is it limited to dyslexia.”
Federal immigration officials are facing criticism after a Texas congressman accused them of sending a seriously ill 2-month-old infant back to Mexico despite the baby’s deteriorating health condition.
Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas claimed Tuesday on social media that Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed the infant, who was suffering from bronchitis and had become unresponsive for several hours before being released from medical care.
According to Castro, the baby was sent back to Mexico alongside a 16-month-old sibling and both parents. The congressman said he verified these details through the family’s legal representative.
Castro condemned the action, stating: “To unnecessarily deport a sick baby and his entire family is heinous.”
The lawmaker promised to “hold ICE accountable for this monstrous action.”
However, Department of Homeland Security representative Tricia McLaughlin disputed Castro’s characterization Wednesday, explaining that medical professionals determined the infant was in “stable condition and medically cleared for removal.” She added that doctors provided the parents with nasal saline solution and a bulb syringe for continued treatment.
McLaughlin detailed that Border Patrol agents detained the infant’s mother, Mireya Stefani Lopez-Sanchez, after she illegally crossed near Eagle Pass, Texas, on January 21st.
The mother decided to keep her child with her during the transfer to ICE custody, McLaughlin explained.
“All of her claims were heard by a judge and found not to be valid,” McLaughlin stated.
A federal judge ordered Lopez-Sanchez’s removal on February 8th, and she was sent back to Mexico with her child this past Tuesday, according to McLaughlin.
“She received full due process,” McLaughlin emphasized.
Immigration authorities’ handling of children has faced increased examination since the Trump administration intensified border enforcement efforts.
Public attention recently focused on 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, who was photographed wearing a bunny hat while surrounded by ICE agents in Minnesota last month. A judge subsequently ordered the release of both the child and his father.
The father and son were detained at the same Dilley, Texas family facility where Castro said Lopez-Sanchez and her infant were held.
Previous court documents from last year revealed that families and oversight groups reported problems at federal facilities, including contaminated meals and inadequate access to healthcare and legal representation. The filings also indicated that hundreds of immigrant children remained in federal custody longer than court-imposed time limits, with some detained for more than five months.
According to the National Institute of Health, bronchitis occurs when lung airways become inflamed, resulting in persistent coughing.
Spain’s top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz booked his place in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open quarterfinals following a dominant 6-2, 7-5 victory over French player Valentin Royer during Wednesday’s round of 16 action in Doha.
The world No. 1 controlled the opening set effectively, successfully defending against two break point chances while claiming two service breaks from his opponent. Despite Royer building a commanding 5-2 advantage in the second set, Alcaraz mounted an impressive comeback by capturing 21 of the match’s final 27 points to secure his advancement.
Italy’s second-seeded Jannik Sinner also moved forward with a convincing straight-sets triumph over Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, winning 6-3, 7-5. Remarkably, Sinner has maintained his serve throughout both of his tournament matches without facing a single break point.
The tournament’s lone major surprise came when Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas eliminated fourth-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev with a 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Additional players earning quarterfinal berths included fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev, sixth-seeded Jakub Mensik, seventh-seeded Karen Khachanov, eighth-seeded Jiri Lehecka, and Arthur Fils. All competitors except Khachanov completed their victories without dropping a set.
Delray Beach Open
Hong Kong qualifier Coleman Wong delivered a stunning upset by defeating seventh-seeded American Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 7-6 (4) during round of 16 play in Delray Beach, Florida.
Wong demonstrated exceptional serving prowess, successfully landing 32 of 38 first serves for an impressive 84 percent conversion rate while losing his serve just once during the match. His quarterfinal opponent will be third-seeded Italian Flavio Cobolli, who eliminated France’s Terence Atmane 7-5, 6-4.
In an all-American matchup, Sebastian Korda overcame Alex Michelsen 6-3, 7-6 (6) by capitalizing on four of his 13 break point chances.
Rio Open
Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante scored an unexpected victory over compatriot and tournament top seed Francisco Cerundolo, winning 6-2, 3-1 when Cerundolo withdrew mid-match due to a back injury during round of 16 competition in Rio de Janeiro.
Tirante was in complete control before his opponent’s retirement, firing seven aces and breaking serve three times. He will next meet Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, who rallied from a set down to defeat Italy’s Francesco Passaro 4-6, 7-6 (0), 6-2.
Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Francisco’s older brother, prevailed over Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann 6-4, 6-7 (1), 6-4, while Czech Republic’s Vit Kopriva dominated Argentina’s Roman Andres Burruchaga in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 to also reach the quarterfinals.
Former Victoria’s Secret CEO Leslie Wexner appeared before congressional investigators Wednesday, acknowledging he once set foot on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island while maintaining he knew nothing about the convicted sex offender’s illegal activities.
The 88-year-old retail magnate testified that he terminated his relationship with Epstein approximately 20 years ago and has faced no criminal allegations himself.
Recent document releases by the Justice Department have revealed extensive connections between Epstein and numerous high-profile individuals, spanning both before and after his 2008 guilty plea on prostitution-related charges involving a minor. Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019.
“And, let me be crystal clear: I never witnessed nor had any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activity. I was never a participant nor co-conspirator in any of Epstein’s illegal activities,” Wexner stated in his written congressional testimony.
Congressional investigators questioned Wexner for six hours during the closed-door session.
The L Brands founder brought Epstein on as his financial advisor during the 1980s. Wexner has claimed Epstein misappropriated his funds for unauthorized property and merchandise purchases, leading him to end their association around 2007 when criminal charges first emerged against Epstein.
“To my enormous embarrassment and regret I, like many others, was duped by a world-class con man. I cannot undo that part of my personal history even as I regret ever having met him,” he stated.
Democratic Representative Robert Garcia, serving as the ranking member on the House oversight committee, declared that “there was no single person that was more involved in providing Jeffrey Epstein with the financial support to commit his crimes than Les Wexner.”
Regarding his island visit, Wexner described stopping there briefly with his family during a boat cruise, spending only “a few hours” one morning shortly after Epstein acquired the property.
Wexner maintained that Epstein embezzled “vast sums” from his family’s wealth. “Once I learned of his abusive conduct and theft from my family, I never spoke with Epstein again,” he concluded.
ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Delaware men’s swimming and diving squad delivered strong performances on the opening day of the 2026 Atlantic Sun Swimming & Diving Championships, earning a third-place position after day one of competition.
The Blue Hens demonstrated their competitive strength by securing top-three finishes in three out of the four events they entered during the championship’s first day in Orlando, Florida.
The team’s solid start to the multi-day championship meet positions them well as competition continues at the Atlantic Sun conference tournament.
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Blue Hens women’s swimming and diving squad is sitting in second place following the opening day of competition at the 2026 Atlantic Sun Swimming & Diving Championships.
Delaware’s team secured four third-place individual finishes during Tuesday’s events in Orlando, positioning themselves well for the remainder of the conference championship meet.
The strong opening day performance puts the Blue Hens in contention for a high team finish as the multi-day championship continues in Florida.
NEWARK, Del. – In a devastating finish Wednesday evening, the University of Delaware men’s basketball squad lost a heartbreaking overtime battle against Western Kentucky University by a single point, 88-87.
The crushing defeat brought an end to the Fighting Blue Hens’ three-game victory run and pushed their overall season record to 9-17, while their Conference USA standing fell to 5-10.
Meanwhile, the visiting Hilltoppers boosted their season performance to 15-11 overall and improved their conference record to 8-7 in CUSA play following the narrow victory in Newark.
The nail-biting contest required extra time to determine a winner, with both teams battling through regulation before Western Kentucky managed to edge out the Blue Hens by the slimmest of margins in overtime.
TRUCKEE, Calif. — Search and rescue teams have recovered eight bodies from a catastrophic avalanche near Lake Tahoe, with one skier still unaccounted for in what officials are calling the nation’s most deadly avalanche disaster in nearly 50 years.
The tragedy unfolded with devastating speed, according to authorities.
“Someone saw the avalanche, yelled ‘Avalanche!’ and it overtook them rather quickly,” said Capt. Russell “Rusty” Greene, of the Nevada County sheriff’s office.
Rescue teams pulled six survivors from the snow approximately six hours after the avalanche struck Tuesday morning. The group had been wrapping up a three-day backcountry skiing expedition in Northern California’s Sierra Nevada mountains during a powerful winter storm. Four professional guides were part of the group, with three of them presumed dead. The skiing party consisted of both men and women ranging in age from 30 to 55.
Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon indicated investigators will examine why the expedition continued despite weather warnings issued Sunday. At 6:49 a.m. that morning, the Sierra Avalanche Center had issued an avalanche watch, signaling that significant avalanches were probable within the following 24 to 48 hours.
Before the deadly slide occurred, officials upgraded the watch to a warning status, indicating avalanches were anticipated. It remains uncertain whether the guides received notification of this escalation before departing the backcountry area.
With one individual still missing, the operation has transitioned from rescue efforts to body recovery, Moon explained.
Officials are delaying the release of victims’ identities to allow families time to process the tragedy. “They’re still reeling,” Moon said. “I could not imagine what they’re going through.”
The deceased were discovered in close proximity to each other, Greene reported. Recovery teams have been unable to retrieve the victims due to hazardous mountain conditions.
Between three and six feet of snow has accumulated since Sunday. The region has also experienced below-freezing temperatures and powerful winds. The Sierra Avalanche Center warned that additional avalanche risks persisted Wednesday, leaving the snowpack dangerous and unpredictable in terrain characterized by steep, rocky cliffs.
Emergency beacons and cell phones guided rescue teams through treacherous conditions
Rescue personnel reached the survivors shortly before nightfall Tuesday.
All skiers carried emergency beacons capable of transmitting location signals to rescuers, and at least one guide managed to send text messages. However, it’s unclear whether they had avalanche airbags – inflatable safety devices designed to keep skiers closer to the snow surface, Greene noted.
While awaiting rescue, the survivors constructed emergency shelter using their gear to protect against sub-freezing temperatures. During their wait, they discovered three additional fatalities, Moon said.
Rescue teams utilized a snowcat vehicle to approach within two miles of the survivors, then carefully skied the remaining distance to avoid triggering additional avalanches, the sheriff explained.
One rescued individual remained hospitalized Wednesday, Moon confirmed.
The location near Donner Summit ranks among the snowiest regions in the Western Hemisphere and was restricted to public access until recently. The area typically receives nearly 35 feet of annual snowfall, according to the Truckee Donner Land Trust, which operates a series of mountain huts near Frog Lake where the group had been staying.
This avalanche represents the most fatal in the United States since 1981, when 11 mountaineers perished on Mount Rainier in Washington state. The National Avalanche Center reports that 25 to 30 people typically die in avalanches across the U.S. each winter.
This marks the second deadly avalanche near California’s Castle Peak this year, following a January incident that killed a snowmobiler.
Group was departing wilderness area when avalanche occurred
Greene said authorities learned of the avalanche through Blackbird Mountain Guides, the company organizing the trip, and emergency beacon alerts. The sheriff’s department confirmed Tuesday evening that 15 backcountry skiers participated in the expedition, not 16 as initially reported. One participant had withdrawn from the trip at the last moment, Moon said.
The group was completing their final day of the backcountry adventure after spending two nights in mountain huts, according to Steve Reynaud, an avalanche forecaster with the Sierra Avalanche Center.
Accessing the winter huts requires several hours of travel and demands advanced backcountry expertise, avalanche education, and specialized safety gear. Blackbird Mountain Guides marketed the tour for intermediate-to-expert level skiers.
The Donner Summit area remained closed for nearly 100 years before the Truckee Donner Land Trust and partner organizations reopened it in 2020. Donner Summit takes its name from the tragic Donner Party, a group of 19th-century settlers who turned to cannibalism after becoming stranded during the harsh winter of 1846-1847.
When asked about her thoughts as emergency personnel and volunteers responded to the scene, Moon said she hoped they would reach the location safely. Once they arrived, she said she was “immediately thinking of the folks that didn’t make it, and knowing our mission now is to get them home.”
The artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT announced Thursday it will become the inaugural client of Tata Consultancy Services’ data center operations, starting with a substantial 100-megawatt capacity agreement.
OpenAI revealed that India’s Tata Group also intends to roll out ChatGPT Enterprise throughout its organization in the coming years, with the implementation initially covering hundreds of thousands of workers.
This partnership represents a significant milestone for both companies, as OpenAI expands its infrastructure partnerships globally while Tata strengthens its position in the growing artificial intelligence services market.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Two key Sacramento Kings players will be absent from the court for the remainder of the current season following surgical procedures performed on Wednesday.
Center Domantas Sabonis, who has earned All-Star recognition three times, and guard Zach LaVine both went under the knife to address separate injury concerns that will keep them out of action through the end of the campaign.
The 29-year-old Sabonis had been dealing with a torn meniscus sustained in November, which significantly limited his playing time in recent months. Despite the injury, he managed to contribute 15.8 points per game and led the team with 11.4 rebounds per contest across 19 appearances this season. His participation became increasingly sporadic, featuring in just seven of Sacramento’s final eight January contests and making only a single February appearance.
Sabonis underwent his procedure in Los Angeles and is expected to start his recovery process shortly. Team officials indicated he will undergo medical assessment before training camp begins.
LaVine’s surgical intervention addressed a damaged tendon in his right pinky finger. The 30-year-old shooting guard, whose name circulated frequently in trade discussions at the deadline, is completing his second campaign with Sacramento. Over 39 games, he posted averages of 19.2 points and 2.3 assists per outing.
Additionally, the Kings announced that reserve center Dylan Caldwell received an MRI examination on his left ankle, which revealed a sprain. Medical staff will reassess his condition in one month.
KABUL, Afghanistan — A small child struggles as medical staff place an oxygen mask over his face, the green strap wrapping around his hollow cheeks. The 2½-year-old boy has been battling for survival in a Kabul hospital for weeks.
At just 13 pounds — roughly half his healthy weight — severely undernourished Abu Bakar represents one of the fortunate few: his family managed to bring him to Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital in Kabul for critical medical intervention.
However, countless other starving children cannot access such care.
“We have a catastrophic nutritional crisis on our hands with two-thirds of the country in a very serious or crisis level for acute malnutrition,” said John Aylieff, Afghanistan Country Director for the United Nations’ World Food Program. “This is the highest surge in malnutrition ever recorded in the country. And the lives of 4 million children are hanging in the balance.”
Following decades of warfare, Afghanistan has depended heavily on international assistance. However, when the Taliban seized control in 2021, direct foreign support ceased almost immediately, plunging millions deeper into destitution and starvation. The crisis has worsened due to economic collapse, prolonged drought, two major earthquakes in late 2025, and the deportation of 5.3 million Afghans primarily from Pakistan and Iran.
Currently, reduced funding to relief organizations, including suspended U.S. support for programs like the WFP’s food assistance, has eliminated crucial support for countless people.
“The aid cuts have been devastating,” Aylieff told The Associated Press. Regarding the 4 million severely malnourished children, “we are forced now to turn away three out of four of them because we simply don’t have the money.”
He described this situation as “unprecedented and I’ve never seen this in my more than 30-year-old career as a humanitarian.”
Among 17.4 million people experiencing severe hunger, the organization can currently assist only 2 million. Even those receiving help get reduced food portions.
International donors are stretching limited resources across multiple global emergencies, including Sudan’s famine and conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. The WFP’s Afghanistan budget reached $600 million in 2024 following “very generous” donor contributions, Aylieff noted.
That amount dropped by half last year, with expectations of receiving even less — approximately $200 million — this year. This funding proves insufficient to address hunger that “is spiraling out of control,” he explained.
Abu Bakar’s family experienced this aid reduction firsthand.
“We once received assistance from an organization that helped us a lot with food,” said his mother, Latifa, 36, who, like many Afghans, goes by one name. However, that support ended three years ago, leaving them with nothing since.
Her construction worker husband has remained jobless for a year. Sometimes, she has absolutely nothing to feed her five sons.
“I am trying to provide food for my kids,” Latifa said, cradling her emaciated toddler in her arms. She doesn’t care if she doesn’t eat, she says. “I can control my hunger. I will handle it. But my child can’t.”
Rising hunger correlates with increased child deaths, Aylieff reported, with the WFP documenting over 500 child fatalities in recent months. He emphasized this figure represents “the tip of the iceberg” since many winter deaths occur in snow-blocked villages and go unreported.
“How many more Afghan children will die here before the world wakes up and realizes that that’s enough? Aylieff asked. “Before the world says, ‘OK, we’ve crossed a threshold, we are not willing to stand by anymore, and we’re coming now to help.’ How many? What is the number? I really don’t know.”
Sharara, 21, struggles to save her 6-month-old son Samir from joining those statistics.
Traveling from remote Badakhshan province, the mother of two moved between hospitals there and in Kunduz as medical staff worked to treat her critically ill infant, who suffers from cardiac issues and severe pneumonia worsened by malnutrition.
Finally reaching Kabul’s Ataturk Hospital malnutrition ward, Sharara, who also uses one name, remains deeply concerned.
“Doctors say his condition is currently critical,” she explained. During Samir’s 13-day hospitalization, he hasn’t gained any weight.
Afghanistan’s leadership acknowledges the nation’s hunger emergency and has increased malnutrition treatment centers from 800 to approximately 3,200, Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman informed the AP. During 2025, about 3 million malnourished children and mothers received treatment, he reported.
“Malnutrition is not a one-day problem. Malnutrition has been a problem in Afghanistan for decades due to poverty, war and other problems,” said Zaman, who is also a medical doctor.
Government officials have engaged with aid organizations, he noted, including those reducing funding or halting operations.
“Health is separate from politics. Providing health services is an inalienable right for all people,” Zaman said.
Women face particularly severe hunger impacts. Prohibited from most employment by the Taliban government’s strict women’s restrictions, widowed mothers are extremely vulnerable.
Many express such desperation they wish for death.
“As WFP, we’re getting more and more suicide calls from women because they just don’t know how to feed their children and they don’t know where to turn,” the WFP country director said.
WFP nutrition programs report a 30% surge in severely malnourished pregnant and nursing mothers, an increase Aylieff said nutrition experts had never witnessed before.
“These are the women to whom the world pledged unwavering solidarity in the aftermath of the takeover of the country in 2021. … Those same women are asking us, where is the solidarity of the international community?” Aylieff said.
“If I had one plea, it’s to not walk away from Afghan women who are now facing abject misery, hunger, malnutrition and watching their children die.”
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un showcased 50 new missile launch vehicles during a military ceremony this week, displaying his country’s growing nuclear threat against South Korea just before a significant ruling party gathering.
Kim’s sister, a senior foreign policy adviser, issued a separate statement acknowledging South Korea’s apology for alleged civilian drone flights over North Korean territory, while warning that the North will strengthen border defenses against what she called the “enemy” South.
Diplomatic ties between the two Koreas have remained frozen since 2019, following the collapse of nuclear negotiations between Kim and then-U.S. President Donald Trump over sanctions disputes. Tensions have escalated further as Kim abandoned North Korea’s historic commitment to peaceful reunification, instead promoting a hostile “two-state” approach that may be formally adopted during the upcoming Workers’ Party congress.
Official photographs revealed multiple launcher vehicles positioned outside the April 25th House of Culture, the same location where party congresses took place in 2016 and 2021.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, these vehicles operate 600-millimeter rocket launcher systems. Military analysts note that North Korea’s heavy artillery rockets function similarly to short-range ballistic missiles due to their self-propelled guidance systems. These weapons form part of Kim’s expanding arsenal of nuclear-capable short-range arms intended to overwhelm South Korean missile defense networks.
During his address, Kim described the “wonderful” rocket launchers as featuring artificial intelligence and sophisticated guidance systems designed for “strategic mission” purposes — language typically indicating nuclear capabilities. He announced that the forthcoming congress would outline new strategies to enhance his nuclear-armed forces, which already possess various weapons targeting U.S. regional allies and intercontinental missiles potentially capable of striking American territory.
Kim Yo Jong stated she “highly assesses” South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young’s apology concerning the alleged drone incidents, but warned of forceful retaliation if similar flights occur again. She confirmed plans to enhance military surveillance along the inter-Korean border.
“The border with an enemy state should naturally be firm,” she said.
Minister Chung announced Wednesday that Seoul was exploring the restoration of a suspended 2018 inter-Korean military agreement aimed at reducing border tensions, including establishment of a no-fly zone, as measures to prevent future drone incidents.
Last month, North Korea issued retaliation threats after claiming South Korea conducted surveillance drone operations in September and January. While Seoul’s government has denied official drone activities during those periods, law enforcement officials are investigating three civilians suspected of operating drones over North Korean territory from border regions.
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday his selection of Justin Smith, an attorney who defended him in several major legal battles, to serve as a federal judge on the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in St. Louis.
Smith previously represented the president in the presidential immunity case that went before the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as in the E. Jean Carroll litigation where a jury determined Trump was responsible for sexual abuse and defamation.
According to Smith’s professional profile, he has held multiple legal positions throughout Missouri, including deputy counsel to the governor and deputy attorney general handling special litigation matters.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated: “Justin also played a BIG role in securing a Supreme Court Landmark Victory on Presidential Immunity. He is a true America First Fighter, who will continue to deliver strong results for the American People.”
The Supreme Court decision in 2024 determined that Trump could not face prosecution for actions taken within his presidential authority during his initial term in office, despite facing criminal charges related to his first presidency.
Trump simultaneously announced three additional judicial nominations for Kansas federal district court positions on Wednesday: Kansas Solicitor General Anthony Powell, Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director Tony Mattivi, and Jeffrey Kuhlman.
The president commended these nominees for their dedication to upholding the U.S. Constitution.
Requests for comment from Smith, Kuhlman, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the Kansas attorney general’s office went unanswered.
Since beginning his second presidential term, Trump has put forward more than 40 individuals for federal district and appeals court positions nationwide.
DHAKA, Bangladesh – The newly installed Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman, has committed to keeping food costs under control during Ramadan while working to restore order and rebuild the country’s economy after his party’s overwhelming election win.
The 60-year-old Rahman, whose father was the late President Ziaur Rahman and whose mother is former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, took the oath of office on Tuesday. He inherits a nation facing significant hurdles, including the need to restore political calm, regain investor trust, and revitalize crucial sectors like textile manufacturing following the 2024 unrest that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s administration.
During a broadcast to the nation on Wednesday evening, Rahman offered greetings for the beginning of Ramadan and cautioned merchants against taking advantage of consumers. Food staples including rice, cooking oil, sugar and lentils often see price spikes during the holy month as demand increases.
“Ramadan is a month of self-purification. This period should not increase public hardship,” Rahman said. “Do not treat Ramadan as a month for profit. Ensure essential goods remain affordable.”
The new leader’s comments address ongoing concerns about rising costs. The country’s yearly inflation rate reached 8.58% in January 2026, marking the highest level since May 2025, as food expenses continue pressuring family finances.
Rahman announced his administration would break up market cartels that take advantage of consumers and strengthen protections for both purchasers and vendors.
Establishing better law enforcement and implementing tough anti-corruption policies will top his government’s agenda, he stated. “The rule of law will be the final word in governing the state — not party influence, political power or coercion.”
The prime minister additionally revealed intentions to modernize and expand the country’s railroad system and enhance cooperation between transportation departments to build a unified transit network designed to reduce urban congestion and improve connections throughout the nation.
Investment giant Apollo Global Management issued a statement Wednesday denying that Chief Executive Marc Rowan maintained any ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as newly released documents continue creating controversy throughout corporate America.
In a communication to clients and partners, Apollo stated: “Neither Marc Rowan nor anyone else at Apollo (excluding Leon Black) had either a business or personal relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.”
The recently disclosed Epstein files do not suggest Apollo or its leadership participated in or knew about Epstein’s criminal conduct.
Apollo’s clarification follows a request by two teachers’ unions on Tuesday asking federal securities regulators to examine what they consider “misleading” communications Apollo made to investors. These unions maintain financial stakes in Apollo via their retirement funds.
Company co-founder Leon Black, a billionaire, departed Apollo in early 2021 following corporate governance reforms sparked by scrutiny of his connections to the disgraced financier. Rowan assumed the CEO position after Black’s exit.
An investigation conducted by law firm Dechert LLP, which Apollo previously disclosed, found no evidence of wrongdoing by Black. The review determined that although Black attempted to connect Epstein with his co-founders Rowan and Josh Harris, no Apollo staff member besides Black “ever seriously considered hiring Epstein.”
Recently released Epstein documents show communications between Rowan’s and Epstein’s offices regarding at least five planned meetings between the two men. Reuters was unable to confirm whether these scheduled meetings actually occurred.
“From an Apollo perspective, there’s nothing new in these documents,” the company stated. “In select instances, Mr. Rowan and other Apollo employees provided information to Epstein in connection with his tax work for Mr. Black.”
The document release also reveals that Brad Wechsler, who managed Black’s family office, requested in emails that Apollo personnel include Epstein on materials concerning tax issues for the three Apollo founders’ family offices, including Rowan’s, citing his “substantive expertise.”
Apollo emphasized: “While Mr. Epstein sought to do work with the Apollo co-founders other than Mr. Black, it was declined at every turn.”
The latest document disclosures have intensified examination of Apollo executives following Epstein’s 2008 conviction on prostitution charges, including one case involving a minor. Epstein died in a Manhattan detention facility in 2019 in what authorities determined was suicide.
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and American Association of University Professors President Todd Wolfson wrote to the SEC: “As the Epstein files make clear, Apollo partners Rowan and Harris appear to have consulted with Epstein on numerous personal and professional matters.”
Following congressional directives, the Justice Department has made public numerous documents connecting Epstein to influential figures across politics, finance, academia and business, spanning both before and after his 2008 guilty plea to prostitution charges.
These revelations have also impacted major financial institutions including UBS and Morgan Stanley, which established accounts for Epstein’s trusts from 2015 to 2019, well after his conviction and registration as a sex offender.
The controversy continues to create political challenges for former President Donald Trump, who previously socialized with Epstein during the 1990s and 2000s. Trump has denied knowledge of the financier’s crimes and claims he severed ties in the early 2000s, prior to Epstein’s plea agreement.
A Vietnamese airline has made headlines with one of the largest aircraft purchases in recent memory, announcing Thursday it will acquire 40 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jets in a deal valued at $22.5 billion.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways revealed the massive Boeing order from its headquarters in Hanoi, marking a significant expansion for the carrier. The company stated the new wide-body aircraft will enable it to launch long-distance international operations.
According to the airline’s announcement, the fleet of Dreamliners will position Sun PhuQuoc Airways to offer direct service across continents, with plans to eventually connect Vietnam and the United States through non-stop flights.
HANOI – Three Vietnamese air carriers have committed to purchasing 90 Boeing aircraft in agreements totaling $30 billion, announced Thursday as Vietnam and the United States work toward a new trade arrangement.
The agreements were finalized while Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam visited the United States to participate in the first Board of Peace meeting, an initiative created by President Donald Trump to tackle international conflicts.
Vietnam Airlines entered into an $8.1 billion contract with Boeing for 50 narrow-body 737-8 aircraft, according to the airline’s announcement.
The carrier expects to receive these planes from 2030 through 2032, which will expand its total fleet to roughly 151 aircraft by 2030, the statement indicated.
The national airline is additionally discussing with Boeing the potential acquisition of 30 wide-body aircraft valued at as much as $12 billion.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways, a recently established Vietnamese carrier, also finalized a $22.5 billion agreement with Boeing on Thursday for 40 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Additionally, Vietnamese low-cost carrier Vietjet obtained a $965 million financing arrangement through Griffin Global Asset Management to purchase 6 Boeing 737-8 planes.
Earlier this month, Vietnam expressed readiness to increase purchases of American products following the White House’s October announcement that U.S. tariffs would remain at 20% on most Vietnamese imports while eliminating duties on select items.
GENEVA — Diplomatic representatives from Russia and Ukraine wrapped up their latest round of American-facilitated negotiations Wednesday without achieving a major breakthrough, with both delegations characterizing the discussions as challenging as the war nears its fourth anniversary.
The Swiss meetings marked the third series of direct discussions coordinated by the United States, following earlier sessions this year in Abu Dhabi that officials called productive despite yielding limited concrete results. Going into the Geneva talks, anticipation for substantial advancement remained modest.
“The negotiations were not easy,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated following the conclusion of talks, speaking by telephone from Kyiv with his diplomatic team.
Zelenskyy previously charged Russia with “trying to drag out negotiations” while continuing its military campaign — a claim he and European officials have consistently voiced before.
Nevertheless, Zelenskyy indicated some advancement occurred regarding military matters, though significant political gaps persist, particularly concerning the fate of eastern Ukrainian territory currently under Russian military control that President Vladimir Putin seeks to retain.
Vladimir Medinsky, who leads Russia’s delegation and serves as a Putin advisor, informed journalists that the two-day Geneva discussions “were difficult but businesslike.”
Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov advised reporters it remains “too early” to assess the talks’ results. Putin has been receiving updates about the Geneva proceedings, Peskov noted.
Representatives from both nations confirmed plans for additional negotiating sessions.
Regarding military aspects, Zelenskyy characterized those conversations as “constructive,” noting that both countries’ armed forces examined potential monitoring mechanisms for any future ceasefire agreement.
“Monitoring will definitely be carried out with participation of the American side,” he stated in an audio message distributed through a WhatsApp media group.
Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy, posted on social media that Washington’s diplomatic efforts toward Ukrainian peace over recent months have “brought about meaningful progress,” though he provided no additional details.
Military forces from both nations continue engaging along the approximately 1,250-kilometer (750-mile) battle zone, while Russia maintains daily bombardments of Ukrainian civilian locations.
Following Tuesday’s initial negotiating session, Russian drone attacks killed one woman and wounded both a 6-year-old girl and an 18-month-old child in Zaporizhzhia, a southern Ukrainian city, according to local authorities.
During the night, Russia deployed one ballistic missile and 126 extended-range drones against Ukraine, Ukrainian air force officials reported.
Zelenskyy revealed that Ukrainian and American negotiators in Geneva conducted meetings with officials from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.
European involvement in diplomatic efforts remains “indispensable,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
European officials, recognizing Putin’s broader territorial ambitions, maintain their security depends on Ukraine’s outcome and have demanded inclusion in peace initiatives.
Russia and Ukraine continue displaying substantial disagreement over settlement conditions.
While Zelenskyy has proposed a ceasefire arrangement and direct discussions with Putin, Moscow demands a complete agreement prior to any truce commitment.
Putin maintains the objectives he announced when Russia began its invasion on Feb. 24, 2022: Ukraine must abandon NATO membership aspirations, significantly reduce military forces, and safeguard Russian language and cultural interests to maintain the country within Moscow’s sphere of influence.
Putin also demands Ukrainian military withdrawal from four eastern regions Moscow occupies but doesn’t completely control.
Zelenskyy maintains Ukraine will not cede territory to Russia.
Technology stocks provided a boost to Asian markets Thursday, though geopolitical tensions with Iran and uncertainty about Federal Reserve interest rate policy continued to create market volatility.
Markets across Asia posted gains despite several major exchanges being closed for Lunar New Year celebrations. The MSCI Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan climbed 0.5%, while Japan’s Nikkei index advanced 0.85%, driven primarily by technology sector performance. South Korea’s Kospi index surged approximately 3% to reach a new record high.
The rally followed strong performance by major technology companies on Wall Street, sparked by Tuesday’s announcement that Nvidia secured a multi-year agreement to supply Meta Platforms with millions of artificial intelligence chips, both current and future models.
“We needed some good news. I think there has been a general feeling of malaise in the tech sector,” commented Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG, referencing the significant decline that occurred earlier this month.
“Nvidia has been very much the front and centre of the rally which we saw up into the end of 2025, and potentially it’s now coming to the rescue a little bit… some badly needed good news there that can potentially set tech stocks for a better run into Nvidia’s earnings next week,” Sycamore added.
U.S. market futures showed modest gains, with Nasdaq futures up 0.05% and S&P 500 futures rising 0.03%. European EUROSTOXX 50 futures declined 0.15%.
Geopolitical concerns remained a significant factor influencing market movements. Oil prices maintained their elevated levels after Wednesday’s sharp increase, as traders factored in possible supply chain disruptions amid growing tensions between the United States and Iran.
Brent crude futures traded slightly lower at $70.31 per barrel after Wednesday’s 4.35% jump, while U.S. crude held at $65.10, retaining most of the previous session’s 4.6% increase.
“There’s been a very intensive buildup of military assets over the past 24 hours … but I think this is all part of this diplomatic cat and mouse, and I don’t think we’re going to see an imminent attack. I think this is just designed to put more pressure on Iran to come back with more reasonable objectives from these talks,” Sycamore explained.
Gold prices remained stable at $4,963.99 per ounce as investors continued seeking safe-haven assets.
The U.S. dollar strengthened Thursday following better-than-expected economic data and Federal Reserve meeting minutes from January that revealed several policymakers would consider raising rates if inflation continues at current levels.
The British pound dropped near a one-month low of $1.3488 against the dollar, while the Japanese yen remained weak near 155 per dollar, last trading at 154.80.
“From our perspective, the (Fed) minutes support our view that rate cuts are off the table for the foreseeable future,” said Charlie Ripley, senior investment strategist at Allianz Investment Management.
“While some market participants are looking at inflation in the rear view mirror, the Fed is still signaling the safety warning that ‘objects in the mirror are closer than they appear’. Policymakers specifically noted disinflation could be on a slower path,” Ripley continued.
The euro struggled below $1.18, last trading at $1.1791, weighed down by reports that European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde intends to step down from her position ahead of schedule.
New Zealand’s dollar gained 0.11% to $0.5972, recovering partially from Wednesday’s 1.4% decline that followed the country’s central bank tempering market expectations for more aggressive policy changes at its recent meeting.
Crude oil markets pulled back during early Thursday trading in Asia after Wednesday’s dramatic 4% rally, as market participants evaluated diplomatic developments between Washington and Tehran while both countries continue military maneuvers in the strategically important oil-producing region.
Brent crude dropped 12 cents to $70.23 per barrel, representing a 0.2% decline by 0110 GMT, while West Texas Intermediate crude decreased 8 cents to $65.11 per barrel, down 0.1%.
Wednesday’s trading session saw both oil benchmarks close over 4% higher, marking their strongest finishes since January 30th as market participants factored in possible supply interruptions due to escalating US-Iran tensions.
“Tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high, but the prevailing view is that full-scale armed conflict is unlikely, prompting a wait-and-see approach,” said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, chief strategist of Nissan Securities Investment, a unit of Nissan Securities.
Kikukawa further explained, “U.S. President Donald Trump does not want a sharp rise in crude prices, and even if military action occurs, it would likely be limited to short-term air strikes.”
The White House reported Wednesday that modest advancement occurred during Iranian negotiations in Geneva this week, though significant gaps persist on certain matters. Officials indicated Tehran is anticipated to provide additional details within the coming weeks.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration’s website, Iran has issued a notice to airmen announcing planned rocket launches across its southern territories on Thursday between 0330 GMT and 1330 GMT.
Simultaneously, American naval vessels have been positioned near Iranian waters, with Vice President JD Vance stating that the administration is evaluating whether to maintain diplomatic discussions with Tehran or consider “another option.”
Intelligence experts report that satellite imagery reveals Iran has recently constructed a concrete barrier over a new installation at a sensitive military location, subsequently covering it with earth. This development advances construction at a site that Israel reportedly targeted in 2024.
In related developments, two days of peace negotiations in Geneva between Ukrainian and Russian representatives concluded Wednesday without significant progress, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticizing Moscow for hindering US-facilitated attempts to resolve the four-year conflict.
Market sources indicated that American crude oil, gasoline, and distillate stockpiles declined last week, referencing American Petroleum Institute data released Wednesday. This contradicted Reuters poll expectations that crude inventories would increase by 2.1 million barrels during the week ending February 13.
The Energy Information Administration is scheduled to release official US oil inventory data on Thursday.
Delaware drivers should expect delays on a busy stretch of State Route 1 southbound due to ongoing lane restrictions in the Willow Grove Road area.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the right lane is currently blocked along SR-1 southbound starting at Willow Grove Road and continuing through the end of the Exit 93 off-ramp.
Transportation officials indicate the lane closure will remain active until 3 a.m., affecting the morning commute for drivers in the area.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when approaching the work zone.
American skiing sensation Mikaela Shiffrin has finally broken through her Olympic medal drought, capturing her third gold medal with a commanding slalom victory in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The 30-year-old athlete delivered two spectacular runs in pristine weather conditions surrounded by the stunning Dolomite mountains, demonstrating why many consider her the finest Alpine skier ever to compete.
Shiffrin’s triumph marked the third-largest winning margin in Olympic women’s slalom history, bringing her back to the top of the podium in the same event where she first claimed gold as an 18-year-old newcomer in Sochi 2014. After 12 years, she once again proved her mastery in her signature race, earning redemption following her disappointing performance in Beijing where she left empty-handed.
In hockey action, both the United States and Canada advanced to the Olympic semifinals after thrilling quarterfinal victories that required overtime. Quinn Hughes netted the game-winner for Team USA in their 2-1 triumph over Sweden, after Mika Zibanejad had tied the contest with just 91 seconds remaining in regulation. Dylan Larkin had scored the Americans’ only regulation goal off a deflection from Jack Hughes’ shot.
Meanwhile, Canada avoided a shocking elimination by defeating Czechia 4-3 in overtime. Nick Suzuki forced the extra period with a late equalizer, before Mitch Marner sealed the victory to keep Canadian hopes alive.
Major changes are coming to the NFL as the Seattle Seahawks have officially been put up for sale by Paul Allen’s estate. The announcement came Wednesday, less than two weeks after the franchise captured its second Super Bowl championship. Allen, who purchased the team in 1997 for $194 million from Ken Behring, was instrumental in ensuring the Seahawks remained in Seattle. The organization is expected to stay in the Pacific Northwest, with a stadium lease at Lumen Field running through 2032 plus three additional 10-year renewal options.
College basketball has seen several coaches take public criticism of their teams to new levels recently. Among those speaking out was Texas women’s coach Vic Schaefer, whose fourth-ranked team was described by him as having “no heart” following a defeat to fifth-ranked Vanderbilt. However, Schaefer later commended his players’ improved effort in a subsequent victory over Tennessee. Former Kansas State men’s coach Jerome Tang also made headlines before his recent dismissal. Florida State’s Luke Loucks explained that coaches must “find ways to squeeze the orange” when balancing tough motivation with supportive encouragement.
Baseball’s players union has promoted Bruce Meyer to serve as interim executive director following Tony Clark’s forced departure. The 64-year-old labor attorney, who joined the organization in 2018, received unanimous approval from the executive board during a virtual meeting. Matt Nussbaum was simultaneously elevated from general counsel to interim deputy executive director. Meyer previously guided negotiations through the 99-day work stoppage that resulted in the current five-year collective bargaining agreement in March 2022.
The Genesis Invitational returns to historic Riviera Country Club after last year’s relocation due to devastating Pacific Palisades wildfires. The century-old venue now features a dramatically extended fourth hole, with a new tee box stretching the par-3 to 273 yards – making it the longest regular par-3 on the PGA Tour. Rory McIlroy has called the modification “a horrible change,” though he remains eager to add Riviera to his list of tournament victories given the course’s prestigious reputation.
Green Bay basketball coach Doug Gottlieb received a one-game suspension from the Horizon League after his heated criticism of game officials following a 75-72 loss to Milwaukee. Gottlieb’s passionate postgame press conference, during which he slammed his hands on the table while questioning officiating consistency, went viral on social media platforms. He will miss Friday’s road game against Oakland and has since issued a public apology for his remarks.
Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice faces serious legal allegations as his former girlfriend has filed a lawsuit claiming he physically assaulted her repeatedly over 18 months. Dacoda Jones, who previously made accusations on social media, is seeking more than $1 million in damages through the Dallas County lawsuit filed Monday. The complaint details multiple incidents of violence at residences in both Dallas and the Kansas City suburbs, including an alleged strangulation in December 2023, with the abuse reportedly continuing through July 2025.
Shiffrin’s Olympic triumph came after she shifted her focus to rediscovering the pure enjoyment of skiing rather than dwelling on external pressures. The veteran athlete explained that learning to ignore outside noise and criticism allowed her to perform at her peak when it mattered most. Despite knowing that another failure would have invited more scrutiny, Shiffrin embraced the challenge and found the risk worthwhile in her pursuit of excellence.
Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball escaped injury Wednesday evening after his custom camouflage Hummer collided with another vehicle at a downtown Charlotte intersection. The accident occurred around 5 p.m., with television footage showing Ball, dressed in an aqua Hornets sweatshirt, exiting his damaged truck and departing in a different vehicle. A source familiar with the situation confirmed to the Associated Press that the point guard suffered no injuries, though official police reports were not immediately available.
Sources close to the matter reveal that Germany is exploring the acquisition of additional U.S.-manufactured F-35 fighter aircraft, a decision that would strengthen Berlin’s military ties with America while its collaborative European fighter initiative with France struggles to move forward.
According to two informed sources, German officials are engaged in discussions that could result in purchasing more than 35 extra jets. This would supplement the 35 aircraft Berlin ordered in 2022, with deliveries scheduled to commence later this year.
The possible procurement of additional Lockheed Martin stealth aircraft, each carrying a price tag exceeding $80 million, comes amid Washington’s push for European NATO members to boost their defense expenditures.
Should Germany proceed with all potential F-35 acquisitions alongside existing contracts, the nation’s fleet could reach approximately 85 aircraft. However, sources emphasize that the final decision remains undetermined.
Germany’s Defense Ministry has not provided immediate response to inquiries, while Pentagon officials directed questions back to German authorities. A Lockheed Martin representative stated the company remains focused on fulfilling Germany’s current F-35 orders.
Parliamentary sources indicated in October that Germany’s defense minister planned to order 15 additional F-35s, with an announcement expected in the near future, according to one source.
Growing Germany’s F-35 inventory would represent a notable strategic pivot toward enhanced military cooperation with the United States, moving away from European defense independence that France, a fellow EU member, strongly advocates.
Berlin and Paris find themselves at an impasse regarding their Future Combat Air System (FCAS) initiative, a troubled 100-billion-euro undertaking launched in 2017 to develop next-generation aircraft replacing French, German, and Spanish jets beginning in 2040. The emerging situation suggests both nations may ultimately abandon the FCAS effort.
Germany’s commitment to expanding its F-35 capabilities would carry significant implications for NATO, as the aircraft serves a crucial function in the alliance’s nuclear deterrent strategy.
Additional F-35 purchases would provide Germany breathing room to determine its approach to developing or partnering on future aircraft programs.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz raised questions Wednesday about whether his nation’s air force still requires a piloted sixth-generation fighter jet, as FCAS has attempted to create.
“Will we still need a manned fighter jet in 20 years’ time? Do we still need it, given that we will have to develop it at great expense?” Merz stated during Wednesday’s Machtwechsel podcast.
Germany’s 2022 F-35 purchase decision stemmed from NATO requirements to deploy U.S. nuclear weapons housed in Germany when necessary. The F-35 remains the sole Western fighter aircraft authorized to carry the latest B61 nuclear weapons and is essential for replacing Germany’s outdated Tornado jets currently performing this mission.
While defense insiders anticipate Germany and France will discontinue their joint fighter project, they expect continued collaboration on unmanned systems and digital warfare capabilities.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius indicated last week that FCAS’s future would be determined within days.
Motorists traveling along Route 202 will need to find alternate routes for left turns at Fairfax Boulevard as Delaware Department of Transportation crews conduct signal maintenance work.
The left turn lanes in both the northbound and southbound directions at the Route 202 and Fairfax Boulevard intersection have been temporarily closed while workers repair traffic signal equipment.
DelDOT officials say the lane closures will remain in effect until 6 AM as crews complete the necessary signal work. Drivers are advised to plan for potential delays and consider alternative routes if they need to make left turns at this intersection.
The maintenance work is part of ongoing efforts to keep Delaware’s traffic infrastructure functioning properly and safely for all motorists.
WASHINGTON — A Tuesday evening political rally in Houston featured the usual lineup of Democratic lawmakers and candidates, but the biggest draw wasn’t running for any office.
Carlos Eduardo Espina, a progressive social media personality with over 14 million TikTok followers, worked the crowd at the Mexican restaurant venue, posing for photos that supporters quickly shared across their social networks.
The Houston event served a dual purpose beyond energizing voters ahead of Texas’ March 3 primary election. It also marked the debut of a new Democratic approach aimed at recapturing Latino support that shifted toward the GOP in recent cycles.
Espina joined nine other Houston-area online personalities as part of this fresh strategy, which centers on building partnerships with digital content creators to better connect with Hispanic communities.
The TikTok star, who has previously endorsed Democratic causes and candidates, believes party leaders are finally recognizing they must modernize their outreach beyond conventional campaign methods.
“I do think there’s a lot of failures in the past Democratic Party, but I think initiatives like this one are pretty cool,” Espina shared during an interview.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ political division developed this approach, launching it as Texas early voting commenced. Officials want to harness the appeal of local digital stars like Espina to more effectively deliver Democratic messages to Latino audiences.
Party strategists plan to expand this program, dubbed “RUIDO” — meaning noise in Spanish — to additional competitive races where Hispanic candidates and communities could determine outcomes. Hispanic Caucus PAC leadership hasn’t yet selected future investment locations.
“The Trump campaign reached out to those nontraditional voices to amplify their message,” explained Rep. Linda Sanchez of California, who chairs the caucus’ political action committee, referencing Republican success with influencers and podcast hosts in previous elections. “We didn’t anticipate that was going to be a way by which politics was disseminated. We’ve seen the contrary, that we do need to be in those spaces, as well.”
This program launches while Democrats wrestle with widespread party dissatisfaction and questions about effectively engaging key voter groups — particularly young people, communities of color, and non-college graduates who moved away from the party during the 2024 presidential race.
Former President Donald Trump gained significant Latino voter support that year through heavy investment in streamers, podcasters, and other digital content producers.
The Hispanic Caucus initiative provides financial support to accepted content creators, with funds designated for travel costs when collaborating with political campaigns, according to program documentation.
Previous election cycles saw both parties purchase sponsored posts from influencers, who must legally reveal these paid partnerships. Espina noted the compensation offered represents a small portion of his typical video earnings, which regularly attract hundreds of thousands of views, though smaller creators might find the support more meaningful.
The Spanish-language political content creator, whose videos consistently receive hundreds of thousands of likes, emphasized that elected officials must ultimately make their own case to voters. However, he stressed that genuine communication and meaningful messages are essential for online political success.
According to Espina, the party moved away from addressing “working class people” concerns and began discussing economic and cultural topics in ways that felt disconnected from voters’ actual experiences.
“I think a lot of that messaging a few years back kind of got lost. But now I think, especially after the wake-up call from the 2024 election, things have definitely gotten better,” he observed.
The caucus recruited nine Houston-area digital creators spanning various content types — from political commentary to food, travel, sports, and local interest topics. Their follower counts range from several thousand to approximately 100,000.
“People are going to act more when they hear from a family member, when they hear from a friend,” explained Carlos Castillo, another network participant. “Just talking to people in an organic way, whether it’s through get-ready-with-me videos and just slightly mentioning, ‘Oh, also, by the way, the primaries are coming up in our state.’”
Castillo compared the program’s financial support to commission offers he receives from corporations like Comcast, United Airlines, and FIFA Houston.
Whether this local influencer recruitment strategy will prove successful for Democrats in competitive districts remains uncertain. Both major parties have recognized across recent election cycles that traditional campaigning alone cannot reach politically disengaged voters.
This trend will likely increase the influence of content creators like Espina.
“Honestly, that I have more influence, at least right now, as a social media content creator, than I would in any kind of elected office, at least any that I can run for,” Espina said when asked about potential candidacy plans.
“Who knows, maybe I’ll run against Ted Cruz in a few years,” he joked, referencing Texas’ Republican senator. “That would be pretty fun.”
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio will journey to Israel next week for discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, according to two Trump administration officials.
The meeting between Rubio and Netanyahu is scheduled for Feb. 28, the officials revealed Wednesday while requesting anonymity since the travel arrangements haven’t been formally announced.
The United States and Iran have conducted two rounds of indirect negotiations concerning the Islamic Republic’s nuclear activities. Representatives from both nations have expressed cautious hope about potential progress this week, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating that “a new window has opened” for achieving an agreement.
“In some ways, it went well,” U.S. Vice President JD Vance commented about the discussions during a Tuesday Fox News Channel interview. “But in other ways, it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through.”
Netanyahu traveled to the White House last week to press President Donald Trump to guarantee that any nuclear agreement with Iran would also address Tehran’s ballistic missile capabilities and halt its support for proxy organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Trump is considering military strikes against Tehran while the administration increases military presence in the region, sparking worries that any assault could escalate into broader Middle Eastern warfare.
During a Friday press briefing, Trump told journalists that regime change in Iran “seems like that would be the best thing that could happen.” He continued, “For 47 years, they’ve been talking and talking and talking.”
The Trump administration has sent the USS Gerald R. Ford, the globe’s largest aircraft carrier, from Caribbean waters to the Middle East to accompany a second carrier along with additional warships and military equipment already positioned in the area.
Numerous U.S. fighter aircraft, including F-35s, F-22s and F-16s, have departed American and European installations in recent days bound for the Middle East, the Military Air Tracking Alliance reports. This organization consists of approximately 30 open-source intelligence specialists who regularly monitor military and government aviation movements.
The group indicates it has also documented more than 85 refueling tankers and over 170 transport aircraft moving toward the region.
Steffan Watkins, a Canada-based researcher and MATA member, reported observing support aircraft including six military early-warning E-3 planes heading to a Saudi Arabian installation.
These aircraft serve crucial roles in coordinating large-scale aviation operations. According to Watkins, they were relocated from installations in Japan, Germany and Hawaii.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men’s volleyball squad delivered a commanding performance Tuesday evening, sweeping Roberts Wesleyan in three consecutive sets at the Hytche Athletic Center.
The Hawks demonstrated complete control throughout the match against the visiting Redhawks, never allowing their opponents to claim a single set in the decisive victory.
The straight-set triumph showcased UMES’s dominance on their home court, as they efficiently dispatched Roberts Wesleyan without dropping a game during the entire contest.
An Australian financial technology company experienced a devastating stock market collapse on Thursday after delivering disappointing earnings results that failed to meet Wall Street expectations.
Zip Co, which provides buy-now-pay-later payment services, watched its share price tumble nearly 40% following the release of its six-month financial performance through December 31. The company generated cash operating earnings of A$124.3 million (equivalent to $87.61 million), which came in below analyst forecasts of A$128.4 million according to Visible Alpha consensus data.
The dramatic sell-off sent Zip’s stock price plummeting as low as A$1.743 during trading, representing the company’s worst performance since early May 2025. This marked the steepest single-day percentage decline the company has experienced since mid-November 2014.
Adding to investor concerns, Zip Co indicated that its second-half performance would likely mirror the results from the first six months of the fiscal year. According to analysis from Citi, this guidance suggests full-year cash operating earnings of approximately A$248 million, which would fall short of the A$260.6 million that analysts had been anticipating.
In other corporate developments, the company announced it would continue evaluating market conditions before making any decisions about potentially listing its shares on a United States stock exchange, stating such a move would only occur when it serves shareholders’ best interests.
A California federal judge has overturned a decision by an immigration appeals board that had backed the Trump administration’s controversial detention practices on Thursday.
District Judge Sunshine Sykes, presiding in Riverside, California, nullified the Board of Immigration Appeals’ ruling that had supported holding thousands of individuals in mandatory custody without the possibility of bond release during the former administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
The judge’s action came after she determined that the Trump administration had not followed through with compliance requirements from her previous court order, which had declared the detention policy to be unlawful.
The original policy had resulted in thousands of people being held in immigration detention facilities without the opportunity to seek release through posting bond while their cases moved through the immigration court system.
The Anaheim Ducks announced Wednesday that goaltender Petr Mrazek will be sidelined for the rest of the season following hip surgery.
The 34-year-old netminder has been out of action since the beginning of January. During his debut season with Anaheim, Mrazek struggled significantly, posting a 3-5-0 record across 10 appearances with a 4.07 goals-against average. His .858 save percentage marked a career low and placed him among the worst-performing qualified goaltenders in the NHL this season.
Mrazek’s contract status shows he will become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
The Ducks brought Mrazek to Anaheim through a trade with Detroit last June, sending John Gibson to the Red Wings in exchange. The move was designed to have Mrazek serve as backup to fellow Czech Republic native Lukas Dostal, who is expected to be the country’s top goaltender for the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics.
Originally selected in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Draft, Mrazek has appeared in 438 career games with 405 starts across six different franchises, maintaining a .905 career save percentage throughout his NHL tenure.
Currently, Anaheim holds the Western Conference’s second wild-card playoff position. The team will resume play following the Olympic break with a nine-game home stretch, beginning next Wednesday when they host the Edmonton Oilers.
A Vietnamese budget airline has completed a major financing agreement worth nearly $1 billion to expand its fleet with new Boeing aircraft.
Vietjet announced Thursday that it has finalized the $965 million deal with Griffin Global Asset Management to acquire six Boeing 737-8 planes. According to the airline’s statement, this arrangement represents an important milestone in the company’s efforts to expand its international financing partnerships.
The financing agreement was completed while Vietnam’s Communist Party leader To Lam was visiting the United States for the first meeting of the Board of Peace, an initiative established by President Donald Trump aimed at resolving international conflicts.
In additional news from the carrier, Vietjet disclosed Thursday that a previously announced contract with Pratt & Whitney, which is owned by RTX, carries a total value of $5.4 billion. This comprehensive agreement covers both the supply and ongoing maintenance of 44 engines designed for A321neo and A321XLR aircraft models.
The engine contract was initially revealed during last month’s Singapore Airshow but the financial details had not been previously disclosed.
Russia’s top diplomat issued a stern warning Wednesday against potential American military action targeting Iran, cautioning that such strikes could trigger severe repercussions across the region.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made his remarks during a televised interview with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabiya network, which aired one day following indirect negotiations between American and Iranian representatives in Geneva aimed at preventing further escalation between Washington and Tehran.
“The consequences are not good. There have already been strikes on Iran on nuclear sites under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency. From what we can judge there were real risks of a nuclear incident,” Lavrov stated during the interview, which appeared on his ministry’s official website.
“I am carefully watching reactions in the region from Arab countries, Gulf monarchies. No one wants an increase in tension. Everyone understands this is playing with fire.”
The Russian minister emphasized that escalating hostilities could reverse recent diplomatic progress, particularly the improved relationship between Iran and regional neighbors like Saudi Arabia.
According to a high-ranking American official who spoke with Reuters Wednesday, Iran is anticipated to provide a written response outlining potential solutions to end the diplomatic impasse with the United States following the Geneva discussions.
The same official revealed that White House national security advisers convened Wednesday and received briefings indicating all American military assets sent to the region should be positioned by mid-March.
Washington continues demanding Iran abandon its nuclear activities, while Tehran has consistently rejected these demands and maintains it is not pursuing atomic weapons development.
Lavrov noted that Middle Eastern nations are communicating with Washington “clearly calling for restraint and a search for an agreement that will not infringe on Iran’s lawful rights and … guarantee that Iran has a purely peaceful nuclear enrichment programme.”
The foreign minister added that Moscow maintains consistent communication with Iranian leadership “and we have no reason to doubt that Iran sincerely wants to resolve this problem on the basis of observing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.”
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Salisbury University’s men’s basketball squad encountered a challenging road test on Wednesday evening, dropping an 88-72 decision to the nationally-ranked Mary Washington Eagles at the William M. Anderson Center.
The Sea Gulls faced off against the eighth-ranked Eagles in what proved to be a difficult contest for the visiting team. Mary Washington controlled the game throughout, ultimately securing a 16-point victory over Salisbury.
The loss came during Wednesday night’s action in Fredericksburg, Virginia, as the Sea Gulls continued their season against tough competition.
Delaware motorists are facing significant traffic delays this morning following a vehicle collision on Route 1 southbound near Fast Landing Road.
The accident has forced authorities to shut down several travel lanes in the area, creating a bottleneck for commuters and travelers heading south on the major Delaware highway.
DelDOT officials are monitoring the situation as emergency responders work to clear the crash site and restore normal traffic flow. Drivers are advised to seek alternative routes or allow extra travel time if they must use this corridor.
The incident location is approximately at milepost 42 on the southbound side of Route 1, a heavily traveled stretch of roadway that serves as a main artery for Delaware traffic.
American alpine skiing champion Mikaela Shiffrin has finally ended her lengthy Olympic medal drought, capturing gold in the women’s slalom competition with a commanding performance.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — After eight years without an Olympic medal, Shiffrin delivered two exceptional runs that secured her victory by a margin of 1.50 seconds. While dozens of additional competitors still need to complete their runs, Shiffrin holds the top position among the 30 fastest skiers from the opening round. Switzerland’s world champion Camille Rast currently sits in second place, with Sweden’s Anna Swenn Larsson holding third.
TESERO, Italy (AP) — Norwegian cross-country skiing legend Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has added another chapter to his record-breaking Olympic career, claiming his 10th gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The 29-year-old athlete, competing alongside Einar Hedegart, dominated the men’s team sprint competition to earn his fifth gold medal at these 2026 Games. Klaebo initially shattered the Winter Olympics record during Sunday’s 4 x 7.5-kilometer relay event. Swedish competitors Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist maintained their nation’s successful streak in the women’s division.
MILAN (AP) — American figure skater Alysa Liu has emerged as the United States’ primary medal contender heading into the women’s free skate program at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The current world champion executed an impressive short program highlighted by a triple lutz-triple loop combination, the most challenging jump sequence attempted by any competitor Tuesday evening. Liu trails Japan’s Ami Nakai by just two points and sits directly behind Kaori Sakamoto in the standings. Her American teammates struggled significantly in the individual competition, with Isabeau Levito placing eighth and U.S. national champion Amber Glenn dropping to 13th position despite successfully completing a triple axel.
MADRID (AP) — Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni has firmly rejected accusations of making racist comments toward Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior during their Champions League encounter, when he was seen covering his mouth with his jersey. The 20-year-old Argentine forward stated, “I have never been racist with anyone.” If UEFA’s disciplinary proceedings find Prestianni guilty of racial abuse, he could face a 10-match suspension. The European soccer organization has assigned a special investigator to collect evidence regarding the incident. Tuesday’s match was suspended for almost 10 minutes after officials implemented the anti-racism protocol. Benfica supporters responded to Vinícius’s 50th-minute goal celebration near the corner flag by hurling bottles and debris at the Madrid players, leading to Prestianni’s confrontation with Vinícius.
The expansion of women’s athletics has coincided with remarkable growth in specialized media coverage, as outlets including TOGETHXR, The GIST, Just Women’s Sports, The IX Sports, GOALS and Good Game with Sarah Spain continue broadening their influence and transforming the industry landscape. Olympic competition has demonstrated that dedicated media attention for women’s sports generates passionate viewership, according to industry analysts. While traditional sports media organizations are enhancing their women’s sports coverage in both scope and quality, University of Michigan sport management professor Ketra Armstrong describes the emergence of women-led media companies as uniquely “liberating” because female athletes are “owning their stories and not waiting for it to be filtered through any traditional lens.”
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Major League Baseball Players Association leader Tony Clark has stepped down from his position, the union confirmed, as potential salary cap negotiations approach amid a federal financial investigation. According to a source familiar with union discussions, Clark was requested to resign by the eight-member executive subcommittee following an internal investigation by outside legal counsel that uncovered evidence of an inappropriate relationship between Clark and his sister-in-law, who has worked for the union since 2023. The individual requested anonymity since this information was not publicly disclosed.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Golf legend Tiger Woods remains focused on boardroom responsibilities rather than tournament competition, though he hasn’t completely dismissed a potential Masters Tournament appearance. Woods maintains that participating in golf’s first major championship of the year remains a possibility. However, he’s coming off an unprecedented year without competing in any tournaments, following disk replacement surgery in October. His current priorities center on PGA Tour boardroom duties as chairman of the committee restructuring the tournament schedule. His potential role as Ryder Cup captain also remains undetermined.
NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA Players’ Association submitted a revised collective bargaining agreement proposal to the league Tuesday, featuring modified demands regarding revenue sharing and housing arrangements, according to a source close to the negotiations who requested anonymity due to the delicate nature of discussions. The union has adjusted its request to an average of 27.5% of gross revenue throughout the agreement’s duration, including only 25% during the initial year. Their previous proposal had sought an average exceeding 30%.
ISLAMABAD (AP) — More than a dozen former international cricket team captains have appealed to Pakistan’s government for improved prison conditions and medical treatment for former cricket star and politician Imran Khan. The captains, including India’s Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, expressed concerns about Khan’s vision problems while incarcerated. Khan’s political party and supporters renewed their Wednesday demands for his transfer from prison to a hospital facility. In their letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, 14 former captains requested that Khan receive treatment with “dignity and basic human consideration,” highlighting worries about reported deterioration in his right eye vision during detention.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Lindsey Vonn’s recent Olympic accident has intensified calls for ski binding technology improvements, targeting one of skiing’s most established equipment components. Officials from FIS and U.S. Ski and Snowboard indicate that “smart binding” technology remains in preliminary development stages. Industry specialists suggest new algorithmic systems could detect control loss and activate quicker release mechanisms, similar to mandatory airbag systems in high-speed competitions. Technology developers caution that precise timing presents challenges, while funding sources remain uncertain.
GENEVA — Wednesday marked the end of another round of American-facilitated peace negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives, with both nations characterizing the discussions as challenging and yielding no major breakthroughs as the conflict approaches its fourth anniversary next week.
The Switzerland meetings represented the third series of direct negotiations organized by the United States, following earlier sessions in Abu Dhabi this year that officials called productive despite limited concrete results. Going into the Geneva talks, expectations for substantial progress remained modest.
“The negotiations were not easy,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated following the conclusion of talks, speaking by telephone from Kyiv with his negotiating representatives.
Zelenskyy previously criticized Russia for “trying to drag out negotiations” while continuing its military campaign — a charge he and European officials have made repeatedly throughout the conflict.
However, Zelenskyy acknowledged that some advancement occurred on military matters, though significant political divisions persist, particularly regarding the fate of eastern Ukrainian territories currently under Russian military control that Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to retain.
Vladimir Medinsky, who leads Russia’s delegation and serves as a Putin advisor, informed journalists that the two-day Geneva discussions “were difficult but businesslike.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated to reporters that discussing the talks’ outcomes remains “too early.” He noted that Putin has been receiving updates about the Geneva proceedings.
Both delegations confirmed plans for additional negotiation rounds.
Regarding military discussions, Zelenskyy characterized them as “constructive,” noting that both countries’ armed forces examined potential ceasefire monitoring mechanisms.
“Monitoring will definitely be carried out with participation of the American side,” he stated in a voice message distributed through a media WhatsApp group.
Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy, posted on social media that Washington’s year-long peace efforts in Ukraine have “brought about meaningful progress,” though he provided no specific details.
The opposing forces continue fighting along an approximately 1,250-kilometer (750-mile) battle line, while Russia maintains daily bombardments of Ukrainian civilian areas.
Following Tuesday’s initial day of talks, Russian drone attacks killed one woman and wounded a 6-year-old girl and 18-month-old child in Zaporizhzhia, a southern Ukrainian city, according to local officials.
During the overnight hours, Russia deployed one ballistic missile and 126 long-range drones against Ukraine, Ukrainian air force reports indicated.
Zelenskyy revealed that Ukrainian and American negotiators in Geneva conducted meetings with officials from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.
European involvement in the negotiation process remains “indispensable,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
European officials, concerned about Putin’s broader territorial ambitions, maintain that their own security depends on Ukraine’s outcome and have demanded inclusion in peace discussions.
Russia and Ukraine continue to maintain significantly different positions regarding settlement terms.
While Zelenskyy has proposed a ceasefire and direct meeting with Putin, Moscow demands a comprehensive agreement prior to any truce commitment.
Putin’s primary objectives remain unchanged from Russia’s February 24, 2022 invasion: Ukraine must abandon NATO membership aspirations, drastically reduce military forces, and safeguard Russian language and cultural interests to maintain the country within Moscow’s sphere of influence.
Putin also demands Ukrainian military withdrawal from four eastern regions that Moscow occupies but doesn’t completely control.
Zelenskyy maintains that Ukraine will not cede territory to Russia.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump celebrated the centennial of Black History Month at the White House on Wednesday, showcasing prominent Black administration members while pushing back against allegations of racial bias.
During the invitation-only gathering of approximately 100 attendees, Trump promised “a century more” of African American achievement. However, the celebration unfolded against a backdrop of recent controversy and ongoing criticism of his administration’s efforts to eliminate diversity and inclusion programs.
The event took place roughly two weeks following significant backlash over a social media post from the president’s account that contained racist imagery depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.
South Carolina Republican Senator Tim Scott had condemned the video, calling it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” The administration initially stood by the post and criticized what they termed “fake outrage” before eventually removing it.
Trump stated he hadn’t viewed the controversial clip, attributed responsibility to a staff member, refused to offer an apology, and indicated no disciplinary action was taken.
The president, now serving his second term, has previously shared racially charged rhetoric, including his long-standing promotion of the debunked theory questioning Obama’s U.S. birthplace during Obama’s 2009-2017 presidency. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday that media outlets have unfairly “smeared” the president as racist.
Throughout Wednesday’s ceremony, Trump offered praise for several notable African Americans. He complimented Senator Scott on multiple occasions and invited various Black administration officials to speak, including Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, whom he described as “exceptional.”
The president also welcomed former presidential candidate and previous Cabinet member Dr. Ben Carson, announcing Carson would soon receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, along with White House pardons coordinator Alice Johnson, whom Trump pardoned in 2020.
“When I met her, I fell in love,” Trump remarked about his initial encounter with Johnson.
The audience applauded as Trump discussed his first-term criminal justice reforms and recent strict immigration enforcement measures. “It’s no wonder that in 2024 we won more African American voters than any Republican presidential candidate in history,” he declared.
Trump has faced criticism over the past year for language targeting immigrant populations, including Somali Americans and Latin American immigrants, frequently connecting these groups to crime discussions. He continued this approach Wednesday by bringing a Washington D.C.-area grandmother on stage whose grandson was murdered in 2017.
Civil rights organizations and specialists have warned that Trump’s moves to eliminate diversity initiatives could reverse decades of advancement.
“He keeps it real, just like grandma,” Forlesia Cook stated from the podium, expressing gratitude to Trump for requesting National Guard patrols in the capital as part of his tough crime stance.
“I love him,” Cook continued as the president patted her back, “I don’t want to hear nothing you got to say about that ‘racist’ stuff…get off the man’s back. Let him do his job, he’s doing the right thing, back up off him!”
For the second consecutive day, Trump highlighted his long-standing relationships with prominent African Americans to counter racism allegations. At the celebration, he praised boxer Mike Tyson’s loyalty in defending him.
Following civil rights leader Jesse Jackson’s death on Tuesday, Trump shared 11 photographs online showing himself alongside Jackson and other Black celebrities, writing that “despite the fact that I am falsely and consistently called a Racist by the Scoundrels and Lunatics on the Radical Left, Democrats ALL, it was always my pleasure to help Jesse along the way.”
After attendees chanted “four more years,” the president concluded Wednesday’s gathering with forward-looking remarks.
“This is a very special group of people,” Trump said, “So happy Black History Month, happy Black History Year, and happy Black History Century.”
Faithful Christians across the globe observed Ash Wednesday today, launching the sacred Lenten period with solemn ceremonies and traditional rituals. The holy day serves as the gateway to a 40-day spiritual journey of prayer, fasting and deep contemplation that will culminate with Good Friday and the celebration of Easter.
Churches throughout communities welcomed congregants seeking to receive the traditional ash cross marking on their foreheads, symbolizing repentance and mortality as believers prepare their hearts for the Easter season.
The observance represents one of Christianity’s most significant periods of spiritual discipline and renewal, drawing millions of participants worldwide into this ancient practice of Lenten preparation.
