Drivers on Interstate 295 southbound are facing extended travel times this evening as heavy traffic creates bottlenecks between Landers Lane and Churchmans Marsh.
The congestion is adding between 5 and 10 minutes to normal commute times through this stretch of highway. Motorists are advised to plan for extra time or consider alternate routes if possible.
Traffic conditions are being monitored, and drivers should expect continued delays until the congestion clears.
Coastal communities may face a challenging weather combination as El Niño conditions coincide with high tide flooding events, creating what experts describe as a potential ‘double whammy’ scenario.
The convergence of these two separate weather phenomena could lead to more significant flooding impacts than communities would typically experience from either condition occurring independently.
High tide flooding, also known as nuisance flooding, occurs when ocean water levels rise during regular tidal cycles, often inundating low-lying coastal areas, roads, and infrastructure even without storm activity.
When combined with El Niño weather patterns, which can influence precipitation and storm intensity, the flooding risks for vulnerable coastal areas may be amplified beyond normal seasonal expectations.
Weather forecasters and emergency management officials are monitoring these conditions closely as they develop, particularly in areas that have experienced recurring flooding challenges during previous high tide events.
The timing and severity of these combined impacts will depend on various factors including local geography, existing infrastructure, and the specific intensity of both the El Niño pattern and tidal conditions as they evolve.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Health authorities in Congo have confirmed a fresh Ebola outbreak in the Central African nation, reporting at least 246 suspected cases and 65 fatalities.
The deadly disease, which frequently proves fatal, was initially discovered in 1976 following two rapid outbreaks in present-day South Sudan and Congo, the World Health Organization reports.
Every significant Ebola outbreak has occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, the native region for the viruses responsible for the disease. The most devastating episodes have struck West and Central Africa.
A collection of viruses causes Ebola disease. WHO identifies three known to trigger major outbreaks: Ebola virus, Sudan virus and Bundibugyo virus.
Fruit bats are considered the natural carriers of Ebola-causing viruses, while apes and monkeys can also become infected, WHO states.
Humans can contract the infection from these animals, and transmission between people occurs through contact with bodily fluids such as blood, feces or vomit from infected individuals, or contaminated surfaces.
Signs of illness emerge anywhere from two days to three weeks following exposure, though they typically appear within approximately one week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes.
Initial symptoms resemble flu, featuring fever, body aches, exhaustion and throat pain. Subsequently, patients may develop digestive issues, skin rashes, seizures and hemorrhaging.
WHO reports Ebola’s average death rate stands at roughly 50%, with previous outbreaks ranging from 25% to 90% fatality rates.
Approved vaccines and treatments exist solely for the Ebola virus.
A decade-old outbreak spanning multiple West African countries holds the record as the most severe.
More than 28,000 cases and over 11,000 deaths occurred as the highly transmissible disease spread extensively through Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, affecting neighboring countries. Limited cases also appeared in the United States, the U.K., Italy and Spain, connected to African travelers or healthcare workers returning from outbreak assistance.
Researchers believe the epidemic began in southeastern Guinea when a child — “patient zero” — encountered infected fruit bats.
The second-largest outbreak in recorded history followed shortly after in Congo’s North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces, with some cases reaching neighboring Uganda. Friday’s newly announced outbreak is also located in Ituri, along the Ugandan border.
That outbreak eight years ago recorded over 3,400 reported cases and more than 2,200 deaths, achieving a 66% fatality rate, CDC data shows.
Similar to the 2013-2016 outbreak, Congo’s epidemic resulted from the Ebola virus.
Congo has experienced more than a dozen notable previous outbreaks, including one as recently as late 2025.
An outbreak in Uganda recorded 425 reported cases and 224 deaths, this time caused by the Sudan virus.
East African country officials received recognition for their rapid outbreak response and containment efforts. Community initiatives focused on public education about the disease and correcting misinformation regarding transmission methods.
Uganda has also experienced multiple outbreaks.
Ebola’s first documented outbreak happened 50 years ago in towns within former Sudan, now part of South Sudan. Scientists suspect it began in a cotton facility where employees encountered bats in storage areas, though the origin remains unconfirmed. The Sudan virus caused this outbreak.
At least 151 deaths and 284 cases were documented — many occurring after patients were hospitalized and transmitted the disease to medical staff and others while the illness remained unidentified, subsequent research revealed.
An outbreak months afterward in northern Congo — then called Zaire — resulted in 280 deaths with an exceptionally high fatality rate and first enabled scientists to identify the Ebola virus. This outbreak originated in an isolated village near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name.
The first documented Ebola infection beyond Africa happened that same year when a British laboratory worker accidentally punctured himself with a needle while examining samples. He survived.
Extremely few cases have been documented outside Africa since Ebola’s identification.
VIENNA (AP) — While English has traditionally dominated the pop music landscape, its supremacy at the Eurovision Song Contest is coming to an end.
This year’s sequin-filled international music competition features performances in 25 different languages, spanning from Albanian to Ukrainian, as it builds toward Saturday’s finale in Vienna. More Eurovision artists are choosing to showcase their native languages on the global stage.
“It’s easier to talk about your feelings in your native language,” explained singer Pete Parkkonen, who represents half of the Finnish pair favored by bookmakers to claim victory with their powerful voice-violin collaboration “Liekinheitin,” which translates to “Flamethrower.”
“And the main language is love, obviously,” he added.
While Eurovision previously required contestants to sing in their nation’s official language, the rules changed in 1999 to allow performers to select any language. Many artists in subsequent years gravitated toward English to reach broader international audiences.
Research by cultural anthropologist Andrew J. Green from King’s College London revealed that between 1999 and 2024, 20 out of 26 Eurovision champions performed in English, though non-English entries have increased over the last ten years.
The trend shows dramatic growth: only three songs contained no English in 2016, with four in 2017. This year, the European Broadcasting Union reports 12 songs feature no English whatsoever, 16 are performed entirely in English, and seven blend multiple languages.
Among the 35 competing acts this year — with 25 advancing to the final round — audiences hear performances in Spanish, German, Croatian, Azerbaijani, Latvian, Lithuanian and Romanian.
Eurovision enthusiasts worldwide are discovering and singing terms like “Jalla” — a Cypriot expression meaning “more,” which titles Cyprus contestant Antigoni’s song — and “ferto,” meaning “bring it,” the name of Greek performer Akylas’ addictive party rap track.
Malta’s representative Aidan performs “Bella,” combining English and Maltese verses, thrilling supporters from the Mediterranean island.
Joseph Pace, who made the journey to Vienna to support Malta, described hearing international fans attempt Maltese lyrics as “amazing.”
“That we will listen to our language on an international stage, on a huge competition like this, it’s amazing,” he expressed.
Several entries blend various languages together.
Israel’s Noam Bettan performs the ballad “Michelle” with Hebrew, French and English lyrics. Rapper Satoshi incorporates calls in Romanian, English, Italian, French and additional languages in the energetic crowd favorite “Viva, Moldova.” Italian vocalist Sal da Vinci combines standard Italian with his native Neapolitan dialect in “Per Sempre,” his silky Eurovision contribution.
Even the United Kingdom, known for its monolingual approach, joins the multilingual movement, demonstrating British counting skills in German with “Eins, Zwei, Drei” by techno performer Look Mum No Computer.
“People want Eurovision to be different from other song contests,” noted Dean Vuletic, a scholarly authority on the competition’s background. “They look for meaning in Eurovision because it is a showcase of cultural diversity.
“It’s countries competing against each other. And we want to see meaning in their entries. We want to see them say something about the countries and the cultures that they are representing.”
Some artists acknowledge English remains valuable for broader reach. Ukrainian performer Leléka typically sings exclusively in her homeland’s language, but chose to include English in her song “Ridnym” to spread its message of hope and renewal to maximum listeners.
“It really has a very deep message that means the world to me, and I really want people to understand it,” she explained.
LIMA, Peru — Peru’s voters will decide between two distinct candidates for their country’s top office following the conclusion of the nation’s presidential primary, which determined the finalists for a June runoff contest.
The daughter of a former president, Keiko Fujimori, representing the conservative wing, will compete against Roberto Sánchez, a nationalist congressman who previously served as a trade minister, as they seek to become Peru’s ninth leader in a decade. The pair emerged victorious from a field of 35 total contenders by pledging to address rampant criminal activity, which ranks as the primary concern for citizens in this South American nation whose mineral-based economy has remained stable despite ongoing governmental upheaval.
Final tallies from the April 12 voting showed Keiko Fujimori of Fuerza Popular capturing the largest share at 17.18% of all votes cast. Roberto Sánchez of Juntos por el Perú claimed the second position with 12.03%, according to official results released Friday by the National Office of Electoral Processes, guaranteeing his advancement to the June 7 decisive round.
Significant operational problems plagued the electoral process, preventing thousands of citizens both domestically and internationally from participating on the designated voting day. Officials responded by permitting over 52,000 Lima residents to cast their ballots the following Monday. This unprecedented extension, declared after vote tabulation had already commenced Sunday night, also applied to Peruvian citizens registered in Orlando, Florida, and Paterson, New Jersey.
The electoral contest occurred during a period of escalating violent criminal activity and governmental corruption that has generated substantial voter dissatisfaction, with citizens generally regarding political candidates as corrupt and ill-equipped for executive leadership.
Numerous contenders addressed public safety fears through extensive policy proposals, including constructing large-scale detention facilities, limiting prisoner meal provisions, and restoring capital punishment for severe offenses.
Despite ongoing criminal violence and political chaos resulting from frequent leadership changes — with three different presidents since October — Peru’s economic performance has remained strong. Benefiting from its position as the globe’s second-largest copper producer, the nation achieved growth exceeding 3% in both 2024 and 2025.
The upcoming June 7 runoff will mirror the dynamics of Peru’s 2021 final election round. During that contest, Fujimori faced Pedro Castillo, a rural educator and political newcomer whom Sánchez actively endorses and whose signature wide-brimmed hat style he has adopted.
Castillo narrowly defeated Fujimori by approximately 42,000 votes through strong backing from Peru’s impoverished rural populations. His presidency lasted until December 2022, when lawmakers removed him from office following his attempt to disband the legislative branch.
In her fourth presidential campaign, Fujimori has vowed to implement harsh anti-crime measures, yet she has simultaneously supported legislation that analysts claim hampers criminal prosecutions. These laws, which her political organization endorsed in recent years, abolished pretrial detention in specific situations and increased requirements for confiscating criminal proceeds.
Conversely, Sánchez has promised to overturn these statutes. He has also committed to enhancing police investigative resources to fight extortion crimes, which have multiplied five times over the past five years.
Sánchez distinguished himself throughout the campaign by proposing economic policies that diverge from the market-oriented approach Peru has maintained for twenty years. The legislator has expressed interest in renegotiating agreements with mining corporations operating domestically, contending that government tax collection should increase. He has additionally stated that rural communities should receive ownership stakes in local mining operations and has opposed surface mining techniques. However, implementing these changes would prove challenging for Sánchez, who lacks legislative majority support.
Will Freeman, a fellow for Latin American Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, described Fujimori as “perhaps Peru’s only remaining career politician and the only one with a real political party,” noting her nationwide organizational structure and long-term presence. While this foundation could enable her to address rising crime rates, he anticipates she would do so in a targeted manner.
“She and that party have in the past sponsored legislation against organized crime that ironically created many of the tools that prosecutors used to investigate them in the 2010s,” Freeman said, referencing the corruption cases Fujimori previously faced. “Now, they have since led the charge to destroy a lot of those mechanisms in the legislation.”
The runoff victor will take the oath of office on July 28 for a five-year presidential term.
A Delaware agricultural entrepreneur has earned recognition from federal officials for her work supporting local farmers throughout the region.
During National Small Business Week, which took place May 3-9, the U.S. Small Business Administration presented Nichole Krambeck of Insights Ag Scouting with Delaware’s first-ever Rural Small Business of the Year award. The ceremony brought together business owners, agricultural partners, and community representatives to honor outstanding entrepreneurs.
Operating from Wyoming, Delaware, Krambeck runs Insights Ag Scouting, LLC, providing hands-on crop monitoring and field analysis services to agricultural operations throughout the Delaware Peninsula. Her business helps farming operations make well-informed choices regarding pest control, plant health, fertilizer application, and overall agricultural efficiency. Krambeck focuses on delivering precise, timely advice based on actual field observations, serving both traditional row-crop farms and specialty agricultural businesses that represent the area’s varied farming sector.
According to SBA Delaware District Director Austen Colledge, Krambeck’s achievements demonstrate how combining business expertise with assistance from agency partners creates success. The Delaware Small Business Development Center and the Women’s Business Center at True Access Capital, who put forward Krambeck’s nomination, provided crucial support. Krambeck utilized complimentary mentoring programs offered through SBA partners to create her business strategy and marketing approach. The Delaware Farm Bureau in Camden provided additional backing by hosting the recognition event.
SBA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Jim Spencer praised Krambeck’s entrepreneurial spirit, saying, “Small business owners like Nichole embody the very definition of entrepreneurship: solve people’s problems for fun and profit. Last summer while in Delaware, I purchased a watermelon from a roadside market in Bridgeville. Turns out that farm is one of Nichole’s clients.” Krambeck partners with agricultural producers to assist them in making decisions that enhance crop yields, reduce expenses, and limit pesticide usage.
Regional Administrator Spencer expressed gratitude to all participants for supporting farmers who contribute significantly to healthy families and communities. He emphasized that supporting small agricultural enterprises is essential for safeguarding America’s food system and maintaining the nation’s farmland.
Meanwhile, in Louisa, Virginia, SBA Virginia District Director Carl Knoblock presented the Grime family of Southern Revere Cellars with Virginia’s Rural Small Business of the Year recognition. The business, which launched in 2021, became among the state’s pioneering farm operations to provide both craft beer and wine production at a single location. Collaboration with the Virginia SBDC led to SBA loan guarantee approval, enabling the Grime family to finance business growth. The operation has shown consistent expansion since opening, expanding their vineyard to twice its original size, adding over 1,000 new vines, and launching two additional grape varieties. Currently, Southern Revere cultivates multiple grape types including Chambourcin, Chardonel, Vidal Blanc, and Petit Verdot. Their continued development reflects their founding principles of community connection, quality craftsmanship, and dedication to their land.
Those interested in learning about SBA programs in their region or discovering more about the agency’s loan guarantee programs that support small businesses throughout the food supply chain, including agriculture, production, and logistics sectors, can visit sba.gov or reach out to their local SBA district office.
A Tennessee resident who uses the online alias Chud the Builder and has gained notoriety for publishing racist content on social media platforms received a $1.25 million preliminary bond Friday on charges including attempted murder.
Dalton Eatherly, 28, stands accused of firing shots at another individual Wednesday afternoon outside the Montgomery County Courthouse following a confrontation.
During Friday’s arraignment proceedings, prosecution attorneys requested that Eatherly remain in custody without bond until a comprehensive hearing could take place next week. Judge H. Reid Poland III rejected that request but established a substantial bond amount, citing the presence of numerous individuals “in the courtyard or at the courthouse and the seriousness of these felonies.”
Beyond the attempted murder accusation, Eatherly is charged with using a firearm during a dangerous felony, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.
Poland additionally referenced Eatherly’s previous bond releases in two separate cases. He is facing a harassment charge in Montgomery County from November and was also charged last week in Nashville’s Davidson County with theft of services, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Jacob Fendley, the attorney assigned to represent Eatherly on the felony charges Friday, did not respond to requests for comment.
Eatherly, who is white, creates social media content where he attempts to provoke Black passersby through racial slurs and racist dog whistles. He produces these videos in Nashville and in Montgomery County’s Clarksville.
According to jail records, he remained in Montgomery County jail custody Friday. A comprehensive bond hearing is set for May 21 with a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 26.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Tennessee Democratic congressman announced Friday he is withdrawing from his reelection campaign, becoming a casualty of redistricting fights occurring nationwide following a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Republican lawmakers in Tennessee recently approved a new congressional map that splits up the representative’s majority-Black district, reconfiguring it to favor the GOP as part of efforts to maintain a narrow majority in upcoming midterm elections.
“I don’t want to quit. I’m not a quitter. But these districts were drawn to beat me,” the congressman told reporters from his Washington, D.C. office.
The representative is fighting the state’s redistricting process in court and indicated he would rejoin the campaign if his legal challenge successfully restores his original congressional boundaries.
He expressed concern that Tennessee would probably become an all-Republican congressional delegation following the next election, cautioning this could isolate the state when Democrats eventually regain control of the presidency.
Tennessee became the first state to approve new congressional boundaries following a Supreme Court decision that substantially reduced federal Voting Rights Act safeguards for minority communities. Additional Southern states may follow suit, with Republican officials in Louisiana, Alabama and South Carolina also moving toward redistricting.
The congressman has served his Memphis-area district for approximately twenty years, representing one of the final white Democrats from the South. He has served extensively on the House Judiciary Committee, concentrating on expanding voting rights and civil rights protections.
He’s recognized for his frequently dramatic moments during congressional proceedings and hearings. In 2019, during the previous administration, he brought fried chicken to a House Judiciary Committee session when the then-Attorney General failed to appear.
“The message is Attorney General Bill Barr is not brave enough to answer questions from a staff attorney and members of the Judiciary Committee,” he stated at that time.
President Yoweri Museveni announced Friday that Uganda has approved a license allowing Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink to begin operations in the East African nation.
The satellite internet service, which is part of SpaceX, has been quickly growing its presence throughout Africa and currently provides service in more than a dozen African nations, including Somalia.
In a post on X, Museveni explained that he oversaw the signing of an “operational licence agreement between the Uganda Communications Commission and Starlink, marking an important step towards the commencement of their operations in Uganda.”
The Uganda Communications Commission serves as the nation’s regulatory body for the communications industry.
“I am pleased that Starlink has agreed to comply with Uganda’s laws and regulatory requirements as it prepares to begin service delivery in the country,” Museveni stated.
Citizens in Uganda have frequently voiced frustration over expensive and unreliable internet service from domestic providers, with many pointing to insufficient market competition as the cause.
Currently, a unit of South African telecom giant MTN Group controls most of Uganda’s data market, with its primary competitor being a unit of India’s Bharti Airtel.
Financial markets shifted their expectations Friday toward anticipating the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates possibly before 2024 concludes, following a series of inflation reports this week that came in above forecasts.
According to CME’s FedWatch tool, the likelihood of the Fed’s key interest rate rising by 25 basis points before January’s Federal Open Market Committee session reached approximately 60%, while traders view a December increase as essentially even odds.
The central bank under departing Chair Jerome Powell has maintained its policy rate between 3.50% and 3.75% since December. Even with inflation consistently exceeding the Fed’s 2% goal, officials have continued using policy statement language that implies their next action would likely be lowering rates.
An increasing number of policymakers have started advocating for a different approach, with three officials voting against April’s policy statement because it maintained language favoring easier monetary policy. Minutes from that session, scheduled for release Wednesday, could reveal how many additional officials were willing to support moving toward a neutral or more restrictive stance.
This week’s economic data provided little support for cutting rates in the near term. Inflation measurements at consumer and wholesale levels, along with import price figures, all surpassed economists’ already-high predictions. Additionally, retail sales information demonstrated that consumers remain financially stable despite facing elevated prices.
Furthermore, the inflationary pressures shown in the data reached their highest levels since the surge that followed the COVID-19 pandemic and appeared to spread beyond energy costs that were pushed up by the U.S.-Israeli-led war on Iran.
“The market narrative has shifted from stagflation to reflation due to rising inflation, strong spending and booming earnings,” Bank of America analysts wrote.
The sudden change in economic data and market predictions for the Fed’s actions appears likely to create a challenging communication issue for Warsh when he assumes leadership from Powell, whose chairmanship officially ends Friday.
President Donald Trump appointed Warsh, and Trump has consistently demanded lower interest rates while publicly criticizing Powell for failing to deliver them. The Senate confirmed Warsh this week, though his swearing-in ceremony has not been scheduled yet.
Warsh has contended that widespread adoption of artificial intelligence technology throughout the economy will boost U.S. productivity and reduce inflationary pressures, supporting the case for lower rates. However, during his confirmation hearing last month, he assured senators he made no commitments to Trump regarding rates, while promising to implement significant changes including enhanced cooperation with the administration on non-monetary policy issues.
SMYRNA, Del. – As Delaware prepares for the 2026 hurricane season running from June 1st through November 30th, Governor Matt Meyer has designated May 18th through May 22nd as Hurricane Preparedness Week.
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is working alongside state, county and local agencies to encourage residents to make preparations before the season begins. Officials are promoting advance planning as the best defense against potential storm impacts.
Weather forecasters are predicting below normal storm activity for the 2026 hurricane season, though emergency officials stress that residents should still take preparedness seriously regardless of seasonal predictions.
Drivers traveling through the intersection of Coastal Highway and Route 9 should prepare for periodic lane restrictions as repair crews work on the traffic signal system.
Signal technicians are currently on site addressing issues with the traffic control equipment, which is requiring intermittent lane closures to ensure worker safety during the repair process.
Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling through the area and to expect possible delays while the signal repairs are completed.
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — In a symbolic gesture on Friday, Hungary’s newly elected Prime Minister Péter Magyar personally dismantled barriers that had blocked public access to a historic government building in Budapest previously used by his predecessor Viktor Orbán.
Magyar declared that the renowned Karmelita building, situated on Budapest’s famous Castle Hill with views of the Danube river, would remain open to the public while officials determine its future use.
The historic Catholic monastery had become emblematic of Orbán’s leadership style after he ordered it sealed off from public access in 2021.
“There is no place for cordons in Hungary after the change of regime,” Magyar declared to media representatives while ceremonially opening the barriers. He emphasized that these facilities were constructed “from the money of the Hungarian taxpayers and made so beautiful with those funds.”
In April elections, Magyar and his center-right Tisza party decisively defeated Orbán, securing a two-thirds parliamentary majority that provides him substantial authority to implement significant reforms following his predecessor’s 16-year tenure.
Magyar has committed to rebuilding democratic institutions and governmental oversight mechanisms that deteriorated significantly under Orbán’s administration, while also addressing alleged corruption issues.
He has exposed lavish office renovations undertaken by previous government officials. Magyar has indicated he plans to relocate his own headquarters to the administrative district across the Danube river.
The Karmelita facility, he announced, will remain accessible for an “extensive period.” A website has already been established allowing visitors to schedule guided tours. Magyar noted that while some castle district buildings have undergone renovation, others remain under construction.
This development “is likely to generate a number of new ideas,” he stated without providing additional details.
The prime minister has pledged to rebuild his nation’s relationships with European Union allies and restore Hungary’s standing among Western democratic nations.
Magyar intends to establish a National Asset Recovery and Protection Office, a new agency responsible for investigating and attempting to recover public funds allegedly misappropriated during Orbán’s time in office.
President Donald Trump disclosed Friday that he discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping the potential release of an imprisoned underground church pastor and Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai during his recent China visit, with Xi indicating varying levels of receptiveness to each case.
During his flight home from China, Trump told reporters that Xi promised to seriously weigh the situation of Ezra Jin Mingri, an underground church pastor who was taken into custody in October amid what observers describe as China’s intensifying restrictions on religious practices.
“He said he’s gonna strongly consider the pastor,” Trump stated.
However, Trump indicated that Xi viewed Lai’s circumstances as significantly more complicated. The founder of the shuttered pro-democracy publication Apple Daily faces accusations related to anti-China activities. “He told me that would be a tough one,” Trump explained.
Both families expressed appreciation for Trump’s intervention on behalf of their loved ones.
Jin leads Zion Church, which ranks among China’s largest unofficial religious congregations that operate without government registration. These churches challenge Chinese regulations that mandate worship only occur in officially approved religious institutions.
Grace Jin Drexel, the pastor’s daughter, expressed Friday that her family and supporters felt “overjoyed” upon learning of Trump’s advocacy for her father.
“It’s truly nothing short of miraculous!” she communicated to The Associated Press. “We could not be more grateful to President Trump and his skillful administration for pressing the case!”
Even though Trump conveyed less optimism regarding Lai’s prospects, the former media executive’s daughter, Claire Lai, also thanked Trump and his team for their dedication to securing her father’s freedom.
“He has earned his reputation as liberating the unjustly detained and I am confident he and his administration will be the ones to free my father,” she told the AP.
She characterized this period as a chance for Xi to pursue “the only just and honorable thing” for Lai and demonstrate goodwill globally by freeing someone she described as devoted to Hong Kong.
Human rights advocates note that Beijing has grown increasingly reluctant to free prisoners who have challenged government authority on civil liberties during Xi’s leadership. In 2017, Chinese Nobel Prize winner Liu Xiaobo passed away at a hospital in northeastern China despite international appeals for his release to receive cancer treatment overseas.
Prior to his detention, the 78-year-old Lai frequently criticized Xi and the governing Communist Party. He received a 20-year prison sentence in February under national security legislation that Beijing implemented in 2020, which has effectively eliminated opposition voices in Hong Kong.
Lai faced conviction for conspiracy involving collaboration with foreign entities and working with others to distribute seditious materials. His pro-democracy Apple Daily publication was forced to close during a government crackdown that followed widespread anti-government demonstrations that disrupted the city in 2019.
Analysts suggest Lai’s situation represents the erosion of liberties that Beijing had guaranteed when the former British territory returned to Chinese control in 1997. International governments, including the U.S. and U.K., have expressed concerns about Lai’s case for years. However, Hong Kong officials maintain his prosecution was unrelated to press freedom issues.
Earlier this week, China’s foreign ministry characterized Lai as a central organizer of anti-China operations designed to undermine Hong Kong’s stability, emphasizing that the city’s matters constitute China’s domestic concerns.
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas’s highest civil court declined Friday to rule that Democratic state representatives who temporarily left Texas in 2025 to prevent a vote on new congressional district maps supported by President Donald Trump had abandoned their positions.
The Republican-dominated court delivered a setback to the governor and state GOP leaders who wanted to impose harsh penalties on the more than 50 Democrats who traveled to New York, Illinois and Massachusetts to prevent the maps from being voted on during a special legislative session. Republican state officials had pursued their arrest and imposed financial penalties to force their return to the state Capitol.
The governor had contended in legal papers filed directly with the state’s top civil court that state Rep. Gene Wu, who heads the House Democratic caucus, along with other legislators had effectively quit their positions.
Wu had maintained that he wasn’t abandoning his role during the quorum break, but was using his right to oppose the legislation.
When rejecting the governor’s petition, the court’s decision authored by Justice James Blacklock observed that the Republican-controlled Legislature had sufficiently addressed the situation through actions like imposing financial penalties on the absent legislators, and that they came back voluntarily after several weeks.
“In the end, a quorum was restored in two weeks’ time, without judicial intervention, by the interplay of political and practical forces,” Blacklock wrote.
“Courts have uniformly recognized that it is not their role to resolve disputes between the other two branches that those branches can resolve for themselves,” the opinion said.
Should the situation occur again and the Legislature proves unable to effectively force lawmakers to return, the court might eventually decide whether judicial intervention is appropriate, the decision stated.
“When Greg Abbott threatened to arrest and expel us for denying him a quorum, we told him he should ‘come and take it.’ He tried!” Wu said in a statement Friday. “Abbott was wrong, weak, and after all his bluster, he couldn’t come and take a damn thing.”
Wu and his colleagues ultimately came back to Texas, and the redistricting plan was approved and became law after the governor signed it.
Wu had contended that since he had returned to the Capitol and the redistricting plan was ultimately enacted, there was no longer any basis for the court to intervene.
“Their return is robust proof that they never intended to abandon their offices,” Wu argued in legal briefs. “Despite the overheated rhetoric, this quorum break was always understood to be temporary.”
The Texas departure escalated into a major national political showdown as Trump pushed Texas and other Republican-led states to redraw their congressional boundaries to help Republicans keep control of the U.S. House. The Texas redistricting push triggered comparable initiatives in multiple states as governors from both parties committed to redrawing maps designed to benefit their political candidates in the 2026 midterm elections.
An American evangelical minister has arrived in Belarus to conduct what organizers say will be the nation’s biggest Christian gathering ever, meeting Friday with the country’s long-time authoritarian ruler.
Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus’ president, asked Rev. Franklin Graham to deliver warm regards to President Donald Trump and inform him that he has “reliable friends and supporters in Belarus.”
Following Trump’s return to office, Lukashenko has freed hundreds of political detainees through agreements facilitated by the United States that resulted in the removal of certain American sanctions, as the isolated leader works to strengthen relationships with Western nations.
“Without the U.S. president, it might have been more difficult for us to establish our relations,” Lukashenko said to Graham, who heads Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Graham traveled with Greta Van Susteren, a Newsmax TV host whose husband is Trump’s special envoy for Belarus, John Coale.
For over thirty years, Lukashenko has maintained strict control over the country of 9.5 million people, and Belarus has faced repeated Western sanctions due to its suppression of human rights and its role in allowing Moscow to launch operations from its soil during the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Graham plans to conduct what organizers are calling the Festival of Hope at a covered sports facility in the capital city of Minsk, with thousands anticipated to participate in this unprecedented evangelical event in Belarus’ history.
Mass protests erupted following Belarus’ 2020 presidential contest, with hundreds of thousands demonstrating against what they considered fraudulent results. The government’s harsh response led to tens of thousands of arrests, with many protesters suffering police violence. Key opposition leaders either left the country or faced imprisonment.
Five years following those widespread protests, Lukashenko secured a seventh term in last year’s election, which opposition groups dismissed as illegitimate.
Through a March agreement that Washington helped facilitate, Lukashenko authorized the freedom of 250 political detainees, while America lifted restrictions on two state-owned Belarusian banks and the nation’s Finance Ministry, and removed leading Belarusian potash companies from sanctions lists.
A subsequent April arrangement freed well-known journalist Andrzej Poczobut through an exchange with Poland involving ten individuals total.
Despite these releases, the Viasna human rights organization reports that 845 political prisoners remain incarcerated in Belarus, including 22 media professionals.
Exiled opposition figure Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya expressed optimism that Graham’s presence might contribute to freeing all political detainees. “We continue to push for a complete end to the harsh political repressions in Belarus,” Tsikhanouskaya stated to The Associated Press.
The government’s approval of this large evangelical assembly represents a notable change after years of targeting religious leaders across Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant denominations, resulting in dozens being jailed, silenced or forced to flee following their opposition to the 2020 election. Among the nation’s 9.5 million residents, approximately 80% practice Orthodox Christianity, nearly 14% are Catholic and concentrated in western, northern and central regions, while roughly 2% belong to Protestant denominations.
New legislation passed in 2024 mandated that all faith-based organizations register again with government officials or risk being banned if their allegiance to the state appears questionable.
Belarus appears on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom’s list of nations with religious liberty violations, with particular emphasis on its restrictive laws.
Natallia Vasilevich, who coordinates the Christian Vision monitoring organization, observed that while Graham’s Belarus visit represents a “mega-important event” for the country’s evangelicals, they still operate under oppressive conditions.
“Some believers view Graham’s visit as a miracle and a window of opportunity, while others see a risk that they will have to turn a blind eye to repression and take part in something that makes the regime looks nice,” Vasilevich explained.
The National Football League’s diversity hiring policy is facing legal scrutiny from Florida’s top prosecutor, who claims the requirement discriminates against candidates.
The Rooney Rule mandates that NFL franchises must conduct interviews with minority applicants when filling senior-level positions. However, Florida’s attorney general has labeled this practice as discriminatory.
This challenge comes as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under the current administration has been questioning similar diversity initiatives in other sectors and organizations.
The policy was established to increase opportunities for underrepresented groups in NFL leadership roles, but critics argue it creates unfair hiring practices.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced plans to construct a statue display honoring notable Americans in a heavily regulated park beside the Potomac River, potentially setting up another legal battle over his administration’s approach to bypassing traditional approval procedures as he pushes forward with major changes to the nation’s capital.
Through a Friday morning social media announcement, Trump revealed the National Garden of American Heroes would be constructed in West Potomac Park, an area adjacent to the National Mall that houses the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. The location also contains multiple fields and volleyball courts that local athletic groups use regularly.
In his announcement, Trump characterized the location as a “totally BARREN field of Prime Waterfront Real Estate along our Mighty Potomac River.”
The president indicated the garden would mark America’s 250th anniversary through sculptures honoring 250 notable Americans who contributed significantly to the nation’s cultural, political and historical development. He initially proposed this concept during 2020’s Fourth of July festivities and has positioned it as his answer to demonstrations that led to removing disputed monuments, particularly those celebrating slave owners and Confederate figures.
During his first term’s closing days, Trump, a Republican, issued an executive order identifying 244 individuals including Ronald Reagan and Jackie Robinson for statue recognition in the garden. The concept stalled during President Joe Biden’s administration, but Congress allocated $40 million through Trump’s major tax and spending legislation last year to acquire the statues specified in his executive orders.
However, this funding may not satisfy the approval requirements typically necessary for significant National Mall area projects. Federal regulations mandate that projects and memorials receive authorization from various design and planning committees.
The White House has not yet responded to inquiries about whether it plans to pursue such approvals or if statue contracts have been finalized.
Washington’s monumental center ranks among the country’s most strictly controlled areas, designed to preserve viewing corridors and block new development that might compromise the region’s historical significance. Given approval procedures, design disagreements and funding obstacles, area modifications can require years or decades to complete. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, among the National Mall’s most recent additions, required 21 years to finish after Congress initially authorized it in 1999.
Trump and his allies have demonstrated minimal commitment to adhering to established protocols. He rapidly ordered the draining and repainting of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool this month. He abruptly demolished the White House East Wing last year to construct a ballroom. Trump’s name now appears on the Kennedy Center’s exterior, which he intends to close this summer for a two-year renovation project.
This week alone, crews started initial surveys and site testing for a proposed triumphal arch Trump wants constructed between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Workers fenced portions of the area and placed pink survey markers in the grass.
Additionally, the Trump administration continues advancing plans to convert East Potomac Park from its current public golf course into what Trump calls a “U.S. Open-caliber course.” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum released a design proposal Thursday for the upgraded course, stating it would offer “championship-quality golf at affordable, highly discounted rates.”
The proposal offered limited information about public access to the park, which runners and cyclists frequently use.
Nearly all these projects face ongoing legal challenges.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Fifteen Latin Americans have been sent by the Trump administration to the Democratic Republic of Congo, placing them in an unknown nation far from their homelands — with many having U.S. judicial protections against removal to their native countries.
The Associated Press conducted a phone interview with a 29-year-old woman from Colombia regarding her ordeal. She requested anonymity due to concerns about potential retaliation.
The following are key points from the AP’s reporting.
Each of the individuals removed had received judicial protections from American judges preventing their deportation to their countries of origin, stated U.S. attorney Alma David, representing several of them. The woman from Colombia had been granted safeguards under the U.N. Convention Against Torture in May 2025, following a federal court determination that returning her to Colombia would be unsafe due to threats from militant organizations and mistreatment by a former partner in government.
Despite these protections, she was apprehended during a standard U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement appointment this year and informed that an alternative nation had been identified for her placement. In under three weeks, she found herself aboard an aircraft — with restraints on her hands and feet during an approximately 24-hour charter journey. She discovered her destination was Congo just one day prior to takeoff.
A recent federal court decision determined the government likely violated legal statutes by removing another Colombian individual to Congo. The implications for the remaining cases are uncertain.
The current administration has negotiated agreements with no fewer than eight African nations to receive individuals who are not citizens of those countries — persons whose native nations refuse their return or who possess judicial safeguards against repatriation. Immigration law specialists indicate these arrangements serve as an effective workaround in U.S. immigration statutes.
The specifics of Congo’s agreement remain unknown. Unlike other participating nations that have received substantial financial payments, the Congolese leader has characterized it as an “act of goodwill,” without monetary exchange. This arrangement occurs while Washington has applied pressure on neighboring Rwanda regarding its backing of the M23 rebel faction in eastern Congo — a situation experts suggest may explain Kinshasa’s willingness to cooperate.
The Department of Homeland Security declined to address inquiries about the Colombian woman’s situation but has maintained the agreements “ensure due process under the U.S. Constitution.” The Trump administration contends they are necessary to “remove criminal illegal aliens.”
The International Organization for Migration, affiliated with the U.N., has a primary function in overseeing the deportees’ circumstances in Kinshasa. They reside in small buildings at a hotel close to the airport, with expenses paid by Congo’s government, the IOM reported. The entrances are secured and guards prevent unaccompanied departures, the Colombian woman explained.
Those removed may venture out approximately weekly, escorted by IOM personnel, with roughly 30 minutes for shopping or accessing funds. “They determine our destinations and purchases,” the woman stated.
The IOM has also outlined available choices to deportees: return to their native countries — where many encounter the persecution they escaped — with IOM support, or stay in Congo without assistance. Her legal representative, Alma David, termed these “impossible choices,” asserting the removals breached due process protections, U.S. immigration statutes, and international agreements.
The individuals arrived with three-month Congolese entry permits. The consequences when these documents expire remain uncertain. They have been informed they may seek asylum in Congo — a path none have pursued.
The woman reports feeling unsafe in her current location. The local cuisine has caused illness among several individuals. French and Lingala languages are as unfamiliar as their new environment. She remains mostly confined to her quarters, placing late-evening calls to her 10-year-old daughter in Colombia.
Human rights organizations in Congo have denounced the arrangement as a breach of international refugee protections. The Congo-based Institute for Human Rights Research characterized it as “arbitrary detention by proxy for the United States.”
The woman, who operated a dessert business in Colombia before her departure, maintains she committed no violations and simply sought safety in the United States. Instead, she remains trapped in a nation she had never known existed, with no clear timeframe or resolution.
U.S. President Donald Trump indicated Friday that a fatal Russian missile attack on an apartment complex in Kyiv, which claimed 24 lives including three children, may hinder ongoing peace negotiations regarding Moscow’s conflict with Ukraine.
Trump made these remarks while speaking with reporters during his return flight from China aboard Air Force One. The president, who has attempted unsuccessfully to mediate an end to what he has described as a senseless bloodbath, revealed that he had spoken about the conflict with President Xi Jinping, with both leaders expressing their desire to see the hostilities cease.
“It’s one that we’d like to see settled. Until last night, it was looking good, but they (the Ukrainians) took a big hit last night. So it’s gonna happen (the end of the war). But it’s a shame,” Trump stated, referring to the Russian assault.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy demanded punishment for Moscow following the attack, placing red roses at the destroyed apartment building’s debris on Friday.
Russia reported that Ukrainian drones had killed four individuals, including one child, during a nighttime attack on the city of Ryazan.
Both nations claim they do not intentionally target civilian populations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is anticipated to visit China and meet with Xi next week. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed reporters that specific dates would be announced shortly.
Peskov stated that Putin plans to discuss Trump’s China visit with Xi, along with bilateral relations and international issues.
Delaware authorities have taken a Townsend woman into custody on felony drug charges and additional violations after investigating unauthorized marijuana distribution.
Mary Fischer-Solimeo of Townsend was arrested by the Delaware Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement following their probe into illegal cannabis operations.
Officers from DATE’s Marijuana Enforcement Unit carried out a search warrant on May 13 at Blackbird Creek Farm located on Union Church Road in Townsend. Investigators had established that the facility operated without proper licensing from the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner and was reportedly conducting marijuana cultivation and sales activities.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Las Vegas Golden Knights’ remarkable streak of success continues as they’ve secured another trip to the Western Conference finals, marking their fifth appearance in the third round during just nine seasons in the NHL.
Las Vegas closed out the Anaheim Ducks with a commanding 5-1 victory in Game 6 of their second-round matchup Thursday evening, claiming their 14th playoff series win since joining the league in 2017 — the most of any NHL team during that period.
The franchise’s sustained excellence stems from more than just fortune. Their aggressive approach to winning has involved costly free agent signings and major player acquisitions, culminating in a surprising coaching switch this spring that has paid immediate dividends.
“Just proud of the guys,” commented defenseman Shea Theodore, who has been with the organization since its inception. “I think it comes right from (owner) Bill Foley up top. That’s the message going into every year, is to win Cups, and I think we’ve put ourselves in great positions. Guys put the work in.”
Following back-to-back six-game series wins against the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim, Las Vegas has compiled a 15-4-1 record since making the bold decision to dismiss Stanley Cup-winning coach Bruce Cassidy and bring in John Tortorella with only eight games remaining in the regular season.
“Torts has been a good change coming in, just getting us the right mindset going into each game, each playoff series,” Theodore explained. “I feel like we have the right tools going in and guys have been executing.”
The coaching change came after an 8-15-4 stretch that had the team struggling. The 67-year-old Tortorella’s arrival sparked an immediate turnaround, helping Vegas surge past both Anaheim and Edmonton to capture the Pacific Division title before navigating through the division’s relatively favorable playoff bracket.
“I think we were maybe doubting a little bit of ourselves about what we were trying to do out there, and sometimes that happens,” said Mitch Marner, who netted the opening goal in Thursday’s clincher after recording a hat trick in the same building during Game 3. “Torts came in and, I think, brought our swagger back to where it needed to be, and playing the way that we wanted to play. And obviously since that change, I’ve really liked our game as a team. I think we all have. We’re playing a fast-paced game. We’re doing all the little things right, and that’s what it takes.”
For Marner, who departed Toronto last summer amid fan criticism while the Maple Leafs continued their conference finals drought, his inaugural Vegas campaign has been “a roller coaster ride.” After a slow start by his standards, the veteran forward has found his groove at the perfect time.
Marner contributed a goal and assist in the series-clinching victory, bringing his postseason total to an NHL-leading 18 points. His playoff performance has silenced critics who questioned his big-game capabilities during his Toronto tenure.
“Individually wise, it feels great to be going on to the next round with this team,” Marner stated. “And the work now really just keeps getting harder, and we’re excited for it.”
The Golden Knights now face their toughest test yet against the Colorado Avalanche, who have dominated throughout most of the season. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar have guided Colorado to eight victories in nine playoff contests against the conference’s second and third-seeded teams.
Despite facing long odds against what appears to be Colorado’s championship destiny, the Golden Knights carry the confidence that comes from nearly a decade of unprecedented success since entering the league.
“We’re playing a very high-talented team coming up here, so we’ve got to make sure we’re doing all those things right,” Marner noted. “And then when we get our opportunities, capitalize on them.”
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Montreal Canadiens first-year netminder Jakub Dobes says he takes pride in not losing faith in himself after Buffalo scored three times on their opening four attempts. More importantly, he remains grateful that Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis chose not to pull him from the game.
The difficult opening, which wasn’t completely the goaltender’s responsibility, ultimately helped Dobes find his rhythm and rebuild his confidence. He turned away Buffalo’s remaining 32 attempts in Thursday night’s 6-3 victory that put Montreal ahead 3-2 in their second-round playoff matchup.
“I told him thank you for leaving me and trying to prove myself,” Dobes said, referring to St. Louis. “That’s a big part, to have (the) trust of your coach, and I will never disrespect it. I appreciate it and the only thing I was trying to do just give some momentum back to the team and try to keep it tight, and it worked out.”
Game 6 is at Montreal on Saturday night.
Despite whatever difficulties Dobes experienced early in a contest where Buffalo held a 3-2 advantage by the 10:15 mark of the opening period, the 24-year-old Czech player convinced his teammates he had found his rhythm again.
This became especially clear about four minutes into the middle period when he denied Tage Thompson during a breakaway opportunity after Buffalo caught Montreal during a line change. The Sabres’ top regular-season goal scorer rushed in from the left side, moved across the goal mouth only to see Dobes track his movement and block Thompson’s attempt with his left leg pad.
Montreal answered by scoring three times during the period’s final 12 minutes to establish a 5-3 advantage.
“It was a huge save,” Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki said. “We never lost confidence in him. Everyone was struggling in that first period. And I just thought that was a big moment for us.”
For Dobes, who posted a 29-10-4 record during his initial complete NHL regular season, the challenging-then-successful performance taught him about resisting frustration. The netminder admitted his spirits dropped after rookie Konsta Helenius scored Buffalo’s third goal between his legs.
“The one lesson I learned from today was just got to have a better body language for the boys — don’t let them know that I’m not feeling maybe my best,” Dobes said, noting he was reminded of that during a first-intermission discussion. Dobes has been Montreal’s starting goaltender since the playoffs opened, and is now 7-5 in which he’s allowed 28 goals.
St. Louis said it was goalie coach Marco Marciano’s decision to not pull Dobes.
“Ultimately, it’s probably my decision right? But I feel like the goalie position is probably the one position that I can help much,” said St. Louis, a former NHL forward. “So I try to stay out of it and not be emotionally driven, and being upset that we’re down.”
St. Louis described the conversation over the radio with Marciano, who was watching from the press box, as being brief.
“He said, ‘No, keep him in.’ OK, let’s move on,” St. Louis said.
Forward Juraj Slafkovsky defended Dobes by saying Buffalo’s first goal pinballed in by deflecting off Sabres forward Jason Zucker and then a Montreal defender. And Dobes was screened when Josh Doan beat him to put Buffalo up 2-1.
“We didn’t help him there, but then he came back and he was in a game, and he was once again really good,” said Slafkovsky, who had three assists. “It’s just Marty trusting him. I think it’s huge for confidence of (Dobes). And we all trust him as well.”
What unfolded could easily be described as The James Harden Experience in action.
During a crucial 22-second stretch in overtime of Game 5 in the Eastern Conference semifinals versus Detroit on Wednesday evening, Harden displayed his full range for Cleveland — converting one free throw while missing another, swatting away a shot, grabbing a rebound, and committing a turnover.
The veteran guard remained unshaken throughout the sequence, which perfectly captures his character.
“He never wavered,” said Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson. “He has a bad game, good game, you can’t even tell. So, I think his mentality — he’s seen so much, been through so many of these series — he’s a heck of a leader.”
Cleveland’s decision to acquire Harden through a trade three months earlier was based on his ability to elevate their toughness and playoff readiness. Early results suggest their strategy is working.
With the veteran who has reached the postseason in all 17 of his NBA campaigns leading the way, Cleveland sits just one victory from advancing to the East finals. A win against Detroit in Game 6 on Friday night at home would secure their spot. Notably, Harden’s strongest three performances of the series have come in the most recent games — all Cleveland victories.
“He’s a pro’s pro,” said Cavaliers guard Max Strus following the Game 5 victory, where Harden topped all scorers with 30 points despite struggling through the final periods, connecting on just one of his last eight field goal attempts in the fourth quarter and overtime.
“He shows up every single day,” Strus continued. “He puts (an) amount of work in. You don’t become one of the best players the game has ever seen without showing up every single day. I think that’s one thing that I’ve noticed from him is the consistency, whether that’s in the weight room, whether that’s in taking care of your body, whether it’s in getting shots up. He’s a Hall of Famer in that regard and that’s why he is who he is — because he consistently puts in the work.”
Statistical evidence demonstrates Harden’s importance to Cleveland’s postseason run:
— 5-1 when he scores at least 22 points (2-4 otherwise).
— 4-0 when he shoots at least 44% (3-5 otherwise).
— 5-0 when he has at least seven field goals (2-5 otherwise).
— 6-1 when he has at least three 3-pointers (1-4 otherwise).
The transition hasn’t been without challenges. Harden continues to struggle with turnovers, though this statistic can be misleading since primary ball handlers naturally commit more turnovers than role players. He stands three points shy of matching Stephen Curry for 10th place on the all-time playoff scoring list (a positive milestone), while sitting one turnover away from tying Shaquille O’Neal for second-most playoff turnovers since the current format began in 1984 (a less favorable distinction).
Harden faces heightened scrutiny compared to many players. This comes with the territory — 17 seasons in the league, 17 playoff appearances, substantial earnings, numerous individual accolades, yet no NBA championships. However, he deserves credit for adapting to a significantly different role in Cleveland than what he’s grown accustomed to over recent years.
“This is new for me. I’ve only been here two and a half months,” Harden explained. “So, the things that we are going through is all new.”
In Cleveland, he’s accepted a secondary role, serving as Robin to Donovan Mitchell’s Batman. Such transitions don’t happen overnight. Harden has worked to make this adjustment smoothly since arriving via trade — and Cleveland now stands one win from reaching the NBA’s final four for the first time since 2018 (and without LeBron James, their first appearance since 1992).
“I think we’re building in the right direction,” Harden said. “And throughout that process, there’s going to be some times where we don’t look as great, but I think overall we’ve all got the right mindset of wanting to help each other be better. And I think we’re finding that.”
The National Football League’s game schedule continues to draw significant interest from fans and government officials alike, particularly those following the Washington Commanders or their preferred teams. However, the league faces increased examination as it allocates more contests to streaming platforms.
Out of 272 regular-season matchups, 22 will have streaming services as their primary broadcaster – one additional game compared to the previous season’s announcement. Another 14 games will air mainly on cable networks.
This distribution means 236 contests will broadcast on CBS, Fox, NBC or ABC, keeping 87% of all games on traditional broadcast television – identical to last year’s percentage. Games played in each team’s home market will continue airing on broadcast networks.
President Donald Trump expressed his frustration regarding the financial burden on fans seeking access to complete game coverage, as Federal Communications Commission and Department of Justice investigations proceed.
“You have people that live for Sunday. They can’t think about anything else, and then all of a sudden, they’re gonna have to pay $1,000 a game? It’s crazy, so I’m not happy about it,” Trump said while interviewed on “Full Measure” last weekend.
Although fans don’t actually pay $1,000 per individual game for television or streaming access, the combined cost of viewing all content through “NFL Sunday Ticket,” cable or satellite packages, plus subscriptions to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Peacock could approach nearly $1,000 for an entire season.
Despite heightened examination of its distribution approach, the league maintained its existing strategy, according to Hans Schroeder, the NFL’s executive vice president of media distribution.
“Our focus is on getting the best games into the best windows,” Schroeder said. “And even with the additional games that went to Netflix, we think we’re expanding the reach of those games.”
The organization created new independent time slots after reclaiming four games from Monday night doubleheaders used in prior seasons. Two games moved to Netflix (Thanksgiving Eve and the Saturday early game in Week 18), one to Fox (one of the international games) and one to NBC (a Saturday game in Week 17).
CBS and Fox gained Saturday games in Week 15 that previously aired as Sunday regional contests. Fox also secured a Christmas Day game for the first time since 2023.
Although the league and ESPN believed having dual Monday night games certain weeks would benefit viewers, it frequently divided audiences because one contest began at 7 p.m. while the other started at 8:15 p.m.
“I think our fans felt a little conflicted with having two games on Monday,” Schroeder said. “It wasn’t working as we intended. We could take these games and find a better home and broader distribution for them.”
The Netflix games should attract substantial viewership given the platform’s domestic and international presence. The streaming service boasts 81.4 million U.S. subscribers versus ESPN’s 60 million. Netflix will also distribute its five-game package worldwide.
Ten Monday night games will simulcast on ABC this season. ESPN will broadcast the Super Bowl for the first time, while ABC will air it for the first time since 2006.
Tim Reed, ESPN’s vice president of programming and acquisitions, also believed eliminating the doubleheaders helped “Monday Night Football” achieve a more comprehensive schedule.
“The ability to streamline and simplify the schedule just helps. I assume it helped the league and makes it easier to land all the games,” he said.
With 10 broadcast windows during Thanksgiving week, only six 1 p.m. games will air Sunday, split equally between CBS and Fox. Baltimore at Houston (CBS) and Atlanta at Minnesota (Fox) are anticipated to be the featured early window contests, while Seattle at San Francisco receives the late afternoon spotlight on Fox.
Christmas week will feature 11 windows – Christmas Eve, three on Christmas Day, two on Dec. 26, CBS doubleheader plus early game on Fox, NBC Sunday night, and ESPN Monday night. After ESPN selects the two games it will broadcast on NFL Network, CBS and Fox will each receive one game, likely resulting in six total 1 p.m. Sunday contests. The 49ers-Chiefs matchup serves as the highlighted late-afternoon game on CBS.
“How do you satisfy everybody? You probably can’t, but you can be fair,” said Mike Mulvihill, Fox Sports president, insight and analytics. “It leaves things a little light for the afternoon windows, but as long as we’re not shouldering more of that burden and feel we’re being treated fairly, it’s OK.”
CBS, which experienced its strongest regular season in 2025, will feature the Chiefs four times and the Cowboys twice during its Sunday 4:25 p.m. doubleheader window.
Its strongest lineup appears to be Week 15, with Bears-Bills on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 8:20 p.m., followed by Steelers-Ravens on Sunday at 1 p.m., and Cowboys-Rams at 4:25 p.m.
“That will be a great scene in Buffalo for us, and then you go from that game to Sunday and a monster doubleheader with Ravens-Steelers early, a legendary black-and-blue game, and then having the Cowboys in LA against the Rams,” said Dan Weinberg, CBS Sports EVP of programming.
CBS also features the Cowboys in Week 3 against the Ravens, which will take place in Brazil.
By broadcasting the Patriots-Lions game in Munich during Week 10, Fox will present its first tripleheader since Week 8 in 2016. Following the Sunday morning game, it will also showcase Vikings-Packers as a featured 1 p.m. contest, followed by 49ers-Cowboys in the late afternoon slot.
Tom Brady makes his initial return to Foxborough, Massachusetts, as a broadcaster when the Patriots face the Packers in Week 9.
“I think there are 60 dates this season with NFL football. That is quite different than 20-25 years ago,” Mulvihill said. “Sunday is still the core of the football experience and always will be. I think the league is mindful of not undermining the brand and power of Sunday football.”
The coffee chain giant announced Friday that it will eliminate 300 corporate positions and shut down multiple regional offices as part of its continuing business restructuring efforts.
Store workers will not be impacted by these job cuts, according to company officials. The workforce reductions will target staff in administrative departments including marketing, human resources and supply chain management. International workers are not currently affected, though the company indicated it is examining its corporate organization structure beyond U.S. borders.
The coffee retailer revealed it will shutter underutilized facilities in Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago and additional cities. The Seattle-headquartered corporation recently revealed plans for a new corporate facility in Nashville, Tennessee, which is expected to house up to 2,000 workers over the next five years.
Company officials project these changes will generate $400 million in restructuring expenses, with $120 million allocated for employee severance packages.
The coffee company has been working to cut expenses and streamline operations under Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol, who came aboard in 2024. During the previous year, the business eliminated 2,000 corporate positions and shuttered hundreds of locations across the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Niccol stated last month that the streamlined organizational structure is enabling faster innovation within the company. The corporation is also putting money into its existing locations to enhance customer experiences. Plans include redesigning 1,000 U.S. locations this year to create a warmer, more inviting atmosphere, while also bringing on additional baristas to speed up service during peak hours.
These initiatives seem to be showing results. During the January-March timeframe, the company reported that U.S. same-store sales, measuring performance at locations operating for at least one year, increased by 7%. Niccol described this quarter as “the turn in our turnaround.”
“Our focus now is on sustaining our momentum and making our results repeatable and durable, all while delivering a healthy cost structure that supports profitable growth,” Niccol said during a conference call with investors. “It’s how we turn progress into consistent results.”
Iran’s foreign minister declared that mutual distrust represents the primary barrier blocking progress in discussions aimed at ending the conflict with the United States, while expressing Friday that Tehran remains receptive to diplomatic assistance, especially from China, to reduce regional tensions.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that conflicting signals have “made us reluctant about the real intentions of Americans.”
“We are in doubt about their seriousness,” he explained to journalists, noting that discussions could advance if Washington demonstrated readiness for a “fair and balanced deal.”
Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s most recent formal offer as “garbage.” Though Iran reportedly included certain nuclear compromises, Trump has stated his goal of removing highly enriched uranium from the nation and blocking its nuclear weapons development. Iran maintains its nuclear activities serve peaceful objectives.
As discussions between Iran and the U.S. remain frozen during the unstable ceasefire, regional tensions continue escalating and risk pushing the Middle East toward renewed open conflict while extending the global energy crisis triggered by the hostilities.
Iran continues controlling the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that handled one-fifth of global oil transport before the war began, while America maintains its blockade of Iranian ports.
Following their Friday discussions, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached agreement that the strait must be reopened.
Araghchi announced Friday that Iran would welcome diplomatic support from other nations, especially China, referencing Beijing’s earlier role in helping restore relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
“Chinese have a good intention. So anything that can be done by them to help diplomacy would be welcomed by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he stated.
Beijing has demonstrated limited public enthusiasm for U.S. appeals to increase involvement, despite Trump’s comments to Fox News’ Sean Hannity that Xi had offered assistance during their discussions.
Pakistan announced Thursday it continues diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions through ongoing discussions regarding Iran-related ceasefire proposals. However, officials declined revealing specifics about the talks or confirming whether the United States had provided a formal response.
“The clock on diplomacy has not stopped. The peace process is working,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi informed reporters in Islamabad.
Trump has insisted on significant reductions in Iran’s nuclear operations while Iran has maintained its uranium enrichment rights.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who initiated the war alongside Trump on Feb. 28, has similarly demanded complete removal of Iran’s highly enriched uranium from the country.
Iran’s foreign minister stated Friday that managing its enriched uranium stockpile represents one of the most challenging topics in negotiations with the U.S.
Russia has previously proposed accepting the stockpile if Iran agrees to surrender it. Araghchi indicated Russia’s proposal isn’t currently being actively considered, but could be reconsidered if negotiations advance.
“When we come to that stage, obviously we will have more consultations with Russia and see if the Russian offer can help or not. This is not something for the time being,” he explained.
The United Arab Emirates is accelerating completion of a new pipeline enabling the Gulf federation to export additional oil without using the Strait of Hormuz route.
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, instructed state oil company ADNOC to expedite pipeline construction during an Abu Dhabi executive council meeting, the Abu Dhabi Media Office announced Friday.
The state oil company currently operates a pipeline designed to transport 1.5 million barrels daily from western oil fields to Fujairah port on the Gulf of Oman.
The additional pipeline is projected to double the company’s export capacity through that port. Operations will begin next year, the media office reported.
ATLANTA (AP) — The aftermath of the 2020 presidential contest — when President Donald Trump declined to acknowledge his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden — continues to influence Georgia politics and creates a major dividing line in the Republican contest for the state’s chief election administrator.
Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s sitting secretary of state, gained national recognition after he stood by the state’s voting outcomes despite Trump’s unsubstantiated allegations of massive election fraud and declined the president’s request to help “find” sufficient votes to change the outcome.
With Raffensperger now leaving his post to seek the governor’s office, election administration has become a central topic in the campaign to succeed him. Several Republican contenders are promoting the same misleading narratives that Trump advanced six years earlier. The president has filled federal positions with individuals who support his unfounded theories, and election skepticism has also infiltrated state-level offices.
This contest occurs as state legislators have created conflicting provisions in election law regarding vote tabulation procedures. Gov. Brian Kemp announced Wednesday that he’s convening lawmakers for a special session on June 17 to handle redistricting matters and address an approaching voting deadline.
Georgia’s electronic voting equipment produces paper ballots containing both a readable summary of voter choices and a QR code that scanners use for vote tallying. Two years ago, legislators enacted a measure prohibiting QR codes from being used in official vote counting after July 1 of this year.
Yet they haven’t reached consensus on a replacement approach since that time, creating confusion and potential legal challenges for Georgia elections until the matter is resolved.
Although the special session might temporarily address the issue, the incoming secretary of state will probably play a role in establishing a new voting framework by 2028.
Gabriel Sterling, who served as one of Raffensperger’s senior staff members, stands as the sole Republican secretary of state hopeful who actively supports the state’s 2020 election outcomes.
He gained national attention by urging Trump to help prevent violent threats against election personnel, and during a recent Atlanta Press Club forum, he declared that the state conducts “the best and safest elections in America.”
However, other candidates persist in repeating Trump’s assertions.
Vernon Jones, who previously won office as a state representative and DeKalb County CEO while a Democrat before changing parties to become a Republican and strong Trump ally, offers perhaps the strongest criticism.
“I believe there were many irregularities. I believe violations have taken place,” Jones stated, continuing, “I stand with those who believe there was election fraud.”
Kelvin King, a general contractor who previously sought a U.S. Senate seat and is married to State Election Board member and conservative commentator Janelle King, takes a slightly more cautious approach.
“I think 2020 is still in question to be frank with you,” King stated.
State Rep. Tim Fleming indicated he thinks there were some “irregularities” in 2020 and that “great strides” have been made to address the issues. He emphasized he’s “not running on conspiracy theories” and is focused on the future.
Fleming expressed his belief that he and his legislative colleagues need to find a “temporary fix” during the special session to eliminate the QR code from ballots in a manner that is “least disruptive for the county elections officials.” However, he said he ultimately wants the state to adopt hand-marked paper ballots, a stance favored by many other Republicans.
Fleming worked previously for the secretary of state’s office during the tenure of Brian Kemp, now the outgoing Republican governor. He headed a study committee examining Georgia’s election system last summer, though the committee issued only a minimal report.
Jones and King and Ted Metz, who has previously sought governor and secretary of state as a Libertarian, have attacked Raffensperger’s performance as secretary of state. They have denounced what they characterize as incompetence, which he disputes, and insufficient transparency while advocating for replacing touch-screen voting equipment with hand-marked paper ballots. They have directed similar criticism toward Sterling, who supervised the deployment of the state’s current voting technology and continues to support it.
Sterling, meanwhile, has maintained he is best equipped to defeat a Democrat in the general election. He consistently emphasizes that he has protected Georgia’s election laws and procedures against criticism from “Stacey Abrams, Joe Biden’s Justice Department and the woke world.”
Cole Muzio, president of Frontline Policy, a Christian conservative group, said he thinks Jones has “traction” in the race’s final days, but believes that in any runoff, grassroots Republicans would likely unite behind whoever opposes Jones. Muzio noted that despite Jones’ vocal pro-MAGA stance, concerns about his party change could become more prominent in a runoff, especially regarding Jones’ shift from strongly supporting legal abortion to opposing it.
Among Democratic candidates, the focus has been on safeguarding voting rights and countering challenges to the state’s elections.
The Democratic secretary of state candidates include certified financial planner and political organizer Cam Ashling; Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett; nonprofit founder Adrian Consonery Jr; and former Fulton County State Court Judge Penny Brown Reynolds.
The aerospace giant Boeing is set to complete its first substantial transaction with China in almost ten years, involving the purchase of 200 aircraft, President Donald Trump announced to journalists aboard Air Force One on Friday. Trump revealed that this agreement emerged from his recent summit meetings with China’s President Xi Jinping and has the potential to expand to include as many as 750 aircraft.
Official details regarding the transaction have not been disclosed by the White House, and Boeing has remained silent on the matter. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg accompanied Trump on his Beijing visit, joining a substantial delegation of corporate executives looking to establish business relationships and sell their products in the Chinese market. This agreement represents a major victory for Boeing in reclaiming access to a market that previously played a crucial role in the company’s expansion strategy.
Trump additionally mentioned that General Electric would benefit from this arrangement, stating the company would provide between 400 and 450 engines for the aircraft. General Electric has not yet provided any statement regarding this arrangement.
During the previous month, Ortberg expressed optimism that any comprehensive U.S.-China trade agreement would incorporate aircraft sales, describing Trump’s scheduled meeting with Xi as a “meaningful opportunity” for Boeing when speaking to investors.
Ortberg assumed leadership in 2024, during what proved to be a devastating period for Boeing as the company faced increased examination over manufacturing and quality control issues while dealing with growing financial difficulties. In January 2024, a component called a door plug separated from a 737 Max aircraft shortly after departure from Portland, Oregon, which brought renewed attention to Boeing’s production methods.
Several months afterward, the U.S. Justice Department reopened criminal proceedings against Boeing related to two deadly Max aircraft accidents, though prosecutors subsequently negotiated a settlement with Boeing to drop the charges, requiring the company to pay an additional $1.1 billion in penalties, victim family compensation, and internal safety and quality enhancements.
Following this, an eight-week labor stoppage during the autumn by assembly workers who build the 737 Max in Washington state interrupted manufacturing operations and increased the company’s financial difficulties.
Investors continued their buying spree for the eighth consecutive week, pumping money into global stock funds through May 13 as enthusiasm for artificial intelligence technology propelled share prices higher and overshadowed inflation worries.
Investment data from LSEG Lipper revealed that investors purchased a net $39.15 billion worth of global equity funds, marking the biggest weekly investment since the $48.55 billion added during the week ending April 22.
Technology shares pushed the MSCI World Index to a new peak of 1,117.52 on Thursday, continuing their upward climb after Advanced Micro Devices and Microchip Technology projected robust demand for data-center semiconductors in recent days.
Analysis of 900 companies within the MSCI World Index by LSEG revealed that approximately 72% exceeded analysts’ profit forecasts for the first quarter.
American equity funds reversed course from the previous week’s $2.89 billion in net withdrawals, instead receiving $22.37 billion in weekly investments. Funds focused on Asian and European markets also attracted net additions of $7.62 billion and $6.29 billion respectively.
The technology sector captured a record-breaking $10.65 billion in investments. Metals and mining along with industrial sectors also experienced net purchases totaling $1.03 billion and $886 million respectively.
Bond funds worldwide drew $25.76 billion, representing the highest weekly total since early October 2025.
Investors favored short-term bond funds, euro-denominated bond funds, and corporate bond funds, which received net inflows of $2.93 billion, $2.83 billion, and $2.47 billion respectively.
Money market funds experienced the opposite trend, seeing $9.2 billion in net withdrawals following the previous week’s $149.98 billion in net purchases.
Precious metal funds including gold investments experienced renewed interest after two weeks of net selling, attracting $1.77 billion from investors.
Emerging market equity funds continued their decline for a third consecutive week with $3.18 billion in net outflows. However, emerging market bond funds maintained their positive streak with a sixth weekly inflow of $2.19 billion, according to data covering 28,893 funds.
A British man accused of attacking two Jewish men with a knife in London will face trial next March, according to court proceedings held Friday.
Essa Suleiman, 45, who was born in Somalia but holds British citizenship, faces attempted murder charges for allegedly attacking two Jewish men on April 29 in the Golders Green neighborhood of north London, an area known for its significant Jewish community.
The attack represents the most recent in a series of incidents targeting Jewish locations in the region, creating fear among local Jewish residents and prompting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to promise enhanced protective measures.
Authorities have also charged Suleiman with a separate attempted murder count connected to an unrelated incident at a former acquaintance’s residence earlier that same day, along with charges for carrying a bladed weapon.
During his Friday appearance at London’s Old Bailey courthouse, Suleiman was not required to enter pleas for any of the four charges against him. The court scheduled his trial to begin March 1, 2027, and he will remain detained until then.
Four major technology company executives have been requested to appear before lawmakers on Capitol Hill for a comprehensive oversight hearing scheduled for next month, a Senate staff member confirmed.
The chief executives of Meta, Alphabet, TikTok and Snap received invitations from Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican, according to Hannah Akey, a spokeswoman for Grassley.
The invited executives include Mark Zuckerberg from Meta, Sundar Pichai from Alphabet, Shou Zi Chew from TikTok, and Evan Spiegel from Snap.
The hearing represents another instance of Congress calling upon technology industry leaders to address various concerns through the oversight process.
The coffee chain giant revealed Friday morning it will eliminate 300 corporate positions across its U.S. regional support centers as the company works toward what it calls sustainable and profitable expansion.
As part of the restructuring, the Seattle-based company will merge several U.S. regional support centers and shut down facilities in Atlanta, Burbank, Chicago and Dallas. Leadership indicated they’re also examining their international support structure and anticipate additional workforce reductions beyond U.S. borders.
According to company officials, these changes represent part of a continuing initiative to “sharpen focus, prioritize work, reduce complexity, and lower costs.” The company emphasized that the restructuring will not affect its retail locations.
The coffee retailer has faced rising expenses in recent quarters as CEO Brian Niccol implements a transformation strategy centered on improving the customer experience, which has required significant investment in additional barista personnel. Company leadership highlighted last month what they described as a turning point in their recovery efforts, reporting the strongest revenue increases in over two years, though operational profit margins have dropped by nearly 50% since the transformation launched in late 2024.
The corporation expects to distribute approximately $120 million in separation packages to affected workers. Additionally, the company plans to reduce the recorded value of certain properties by $280 million, primarily affecting reserve and roastery sites along with select non-retail support facilities.
Last month, the company revealed plans for a $100 million investment to grow its Southeast operations, including opening a new support center in Nashville, Tennessee, where officials project housing 2,000 workers within five years.
Under an incentive program the company’s board approved last summer, senior executives could each receive $6 million in bonuses if specific cost-reduction targets are achieved by 2027.
Corporate staff have experienced multiple workforce reductions since the transformation initiative started, including the elimination of 1,100 corporate positions announced in February of last year.
India and the United Arab Emirates established a framework for strategic defense cooperation on Friday, according to India’s foreign ministry, as both nations work to strengthen their relationship during the Iran war.
The countries also finalized agreements regarding strategic petroleum reserves and liquefied petroleum gas supply during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to the UAE, officials announced.
“The two sides have agreed on deepening defence industrial collaboration and cooperation on innovation and advanced technology, training, exercises, maritime security, cyber defence, secure communications and information exchange,” the ministry said in a statement.
Before the diplomatic visit, Indian officials indicated to Reuters that Modi would likely explore long-term energy supply agreements and request assistance in expanding New Delhi’s strategic oil reserves.
The UAE’s recent departure from OPEC last month is anticipated to increase its production capacity and benefit importing nations like India.
The ongoing Iran conflict has disrupted worldwide energy markets through the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, affecting transportation and commerce throughout the region as Iranian attacks targeted Gulf nations, including the UAE, before a temporary ceasefire was established last month.
The petroleum agreement announced Friday involves a possible expansion of ADNOC’s crude oil storage capacity in India up to 30 million barrels, according to Abu Dhabi’s national oil company in a separate announcement. The deal also examines potential crude storage opportunities in the UAE’s Fujairah as part of India’s strategic reserve system.
ADNOC stated it would investigate expanded LPG supply and trading possibilities with Indian Oil Corp.
“India’s scale and growth trajectory make it one of the defining energy markets of our time. As demand accelerates alongside a rapidly expanding population, the strength of the UAE India energy partnership becomes ever more critical,” said ADNOC managing director and CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.
New Delhi and Abu Dhabi completed a $3 billion agreement in January for India to purchase LNG from the UAE, its third-largest trading partner, along with a letter of intent to develop a strategic defense partnership.
This development came after Pakistan, India’s regional rival, established a mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia last year.
Pakistan has become the primary mediator between Washington and Tehran to resolve the conflict that started with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. The country has also worked to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s defenses following hundreds of Iranian missile and drone strikes against the kingdom.
Riyadh announced last month it would offer $3 billion in additional assistance to help Pakistan address a multi-billion-dollar financing shortfall related to debt repayment to the UAE.
The Indian ministry also revealed UAE investments totaling $5 billion on Friday, referencing previous agreements including Emirates NBD’s purchase of a 60% stake in RBL Bank last year for $3 billion, and Abu Dhabi’s IHC $1 billion Sammaan investment.
SALISBURY, Md. — Officials in Salisbury have announced that Fire Department Chief Rob Frampton has been selected to join the Commission on Professional Credentialing as part of the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. The CPSE Board of Directors unanimously approved his appointment.
Frampton’s commission will span three years, starting May 1, 2026, and concluding April 30, 2029. He will represent fire chiefs and department leaders who oversee communities with fewer than 50,000 residents.
Those familiar with Frampton say his selection for this role was expected. During his tenure leading the Salisbury Fire Department, he has established himself as a reliable leader, department mentor, and someone committed to serving his community.
From emergency response calls to supporting firefighters in administrative roles and partnering with local and regional agencies, Frampton has guided the department with emphasis on service, responsibility, and putting people first. Under his direction, the department has enhanced training programs, emergency readiness, and regional cooperation throughout the Eastern Shore while maintaining community confidence.
The appointment also provides Salisbury and the Eastern Shore with a voice in national discussions about the future direction of fire and emergency services.
Mayor Taylor commented, “Chief Frampton’s appointment to the Commission is a tremendous honor for both him and the City of Salisbury. Since becoming Fire Chief, he has continued to strengthen the Salisbury Fire Department through his steady leadership, commitment to professional development, and dedication to serving our community at the highest level. We are proud to see his expertise and experience recognized on the national level.”
The Commission on Professional Credentialing manages nationally recognized initiatives that promote leadership and professional standards in fire and emergency services.
Salisbury officials are celebrating Frampton’s achievement and expressing gratitude for his ongoing commitment to serving Salisbury and the broader Eastern Shore region.
Police officers working with the Active Crime Trends Team made an arrest during a routine traffic enforcement operation in Claymont this past October. The stop led to the discovery of approximately 2.31 pounds of marijuana inside the vehicle.
During the course of their investigation, authorities say one person in the car gave officers the name “Todd Gregory” and showed them identification from another state. However, the investigation revealed this information was fraudulent, leading to identity theft charges.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by specialized detective units to combat crime trends through targeted patrol operations in local communities.
Newark officials are preparing for their yearly Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony scheduled for Sunday, May 17, 2026.
The commemorative event will begin at 1:30 PM with a ceremony taking place near Memorial Hall on the University of Delaware Green. Following the ceremony, participants and spectators will enjoy the traditional parade.
The Town of Ocean City, Maryland announced on May 15, 2026 that it has joined forces with the Maryland-based company ezVOLTz to enhance and broaden its electric vehicle charging network in preparation for the upcoming summer tourist rush.
The initiative focuses on creating a more dependable and higher-powered charging system at important town-owned properties. Officials say the improvements are designed to accommodate the growing number of electric vehicles used by both local residents and summer visitors to the popular beach destination.
The enhanced charging infrastructure represents the town’s effort to keep pace with the increasing adoption of electric vehicles and the corresponding need for reliable charging options during peak tourism periods.
NEW YORK (AP) — Facing difficulties competing in traditionally Republican territories where their party image struggles, Democratic officials are adopting an unconventional midterm election approach: supporting candidates outside their own party.
Across states including Nebraska and Alaska, Democratic leadership is bypassing their party’s nominees while quietly endorsing — or actively championing — independent contenders they believe can perform better than candidates carrying the Democratic brand. The Democratic National Committee along with Washington allies are discreetly backing this unconventional approach.
Several independent candidates are coordinating through group messaging as they develop strategies that could disrupt Congress, currently paralyzed by partisan divisions.
This week in Nebraska, Democrats selected a Senate nominee, Cindy Burbank, who stated her main campaign goal was preventing a Democrat from appearing on the November ballot to avoid splitting votes away from independent Dan Osborn. Following the primary election, Burbank confirmed her intention to withdraw from the race within weeks during a private discussion with a party representative, according to state Democratic chair Jane Kleeb.
Democratic officials believe Osborn, who narrowly lost a Senate race by 7 percentage points in 2024, offers the strongest opportunity to unseat Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts.
The Democratic shift toward independent candidates represents a deliberate plan in certain areas — while resembling subtle encouragement elsewhere — spanning multiple prominent Senate, House, and state legislative competitions. Independent Senate contenders are also campaigning in states including Idaho, South Dakota and Montana, where Democratic leadership has remained hesitant to fully support the independents, though many consider them the party’s strongest hope against Republicans this election cycle.
“For some states, and Nebraska is one of them, where Democrats are 32% of the electorate, this is a long-term strategy for us,” said Kleeb, who also serves as a vice chair to the Democratic National Committee.
Kleeb explained her state party is supporting independents in no fewer than four state legislative races beyond the U.S. Senate contest: “We have to build a coalition with independents in order to win elections so we can do good work for the people. Period.”
Elements of the Democratic Party’s national political infrastructure appear supportive of this approach.
The party’s fundraising platform, ActBlue, assists several independent candidates, along with well-known Democratic-affiliated website development services. Simultaneously, some party campaign organizations in Washington discretely offer logistical assistance in certain situations, while refraining from publicly criticizing independent candidates even in races featuring Democratic nominees.
Several Democratic contributors, strategists and party officials from other states have privately objected, arguing Democrats should not abandon their own candidates for temporary political advantages. They prefer Democratic leadership, both in Washington and locally in red states, to focus harder on improving the Democratic brand’s appeal — even if achieving competitiveness requires several additional years.
In Alaska, some Democrats think commercial fisherman Bill Hill, a retired school superintendent, may offer their strongest possibility for defeating first-term Republican Rep. Nick Begich in the state’s sole House seat.
Transportation officials are alerting drivers to prepare for lane closures on northbound Interstate 495 near Edgemoor this Tuesday.
The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) says crews will restrict lanes between the Edgemoor exit and entrance ramps while they fix drainage issues. The construction work is planned for Tuesday, June 2nd from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm.
Officials are advising drivers to drive carefully and be prepared for some delays while traveling through the construction zone.
Motorists traveling on Route 1 northbound should expect lane restrictions today due to ongoing litter removal activities.
The cleanup operation is taking place along the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway between Smyrna and Middletown, with crews working on the shoulder area.
According to traffic officials, the litter removal work is scheduled to wrap up by 4:30 PM this afternoon.
Drivers are advised to use caution when passing through the work zone and allow extra time for their commute.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Congo’s leader has characterized the situation as experiencing “the Congolese dream.” However, for 15 Latin American migrants sent to the African country during the previous administration’s immigration enforcement efforts, the reality resembles something far worse.
The Associated Press conducted an interview with a 29-year-old woman from Colombia who verified accounts from others sent to African countries: being transported in restraints despite having a US immigration court’s protective ruling, being confined to hotel accommodations with monitored excursions.
She faces an impossible decision: go back to her native country where she risks harm, or remain in Congo, a nation she had never known existed until her arrival.
“They treat us like we’re children,” she said as their three-month Congolese visas near an end, with no plan in sight.
“What would one do in a completely unknown place, without a place to live and without knowing what to do?” she added, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
It was not immediately clear what a new U.S. court ruling, saying the U.S. likely broke the law by deporting a fellow Colombian to Congo, will mean for her.
Speaking from the hotel in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, where she and fellow deportees remain housed, the woman provided fresh information about the central involvement of the International Organization for Migration, a United Nations-affiliated organization.
She explained that deportees can exit the hotel approximately once weekly, but only with IOM personnel accompanying them. During shopping trips or bank visits, they are rapidly escorted back to their transportation, with IOM staff maintaining constant oversight.
“They choose where we go and what we buy,” she said.
Inside the hotel, she reported, IOM workers have arranged activities including painting, music and volleyball, though many deportees have ceased taking part, tired of the repetitive schedule. She attends meals and otherwise stays in her room, placing late-night calls to her 10-year-old daughter in Colombia while worrying about their reunion.
Most notable is how IOM personnel are presenting deportees with their potential options.
Staff members have presented the woman with two alternatives: go back to Colombia, where a US judge determined she cannot be safely returned, while receiving IOM “protection and assistance,” or stay in Congo without any support.
“They are given impossible choices,” said Alma David, the woman’s U.S.-based attorney. “By deporting them to a third country with no opportunity to contest being sent there, the U.S. not only violated their due process rights but our own immigration laws and our obligations under international treaties.”
Congo joins at least eight African nations that established agreements with the previous administration to enable deportations of third-country citizens, which legal authorities describe as essentially a legal workaround for the US. Most deportees had obtained legal protection orders from US judges preventing their return to home countries, attorneys stated.
The AP has spoken with others sent to African countries who faced dangerous choices, including a gay asylum-seeker from Morocco sent to Cameroon, where homosexuality is criminalized.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not respond to questions about the Colombian woman’s case, but it has asserted that third-country deportation agreements “ensure due process under the U.S. Constitution.” The Trump administration says the agreements are needed to “remove criminal illegal aliens” whose country of origin will not take them back.
The specifics of Congo’s arrangement with the previous administration remain unclear. Other nations have been paid millions to participate.
This month, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi described the agreement as an “act of goodwill between partners,” without monetary payment. This occurs as Washington has increased pressure on neighboring Rwanda regarding its backing of the M23 rebel group that has captured cities in eastern Congo — a situation some experts suggest may explain Kinshasa’s readiness to accept deportees.
“We agreed to do so as a friendly gesture, simply because it was what the Americans wanted,” Tshisekedi said, adding that the migrants are free to leave Congo at any time.
“We understand that psychologically they must be unsettled because, at first, they dreamed of living the American dream, and now they are living the Congolese dream — in a country they probably did not know and may never even have noticed on a map of the world,” Tshisekedi said.
Human rights organizations in Congo have denounced it as a breach of international refugee law. A Congo-based Institute for Human Rights Research characterized the circumstances as “arbitrary detention by proxy for the United States.”
Current US Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy states that if a government provides general diplomatic guarantees against persecuting deportees, no additional procedures are necessary for deportation, including informing deportees of their destination, David, the attorney, explained.
“When they told me they were going to deport me, I almost fainted,” the Colombian woman said. She was told about Congo the day before the flight.
She explained she departed Colombia in 2024, after receiving threats from armed groups and experiencing abuse from a former partner employed by the government.
She traveled to Mexico, where she awaited a border appointment scheduled through the US government. Upon presenting herself at an Arizona entry point in September 2024, immigration authorities concluded she had credible fear of persecution, allowing her to seek asylum, but maintained her in ICE custody.
“You spend a year and a half locked up, living the same day over and over again. You see fights, punishments where people are locked in cells for many hours. You lose your privacy even to use the bathroom,” she said.
Some officers made racist remarks. “They made derogatory comments toward us as migrants, shouted at us all the time and sometimes denied basic things like showers as punishment,” she said.
In May 2025, a federal judge granted her protection under the U.N. Convention Against Torture, ruling she could not be safely returned to Colombia, according to court documents seen by the AP.
She submitted a habeas corpus petition and secured her release in February. She relocated to Texas and was mandated to wear a GPS monitoring device, but during her initial check-in meeting with ICE, she was detained once more.
“All they told me was that I was under detention, as they had found a third country for me,” she said.
Fewer than three weeks afterward, she was placed on an aircraft to Congo. She and fellow deportees landed on April 17 following a nearly 24-hour charter flight with their hands and feet restrained.
Currently they remain at a hotel near Kinshasa’s airport, in neat white bungalows. Congo’s government pays the expenses, the IOM stated. It remained unclear whether this would continue after the deportees’ visas expire.
The hotel entrance is secured according to one deportee’s legal representative. The Colombian woman also confirmed that security staff prevent them from leaving independently.
They were informed they could seek asylum, an option none have selected. “I don’t feel safe in Congo,” the woman said.
An IOM spokesperson stated the organization has supplied her with humanitarian aid based on evaluating her vulnerability. This includes “protection interventions, referrals, rights safeguarding and promotion of migrants’ overall well-being,” without providing specifics.
The IOM may also provide “assisted voluntary return” — covering documents, flights, transit and temporary housing on arrival — with migrants’ consent.
The IOM stated it has no involvement in deciding who gets deported and maintains the right to discontinue assistance for deportees if “minimum protection standards” aren’t satisfied.
The Colombian woman continues in uncertainty, feeling anxious. She reported the food “has made us very sick,” with ongoing stomach problems.
Local languages, including French and Lingala, are as unfamiliar as her environment.
“The worst part is having to go through all of that without having committed any crime, simply for going to another country to ask for safety and protection.”
Federal authorities have announced a substantial $200,000 bounty for details that could lead to the arrest and conviction of a former military counterintelligence officer who fled to Iran more than a decade ago and now faces espionage charges.
Monica Elfriede Witt, currently in her 40s, was formally charged by federal prosecutors in February 2019 with espionage-related crimes, including sharing sensitive national defense materials with Iranian authorities. She continues to evade capture.
According to Daniel Wierzbicki, special agent in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterintelligence and Cyber Division, Witt “allegedly betrayed her oath to the Constitution more than a decade ago by defecting to Iran and providing the Iranian regime National Defense Information and likely continues to support their nefarious activities.”
“The FBI has not forgotten and believes that during this critical moment in Iran’s history, there is someone who knows something about her whereabouts,” he stated in Wednesday’s announcement.
The timing behind the FBI’s renewed focus on Witt’s case remains unclear. The United States and Iran have been at war since Feb. 28.
Witt’s military career spanned from 1997 to 2008, during which she received training in Farsi and participated in classified overseas counterintelligence operations, including assignments in the Middle East. Following her military service, she worked as a Defense Department contractor.
The Texas-born former officer left for Iran in 2013 following invitations to attend two fully-funded conferences in that country, which federal prosecutors describe as events that promoted anti-Western messaging and criticized American values.
Prior to her departure, FBI agents had cautioned Witt about her conduct, but she assured them she would not share sensitive work-related information if she traveled to Iran, according to prosecutors.
Court documents reveal that Witt compromised “sensitive and classified U.S. national defense information and programs,” the announcement stated.
“Witt allegedly intentionally provided information endangering U.S personnel and their families stationed abroad. She also allegedly conducted research on behalf of the Iranian regime to allow them to target her former colleagues in the U.S. government,” authorities said.
Leading betting platforms Kalshi and Polymarket are grappling with a dramatic increase in questionable trading activity this year, as these investment venues gain widespread popularity while drawing intensified regulatory oversight.
The rise in dubious betting activity coincides with explosive growth in trading volumes across prediction markets, occurring as these platforms implement stricter measures to combat insider trading following criticism from federal lawmakers.
Beginning this year, Kalshi has examined and identified over 400 questionable trades, representing more than double the number of transactions the platform investigated throughout the previous year, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation. One source noted that several cases were reported to the derivatives regulator, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, though specific details were not provided. The CFTC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Polymarket has experienced a comparable increase in suspicious trading volume since January, a third source revealed, declining to provide specific numbers.
However, detecting wrongdoing on these platforms presents unique challenges.
“In the world of corporate insider trading it is often relatively easy to identify the parties with access to material nonpublic information who might trade in violation of the law,” said Stanford Law School professor Joseph Grundfest, who is a former commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission. “But equivalent data is often very difficult or impossible to collect in connection with some prediction markets.”
The increase in suspicious activity comes as both platforms, established within the past ten years, experience unprecedented growth. Kalshi reported that its annualized trading volumes have increased more than threefold over six months to reach $178 billion, the company announced earlier in May. Polymarket’s monthly trading volumes across its international exchange and domestic platform reached approximately $10.3 billion in April, compared to $3.8 billion during the same month last year, based on Dune Analytics information.
Meanwhile, trading platforms are implementing additional protections and security measures to prevent unlawful activity, including recent policies barring federal employees from betting on political campaigns they support. Oversight of prediction markets is currently at the center of a regulatory dispute between the CFTC, which contends it should oversee them as derivatives markets, and individual states.
The growth in suspicious trading demonstrates that investors are prepared to accept significant risks for potential profits, analysts noted, given the substantial financial rewards possible from successful predictions about event outcomes.
Growing investor interest has boosted platform valuations significantly. Kalshi recently completed a $1 billion funding round that valued the startup at $22 billion, representing more than a tenfold increase in valuation within one year. Polymarket, which is working to launch its domestic exchange after experiencing delays earlier this year, has been negotiating to secure additional funding at a $15 billion valuation, according to a separate source familiar with the discussions.
Increased oversight of prediction markets follows other recent well-timed market positions on declining oil prices ahead of a significant Iran-policy announcement from the Trump administration.
Investors increasingly rely on prediction market platforms before making critical investment decisions, as these venues have sometimes proven accurate in forecasting outcomes related to events like economic policy announcements or elections, often outperforming traditional public opinion surveys.
These markets are platforms where participants purchase and sell binary ‘yes’ or ‘no’ contracts based on the outcomes of various events, including economic policies, elections, and sports competitions.
“Economically, the nature of these markets is such that they let you trade not on the market reaction to news, but on the actual news – so there’s less risk,” said Vincent Gregoire, a professor at business school HEC Montreal.
Kalshi was founded in 2018 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology classmates Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara. Polymarket, launched in 2020 by Shayne Coplan during the height of the pandemic, started as a crowdsourced forecasting experiment that has grown into a full-fledged event contracts exchange over the past few years, generating several billion dollars worth of trades every month.
Several recent high-profile insider trading incidents have intensified scrutiny of the platforms. A U.S. Army soldier was recently charged with winning $400,000 by using confidential information to place a bet on Polymarket on the removal of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. In April, Kalshi banned three U.S. congressional candidates for “political insider trading.”
CFTC Chair Michael Selig told lawmakers recently that his agency would aggressively prosecute insider trading. The CFTC in March began the process of crafting prediction market regulations.
Following lawmaker criticism, both Kalshi and Polymarket recently revised their policies to specify that certain types of betting, including wagers based on confidential information and illegal tips, would be prohibited on their platforms. Polymarket recently eliminated some war-related betting options and contracts after facing public criticism.
“If someone has insider information, they might be way more inclined to act on it on prediction markets than on equity markets,” said Charles Martineau, a professor at the University of Toronto’s business school.
Long-term Treasury yields reached their peak levels since May 2025 on Friday as energy prices spiked, raising concerns that continuing Middle East disruptions could drive inflation higher after data revealed April’s sharp increases.
Energy prices jumped 3% following comments from U.S. President Donald Trump indicating his patience with Iran is wearing thin, heightening worries about stalled negotiations to resolve ship attacks and seizures near the Strait of Hormuz.
Market participants were already shaken by this week’s robust inflation reports demonstrating that energy supply disruptions are appearing in certain inflation metrics. Consumer price increases hit their largest yearly rise in three years during the previous month, while producer price growth recorded its steepest climb in four years.
The 2-year Treasury note yield, which generally tracks Federal Reserve interest rate projections, increased 7 basis points to 4.062%. The yield touched 4.071%, marking the highest level since March 2025.
The benchmark 10-year Treasury note yield climbed 9.3 basis points to 4.552%, reaching 4.558% at its peak – the highest point since May 2025.
The 30-year Treasury bond yield advanced 8.6 basis points to 5.0992%, hitting 5.103% – also the highest since May 2025.
A dramatic escape worthy of a Hollywood thriller played out in the Philippines this week, as a senator wanted for war crimes managed to slip away during a chaotic gunfight at the nation’s capitol building.
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who faces charges from the International Criminal Court related to the Philippines’ controversial anti-drug campaign, vanished into the Manila darkness following an extraordinary armed confrontation Wednesday night at the Senate complex where he had been hiding for days.
The violent clash pitted two competing government agencies against each other: Senate security forces led by an official with connections to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s political faction, and National Bureau of Investigation agents working under an appointee of current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
This marked the second time in seven days that dela Rosa had successfully evaded NBI officers attempting to serve his arrest warrant.
The unfolding political crisis has divided the island nation for months, creating a bitter rivalry between the Marcos administration and supporters of Vice-President Sara Duterte, daughter of the former president, as international prosecutors seek justice for a drug enforcement operation that claimed thousands of lives.
The 64-year-old former police commander has shown no remorse for his involvement in the anti-narcotics efforts and has previously stated he would gladly join Duterte for trial proceedings in The Hague, where the ex-president faces accusations of crimes against humanity.
Dela Rosa emerged from months in hiding Monday to participate in a critical Senate leadership vote designed to protect the vice-president from an upcoming impeachment proceeding.
Government officials, who deny ordering forces to apprehend dela Rosa during Wednesday’s violence, are now investigating whether the shooting incident was orchestrated to facilitate his getaway. No injuries were reported.
“Duterte told me they would find it very hard to take Bato,” former attorney Nicholas Kaufman told Reuters, using the senator’s Filipino nickname meaning “rock” and noting his continued backing among security personnel. “Gunshots in a national assembly are unheard of. It points to a deep crisis in the Philippines linked to the ICC issue.”
The dramatic events began Wednesday afternoon when word spread that NBI agents were approaching the building.
The Senate chamber had recently changed hands: dela Rosa’s unexpected Monday appearance enabled a pro-Duterte group of lawmakers to gain control and install Alan Peter Cayetano as the new president.
Cayetano admitted he had personally driven his fugitive colleague to the building. Security camera recordings show the senator stumbling up stairs while NBI officers gave chase.
He shoved a female agent, according to former senator Antonio Trillanes, who witnessed the events and accompanied the NBI team serving the warrant. Trillanes explained that the NBI was assigned the arrest duty due to dela Rosa’s continuing sway over police forces.
A visibly nervous dela Rosa went live on Facebook, calling on supporters including “fellow men in uniform” to rally to his aid, warning that government agents were preparing to detain him. “Let us not allow another Filipino to be taken to The Hague,” he declared.
Around 7 p.m., Senate security chief Mao Aplasca, a retired police general and longtime friend of dela Rosa, told media his security team was “going to arrest someone” and the facility would enter “total lockdown.”
Aplasca, who had attended military academy with dela Rosa and worked under him during the drug war, later clarified he meant arresting NBI personnel.
The newly installed Senate leadership had appointed Aplasca as one of their first official acts, and he had previously prevented NBI agents from accessing the Senate during an earlier arrest attempt, Trillanes reported.
As the lockdown commenced Wednesday, Aplasca and Senate security personnel began donning protective gear. They weren’t the only armed presence: Reuters journalists observed police officers and Philippine marines carrying rifles and wearing protective helmets, summoned by Aplasca according to military officials.
Aplasca guided the armed group to an entrance of an adjacent building housing the Government Service Insurance System headquarters.
Ten minutes afterward, a barrage of gunshots rang out – dozens of rounds fired, Aplasca later claimed, after NBI agents pointed their weapons.
His team fired back with 27 “warning” rounds, he stated.
Media personnel and Senate employees scrambled for safety, including Reuters correspondents, as Senate security cut the hallway lighting while some continued live broadcasts.
“The Senate is under attack! Pls help us,” dela Rosa wrote on Facebook.
Multiple floors higher, despite the chaos below, House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil succeeded in submitting impeachment documents, setting the stage for the vice-president’s trial. She disputes allegations of misappropriating public money, accumulating unexplained assets, and making threats against Marcos, the first lady, and a former House Speaker.
By 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, the confrontation had ended. The police chief and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla arrived and journalists were told to leave.
Remulla said dela Rosa was “resting” in his office.
Senate security logs provided by Cayetano indicated he departed the building around 2:30 a.m. without being stopped by guards.
The NBI has offered a different account, claiming it deployed agents to the neighboring GSIS insurance facility at that organization’s request but made no attempt to enter the Senate. The GSIS has not issued any statement.
Aplasca has been placed on six-month suspension pending an official investigation. He has not responded to requests for comment.
Former senator Trillanes argued the incident demonstrated how Duterte’s supporters could “control or abuse the powers of the Senate to provide a sanctuary to one international fugitive” and strengthens the case for trying drug war cases in international courts.
The situation is “very hard to explain” and “quite embarrassing for the institutions of governance in a country,” said Dindo Manhit, founder of local research organization the Stratbase Institute for Strategic and International Studies.
The saga surrounding dela Rosa continues: Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida announced Friday that the Philippines would “definitely” honor the ICC’s arrest request and prevent him from leaving the country. Dela Rosa has submitted an emergency petition to the Supreme Court challenging the ICC’s authority.
Motorists traveling through a section of S Jackson Street are encountering intermittent lane restrictions today as construction crews continue their work in the area.
The temporary lane closures are affecting the stretch of S Jackson Street that runs between Lancaster Avenue and Chestnut Street. According to traffic officials, these restrictions are expected to remain in place until 3:30 PM today.
Drivers are advised to plan for potential delays and consider alternate routes if possible while the construction activity continues in this corridor.
A traffic accident has resulted in lane restrictions on southbound Route 1 at the Springfields Boulevard underpass.
The crash has forced authorities to close the left lane and left shoulder in the area, creating potential delays for commuters and travelers.
Drivers are advised to use caution when traveling through the area and consider alternate routes to avoid congestion.
President Donald Trump remains undecided about moving forward with a significant weapons sale to Taiwan after completing his three-day diplomatic visit to China.
During a press briefing aboard Air Force One on Friday as he returned from the trip, Mr. Trump told reporters he had not reached a decision regarding the arms transaction, though he noted he “will make a determination.”
While the Trump administration has given approval for the weapons sale, the deal has not yet proceeded.
Beijing has expressed strong opposition to the arms transaction and has indicated that America’s ties with the self-governing island represent a crucial element in U.S.-China diplomatic relations.
Mr. Trump also revealed he discussed the possibility of a three-nation nuclear agreement involving the United States, Russia and China.
Medications typically prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are showing promise as a treatment for one of cancer’s most challenging side effects: overwhelming fatigue.
A recent analysis examined information from nine controlled studies involving 823 adults either receiving active cancer treatment or battling advanced-stage disease. The research revealed that patients taking psychostimulants experienced notable improvements in their exhaustion levels compared to those receiving inactive treatments.
Dr. Bruno Almeida Costa from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center led the research team. “Our findings show that a well-established, accessible medication can provide meaningful relief within weeks,” Costa explained in a statement.
The study focused on methylphenidate and dexmethylphenidate, medications marketed by Novartis as Ritalin and Focalin. According to the research published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, these drugs possess the “longest-standing and best-documented safety records among actively prescribed controlled substances.”
The timing of improvement appears to follow a specific pattern. “The benefit isn’t fully apparent in the first couple of weeks, but by around five weeks it reaches a level that genuinely matters in terms of patients’ daily energy and function,” Costa noted. “For people dealing with a symptom that can be profoundly disabling, that is a meaningful contribution.”
Researchers observed that the positive effects continued to strengthen, with additional improvements noted at the eight-week mark.
The findings may prove particularly valuable as cancer diagnoses increase among younger adults who must manage work and family obligations while undergoing treatment, according to the research team.
Scientists emphasized that these medications shouldn’t replace current fatigue management approaches like exercise programs, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mind-body techniques. Instead, they could offer quicker relief while patients work to establish those longer-term strategies.
The research also included findings about influenza risks during pregnancy. Medical professionals have long understood that flu infections pose greater dangers for expectant mothers, and new research explains the biological mechanisms behind these complications.
Typically, influenza remains confined to the respiratory system. However, during pregnancy, the virus can spread beyond the lungs, creating serious cardiovascular risks for mothers and potentially affecting fetal development.
Using mice infected with influenza A, researchers identified an immune system component called TLR7 that becomes hyperactive during pregnancy. This overactivity increases inflammation in the placenta and other areas, damages blood vessel function, and allows the virus to enter the bloodstream.
Study leader Stella Liong from RMIT University in Australia explained the significance: “The findings shift understanding of how respiratory viruses affect pregnancy, showing that harm is not caused by the virus directly reaching the fetus, but by an overactive maternal immune response.”
The researchers suggest that controlling the TLR7 sensor might help protect developing babies by preventing excessive placental inflammation during flu infections. Their findings, published in Science Advances, could lead to targeted treatments that reduce complications for both mothers and babies during severe influenza infections in pregnancy.
Ukrainian military forces launched a drone attack on a major oil processing facility in Russia’s Ryazan region, according to statements from Ukrainian officials on Friday.
The targeted city sits approximately 120 miles southeast of Moscow. Robert Brovdi, who leads Ukraine’s drone operations, reported that his forces struck 23 military installations and facilities across Russian territory and occupied Ukrainian areas during overnight operations.
Ukraine’s military General Staff verified the assault on the oil processing plant, reporting that the strike triggered a massive blaze at the installation.
Military officials characterized the facility as among Russia’s most significant refineries, with the capability to process approximately 17 million metric tons of crude oil annually.
Ukrainian forces also targeted naval vessels at the Kaspiysk naval facility on the Caspian Sea, striking both a small missile vessel and a mine-clearing ship, according to the military statement.
Stock prices for Gemini Space Station jumped more than 20% during premarket trading Friday after the cryptocurrency platform posted quarterly losses that were smaller than anticipated and received a $100 million cash injection from its founding brothers.
The New York-headquartered firm’s stock has struggled since its initial public offering, where shares were valued at $28 each. By Thursday’s close, the price had dropped to $5.26.
The financial boost, revealed Thursday evening, came from Winklevoss Capital Fund, which purchased shares at $14 each using bitcoin as payment. Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss own this fund, which operates as their family investment office and primary source for venture capital and cryptocurrency investments.
For the quarter ending March 31, the company reported a net loss of 93 cents per share, which beat analyst projections of $1.03 according to LSEG data. Revenue climbed 42% year-over-year to $50.3 million, boosted by increased income from services and OTC platform operations.
Market experts remain skeptical about the company’s prospects.
“Were it not for the founders’ $100 million strategic investment, we think Gemini would likely be down on the print as key metrics like user and revenue reacceleration fell well short of pre-IPO expectations,” Evercore analyst Adam Frisch said.
CEO Tyler Winklevoss stated the market has “significantly undervalued Gemini.”
The financial results come during a challenging period for the company. Both Gemini and the Winklevoss brothers are defending against a shareholder lawsuit claiming investors received misleading information about the company’s future prospects. The legal action points to strategic changes, workforce reductions, and leadership exits as factors that have hurt stock performance.
In February, the company announced plans to eliminate approximately 25% of its employees, shut down most overseas operations, and saw the departure of its chief operating, financial and legal officers. Danijela Stojanovic has been serving as temporary finance chief since that time.
According to Frisch, Gemini has not yet released revenue projections, which limits investor understanding of the company’s expansion into predictions and derivatives markets.
The Winklevoss brothers became widely known after taking legal action against Mark Zuckerberg, claiming he took their concept for Facebook. They reached a settlement in 2008 that included both cash and stock compensation.
Universities nationwide are expanding their recognition of LGBT students through special graduation ceremonies that celebrate their achievements. These celebrations, which first began in 1995, have gained momentum across college campuses throughout the country, including at institutions that may come as a surprise to many observers.
This spring season, 19 Catholic universities are expected to hold these special ceremonies honoring LGBT graduates, along with several schools tied to Protestant denominations, including Eastern Mennonite University. Across the United States, more than 500 colleges and universities now participate in these recognition events.
Motorists traveling through the Stanton area should expect delays today as construction work has forced the closure of a right turn lane on Stanton Christiana Road.
The affected lane allows drivers to turn right onto West Newport Pike from Stanton Christiana Road. Officials say the temporary closure will remain in place until 3PM today while construction crews complete their work.
Drivers are advised to plan alternate routes or allow extra travel time when navigating through the area during the closure period.
A judicial ruling in Italy has established new ground by officially acknowledging a family arrangement where a four-year-old has three legal parents – one mother and two fathers. The case involves German citizens, including two married men in a same-sex relationship and a woman who acted as their surrogate mother. While this type of family structure is already permitted under German law, the Italian court’s decision now grants it legal status in Italy as well. Legal experts suggest this precedent could pave the way for similar multi-parent arrangements to gain acceptance throughout European nations, potentially influencing how polyamorous family structures are viewed legally across the continent.
Federal employees have filed legal action against the Secretary of Agriculture following an Easter message distributed to the Department of Agriculture’s 90,000 workers by Brooke Rollins. The legal challenge centers on claims that the message crossed constitutional boundaries.
The lawsuit is being backed by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, with the workers alleging they were subjected to “government-sponsored religious coercion” through the Easter communication.
When asked about the pending legal action, a USDA spokesman responded to Politico saying, “While we do not comment on pending litigation, we will keep the plaintiffs in our prayers during this process.”
MALE, Maldives — Rescue operations resumed Friday in the Maldives as authorities continue dangerous underwater searches for four Italian divers who perished in a tragic cave diving incident.
Officials recovered one victim’s body on Thursday following the deadly accident that claimed five lives.
The group of divers, which included an instructor, was reportedly investigating the underwater cave system when they disappeared, according to Maldivian presidential spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef.
“The cave is so deep that divers even with the best equipment do not try to approach,” he said.
Italy’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the five divers “apparently died while attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 meters (164 feet)” in the Vaavu Atoll on Thursday. The ministry noted that investigators are still examining what led to their deaths.
Emergency responders mobilized extensive rescue resources following Thursday’s incident, sending out watercraft, aerial support and specialized diving crews to comb the region.
Recovery teams pulled one victim from approximately 60 meters (200 feet) underwater on Thursday, while initial search efforts could not find the other four divers, believed to remain within the cave structure, Maldivian officials reported.
Dive teams prepared for another attempt Friday, with Maldivian officials maintaining communication with Italian representatives. Italy’s ambassador joined the search vessel operations, and the Maldives indicated they might request international help if necessary.
The Italian foreign ministry offered no updates on body recovery efforts. Officials confirmed an Italian specialist was working alongside coast guard and Maldivian vessels during Friday’s search mission.
Authorities planned an assessment dive to determine cave accessibility, though challenging weather could hamper recovery efforts.
The diving party had embarked on their morning expedition near Alimathaa, with their disappearance reported when they failed to return to the surface by Thursday afternoon, early accounts indicated. Weather was reportedly poor during the incident, with a yellow alert status active.
The Italian Embassy maintained contact with bereaved families while offering support services.
An anonymous bidder shelled out more than $9 million for the chance to dine privately with NBA star Stephen Curry and investment legend Warren Buffett, with the 95-year-old business icon pledging to double the donation so both of their preferred charitable organizations will receive funding.
The eBay bidding concluded Thursday evening as part of an effort to bring back a fundraising tradition that Buffett had maintained for over twenty years, generating $53 million for San Francisco’s GLIDE Foundation, which serves the homeless population. This year’s revival also benefited Curry’s Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation, which he founded alongside his wife, Ayesha.
The unidentified auction winner bid exactly $9,000,100 to secure a private meal with Buffett and the Currys scheduled for next month in Omaha, Nebraska, where the renowned investor makes his home.
“We’re overwhelmed with gratitude for this opportunity, which reflects a shared belief that when different generations and institutions come together with purpose, we can create deeper and more lasting impact for the people who need it most,” the Currys said in a statement.
These charity lunch auctions began in 2000 and ran annually until the pandemic caused a temporary halt. Beginning in 2008, each successful bid to dine with the investment legend exceeded $1 million. Buffett ended the tradition after a record $19 million winning bid in 2022.
An attempt to continue the concept in 2024 featured software executive Marc Benioff and generated $1.5 million, though that iteration didn’t continue.
Earlier this year, Buffett contacted the Currys to invite them to participate in reviving the lunch auction. Curry had been sidelined for 27 games this season before returning to assist the Golden State Warriors in their final stretch.
After six decades at the helm, Buffett stepped away from his role as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway in January, though he continues as chairman. He recently experienced his first annual shareholder meeting as an attendee rather than the event’s leader on stage.
Louisiana residents will cast ballots Saturday in a restructured primary election that will determine the future of a Republican U.S. senator who faces opposition from President Donald Trump.
Sen. Bill Cassidy seeks a third term but must first navigate a Republican primary that features state Treasurer John Fleming and U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, whom Trump backed in January.
This primary represents another chance for the president to settle scores with perceived political adversaries, including Republicans he views as unfaithful. Cassidy has ranked high on that list ever since his decision more than five years ago to vote for Trump’s conviction during his second impeachment trial after the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters. Trump was cleared of charges.
Democrats are not focusing on Louisiana in their campaign to regain control of the U.S. Senate. Should Cassidy lose in the primary, it would likely create a Senate Republican caucus with even stronger Trump loyalty and further showcase the president’s control over the party.
Voters will also select candidates for state Supreme Court, Public Service Commission and state school board positions, plus weigh five proposed amendments to the state constitution.
Louisiana postponed its U.S. House primaries following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that invalidated the state’s current congressional districts, which feature a majority Black district that benefits Democrats. While U.S. House races appear on ballots, votes in those competitions will not be tallied.
Saturday’s elections mark a significant change from past Louisiana primaries, as candidates will compete in separate party primaries instead of the traditional jungle primary where all contenders shared one ballot. State legislators implemented this new format for specific offices in 2024, though the law didn’t take effect until 2026.
U.S. House races were initially scheduled to use the new primary format under the 2024 legislation, but state Republicans passed new rules Thursday to restore the jungle primary for U.S. House contests, pointing to time constraints following the Supreme Court ruling. The jungle primary will occur Nov. 3 alongside the general election, matching previous election cycles.
While East Baton Rouge Parish, which includes Baton Rouge, and Jefferson and Orleans Parishes in the New Orleans region have the largest populations statewide, St. Tammany Parish north of New Orleans along the Mississippi border delivered the highest vote totals in both the 2016 and 2024 Republican presidential primaries.
Caddo Parish in the northwest, which encompasses Shreveport, and Lafayette Parish typically carry more weight in Republican primaries compared to Democratic contests.
Trump achieved a narrow victory in a four-candidate primary in 2016, driven partly by strong support in Jefferson Parish and overcoming defeats to Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in East Baton Rouge and Caddo Parishes. He dominated the state eight years later in the 2024 primary against former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who had exited the race before the primary but continued showing unexpected strength in other states.
Cassidy’s earlier wins in 2014 and 2020 occurred under the previous primary format, where his primary competition came from Democrats.
Voting concludes at 8 p.m. local time (CT), or 9 p.m. ET.
The Associated Press will report vote totals and announce winners in competitive primaries for U.S. Senate, state Supreme Court, state Public Service Commission and state school board, plus five statewide ballot questions.
Only registered party members can participate in their party’s primary. Democrats cannot vote in Republican primaries and Republicans cannot vote in Democratic primaries. Independent or unaffiliated voters can choose either primary. Voters registered with other parties can only participate in nonpartisan races.
Louisiana had approximately 3 million registered voters as of May 1. Registered Democrats and Republicans each numbered around 1.1 million, with Democrats holding a small edge. About 813,000 voters had no party registration, while the rest belonged to other parties.
Louisiana’s updated primary format resembles the 2024 presidential primaries more than previous state primaries. Roughly 192,000 votes were recorded in the Republican primary and approximately 167,000 in the Democratic race. Each primary represented about 6% of registered voters.
Around 41% of Republican primary votes and roughly 45% of Democratic primary votes in 2024 were submitted before primary day.
Through Thursday, about 255,000 ballots had been cast for Saturday’s election, with approximately 44% from Democrats and about 41% from Republicans.
Early and absentee voting results typically appear in each parish’s first vote report, listed separately from Election Day in-person voting totals.
During the 2024 general election, the AP released initial results at 9:32 p.m. ET, 32 minutes after polls closed. The final vote update occurred at 11:56 p.m. ET, with over 99% of votes tallied.
The AP does not issue projections and only declares winners when no possible scenario exists for a trailing candidate to overcome the deficit. If a race remains undecided, the AP will report any significant developments, including candidate concessions or victory claims, while clarifying that no winner has been declared and explaining the reasoning.
Louisiana has no automatic recount provisions, but candidates may request and fund recounts of absentee and early votes. The AP may announce a winner in races eligible for recounts if the margin is too wide for a recount or legal challenge to alter the result.
Saturday marks 42 days until the June 27 primary runoff if necessary, 171 days until the Nov. 3 general election and rescheduled U.S. House jungle primaries, and 210 days until the Dec. 12 runoff.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced Friday that she spoke by telephone with U.S. President Donald Trump, who called from Air Force One following the conclusion of his two-day trip to China. During their conversation, both leaders reinforced what Takaichi described as an “ironclad” partnership between their nations.
Speaking to members of the press following the phone call, Takaichi explained that the discussion covered various topics concerning China, spanning both economic and security matters. “We exchanged views on issues surrounding China, including the economy and security…and reaffirmed close communication on Indo-Pacific issues,” she stated.
The Japanese leader noted that Iran-related topics were also part of their conversation, and she conveyed Japan’s position on those matters to Trump. When asked by a journalist whether Taiwan was discussed during the call, Takaichi declined to provide an answer.
Regarding Trump’s recent diplomatic mission to China, Takaichi revealed that the President provided her with comprehensive details about his visit, though she emphasized that Trump “briefed me in detail (on his China visit) on the condition that our conversation remain confidential.”
President Donald Trump revealed Friday that he explored the possibility of removing sanctions on Chinese firms that purchase Iranian oil during his recent diplomatic visit to Beijing, with a decision expected in the coming days.
Washington recently placed sanctions on multiple Chinese oil refining companies for their Iranian oil purchases, including Hengli Petrochemical, which ranks among China’s biggest private refiners and represents Beijing’s efforts to advance and modernize its energy sector.
“We talked about that and I’m going to make a decision over the next few days,” Trump informed reporters while traveling on Air Force One after completing his two-day summit with President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
American officials, including Trump, brought up the prospect of China increasing purchases of U.S. energy during the summit discussions, though Chinese accounts of the meetings did not reference any agreements.
Trump expressed growing impatience with Iran and stated that he and Xi reached consensus that Tehran must be prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons and must reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The president also indicated his willingness to accept Iran halting its nuclear activities for two decades, provided Tehran makes a genuine commitment.
“Twenty years is enough, but the level of guarantee from them, it’s got to be a real 20 years,” Trump stated.
A French filmmaker behind Netflix’s popular shark thriller “Under Paris” says he could have slashed his production budget in half and finished eight months sooner if he had access to today’s artificial intelligence technology.
Director Xavier Gens revealed to Reuters that his 2024 hit about a massive shark terrorizing the Seine River could have been completed “in three months instead of one year” using current AI tools. The visual effects budget would have dropped from 4 million euros to just 2 million euros ($2.34 million), he explained during the Cannes Film Festival.
This year’s festival in France marks a notable transformation in how the film industry views artificial intelligence. Rather than debating whether AI belongs in cinema, attendees are now focused on determining the best ways to implement the technology.
While concerns persist about protecting artistic integrity, the potential for significant time and cost savings is proving irresistible for an industry still working to recover audiences lost during the COVID pandemic, according to festival participants.
Gens has already begun investigating AI applications for “Under Paris 2,” which he hopes to release next year. The original film’s post-production phase, which involved extensive visual effects work to blend shark imagery with real footage, consumed nearly twelve months.
AI technology can streamline many labor-intensive post-production processes, particularly valuable for effects-heavy productions. A Morgan Stanley analysis from last year suggested generative AI could reduce film and television production expenses by up to 30 percent.
Demonstrating the digital shift, Meta secured an official festival partnership this year through a multi-year agreement. The company’s AI software contributed to Steven Soderbergh’s documentary about John Lennon and Yoko Ono, which earned inclusion in the festival’s official selection, though not in the competition category.
Festival organizers haven’t implemented a complete AI prohibition, but they do exclude movies primarily created through generative AI from Palme d’Or consideration. This policy aligns with recent Academy Awards guidelines requiring human involvement in acting and writing categories.
Festival Director Thierry Fremaux explained that AI cannot replace fundamental skills, comparing it to riding an electric bicycle: “To ride an electric bike, you have to know how to ride a normal bike,” he told journalists.
At the Cannes Film Market, a major venue for international film transactions and industry connections, startups have established an “Innovation Village” overlooking the harbor filled with yachts. The market also featured two days of invitation-only AI conference sessions for the second consecutive year, with presentations from representatives of Alphabet, Disney Accelerator, NVIDIA and OpenAI.
While directors generally oppose using generative AI to create entire scripts or films from simple prompts, its application in production and post-production phases is gaining wider acceptance.
Mexican director Guillermo del Toro emphasized the need for clearer distinctions in AI discussions. “In a very dishonest way, (AI is) all under the same name,” he told Reuters. “To have a proper discussion, you have to distinguish generative AI and any other function of AI.”
This represents a marked change from controversy surrounding the 2025 Oscars, when AI enhancement of Adrien Brody’s Hungarian dialogue in “The Brutalist” sparked significant debate.
Alex Serdiuk, who heads Ukrainian company Respeecher that created the voice technology for “The Brutalist,” argued that AI served as an effective enhancement of human performance in that case and should lose its negative associations.
“They got the Oscar, right? So the Academy understood what exactly was done there,” he noted.
AI applications continue expanding rapidly. Emerging companies are proposing new uses, including Largo, which provides audience analysis tools such as simulated focus groups to help directors predict how various viewers, including critics, might react to their films.
However, some industry leaders warn that even sophisticated AI struggles to analyze what makes movies successful.
“Basically, every movie in Cannes is a prototype,” said Elisha Karmitz, who leads French sales agent, distributor and production company MK2. He explained that no formula exists for selection beyond creating the highest quality film with proper intentions.
Nevertheless, Karmitz acknowledged that AI cannot be dismissed entirely.
“I don’t know if AI in the future would give an advantage,” Karmitz said. “What I’m kind of sure of is just rejecting AI by principle would give a disadvantage.”
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday that China has committed to purchasing 200 Boeing aircraft, with the potential for acquiring up to 750 planes in total, according to statements made to reporters. The President noted that the aircraft would be equipped with General Electric engines.
Should this agreement reach completion, it would represent Boeing’s first significant contract with China in almost ten years. The American aircraft manufacturer has been largely excluded from what is considered the world’s second-largest aviation market due to ongoing trade disputes between Beijing and Washington.
This development would also provide a significant victory for Trump, whose assertive tariff strategies and additional trade measures have not yet substantially reduced the considerable U.S. trade deficit.
President Donald Trump revealed on Friday that he engaged in extensive discussions about U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping during recent meetings in Beijing, announcing that a decision on the matter would come soon.
While speaking with reporters during his flight back from China aboard Air Force One, Trump indicated that he and Xi had lengthy conversations about Taiwan, though he emphasized he didn’t perceive any disagreement on the subject. The president confirmed he made no promises to Xi concerning Taiwan policy.
According to Trump, Xi directly questioned whether America would come to Taiwan’s defense in the event of a Chinese attack on the island, but Trump refused to provide an answer.
“There’s only one person that knows that, and it is me. I’m the only person,” Trump said. “That question was asked to me today by President Xi. I said, I don’t talk about that.”
Beijing considers Taiwan part of its sovereign territory and has consistently condemned American weapon sales to the island, viewing such transactions as meddling in China’s domestic matters. Although the United States maintains no official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it serves as Taiwan’s primary international ally and main arms provider.
Motorists traveling on northbound Route 1 at Essex Street are encountering traffic delays due to ongoing construction work that has forced officials to close the right lane.
The lane restriction on the Coastal Highway is expected to remain in effect until 4 PM today, according to traffic officials.
Drivers are advised to plan for extra travel time and use caution when passing through the construction zone.
Motorists traveling on North Star Road should plan for potential delays this afternoon as construction crews continue work that requires periodic lane restrictions.
The lane closures are occurring along the stretch of North Star Road that runs between Planet Road and Neptune Drive, with restrictions expected to remain in place until 5 PM today.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and use alternate routes when possible to avoid delays in the construction zone.
Motorists traveling on northbound US 113 should expect lane restrictions in the Bridgeville area due to ongoing construction work.
The right shoulder is currently closed along the northbound lanes of US 113 from Bridgeville Road (US 404/DE 18) to North Street. Officials say the closure is necessary for construction activities in the area.
The shoulder restriction is expected to be lifted by 4:00 PM today. Drivers are advised to use caution and allow extra travel time when passing through the work zone.
Motorists traveling along Route 202 should expect traffic delays as crews work to repair potholes in the roadway. The maintenance work is affecting the stretch of highway between Naamans Road and the Pennsylvania state line.
DelDOT reports that lanes are being closed intermittently throughout the repair process. The roadwork is expected to wrap up by 1PM today.
Drivers are advised to plan for extra travel time and consider alternate routes if possible while the repairs are underway.
Motorists traveling along Route 202 should plan for delays as road crews conduct pothole repairs in the northern section of the highway.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that intermittent lane restrictions are affecting traffic on Route 202 between Naamans Road and the Pennsylvania state line. The temporary closures are necessary to allow workers to fix damaged pavement in the corridor.
The lane restrictions are scheduled to remain in place until 1 PM today. Drivers are advised to use alternate routes or allow extra travel time when passing through the construction zone.
Motorists traveling on Route 1 northbound are experiencing lane restrictions at W Essex Street due to ongoing construction work.
The right lane is currently blocked and will remain closed until 4 PM today, according to traffic officials.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when passing through the construction zone.
Hurricane season monitoring has officially commenced for 2026, with the National Hurricane Center in Miami beginning its regular Atlantic basin weather assessments on Friday, May 15.
Weather forecasters report that no tropical storm or hurricane formation is anticipated during the upcoming seven-day period across the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of America regions.
The federal weather service will now provide these tropical weather assessments daily through November 30, offering updates on any significant weather disturbances and their likelihood of developing into tropical systems. These reports are released four times daily at 2 AM, 8 AM, 2 PM, and 8 PM Eastern Daylight Time.
When daylight saving time ends in November, the schedule shifts to 1 AM, 7 AM, 1 PM, and 7 PM Eastern Standard Time. Emergency updates will be distributed between regular reporting times when weather conditions warrant additional alerts.
Residents can access visual versions of these tropical weather assessments online at hurricanes.gov for the latest storm tracking information and forecasts.
The chief executive of Nvidia recently experienced Beijing’s local cuisine firsthand during a culinary adventure through the Chinese capital — with mixed results that caught the attention of onlookers and social media users.
Jensen Huang was photographed by bystanders and news outlets at No. 69 Fangzhuanchang Noodles, where he sampled zhajiangmian, a regional noodle dish topped with a rich soybean-paste sauce combined with vegetables and meat.
“It’s so good,” he commented while eating from the bowl outside the restaurant’s front door, surrounded by curious spectators who recorded videos and snapped pictures of the tech executive.
However, when Huang tried douzhi’er — a traditional fermented soybean beverage with a tart flavor and grayish-green appearance — his facial expression told a different story. Clips showing his reaction became popular content on Weibo, China’s major social networking site, on Friday afternoon. The beverage represents a quintessential Beijing tradition, though it appeals to only certain palates.
Following the challenging drink experience, Huang promptly purchased a sweetened beverage from Mixue Bingcheng, a popular Chinese drink franchise, to cleanse his palate.
The Nvidia leader was exploring Nanluoguxiang, located in Beijing’s eastern section, an area famous for its characteristic traditional single-story residences known as hutongs. This neighborhood combines commercial establishments, dining venues, and residential spaces. While urban development has removed many of these historic structures over time, Beijing has maintained this particular area as a preserved cultural district.
Continental health authorities have verified a fresh Ebola outbreak in the Ituri province of Congo.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday that 246 suspected cases and 65 fatalities have been documented in this latest outbreak.
The majority of suspected Ebola cases have been identified in Ituri’s Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones. Additional suspected cases have emerged in Bunia, which serves as Ituri province’s capital.
While only four deaths have received laboratory confirmation, health officials declared the new outbreak following numerous suspected cases.
Ituri sits in Congo’s remote eastern region with inadequate road infrastructure, positioned over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from Kinshasa, the country’s capital.
The Africa CDC highlighted a significant worry regarding the closeness of impacted regions to Uganda and South Sudan. Bunia, Ituri’s primary urban center, sits close to Uganda’s border.
The organization noted additional spread risks from heavy population movement, mining-related travel, and ongoing security problems in affected regions. Armed group attacks have resulted in dozens of deaths and displaced thousands throughout portions of Ituri province over the past year.
Contact tracing efforts face significant gaps, according to the Africa CDC, as regional officials work urgently to locate individuals potentially exposed to the virus.
The Africa CDC announced it has begun collaborating with national officials and partners to facilitate a “rapid, coordinated response.”
The agency organized an emergency high-level coordination meeting Friday involving health officials from Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, along with essential partners including U.N. agencies and other nations.
The gathering will address immediate response priorities, cross-border coordination, surveillance, safe and dignified burials and resource mobilization, among other critical areas, according to the agency.
Congo ranks as Africa’s second-largest nation by territory and frequently encounters logistical difficulties when responding to disease outbreaks due to poor roads and vast distances.
In the previous year’s outbreak, which spanned three months, the World Health Organization initially encountered substantial obstacles delivering vaccines, requiring a full week following outbreak confirmation.
Financial support has presented ongoing challenges. Health officials expressed concerns about recent U.S. funding reductions during last year’s outbreak.
The U.S. previously backed Congo’s Ebola outbreak responses, including 2021 when the U.S. Agency for International Development allocated up to $11.5 million supporting continental efforts.
This represents Congo’s 17th outbreak since the disease initially appeared in the nation in 1976.
The current outbreak emerges approximately five months after Congo’s previous Ebola outbreak concluded in December following 43 deaths. The prior outbreak in northeastern Equateur province during 2022 resulted in six fatalities.
An Ebola outbreak spanning 2018 to 2020 in eastern Congo claimed over 1,000 lives, representing the highest death toll following the 2014-2016 outbreak across West African nations Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia that killed more than 11,000 people.
The Ebola virus spreads easily and can transmit from wild animals to humans. Human-to-human transmission occurs through contact with bodily fluids including vomit, blood or semen, and contaminated surfaces and materials such as bedding and clothing.
The resulting disease presents as rare but serious — and frequently deadly — illness in humans. Symptoms encompass fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and sometimes internal and external bleeding.
Scientists first identified the virus in 1976, close to the Ebola lake in present-day Congo. Initial outbreaks developed in isolated Central African villages near tropical rainforests.
SEATTLE (AP) — This story stands tall. Literally.
At a Seattle sports bar on a recent Saturday evening, hundreds of exceptionally tall individuals experienced something uncommon: fitting in. Women wearing their tallest heels had to stretch their necks upward to meet someone’s gaze. Men accustomed to ducking through doorways appeared average-sized. For one night, no one had to answer questions about why they don’t play basketball.
This is Tall Tour, a traveling gathering that attracts thousands nationwide to honor the singular physical characteristic that has distinguished them throughout their lives — sometimes positively, sometimes not. Since beginning last summer, the tour has made stops in 19 cities, with attendance growing from just 30 participants in Tampa, Florida to approximately 4,000 in Orlando, event organizers report. The Seattle gathering brought together roughly 750 people, they noted.
“You’re moving around and there are individuals your height and people even taller than you when you believed you were simply this enormous oddity,” explained Tyler Bergantino, the tour’s 6-foot-9 creator who requires a size-16 shoe. “That’s something that I believe is very therapeutic for tall people.”
The idea developed almost by chance. Bergantino, 32, a former software sales professional turned TikTok content creator, shared an informal invitation on social media during a trip through Texas. He sought content material. Instead, he ignited a nationwide phenomenon.
“It developed organically,” he explained. “I can’t really claim responsibility for it.”
Every event follows a consistent structure: Tall individuals congregate, capture photographs, exchange advice for footwear shopping and share experiences about bumping their heads on door frames and squeezing into airplane seats.
For numerous women, the evening’s primary attraction is the speed dating segment and the possibility of encountering someone willing to date a taller woman — whether that involves matching their stature, surpassing it or simply accepting it. Many connected over the mutual difficulty of navigating a dating environment that continues to prefer shorter women.
“Dating as a tall woman, you feel like you’re intimidating to people,” expressed 25-year-old Ksenia Protasenko, who stands 6 feet tall. “There’s this association with you being a warrior type, but it’s not true. It’s tough to have your height as the first thing people notice about you because it feels like people are not really seeing any vulnerable parts of you.”
Protasenko mentioned that men frequently inquire whether she plays basketball. She typically has a response prepared.
“I tell them, ‘Yeah, sure,’ even though I don’t,” she said. “Then I ask them if they play mini golf. That seems to straighten them right up.”
The peak moment arrives when organizers announce the tallest man and woman present. In Seattle, those honors went to a mother and son. Susan Mullendore, 44 and 6-foot-5, stood next to her son Grayson, 19 and 7 feet tall, as the audience cheered enthusiastically.
“As a mom, just seeing Grayson having this experience meant the world to me,” Susan said. “To be able to be crowned with him was really special. It was nice to have our height celebrated.”
For Grayson, a college freshman, the evening provided something unusual: a sense of belonging. When in public, he explained, strangers make remarks and take photos of him without permission. “People think that because we’re tall they can say whatever they want or do whatever they want, like we’re zoo animals almost,” he said.
At Tall Tour, the situation reversed.
“It was insane to feel small for once,” he said, referencing the event’s 7-foot-3 and 7-foot-4 co-hosts known as the Tall Boys. “It was so surreal to be able to have a conversation and look people in the eyes.”
That shared experience goes beyond footwear sizes. Participants describe a lifetime of social awareness — adjusting their voices to higher tones to appear less threatening, moving slowly around corners to avoid startling people, hunching over to blend in.
“You’re hyper-fixated on making sure that people don’t see you as a threat,” Bergantino said.
Tall individuals frequently feel isolated and misplaced, especially during adolescence he explained, mentioning he reached 6-foot-9 at age 16. But at Tall Tour, participants can finally experience belonging.
“It heals a portion of your inner child,” he said. “Everyone’s walls come down, and it’s like we’re all one family.”
Susan understands that sentiment.
“Sometimes you just want to go through the airport and be left alone. And that doesn’t happen for us. We usually get a lot of whispers,” she said. “We get it. It’s shocking to see tall people. But sometimes it does get old.”
The difficulties go beyond social discomfort. Locating clothing and footwear that fits can be challenging. Susan, who requires a size-14 shoe, purchases clothing from a specialty company in the United Kingdom. To accommodate his dormitory bed, Grayson added a mattress extension and three plywood sheets for support. He still extends beyond the edge.
Bergantino left his sales position two years ago and now operates Tall Tour full-time with a small team including his brother, who manages video and social media, a chief executive officer and a chief operating officer.
Even famous personalities have noticed. Seven-foot-6 basketball player Mamadou Ndiaye attended the Los Angeles gathering and the team has communicated with 7-foot-1 NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal.
Upcoming plans include expanding speed dating opportunities, creating a fashion show featuring height-inclusive brands and models, and developing spinoffs such as Tall Tour at Sea. International destinations in Canada, Dubai, London, Australia, the Netherlands and Japan are also under consideration. Bergantino says he aims to create “the tall-person ecosystem” — advocacy for exit row seating, improved clothing options and even a mobile application.
For now, the satisfaction comes in smaller moments, like watching women in heels celebrate the height that previously caused embarrassment.
“The most joy of the day comes from the Tall Queen when she gets her crown and everyone’s going crazy,” he said. “It gets me every time.”
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Tall Tour will continue through May with two additional stops in Houston and Dallas, Texas. Follow Annika Hammerschlag on Instagram.
Financial markets are grappling with mounting inflation pressures as ongoing Middle East conflicts continue to push energy prices higher and squeeze bond investors globally.
A highly anticipated meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week generated significant attention but delivered minimal concrete results. While the leaders exchanged diplomatic pleasantries and shared elaborate meals, substantive agreements remained elusive. The only notable outcomes were the completion of a Boeing contract that fell short of market expectations and discussions about potential agricultural purchases worth billions.
The ongoing Iran conflict, now in its 13th week, remains a critical concern for energy markets. Trump had previously described the month-long ceasefire as being “on life support” before Thursday’s discussions with Xi. Although both nations agreed the Strait of Hormuz should reopen completely and China pledged to avoid sending military equipment to Iran, Beijing stopped short of committing to pressure Tehran regarding the strait’s closure.
Oil prices maintained their position above $100 per barrel throughout the week, climbing approximately 3% by Friday morning as hopes for a swift conflict resolution diminished. Despite the high stakes, market reactions have remained relatively controlled.
The global energy situation has found a precarious equilibrium, with the U.S. and other nations increasing exports to offset Middle Eastern supply shortages. Countries worldwide have reduced their oil reserves while China has decreased its purchases, and Russia has expanded its energy exports to help fill the gap.
However, experts warn this stability may prove temporary as peak summer demand approaches. Recent reports indicate more tankers have been moving through the Strait of Hormuz with Tehran’s apparent approval, though this development may establish an unsustainable precedent that could spark future conflicts.
These energy market dynamics are creating significant headaches for inflation and bond markets worldwide. Both U.S. consumer and producer prices posted their largest increases in years during April, driven by the energy crisis. Even the “trimmed-mean” inflation measurement, which excludes extreme monthly price fluctuations, showed concerning growth.
This inflation trend presents particular challenges for incoming Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh, who received Senate confirmation Wednesday. While he might favor more accommodative monetary policies aligned with President Trump’s preferences, current economic conditions make such moves difficult to justify. Although arguments for interest rate reductions still exist, this week’s inflation data weakened that position considerably.
Market observers now view a rate increase as more probable than a cut over the coming year, as the Fed may need to demonstrate its commitment to fighting inflation to preserve its credibility.
Bond markets worldwide have suffered under these conditions. This week’s 30-year bond auction produced yields of 5.046%, marking the highest level for that duration since August 2007. Short-term borrowing costs are also climbing steadily.
Rising yields extend beyond U.S. borders, affecting all Group of Seven economies as they confront increasing inflation pressures and additional economic stressors.
Britain faces particular vulnerability, with political instability driving long-term borrowing costs to nearly 30-year highs. Prime Minister Keir Starmer confronted resignation demands this week following his Labour Party’s significant losses in Thursday’s local elections. While Starmer has rejected these calls, the possibility of a leadership challenge persists.
Global stock markets largely ignored negative developments for most of the week, supported by continued positive artificial intelligence earnings reports. Major U.S. indices reached new record highs Wednesday, with momentum continuing Thursday amid a technology sector rally led by Nvidia after news that the U.S. had approved approximately 10 Chinese companies to purchase its H200 chips.
Technology-focused Asian markets also gained earlier in the week, with South Korea’s SK Hynix appearing positioned to join Samsung in the trillion-dollar market capitalization category. However, these gains faltered Friday as global bond market turmoil spread.
The sustainability of stock market gains remains questionable, though Nvidia’s upcoming earnings report next week could reignite artificial intelligence enthusiasm and overshadow other market concerns.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi declared Friday that his country lacks confidence in the United States and will only pursue meaningful dialogue if Washington demonstrates genuine commitment to peace negotiations.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi while attending the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting, Araqchi stated that all ships may travel through the Strait of Hormuz except those belonging to nations at war with Iran. He noted that vessels seeking passage should coordinate with Iran’s naval forces.
The foreign minister described the situation surrounding the crucial waterway as “very complicated.”
Iran has essentially blocked the strait to most maritime traffic since conflict with the US and Israel began in February. The waterway previously carried approximately one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments.
Although Washington and Tehran declared a ceasefire last month, both nations continue to face challenges in developing a lasting peace agreement. Pakistan-mediated discussions have been halted since both countries rejected each other’s latest proposals last week.
Araqchi explained that “contradictory messages” have created skepticism about America’s genuine intentions regarding negotiations. He emphasized that while Pakistan’s mediation efforts haven’t collapsed, they face significant “difficulty.”
The Iranian official said his country seeks to maintain the ceasefire to allow diplomatic efforts to continue, but remains ready to resume hostilities if necessary.
Key obstacles preventing progress in negotiations include Iran’s nuclear program and its authority over the Hormuz strait.
Araqchi’s remarks came just hours after US President Donald Trump expressed diminishing patience with Iran and reached agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping that Tehran must allow the strait to reopen.
An artificial intelligence infrastructure company has announced a massive $2.5 billion partnership to develop one of Europe’s largest independent AI data facilities, according to a Friday announcement.
Argentum AI revealed the partnership with cloud gaming company Boosteroid and real estate firm DL Invest Group will create a 300-megawatt data center somewhere in Europe. The AI infrastructure provider shared details of the agreement with Reuters on Friday.
The arrangement calls for Argentum to install graphics processing unit infrastructure within the data center facility. The company anticipates utilizing tens of thousands of cutting-edge GPUs, with plans to incorporate Nvidia’s Blackwell systems down the road.
This partnership represents one of the region’s most significant independent artificial intelligence infrastructure ventures. The agreement reflects the technology sector’s urgent push to secure computing power as demand continues to skyrocket, creating opportunities for independent infrastructure companies like Argentum.
The three companies plan to make a formal public announcement of their collaboration later Friday.
Boosteroid currently operates dense GPU infrastructure across 29 data centers throughout Europe and the Americas.
Argentum indicated it is working with U.S. financial institutions and international investment banks to arrange large-scale financing options for massive AI infrastructure projects.
Companies across Hungary are voicing strong opposition to the incoming government’s proposal to suspend work visas for employees from countries outside the European Union, warning the policy could damage production in an already strained job market.
The Tisza party, led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, swept into power after defeating longtime leader Viktor Orban in an April 12 election that ended Orban’s 16-year tenure. The new administration plans to discontinue visa approvals for non-EU workers beginning next month.
“We will not allow foreign guest workers to take the jobs of Hungarians and push down salaries,” the party stated in its campaign platform, sparking concern among major international companies operating in Hungary.
Sandor Baja, who oversees Randstad’s operations across the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania, cautioned that completely blocking workers from non-EU countries would create long-term problems for businesses that depend on international staff.
“An outright ban on workers from outside the EU would not be viable in the long run,” Baja explained, pointing out that significant portions of Hungary’s labor force will reach retirement age within the coming decade.
Speaking to Reuters on Friday, Baja expressed optimism that economic considerations would influence policy decisions. “I sincerely hope that (economy minister Istvan) Kapitany’s team will allow economic rationality to prevail here,” he said.
Government data shows international workers make up just 2% of Hungary’s total employment. The country has not experienced the large influx of Ukrainian refugees that has helped address labor shortages in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.
Despite the small overall percentage, business representatives say certain industries depend heavily on foreign employees for their operations.
Akos Janza, who leads the American Chamber of Commerce, reported that international workers fill as much as 20% of positions at some member companies, including both professional and manual labor roles.
“We have a member company, which would have to cut a full shift (without guest workers),” Janza noted on Friday, identifying the affected business as a manufacturer in Hungary’s important industrial sector.
While Baja estimated that younger Hungarians under 25, older workers above 55, and residents of rural areas could provide approximately 400,000 additional workers, he acknowledged that transportation and relocation challenges would limit their ability to fill current gaps.
Robert Keszte, representing German businesses operating in Hungary, issued a stark warning about the economic impact of halting visa approvals.
“In our view, the Hungarian economy cannot currently function without workers from third countries (outside the EU),” he stated last week.
A major British investment firm is withdrawing from China’s massive fund management market, marking the first such exit since foreign companies were allowed to operate independently in the country.
Three sources familiar with the situation report that Schroders has struck an agreement to transfer its investment products to Neuberger Berman as part of its departure from Chinese operations. The decision follows shareholder approval last month of a massive 9.9 billion pound ($13.2 billion) sale of the historic London-based investment house to American rival Nuveen, creating what would become one of the globe’s largest active fund management companies.
Neuberger’s Chinese subsidiary will assume control of investment products previously managed by Shanghai-based Schroders Fund Management (China), which began operations in 2023, according to the sources.
The financial terms of the transfer agreement have not been disclosed. Sources indicate that Schroders is also looking for buyers interested in acquiring the fund management unit’s operating license, which would provide immediate access to China’s $5.6 trillion investment market. South Korean company Mirae Asset Financial Group is reportedly among the potential purchasers in discussions.
All sources requested anonymity because they lack authorization to discuss the matter publicly. Representatives from Schroders and Neuberger declined to provide statements, while Mirae did not respond to requests for comment.
Schroders received Chinese regulatory permission to establish its independent mutual fund operation in January 2023, during a period when Beijing was rapidly expanding foreign access to its multi-trillion-dollar financial sector.
The Chinese unit oversaw 1.7 billion yuan ($249.89 million) in mutual fund assets through the end of March, according to recent filings. This represents a small portion of the parent company’s $1.1 trillion in worldwide assets.
The exit will not impact Schroders’ two remaining Chinese partnerships, sources confirmed. These include a wealth management venture with state-owned Bank of Communications where Schroders maintains controlling interest, and a minority stake in Bank of Communications Schroders Fund Management.
China began permitting foreign companies to operate independent fund management businesses in 2020, opening the domestic market to global investment giants including BlackRock and Fidelity International. Schroders becomes the first to withdraw after establishing a wholly-owned operation.
London-traded Schroders shares declined 0.3% by 1020 GMT following the news.
Two major forces shaping the U.S. stock market will face scrutiny next week as semiconductor leader Nvidia and major retailers including Walmart release quarterly earnings reports, offering fresh insights into artificial intelligence growth and consumer spending under inflationary pressure.
Stock markets extended their upward momentum this week, with the benchmark S&P 500 and tech-focused Nasdaq Composite reaching new record highs. According to Allen Bond, portfolio manager at Jensen Investment Management, market movements have been influenced by developments in AI and rising energy costs from the conflict in Iran, operating on “almost parallel tracks.”
“There is not a lot of overlap in the two narratives, but one day to the next, the developments … can really drive the market,” Bond said.
The S&P 500 has surged approximately 18% from its late March yearly low and now shows gains exceeding 9% for 2026.
Following the significant rally, multiple investors indicated the market appeared ready for a pause. Some expressed concern that a relatively small number of stocks have powered recent advances, indicating the upward trend may be less solid than it appears. LSEG data shows only about 20% of S&P 500 companies have beaten the index’s performance since the March 30 low through Thursday morning.
“There are really a smaller set of names driving the overall index returns again,” said Patrick Ryan, chief investment strategist at Madison Investments. “It’s not necessarily a healthy market when you have that many stocks being left behind.”
Nvidia will announce results on Wednesday as an exceptionally robust first quarter for U.S. corporate earnings concludes.
Shares of Nvidia, the world’s largest company by market value, along with other chip manufacturers have pushed indexes higher in recent weeks. Nvidia stock has climbed more than 40% since the March bottom, while the Philadelphia SE semiconductor index has jumped about 70%, driven by intense demand for processors as technology companies invest heavily in data centers and AI-related infrastructure.
Nvidia’s artificial intelligence products have propelled its stock price up over 1,900% since the current bull market started in October 2022.
“What we need to see from Nvidia is evidence that justifies the increase in the stock price and justifies their position and their benefit from this increased spending in data centers,” Bond said. “The results will be looked at … as a signal into the health of the rest of the industry.”
One key question involves whether competitors are cutting into Nvidia’s market dominance, noted Yung-Yu Ma, chief investment strategist at PNC Financial Services Group.
“It’s probably going to be more a story of, is Nvidia able to defend its leadership position as well as it has been able to the past few years?” Ma said.
Next week also provides an update on the retail sector. Walmart, the world’s biggest retailer, releases quarterly figures on Thursday. Additional retailers reporting include Home Depot, Target and TJX Cos.
Investors have grown concerned that conflict-related inflation will begin impacting consumer spending, which represents more than two-thirds of the U.S. economy.
This week’s data revealed elevated monthly figures for both consumer and wholesale prices, with the Producer Price Index for April recording its steepest increase since March 2022. Earlier this month, the U.S. national average gasoline price exceeded $4.50 per gallon for the first time in nearly four years.
Investors will seek retailer perspectives on spending patterns and whether they have shifted in recent weeks, PNC’s Ma explained.
“At some point, these costs are going to catch up with consumers and are going to start to moderate spending,” Ma said. “That is probably what is more at stake for the retail earnings is, how resilient is the consumer?”
WASHINGTON – The newly confirmed Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh may find his ambitions to reduce the central bank’s market presence hampered by mounting federal debt and declining appeal of U.S. Treasury bonds, financial experts warn.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Warsh on Wednesday to succeed Fed Chair Jerome Powell. He has championed reducing the central bank’s involvement in markets and scaling back interventions as part of returning to traditional monetary policy approaches that he believes can better focus on inflation control while avoiding market distortions.
While appealing conceptually, this strategy might expose weaknesses in Treasury markets that could either drive up long-term borrowing costs – harming businesses, consumers and government finances – or force the Fed to intervene anyway to keep rates manageable, according to Hanno Lustig, a finance professor at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. Lustig’s latest research indicates that leading developed economies like the U.S. have lost their “convenience yield” – essentially lower borrowing rates for countries with risk-free status and independent central banks.
Speaking at a Stanford’s Hoover Institution conference, Lustig emphasized the need for transparency if Warsh and fellow Fed officials want to address this issue when bond yields react to fiscal pressures. “In order to have real price discovery in the Treasury market, we need a central bank that will not intervene,” he stated, rather than claiming market disruptions are temporary hiccups requiring Fed bond purchases.
Since his tenure as a Fed governor over ten years ago, Warsh has criticized how the central bank expanded its balance sheet during emergencies or banking stress periods without clear guidelines on which securities to purchase, in what amounts, or how to subsequently reduce holdings.
The Fed’s asset portfolio has fluctuated through a mix of financial experimentation – testing how much liquidity banks require before rates climb – and comprehensive responses to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic or the 2007-2009 recession and financial meltdown. Currently, the Fed maintains approximately $6.7 trillion in assets, reduced from roughly $9 trillion in 2022, though the total is gradually increasing again to maintain adequate bank reserves.
No widespread consensus exists regarding how Fed bond buying, termed “quantitative easing,” impacts the economy.
Typically, the U.S. central bank limits monetary policy actions to adjusting short-term interest rates that affect consumer and business lending costs. Elevated rates reduce spending when inflation accelerates, while lower rates stimulate spending during economic downturns.
When the policy rate reaches zero and cannot decrease further during economic disruptions, the Fed can deploy its theoretically limitless balance sheet – its money creation authority – for intervention. Purchased assets exit the system and are replaced with cash, helping reduce longer-term rates further to encourage spending and stimulate growth.
Fed officials and others generally acknowledge this approach works to some extent.
However, “they’re overdue for a discussion around how they use the balance sheet and under what circumstances,” said Ellen Meade, a former top Fed adviser who now teaches economics at Duke University. “That’s a nine-to-12-month process, with staff memos and briefings, committee discussions and then agreement.”
Attempting to simultaneously reduce holdings and maintain low rates might also require unusually close coordination with the U.S. Treasury, whose debt-issuance choices could affect rates as the Fed cuts its holdings.
In recent analysis, Bill Nelson, a former Fed staffer and current chief economist at the Bank Policy Institute, determined that if the central bank used regulatory and other modifications to shrink its balance sheet by an additional $2 trillion, the impact on policy rates would depend significantly on implementation methods and Treasury Department responses – potentially ranging from a 0.84-percentage-point rate reduction to a possible increase.
Not everyone views a large balance sheet as problematic as Warsh believes.
Fed Governor Christopher Waller, observing that substantial central bank asset holdings primarily provide adequate bank liquidity, called proposals to reduce holdings to levels where financial institutions compete for reserves “extremely inefficient and stupid.” A recent Brookings Institution survey of 29 top Fed and economic analysts found most respondents said the Fed’s balance sheet size “does not currently pose a problem for the growth or financial stability of the U.S. economy.”
Beyond these concerns, broader debt trends could create additional challenges as Warsh assumes leadership. The Congressional Budget Office projects a federal deficit equivalent to 5.8% of gross domestic product for fiscal year 2026 compared to a 50-year average of 3.8%, with increasing interest expenses driving it higher.
St. Louis Fed research also determined that U.S. Treasuries and bonds from other “risk-free” countries are losing their rate advantages. The study by YiLi Chien, an economist and senior policy advisor at the regional Fed bank, and Kevin Bloodworth, a research associate there, discovered that as the central bank began reducing its balance sheet in 2022, the convenience yield dropped approximately 40 basis points, requiring the U.S. to pay investors that much more for borrowing.
Warsh must determine how to offset this effect to further reduce holdings or justify it as the price of large deficits, which would approach the type of “mission creep” into fiscal matters he has opposed.
Jeffrey Lacker, who led the Richmond Fed during Warsh’s governorship, said Warsh’s balance sheet observations “resonates strongly” with those seeking more restrained central banking, but implementation requires discipline extending beyond Fed offices.
“I think for the Fed to back away from things that amount to debt management would clarify market participants’ expectations and would help make the Treasury market more resilient,” Lacker explained. It would also “aid in sort of the general process of the Treasury as it has to … face the music in essence.”
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s government confronts an extended period of political instability while Prime Minister Keir Starmer deals with a brewing leadership contest from the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who must first secure a parliamentary seat before officially entering the race.
Burnham’s route to Westminster remains complicated. He faces the challenge of defeating a formidable opponent from the anti-immigrant Reform UK party in an upcoming special election for a parliamentary position that was vacated to accommodate his return.
Financial markets reacted negatively Friday as British government borrowing expenses increased and the pound declined amid investor worries about ongoing governmental chaos. The currency has fallen 1.4% compared to the U.S. dollar during this week.
Months of rumors regarding Starmer’s political survival erupted into public defiance within the ruling Labour Party Thursday when Burnham announced his leadership ambitions and two additional senior officials positioned themselves for potential campaigns. Pressure mounted on Starmer following Labour’s poor performance in recent local elections, where the party lost support to Reform UK and the Green Party.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed Friday urged party colleagues to avoid a damaging leadership battle that he warned would hinder the government’s ability to address pressing concerns like rising living costs while strengthening Reform UK’s position.
“This weekend people just need to take a breath, look at what’s gone wrong this week, and come back next week ready to do what we said we’d do — country first, party second — and focus on delivering the change we were elected to deliver,” he told the BBC.
Reed’s appeal followed a week dominated by political maneuvering that overshadowed other Westminster business.
Following public demands from numerous Labour members for Starmer’s resignation, Health Secretary Wes Streeting Thursday became the initial Cabinet official to quit. Despite commending Starmer’s “courage and statesmanship” in foreign policy, Streeting expressed lost faith in the prime minister’s domestic leadership due to policy errors.
“Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift,” Streeting wrote in a sharp resignation letter.
“Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords,” he added. “You also need to listen to your colleagues, including backbenchers, and the heavy-handed approach to dissenting voices diminishes our politics.”
Streeting avoided declaring himself the ideal party leader for the upcoming general election, instead suggesting Starmer should resign to permit a “broad” range of candidates to discuss the party’s direction.
This appeared to reference Burnham, a former Cabinet official who departed Parliament in 2017 to pursue the Greater Manchester mayoral position. Burnham has sought opportunities to rejoin the House of Commons to mount his leadership challenge against Starmer.
Josh Simons, a Labour representative from Northern England, created that opportunity Thursday by stepping down from his position specifically to provide Burnham with a seat. However, this represents just the initial hurdle for Burnham. Before returning to Westminster, he must prevail in a special election for Makerfield, a constituency where Reform UK demonstrated significant strength in recent local voting.
Burnham recognized these obstacles Thursday while announcing his candidacy for the position.
“I truly do not take a single vote for granted and will work hard to regain the trust of people in the Makerfield constituency, many of whom have long supported our party but lost faith in recent times,” he said in a statement.
Foreign ministers from BRICS nations wrapped up their two-day conference in New Delhi on Friday without reaching consensus for a joint statement, according to host India. The failure to agree stemmed from conflicting viewpoints among member countries regarding the ongoing Middle East crisis.
The inability to reach agreement underscored the difficulties the alliance faces in staying unified while working to broaden its global reach.
According to India’s official statement, participating nations articulated “their respective national positions and shared a range of perspectives” on matters such as sovereignty, maritime security and safeguarding civilian infrastructure and lives in the Middle East region.
The statement contained a footnote noting that “a member had reservations” regarding portions of sections addressing Gaza and security concerns in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The BRICS alliance consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
Disagreements between members have grown more apparent during the Iran war, especially between Iran and the UAE.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pushed BRICS countries to denounce the U.S. and Israel for what he characterized as their “unlawful aggression.” He additionally urged fellow member nations to oppose what he termed the politicization of international institutions.
AKRON, Ohio — A deadly aircraft accident occurred Thursday afternoon when a small plane slammed into a residential property in Ohio, killing both individuals aboard the aircraft, according to the Akron Fire Department.
The crash happened just before 4 p.m. and immediately burst into flames, officials reported in a statement. Authorities confirmed no one inside the struck residence was harmed during the incident. Emergency responders evacuated the impacted home along with an adjacent property as a safety precaution.
Aviation officials identified the aircraft as a Piper PA-28, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed via email.
Social media footage posted on X captured the aftermath, displaying a massive column of dark smoke billowing above the residential area following the collision. While the aircraft cannot be seen in the recorded material, flames are visible at the bottom of the smoke column as it extends upward over surrounding houses in the neighborhood.
WASHINGTON – Jerome Powell’s eight-year run as Federal Reserve Chair comes to an end Friday, and while he navigated major economic crises, his most lasting contribution may be how he rebuilt the central bank’s ties with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
During his tenure, the former lawyer and private equity investor had to master the same crisis management skills as his predecessors – cutting interest rates to near zero and purchasing bonds at unprecedented levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, then raising rates at the steepest pace in 40 years to combat subsequent inflation. He also revised the Fed’s policy framework twice and communicated with the public more frequently than any previous central bank leader.
However, what distinguished Powell from past chairs was his systematic effort to strengthen relationships with elected officials in Congress. As someone with a background in Washington dealmaking, Treasury work, and think tank analysis before joining the Fed, building these connections may have come more naturally to Powell than to predecessors like Janet Yellen and Ben Bernanke, despite their advanced academic credentials.
Powell’s approach went beyond simple networking. He viewed Congress as the Fed’s primary source of oversight and accountability. After clashing with President Donald Trump early in his chairmanship, he also saw lawmakers as the main defense against attempts to compromise the Fed’s independence in making economic and interest rate decisions.
Research conducted by University of Maryland assistant economics professor Thomas Drechsel, analyzing publicly available meeting schedules, revealed that Powell engaged with Hill members much more aggressively than Yellen and Bernanke. The frequency of meetings with House and Senate members from both parties peaked during Trump’s presidency.
Kevin Warsh, the incoming Fed Chair who also has a legal background, is similarly praised for his diplomatic abilities and may adopt a comparable strategy, especially as protection should Democrats gain congressional control and assume leadership of key Fed oversight committees.
Not everyone became Powell’s ally through this approach. Ohio Republican Bernie Moreno remained a harsh critic after appearing before the Senate Banking Committee in 2025, stating that his two meetings with Powell last year didn’t change his opinion that Powell “is hyperpolitical … and it hurt the Fed in a gigantic way,” echoing sentiments common among Trump supporters.
Nevertheless, Drechsel argues the data tells a compelling story, particularly regarding recent events when important senators supported Powell during his conflict with the Trump administration over a criminal investigation that was ultimately dropped.
Specifically, Powell met 11 times with North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis during his tenure, according to Drechsel’s analysis. When pressure intensified on Powell, Tillis blocked Warsh’s nomination until the administration abandoned the probe.
“It was systematic,” Drechsel explained regarding Powell’s legislative outreach. “Maybe it was just natural given Powell’s background. Bernanke and Yellen were academics…But given the political environment it was noteworthy that he interacted so much…One interpretation is that Powell actively worked with Congress perhaps to protect the Fed.”
The space exploration company led by Elon Musk is preparing for what could become the largest initial public offering in United States history, with plans to seek a market valuation of approximately $1.75 trillion.
This potential stock market launch would significantly surpass previous record-setting IPOs from major companies like Alibaba, Visa, and Facebook (now known as Meta Platforms). Financial experts suggest this enormous valuation demonstrates the high expectations investors have for the aerospace and satellite business, though meeting those expectations may prove challenging.
Data comparisons show how this planned offering measures against other notable public market entries from recent years based on company valuations and financial fundamentals.
Many of the companies that previously went public had established larger revenue streams and more defined profit margins at the time of their debuts. Market analysts note that the proposed valuation for the rocket company largely represents what investors are willing to pay based on anticipated future expansion.
“All of these companies have had a compelling story for why rapid growth and big future profits might happen. But when a company goes public at such a high valuation, lots of things have to go right,” said Jay Ritter, a University of Florida professor who tracks U.S. IPOs.
“Revenue has to grow enormously, and costs have to grow more slowly. Most of the time, things don’t go according to plan.”
Stock market futures dropped significantly Friday morning as concerns about rising inflation linked to Middle East conflicts sent Treasury yields soaring and threatened to derail the recent technology-driven market surge.
Futures contracts for both the technology-heavy index and the broader market index fell more than 1% in pre-market trading, signaling potential trouble for the artificial intelligence boom that has powered recent gains.
The 10-year Treasury note yield climbed to 4.54%, marking its highest point since early June 2025. This benchmark rate influences borrowing costs worldwide and reflects growing investor anxiety about economic conditions.
Bond yields worldwide rose as mounting evidence of economic harm from the Iran war led traders to expect faster interest rate increases and slower economic growth ahead.
Market data shows the probability of the U.S. Federal Reserve raising rates by 25 basis points in December has more than doubled in the past week, now standing at approximately 40% according to the CMEGroup’s Fedwatch tool.
Oil prices surged nearly 3% to $109 per barrel as the Strait of Hormuz remained blocked, creating fresh worries about global energy supply disruptions.
“The longer the Middle East war drags on, the higher energy prices rise – fuelling inflation expectations and borrowing costs, and increasing the cost of building that extra data center,” said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank.
“This is a red flag that many tech investors have been ignoring, blinded by shiny earnings and even shinier earnings expectations.”
Early trading data at 05:38 a.m. ET showed the industrial average futures down 330 points or 0.66%, while the broader market index futures declined 80.75 points or 1.07%. Technology futures dropped 463.25 points or 1.56%.
This downturn comes after another day of record-breaking performance on Wall Street, where both major indexes reached new all-time highs. The industrial average crossed the 50,000 mark again, while the broader index surpassed 7,500 for the first time.
Earlier in the week, markets had seemed to brush aside inflation worries connected to the Iran conflict, with artificial intelligence excitement driving continued gains and keeping major indexes positioned for weekly increases.
Traders also monitored the conclusion of the U.S.-China summit on Friday, which ended without significant progress after talks covering topics including trade, tariffs, Iran and Taiwan.
In pre-market individual stock movement, semiconductor equipment manufacturer Applied Materials dropped 2.8% despite projecting third-quarter revenue and adjusted earnings above analyst expectations.
Medical device company Dexcom rose 2% after announcing plans to add two independent board members and restructure a key committee in partnership with activist investor Elliott Investment Management.
Airline stocks declined broadly as climbing oil prices pressured the industry, with Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines falling between 1.3% and 1.5%, while Alaska Air shares dropped 1.8%.
A high-profile gathering of America’s leading corporate executives in Beijing this week yielded limited tangible business results, despite efforts to restore commercial relationships between the two economic superpowers.
The business delegation, which accompanied U.S. President Donald Trump to China’s capital, included top leaders from major corporations such as Tesla, Nvidia, Apple, Meta, Boeing, Cargill and Goldman Sachs. The group participated in a leadership summit featuring elaborate hospitality, photo opportunities and diplomatic dining as they worked to rebuild ties with Chinese counterparts.
However, as Trump departed Beijing on Friday afternoon, concrete achievements for the accompanying business leaders remained unclear.
The participation of such influential American corporate figures highlights China’s continued significance as a market, despite ongoing political tensions surrounding trade disputes, artificial intelligence concerns and broader international relations challenges.
Direct discussions between American executives and Chinese government representatives and policy officials remain essential for understanding regulatory obstacles, securing business agreements and growing operations in the world’s second-largest economy.
This trip differed markedly from Trump’s previous presidential visit to Beijing in 2017, which brought a larger corporate delegation and resulted in agreements and memorandums worth $250 billion. Experts indicated this visit focused more on building political relationships than immediate transactions.
“Beijing never approaches a leadership summit of this sort from a purely transactional perspective,” said Feng Chucheng, founder and partner at Hutong Research, a Beijing-based strategic consultancy. “I wouldn’t use the size of deals to measure the outcome of the summit.”
“Its top priority is to find a mutually agreed ‘floor’ for the bilateral relationship and secure a set of guardrails to avoid uncontrolled, unexpected escalation,” Feng added.
Whether the positive atmosphere will translate into regulatory approvals, improved market access and investment opportunities remains uncertain, as companies confront broader operational difficulties in China beyond simple deal-making.
Several executives planned to stay in China for additional meetings with officials following Trump’s departure, and more business announcements could emerge in coming days.
One apparent agreement, based on Trump’s statements though not yet officially confirmed, involves China purchasing 200 Boeing aircraft. While this represents a concrete outcome, it falls short of the 500 planes originally anticipated and below the 300 aircraft purchased during the 2017 visit.
No progress was reported on China approving sales of Nvidia’s H200 AI chip, which ranks as the company’s second-most advanced artificial intelligence processor. The U.S. has already authorized sales of this chip to certain Chinese companies.
When Reuters repeatedly questioned him about signed deals and the H200 chip situation, Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang responded only: “I love China, had a great time.”
Huang was not originally listed on the White House delegation but joined the trip after Trump invited him aboard in Alaska during the journey to Beijing. His addition raised expectations that the visit might advance Nvidia’s stalled efforts to sell AI chips in China.
On Friday, Huang toured picturesque Beijing locations with his team, pausing to observe street performers and visiting a ground-floor establishment he had patronized during an earlier trip to the capital.
“The summit has much more on positive atmospherics than deliverables, or at least on what China will officially acknowledge,” said Han Shen Lin, the Shanghai-based China country director at U.S. consultancy firm The Asia Group.
“Nonetheless, if Beijing doesn’t give Trump enough ‘wins’ to take home, the risk is that in his disappointment, Trump steps back and lets his more hawkish administration drive the bilateral relationship. This will undoubtedly take us on the road to escalation,” Han added.
ATHENS, May 15 – Greek officials on Friday requested European Union assistance to address what they characterized as illegal fishing practices and maritime law violations by Turkish vessels in the eastern Mediterranean waters.
The two NATO member nations and regional neighbors have maintained conflicting positions for decades regarding continental shelf boundaries and maritime authority in the Aegean Sea, particularly concerning fishing rights.
During a Friday meeting in Athens with the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, Shipping Minister Vasilis Kikilias presented the concerns.
“I’ve raised with the Commissioner a major issue for Greece regarding our fishermen and our fisheries and the provocative behaviour of our Turkish neighbours with regards to the unlawful fishing, the non-respect of the law of the sea, and the disputing of our sovereign rights,” Kikilias stated.
“We ask the European Union to intervene,” Kikilias declared, emphasizing that Greek maritime boundaries also represent European borders.
Turkish authorities had not provided immediate responses to requests for comment.
Greek authorities have established restricted fishing zones within the Aegean Sea, several of which Turkey has disputed as beyond the country’s legal authority. Athens filed formal protests last year regarding a Turkish maritime spatial plan that established designated areas for fishing and additional activities throughout the Aegean Sea.
The EU Commission indicated last year that coastal nations bear primary enforcement responsibility while it assists Greece through European Fisheries Control Agency patrols, satellite monitoring and inspection services.
Even amid these disagreements, both countries have maintained regular diplomatic discussions to examine possibilities for beginning negotiations to establish maritime boundary demarcations.
The annual National Safe Boating Week will take place from May 16 through May 22, 2026, according to information from the Safe Boating Campaign.
This week-long national observance is designed to raise awareness about water safety and encourage responsible practices among recreational boaters throughout the United States.
The designated week provides an opportunity for boating safety organizations, coast guard units, and marine law enforcement agencies to promote educational programs and safety initiatives aimed at reducing accidents on the water.
During this week’s events in the nation’s capital, senators gave their approval to Kevin Warsh for his appointment as Federal Reserve chair, prompting quiz writers to craft a question centered around his name. That question joins nine others in this week’s current events quiz.
Motorists traveling on Boyds Corner Road should prepare for potential delays due to ongoing construction work affecting traffic flow in the area.
Transportation officials report that intermittent lane restrictions are currently in place along the stretch of roadway between Vessel Drive and DuPont Parkway. The construction activity is causing periodic lane closures that are expected to remain in effect until 5:30 AM.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when navigating through the work zone area.
Young adults in their twenties are achieving homeownership at rates that exceed what millennials accomplished at the same age, defying expectations in today’s challenging real estate market.
Francisco Vazquez, 27, stands in front of his new home in Milwaukee, Wis. He was able to buy it after changing his career track and saving aggressively, including for one year while he lived rent free with his parents.
The current generation of twenty-something homebuyers demonstrates different characteristics compared to their predecessors. They are more frequently purchasing homes while unmarried and are less dependent on parental financial support to make their purchases possible.
This trend represents a notable shift in homebuying patterns, particularly given the obstacles young buyers face in today’s housing market, including elevated prices and interest rates that have made homeownership increasingly difficult to achieve.
Democratic Party leadership, struggling to remain competitive in conservative states where their political brand faces challenges, are trying an unconventional approach this election cycle: supporting candidates who aren’t Democrats.
Across states including Nebraska, Idaho and Alaska, Democratic officials are looking beyond their own party’s nominees while quietly encouraging — and sometimes openly endorsing — independent candidates they believe can perform better than those carrying the Democratic label. The Democratic National Committee and Washington allies are quietly backing this new approach.
Some of these independent candidates are coordinating through group messaging as they work on strategies that could disrupt Congress, which remains stuck in partisan deadlock.
Nebraska Democrats this week selected a nominee for U.S. Senate, Cindy Burbank, who stated that a key campaign goal was ensuring no Democrat would appear on the November ballot to split votes away from independent Dan Osborn. After voting ended, Burbank confirmed her intention to withdraw in the coming weeks during a private discussion with a party official, according to state Democratic chair Jane Kleeb.
Democratic leadership believes Osborn, who lost by just 7 points in his 2024 Senate race, represents the strongest opportunity to unseat Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts.
The Democratic shift toward independents represents a deliberate strategy in certain areas — and a more subtle understanding elsewhere — spanning multiple high-profile Senate and House races plus statehouse competitions. Independent Senate candidates are also campaigning in states like Idaho, South Dakota and Montana, where Democratic leadership has been reluctant to fully endorse the independents, though many consider them the party’s best option to block Republicans this election season.
“For some states, and Nebraska is one of them, where Democrats are 32% of the electorate, this is a long-term strategy for us,” said Kleeb, who also serves as a vice chair to the Democratic National Committee.
Kleeb explained her state party is supporting independents in at least four state legislative races beyond the U.S. Senate: “We have to build a coalition with independents in order to win elections so we can do good work for the people. Period.”
Parts of the Democratic Party’s national political infrastructure appear supportive.
The Democrats’ fundraising platform, ActBlue, works with some of the independent candidates, along with popular Democratic-allied website builders. Meanwhile, some of the party’s campaign committees in Washington quietly offer logistical assistance in certain cases, while avoiding public attacks on the independent candidates even in races where a Democratic nominee exists.
“The Democratic Party’s brand is awful right now,” said Democratic strategist Josh Schwerin. “The combination of the brand problem and the existential nature of the threat that our country is facing requires us to have a big tent and look for candidates who can win.”
Some Democratic donors, strategists and party leaders from other states have privately objected, arguing Democrats should not abandon their own nominees for short-term political advantages. They want Democratic officials, both in Washington and locally in conservative states, to work harder to improve the Democratic brand’s appeal — even if becoming competitive takes several more years.
“What’s the independent going to do for the Democratic Party if they win?” asked Democratic strategist Mike Ceraso, who views the shift toward independents as an effort to disguise Democrats in some instances. “We’re the party of truth and honesty and integrity, but we’re playing these stupid political games?”
Additionally, there’s no assurance that independent candidates, if elected, would back all Democratic policy priorities or even Democratic leadership in Congress.
In Idaho, independent Senate candidate Todd Achilles, an Army veteran and former Democratic state legislator, said he won’t be caucusing with either party if elected. He described his politics as “straight down the middle,” and said he believes in individual liberties.
“Idahoans should be able to live how they want,” he said. But the Democratic Party was a bad fit because it “has given up on little red states like Idaho.”
Among his criticisms of Democrats is that the party made a significant error by initially running Joe Biden again for president in 2024. However, he also said “the shine is coming off” the former president, whom Idaho voters supported by 36 points in 2024.
Achilles said he and other military veterans running for Senate as independents communicate in the text chain and are “very much on the same page.” He says the group wants to establish “guardrails,” including term and age limits and campaign finance reform.
“The priority is to get Congress functioning again,” he said. “We gotta break the grip of the two-party system.”
In South Dakota, Navy and Air Force veteran Brian Bengs has started an independent campaign to defeat Republican incumbent Sen. Mike Rounds, who’s seeking a third term this fall.
Bengs campaigned as a Democrat against Senate Majority Leader John Thune four years ago and lost by 43 points.
A lifelong independent, he said he was rejected by the party this time when he requested to run with its organizational support but without the label. Nevertheless, he maintains he can win without the party’s formal endorsement.
One important lesson from his 2022 campaign, he says, was how difficult it was to connect with voters while carrying the Democratic Party label.
Voters would immediately ask, “What are you?” he recalled.
“When you say, ‘I’m a lifelong independent running as a Democrat,’” Bengs said, the response was swift. “‘I’ll never vote for a Democrat.’ And that was it,” he said.
“So that takeaway soured me on running again in any party system, because it was just a soul-sucking experience.”
In Alaska, some Democrats believe that commercial fisherman Bill Hill, a retired school superintendent, may represent their strongest chance at defeating first-term Republican Rep. Nick Begich for the state’s only House seat.
Hill, a lifelong independent, raised more than $780,000 in the first three months of the year, surpassing Democrat Matt Schultz, a pastor, who raised $578,000.
The state Democratic Party chose not to endorse Schultz at its recent convention, which Hill also attended. The House Democrats’ campaign committee in Washington has also declined so far to promote Schultz’s candidacy. Hill, meanwhile, is collecting local union endorsements.
Hill’s message to voters, he said, is the same for Republicans, Democrats and independents: “You need to be pragmatic about who you choose to support in this election cycle, because at the end of the day, we need a change in the House seat in Alaska.”
A spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee criticized independents like Osborn, Bengs, Achilles and Seth Bodnar, who is running in Montana, as “fake Independents who would push liberal Democratic policies in the Senate.”
Currently, there are two independents in the Senate: Maine Sen. Angus King and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Both caucus with Democrats.
In an interview, Hill said he’s unlikely to caucus with Republicans in Washington if elected, but he’s not committing to joining Democrats either. He was hesitant to criticize the Democratic Party or the former president.
Hill acknowledged the challenge of running for Congress as an independent, but said there are benefits, too.
“There’s freedom,” he said. “I can truly represent the working people of Alaska.”
WASHINGTON — Jerome Powell’s eight-year tenure as Federal Reserve chair began with concerns about sluggish inflation and high unemployment, but ends with the American economy fundamentally changed by pandemic-era price surges and political turbulence.
When Powell assumed leadership of the nation’s central bank eight years ago, economists fretted over persistently low inflation and interest rates, alongside insufficient job creation. Today, as he concludes his chairmanship, the economic landscape bears little resemblance to those earlier concerns.
Following the pandemic, consumer prices skyrocketed and have stayed above the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal for more than five years, frustrating voters and making housing, vehicles, and food increasingly expensive. The central bank’s primary short-term interest rate climbed to its highest point in twenty years during 2023, while joblessness dropped to levels not seen in fifty years.
Throughout this period, Powell weathered continuous personal criticism from President Donald Trump that started just months into his appointment. However, in January, he resisted an unusual legal probe by the Justice Department, establishing himself as among the few senior Washington officials willing to confront the Trump administration.
Powell indicated he plans to remain on the governing board until he feels confident the Fed’s autonomy is fully secured. His effectiveness in shielding the central bank from daily political pressures will define much of his institutional impact.
“It is not an unblemished record, but in an extremely challenging context, he’s performed exceedingly well,” said David Wilcox, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and director of research at Bloomberg Economics. “And my overall assessment is that the country has been lucky indeed to have him as chair.”
Unlike numerous previous Fed leaders, Powell, 73, lacks formal economics training, having worked as an attorney and in financial services before joining the Fed’s board of governors in 2012. Known for his modest demeanor both publicly and privately, Powell typically introduces himself as “Jay” and would showcase his guitar abilities, developed while busking across Europe as a student, during the Fed’s holiday celebrations.
The post-pandemic inflation explosion will inevitably form a central component of Powell’s historical record, with consumer prices reaching a four-decade peak of 9.1% in June 2022.
Current price levels stand 27% above pre-pandemic figures from six years ago, representing a dramatic shift for a nation accustomed to minimal inflation for decades. Prices increased only 10% during the six years preceding the pandemic. Food costs have risen 30% compared to six years ago, after climbing just 3.6% in the six years before COVID arrived.
Powell and fellow Fed officials — along with most economic experts — initially characterized the inflation spike as “transitory,” attributing it to supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic, as COVID shuttered manufacturing facilities and delayed port operations worldwide.
Their immediate focus centered on economic crisis support.
Through two March 2020 actions, they reduced their benchmark interest rate by 1.5 percentage points to nearly zero. The Fed additionally purchased substantial quantities of Treasury bonds and government-backed mortgage securities to lower long-term interest rates and implemented other measures to inject money into the financial system, maintaining credit market operations during pandemic upheaval.
In April 2020, Powell stated that the Fed would “continue to use these powers forcefully, proactively, and aggressively until we are confident that we are solidly on the road to recovery.”
Despite inflation surpassing the Fed’s 2% target throughout 2021, the central bank maintained its key interest rate near zero until March 2022, when inflation reached 6.9% according to the Fed’s preferred measurement.
The Fed’s hesitation in raising rates reflected traditional economic thinking that inflation from supply disruptions would prove temporary, and if a central bank increased borrowing costs to combat it, higher rates would simply damage the economy and increase unemployment as supply problems resolved.
Meanwhile, the Trump and Biden administrations injected approximately $5 trillion in government spending into the economy through multiple stimulus payments, small business support, and additional aid. This monetary flow sparked a spending surge precisely when supply chains couldn’t meet demand.
By maintaining its key rate near zero for an extended period, Powell’s detractors argue, the Fed amplified excessive spending and intensified inflation.
“Even though there was all the evidence there in the data that aggregate demand was going through the roof, they still said it was a transitory supply shock,” said Mickey Levy, a former top economist at Bank of America and a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution. “The Fed contributed to that inflation and completely misread the tea leaves.”
As inflation spread to areas like apartment rentals and surveys revealed growing American concerns about its persistence, Powell changed course and supervised the most aggressive interest rate increases since the early 1980s to counter the price surge.
Nevertheless, many prominent economists, including former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, feared that conquering inflation would necessitate a recession and sharp unemployment increases. Instead, inflation fell to 2.3% by September 2024, according to the Fed’s preferred measure, nearly achieving its 2% target.
By reducing inflation without severe economic disruption, Powell largely accomplished an elusive “soft landing.” Inflation subsequently rose after Trump implemented comprehensive tariffs last April.
Combating inflation represented a dramatic departure for a Fed chair who began his term emphasizing the Fed’s employment maximization mandate. Before the pandemic, Powell frequently praised the advantages of robust job markets for disadvantaged workers, earning recognition from many progressive economists.
However, some economists contend the Fed’s employment focus contributed to its delayed inflation response. In an August 2021 speech, Powell cited the then-elevated unemployment rate of 5.4% as justification for avoiding premature rate increases.
Many analysts still defend Powell’s employment mandate support. Julia Coronado, president of MacroPolicy Perspectives and a former Fed economist, argued Powell was correct to maintain low rates before the pandemic, even as unemployment steadily decreased, because inflation showed no signs of worsening.
“If you can actually push a little harder for a little longer with no consequences for inflation, then you should damn well do it,” she said. “He was absolutely right about that. He’s still right about that.”
Powell stated in late April that “overweighting the employment market” bore no responsibility for the inflation spike.
“It was a global shock that happened essentially very, very similarly all over the world,” he said.
Last July, in what may prove the most memorable image of his Fed leadership, Powell and Trump appeared before cameras wearing hard hats at the Fed’s extensive $2.5 billion building renovation site, which Trump had criticized as wasteful.
Trump alleged the project would cost even more — $3.1 billion — and presented Powell with a paper detailing the expenses. Powell retrieved his reading glasses and publicly corrected the president by pointing out that he had included a third building already renovated.
This moment exemplified Powell’s readiness to challenge Trump’s unprecedented attacks. Economists have historically supported Fed independence because it enables the central bank to implement difficult measures — such as aggressive interest rate increases to fight inflation — that politicians often resist due to their potential pain.
Powell benefited from extensive congressional relationship-building. Research by University of Maryland economist Thomas Drechsel found that Powell met with senators more than twice as frequently as his two predecessors, with meetings equally distributed between both parties.
During one visit, Powell even charmed North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis’ dog, a gesture that proved highly beneficial. Tillis essentially prevented Senate confirmation of Kevin Warsh, Trump’s choice to replace Powell, until the building project investigation was abandoned. The Justice Department ultimately discontinued its probe.
Even those who criticize Powell’s policy decisions acknowledge his Fed defense efforts.
“The big plus is the way he has protected central bank independence,” said Don Kohn, a former vice chair of the Fed. “That is the most important thing for the future of the Federal Reserve and for protecting the public interest in having an independent central bank.”
Powell hasn’t announced when he might leave the Fed, though he could continue on the governing board until January 2028.
“You want people to … set interest rates to benefit the general public,” Powell said at his final news conference, “and focus only on that and ignore political considerations. This isn’t bipartisan, this is nonpartisan.”
WASHINGTON — Jerome Powell’s eight-year tenure as Federal Reserve chair began with economists concerned about sluggish inflation, low interest rates, and insufficient employment opportunities for Americans.
As Powell concludes his leadership of the nation’s central bank following eight challenging years, the economic landscape has dramatically shifted: Post-pandemic inflation climbed to levels not seen in decades and has stayed above the Fed’s 2% goal for over five years, frustrating consumers facing higher costs for housing, vehicles, and food. The central bank’s benchmark short-term rate reached its highest point in twenty years during 2023, while joblessness dropped to levels not witnessed in fifty years.
Throughout his tenure, Powell weathered constant personal criticism from President Donald Trump that started just months into his role. However, this past January, he challenged an extraordinary legal probe by the Justice Department, establishing himself as among the few senior Washington officials willing to confront the Trump administration.
Powell stated his intention to remain on the governing board until he feels certain the Fed’s independence has been fully restored. His efforts to shield the central bank from political interference will define much of his tenure.
“It is not an unblemished record, but in an extremely challenging context, he’s performed exceedingly well,” said David Wilcox, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and director of research at Bloomberg Economics. “And my overall assessment is that the country has been lucky indeed to have him as chair.”
Powell, 73, differs from many previous Fed chairs as he lacks formal economics training, having worked as an attorney and in financial services before joining the Fed’s board of governors in 2012. Known for his modest demeanor both publicly and privately, Powell typically introduces himself as “Jay” and would showcase his guitar abilities, developed during his college years busking across Europe, at the Fed’s annual holiday celebrations.
A defining element of Powell’s leadership will be the inflation surge following the pandemic, when consumer costs jumped to a four-decade peak of 9.1% in June 2022.
Current prices stand 27% above pre-pandemic levels from six years ago, representing a dramatic shift for a nation accustomed to minimal inflation for decades. Costs increased only 10% during the six years preceding the pandemic. Food prices have risen 30% compared to six years ago, after climbing just 3.6% in the six years before COVID arrived.
Powell and fellow Fed officials — along with most economists — initially characterized the inflation spike as “transitory,” attributing it to supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic as COVID forced factory closures and port delays worldwide.
Despite inflation surging beyond the Fed’s 2% target throughout 2021, the central bank maintained its benchmark rate near zero until March 2022, when inflation reached 6.9% using the Fed’s preferred measurement.
The Fed’s hesitation to increase rates reflected conventional economic thinking that inflation from supply disruptions would be temporary, and raising borrowing costs to combat it would only damage the economy and increase unemployment as supply problems resolved themselves.
Simultaneously, the Trump and Biden administrations injected approximately $5 trillion in government spending through various stimulus payments, small business assistance, and other relief programs. This monetary influx drove a spending surge precisely when supply chains couldn’t meet the increased demand.
By maintaining near-zero rates for an extended period, Powell’s detractors argue, the Fed amplified excessive spending and intensified inflation.
“Even though there was all the evidence there in the data that aggregate demand was going through the roof, they still said it was a transitory supply shock,” said Mickey Levy, a former top economist at Bank of America and a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution. “The Fed contributed to that inflation and completely misread the tea leaves.”
When inflation began affecting sectors like housing costs and surveys indicated growing public concern about its persistence, Powell changed course and supervised the most aggressive rate increases since the early 1980s to address rising prices.
Nevertheless, many prominent economists, including former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, feared that conquering inflation would necessitate an economic downturn and substantial unemployment increases. Instead, inflation declined to 2.3% by September 2024 according to the Fed’s preferred gauge, approaching its 2% objective.
Through reducing inflation while avoiding severe economic contraction, Powell essentially accomplished the challenging “soft landing.” Inflation subsequently rose again after Trump implemented extensive tariffs last April.
Combating inflation marked a significant change for a Fed chair who initially prioritized the Fed’s employment mandate. Before the pandemic, Powell frequently praised the advantages of robust job markets for disadvantaged workers, earning recognition from progressive economists.
Some economists contend the Fed’s employment emphasis contributed to its delayed inflation response. During an August 2021 address, Powell cited the then-high unemployment rate of 5.4% as justification for postponing rate increases.
Many analysts still support Powell’s commitment to maximum employment. Julia Coronado, president of MacroPolicy Perspectives and former Fed economist, argued Powell correctly maintained low rates before the pandemic despite declining unemployment, since inflation showed no signs of worsening.
“If you can actually push a little harder for a little longer with no consequences for inflation, then you should damn well do it,” she said. “He was absolutely right about that. He’s still right about that.”
Last July, in what may become the most memorable image from his chairmanship, Powell and Trump appeared before cameras wearing hard hats at the Fed’s ongoing $2.5 billion building renovation site, which Trump had criticized as wasteful.
Trump alleged the project would cost more — $3.1 billion — and presented Powell with documentation of the expenses. Powell retrieved his reading glasses and publicly corrected the president, explaining that Trump had included a third building already completed.
This moment exemplified Powell’s readiness to challenge Trump’s extraordinary criticisms. Economists have historically supported Fed independence because it enables the central bank to implement difficult measures — like substantial rate increases to fight inflation — that politicians often resist due to their potential economic pain.
Powell gained from cultivating strong congressional relationships. Research by University of Maryland economist Thomas Drechsel found Powell met with senators more than double the frequency of his two predecessors, with meetings equally distributed between both parties.
Even those critical of some policy choices acknowledge Powell’s defense of the Fed.
“The big plus is the way he has protected central bank independence,” said Don Kohn, a former vice chair of the Fed. “That is the most important thing for the future of the Federal Reserve and for protecting the public interest in having an independent central bank.”
NEW DELHI, May 15 – Foreign ministers from BRICS nations concluded their yearly gathering in New Delhi on Friday without reaching agreement on key issues, prompting India to release a chair’s statement rather than the traditional joint declaration due to conflicting perspectives on Middle Eastern developments.
The economic alliance encompasses Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
The disagreements stem partly from the opposing positions of Iran and the UAE regarding Tehran’s ongoing conflict with the U.S. and Israel, a confrontation in which Iran has focused attacks on the UAE more extensively than other Gulf nations.
Russia and Ukraine carried out a prisoner exchange on Friday, with both nations releasing 205 captured soldiers as part of a broader diplomatic agreement.
According to Russia’s Defence Ministry, the returned Russian military personnel were transported to Belarus where they are receiving necessary care and support. Officials in Moscow noted that the United Arab Emirates served as the mediator for the prisoner swap.
Ukrainian authorities also verified that their prisoners of war had been successfully returned.
The exchange represents part of a larger arrangement between the two warring nations to swap 1,000 soldiers total, stemming from an agreement tied to a ceasefire that U.S. President Donald Trump helped broker earlier in May. That temporary ceasefire lasted from May 9 through May 11, though both sides reported violations of the truce during that period.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy demanded accountability from Moscow on Friday as he paid respects at the site where a Russian missile devastated a residential apartment complex, claiming the lives of 24 people, including three young children.
Emergency crews concluded their search efforts at the destroyed building, which suffered the attack during what officials described as Russia’s most intense aerial bombardment of the Ukrainian capital in 2024.
“Our first responders … worked non-stop for more than a day,” Zelenskiy posted on the Telegram messaging platform following his visit to the attack location in Kyiv’s Darnytskyi district, situated on the left bank of the Dnipro river, where he laid flowers and spoke with emergency personnel.
“The Russians practically levelled an entire section of the building with their missile,” he stated.
Moscow launched its comprehensive military operation against Ukraine in February 2022, and Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia deployed over 1,500 drones and numerous missiles in coordinated attacks throughout the country during two straight days this week.
Western Ukraine, located far from active combat zones, experienced six fatalities during Wednesday’s bombardments.
“A Russia like this can never be normalized – a Russia that deliberately destroys lives and hopes to remain unpunished. Pressure is needed,” Zelenskiy declared, renewing his requests for international partners to assist Ukraine in bolstering its aerial defense capabilities.
DAY OF MOURNING IN KYIV
Municipal leaders in Kyiv designated Friday as an official day of remembrance for the casualties, ordering national flags lowered to half-staff throughout the metropolis of three million residents. All recreational activities were either canceled or delayed.
The Interior Ministry reported that emergency response efforts at the residential complex continued for over 28 hours, with hundreds of rescue personnel examining 3,000 cubic meters of debris.
Municipal authorities confirmed that 24 bodies were retrieved from the wreckage while approximately 30 individuals were pulled out alive. Close to 50 people sustained injuries, and roughly 400 residents needed mental health assistance, according to interior ministry officials.
Zelenskiy stated that preliminary investigations indicated a newly manufactured Russian Kh-101 missile was responsible for hitting the residential structure.
Moscow has not provided immediate response regarding the apartment building attack. Russia maintains it does not intentionally target civilian populations, though throughout more than four years of conflict, it has repeatedly struck residential complexes and other non-military infrastructure in aerial campaigns throughout Ukraine.
