The National Basketball Coaches Association announced Friday that Paul Westhead will be the recipient of its 2026 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.
During his distinguished 38-year career, Westhead served as either a head coach or assistant across multiple levels including the NBA, WNBA, NCAA, and international basketball. He holds the unique distinction of being the sole head coach to capture titles in both the NBA and WNBA.
His NBA head coaching experience included stints with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1979-82, the Chicago Bulls in 1982, and the Denver Nuggets between 1990-92. In the WNBA, he led the Phoenix Mercury during the 2006-07 seasons.
Westhead’s championship victories came with the Lakers in 1980 and with the Mercury in 2007.
His collegiate coaching resume features tenures at La Salle from 1970-79, Loyola Marymount from 1985-90, and George Mason from 1993-97. He also coached the Oregon women’s basketball program from 2009-14. His international experience included coaching Wakayama in Japan’s National Basketball League.
“I am thankful for all the coaches who worked with me during my NBA coaching career,” Westhead said in a statement. “From Jack McKinney, who gave me my start with the LA Lakers, to P.J. Carlesimo who hired me for my last job (as an assistant coach) with the Seattle SuperSonics.”
Westhead gained recognition for creating high-speed offensive systems that pushed both teams into rapid-fire gameplay that challenged scoring records.
“Coach Westhead’s impact on the game extends far beyond wins and championships,” said NBCA president J.B. Bickerstaff, who also is the head coach of the Detroit Pistons. “He challenged conventional thinking, introduced ideas that were ahead of their time, and influenced generations of coaches across every level of men’s and women’s basketball.”
Past honorees of the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award include Don Nelson (2025), Rudy Tomjanovich (2024), Rick Adelman (2023), Mike Fratello (2022), Larry Brown (2021), Del Harris (2020), Frank Layden (2019), Doug Moe (2018), Al Attles and Hubie Brown (2017), K.C. Jones and Jerry Sloan (2016), Dick Motta (2015), Bernie Bickerstaff (2014), Bill Fitch (2013), Pat Riley (2012), Lenny Wilkens (2011), Jack Ramsay and Tex Winter (2010), and Tommy Heinsohn (2009).
State transportation officials have announced plans to reopen key highway ramps in New Castle County next summer.
The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) says the northbound I-95 exit ramps leading to both directions of SR 896 are scheduled to reopen around June 11, 2026. The reopening date depends on weather conditions.
Officials are directing residents to visit 95896improvements.com where they can register for text and email notifications about construction-related road closures in the area.
The Chicago Bears have decided to pursue building their new stadium in Northwest Indiana following the failure of Illinois lawmakers to approve financial incentives that would have kept the NFL franchise in their home state.
On Thursday, the team’s board of directors approved moving ahead with a stadium development in Hammond, Indiana. While the Bears have been evaluating property near Wolf Lake, they clarified Friday that no specific site has been chosen yet.
In a joint statement from Chairman George McCaskey and team president Kevin Warren, the organization said: “We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city. It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses.”
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun expressed enthusiasm about the Bears’ decision. Earlier this year, an Indiana House committee approved legislation creating a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority with powers to finance, build and lease a stadium facility.
“We look forward to building a partnership as strong as the ’85 Bears defense, creating opportunities and economic growth that will benefit our state and the Bears organization for decades to come,” Braun stated. “An NFL franchise in Northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire region like we haven’t seen before.”
The Bears represent one of the NFL’s original franchises, having operated in Illinois since their 1920 establishment as the Decatur Staleys. The team relocated to Chicago the following year and played at Wrigley Field before moving to their current home at Soldier Field in September 1971.
While the Bears’ current lease extends through 2033, the team has the option to terminate early by paying a penalty fee. Soldier Field sits approximately 40 miles south of the team’s Lake Forest, Illinois headquarters at Halas Hall, while Hammond would be roughly 20 miles south of their current lakefront venue.
Matt Hill, speaking for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, indicated the governor “remains open to a sensible solution that protects taxpayers.”
“The Bears have built a storied legacy in Illinois for over 100 years but have spent the last six years, and especially the last few months, shifting their position on a stadium location,” Hill commented. “That has hindered their progress. Today appears to be another instance of that after Illinois leaders have been working with the Bears in good faith.”
SEAFORD – A major roadway in Seaford will be shut down for more than a month as crews tackle infrastructure repairs.
The Delaware Department of Transportation has announced that Fleetwood Pond Road will be completely closed between Concord Road and Old Furnace Road from Monday, June 15th until Friday, July 17th, depending on weather conditions.
The extended closure is necessary to complete spillway repair work, which includes fixing the bridge deck, sealing joints, and applying fresh paint.
Drivers heading north will need to take a detour by turning right onto Baker Mill Road, then making a left onto Asbury Road, followed by another left onto Old Furnace Road to reconnect with Fleetwood Pond Road.
Those traveling south should follow Old Furnace Road, then make a right turn onto Asbury Road, followed by a right onto Baker Mill Road to return to Fleetwood Pond Road.
Delaware State Police have taken a 49-year-old Wilmington resident into custody following an extensive narcotics investigation that spanned several months.
Hector Soriano-Carela was arrested in connection with drug distribution activities that authorities had been tracking since January 2026. The Delaware State Police Special Investigations Unit launched their probe after receiving information that Soriano-Carela was distributing illegal drugs throughout the region.
Throughout their investigation, law enforcement officers observed Soriano-Carela operating a Honda Civic to different locations where he conducted multiple drug sales. Investigators established that Soriano-Carela resided at a property on the 200 block of North Broom Street in Wilmington and secured search warrants for both his home and automobile.
Authorities executed the search warrants on June 4, 2026, with support from the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team and the Wilmington Police Department. Soriano-Carela was apprehended without any complications during the operation.
The searches of his residence and Honda yielded several pieces of evidence:
-About 5.12 grams of suspected crack cocaine
-About 1.75 grams of suspected cocaine
-More than $1,200 in suspected drug proceeds
-Several cellphones belonging to Soriano-Carela
-Materials used for drug packaging
Following his arrest, Soriano-Carela was transported to Troop 2 where he faced multiple charges. After being arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11, he was sent to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution with bail set at $92,100 cash.
The charges against Soriano-Carela include:
-Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony) – 9 counts
-Possession of a Controlled Substance Tier 1 Quantity (Felony)
Federal officials announced that a compact nuclear reactor being tested at a national laboratory has accomplished a significant breakthrough that could bring it closer to generating power in the coming years.
The small reactor created by Antares Nuclear Inc. at the Idaho National Lab achieved “criticality” on Thursday, according to Energy Secretary Chris Wright. This important phase happens when a nuclear reactor establishes a self-sustaining chain reaction that can produce consistent energy output.
Antares became the first private enterprise to reach this critical stage with an advanced reactor through a pilot initiative launched last year by the Trump administration designed to accelerate nuclear energy development across the United States. The project was carried out in collaboration with the Energy Department and additional contractors, with backing from the U.S. Army.
“We are very excited by this news today,” Wright said Friday on a call with reporters. “I think June 4th will be a historic day in the American nuclear renaissance.”
Antares and its partners “have shown America can do bold things,” Wright added. “America has great technology, great entrepreneurs that are ready to drive energy innovation to power our future, lower energy costs and make our country more powerful.”
Wright stated that this accomplishment demonstrates how the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate regulatory obstacles are helping advance innovative nuclear technologies.
President Donald Trump signed executive orders in May 2025 intended to speed up the development of nuclear power, including steps that grant Wright authority to approve some advanced reactor designs and projects. Trump’s orders limit some authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the independent safety agency that has regulated the U.S. nuclear industry for five decades.
Skeptics warn that nuclear energy poses risks and say microreactors may not be safe or feasible and have not proved they can meet demand for a reasonable price.
Though the Antares technology remains years from commercial deployment, reaching criticality represents a significant advancement. The California-based company, which initially focuses on military uses, anticipates beginning electricity generation by late 2027 and deploying systems in operational settings by the end of 2028, according to CEO Jordan Bramble on Friday.
“Nuclear in America has been defined for too long by delays, by companies that said they would and then didn’t,” Bramble said in a written statement.
During Friday’s briefing, Bramble explained that reaching criticality “is the first step on a roadmap toward producing electricity ahead of deploying this technology for customer sites.”
“Microreactors are a technology that’s here today,” he added. “2026 is the year where microreactors are becoming real. We’re months to years out from being able to start deploying this technology to military installations.”
The Trump administration has established an objective of reaching the criticality phase in no fewer than three test reactors by July 4 — the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Officials have chosen 11 advanced reactor projects, including Antares, to advance their technologies toward deployment.
In February, the Pentagon and the Energy Department for the first time airlifted a small nuclear reactor from California to Utah, demonstrating what they say is the country’s potential to quickly deploy nuclear power for military and civilian use. The nearly 700-mile flight transported a 5-megawatt microreactor manufactured by Valar Atomics in southern California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
The reactor — which did not have nuclear fuel — eventually will be able to generate up to 5 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 5,000 homes, said Isaiah Taylor, CEO of Valar Atomics. The company hopes to start selling power on a test basis next year and become fully commercial in 2028, he said.
Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the transport flight, which attracted significant news coverage, was little more than a publicity stunt.
He offered a similar response to the claims by Antares and Wright.
“This stunt is a rudimentary first step that has absolutely no bearing on whether the Antares reactor will be safe or commercially viable,” Lyman said in an email Friday.
The Energy Department’s statement that the test “confirms that the reactor can operate safely” is false, Lyman said, adding that more testing of the reactor is needed.
WASHINGTON — Congress stands ready to deliver a massive financial boost to the Department of Homeland Security, providing nearly unrestricted funding to support President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement initiatives throughout his presidency.
The approximately $70 billion funding measure passed the Republican-controlled Senate during an overnight session and is now moving to the House. Democratic leadership condemned it as a “rotten bill” while immigration advocacy groups labeled it an “ATM for ICE.”
For supporters of Trump’s pledge to conduct the nation’s largest immigration enforcement operation in history, the legislation ensures steady financial resources for the administration’s immigration activities. This comes in addition to roughly $170 billion Congress previously authorized for the department last summer as part of Trump’s comprehensive tax legislation.
“We’re going to continue to arrest people, we’re going to continue to detain people and we’re going to keep deporting people,” Trump border czar Tom Homan told CBS News on Friday.
He suggested that enforcement sweeps might target New York City during the summer months.
This congressional action occurs during a crucial period for the Republican president and his party as they prepare for midterm elections with an increasingly concerned electorate. An AP-NORC poll from April revealed that roughly one-third of American adults personally know someone affected by Trump’s immigration policies. As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, polling shows most Americans no longer view the country as welcoming to immigrants.
The funding legislation spans just twelve pages and lacks the typical oversight provisions and spending guidelines usually included in such measures. It allocates $30 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities, nearly $20 billion for Border Patrol operations, and other amounts, covering departmental expenses through 2029.
“Their options are limitless in terms of what they can do with this money,” said Vanessa Cardenas, the executive director at America’s Voice, a longtime advocacy organization for immigrants.
“That is such a hard thing to accept as a taxpaying citizen that our dollars are going to this massive, mass deportation machine, while Americans are struggling to meet health care costs, and have access to food and they’re paying so much in gas.”
The administration has attempted to reframe discussions around its immigration policies, bringing in new Homeland Security leadership following violent enforcement incidents earlier this year and the fatal shootings of Americans Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Instead of conducting highly visible street operations, the administration is pursuing behind-the-scenes measures that eliminate immigrant communities’ legal pathways to remain in the United States, including ending Temporary Protected Status and creating additional barriers to obtaining green cards.
Young immigrants known as Dreamers, who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children, have experienced processing delays for their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals renewals, potentially leaving them vulnerable to removal.
However, demonstrations continue across the country, including protests regarding conditions at the Delaney Hall detention center in New Jersey.
Simultaneously, Homeland Security continues expanding its ICE workforce — scheduling a recruitment event in Florida next month — constructing additional detention centers, and establishing partnerships with international governments to accept individuals being removed from the United States.
In an official statement, the department indicated that Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin are “laser focused on ensuring the hardworking men and women” of ICE and Customs and Border Patrol receive full funding. The statement characterized the congressional package as ensuring “our critical national security operations continue despite any Democrat attempts to hold our great patriotic employees hostage in the future.”
Standard congressional funding measures typically span hundreds of pages and include detailed specifications regarding expenditure methods and implementation schedules.
Congress traditionally exercises its constitutional spending authority to provide administrative oversight and limitations.
However, after Democrats blocked Homeland Security funding earlier this year following the Minnesota violence, Republicans responded by utilizing the budget reconciliation process to advance the package independently, bypassing regular appropriations procedures.
Both political parties have employed this same mechanism previously, including for Trump’s 2025 tax reduction legislation.
“All this important oversight doesn’t happen,” said Bobby Kogan, a former staff member of the Senate Budget Committee and now at the Center for American Progress, a think tank.
During the overnight Senate session, Democrats attempted to assert congressional authority by proposing amendments to maintain legislative input. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, for example, sought to protect “Dreamers” from deportation while their DACA renewals face delays. These efforts were unsuccessful.
The administration faces significant pressure to fulfill its commitment to increase annual deportations to approximately 1 million, following the Republican president’s first-year figures that fell below expectations.
Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project, leads the Mass Deportation Coalition that encourages the Trump administration to honor its commitments.
“Everyone’s talking about ICE is going to get another massive cash injection, and that’s not how I see it at all,” he said. “They’re getting like life-support money.”
“We’re not asking them to keep going,” Howell said. “We’re asking them to start.”
Howell indicated there’s minimal possibility the Trump administration will achieve the president’s deportation targets unless it abandons its focus on pursuing what it terms the “worst of the worst.”
His organization released a proposal earlier this year recommending broader enforcement operations targeting immigrants, especially in employment settings. He also advocates for the Trump administration to restrict immigrants’ access to banking services, social programs, and driver’s licenses. Congressional Republicans have introduced legislation addressing some of these areas.
The administration has intensified its messaging and recently launched a website that refers to immigrants as “aliens” — using space-themed imagery — while outlining White House efforts to prevent individuals from remaining in the United States.
DENVER — Two paramedics convicted of homicide in the death of Elijah McClain will face new trials after a Colorado appeals court overturned their convictions Thursday, nearly seven years after the young Black man died from a fatal ketamine injection.
The historic criminal convictions of the Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics had reverberated throughout emergency medical services nationwide. Fresh trials would once more put a spotlight on ketamine use for subduing people in police encounters.
Colorado’s attorney general has promised to challenge Thursday’s reversal before the state supreme court, potentially postponing any retrials. Here are the key details:
Peter Cichuniec and Jeremy Cooper responded to a scene where three officers had confronted McClain, who was walking home from a store in Aurora while listening to music through earbuds in 2019. Someone had called 911 reporting a Black man in the neighborhood who was waving his arms and appeared “sketchy.”
One officer restrained McClain with a chokehold, and the paramedics administered ketamine before McClain went into cardiac arrest en route to the hospital. The 23-year-old massage therapist died three days later after being removed from life support.
McClain’s death prompted numerous EMS departments nationwide to restrict or prohibit ketamine use for subduing individuals considered combative.
Colorado’s health department subsequently instructed paramedics against administering ketamine to individuals suspected of having a controversial condition cited in McClain’s case. “Excited delirium” was characterized in a later-retracted emergency medicine report as causing symptoms like enhanced strength, though medical professionals have denounced it as unscientific and racially biased.
A jury convicted both paramedics in late 2023 following an extensive trial where prosecutors contended Cichuniec and Cooper neglected fundamental medical assessments, including checking McClain’s vital signs, before administering ketamine to assist police restraint efforts.
Medical professionals testified that the ketamine dosage exceeded what was appropriate for McClain’s 140-pound frame. Prosecutors additionally claimed the paramedics failed to properly monitor McClain following drug administration.
Cichuniec was sentenced to five years but was released early in 2024 when a judge modified his sentence to four years probation. Cooper avoided prison time, receiving 14 months in jail with work release plus probation.
The Colorado Court of Appeals Thursday maintained Cichuniec’s assault conviction while criticizing jury instructions regarding the criminally negligent homicide charges.
Those instructions addressed the “standard of care” requirements for paramedics in situations like McClain’s encounter, which under Colorado’s criminally negligent homicide statute means what a “reasonable person” would do. The appeals judges determined the trial judge wrongly declined to explain this concept to jurors.
Thursday’s decision returns their cases to trial court for new proceedings on those charges, awaiting Attorney General Phil Weiser’s planned appeal.
McClain’s 2019 death preceded George Floyd’s police killing in Minneapolis the following year, which triggered nationwide and international protests.
While Floyd’s death sparked criticism of police brutality against unarmed Black men and law enforcement practices in Black communities, McClain’s death extended that examination to paramedics and firefighters in the field.
Community advocates say Wednesday’s appellate court decisions prevent Colorado’s Black community from finding closure.
One officer received homicide and third-degree assault convictions in McClain’s death, while two others were cleared of charges including homicide and manslaughter.
Overturning the paramedics’ homicide convictions now reopens wounds that remain unhealed since McClain’s killing, according to a statement from the Epitome of Black Excellence, a Denver advocacy organization.
“We who believe in freedom cannot rest until the killing of a black man, a Black mother’s son, is the same as the killing of a white man, a white mother’s son,” MiDian Shofner, CEO of the Epitome of Black Excellence and Partnership, stated at a Friday news conference. “This nation as of yesterday morning should be restless.”
The 2023 paramedic trial explored largely unprecedented legal ground since criminal charges against EMS providers during patient care are extremely uncommon. Such situations typically fall under medical malpractice, which involves civil proceedings.
Firefighters and union representatives strongly condemned the state’s prosecution, arguing it endangered lives by deterring firefighters from pursuing paramedic training and reducing qualified emergency personnel.
Specialists cautioned it might also cause responders to hesitate during crucial moments requiring immediate decisions that could mean life or death.
University of Miami criminologist Alex Piquero said he’s not familiar with any research demonstrating whether paramedics have modified their practices because of this case.
“They’re always doing the best that they can do under the circumstances,” Piquero said.
However, new trials might renew uncertainty among first responders when treating patients in police custody, he noted.
“I think we have to wait to see what that outcome is going to be. But I think this brings it back fresh: ‘Oh, my gosh. Here we go again. Should I alter my behavior?’”
A food manufacturer has announced a voluntary recall of pancake and waffle mix products due to the presence of undeclared allergens that could pose serious health risks to consumers with specific food sensitivities.
Ballester Hermanos has issued the recall for a limited quantity of Pearl Milling Company Original Pancake & Waffles Complete mix, sold in 5.99-ounce (170-gram) packages. The Spanish-language product name is listed as “Mezcla Para Panqueques Y Waffles.”
The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the product contains milk and soy ingredients that are not properly disclosed on the packaging labels. These undeclared allergens present a significant health concern for individuals who have allergies or severe reactions to milk and soy products.
The affected products were distributed in Puerto Rico. Consumers who have purchased this product and have milk or soy allergies are advised to avoid consumption, as exposure could result in serious allergic reactions.
A dairy company based in Bayshore, New York has issued a voluntary recall for its Requeson Cheese products over concerns about bacterial contamination.
Nelson & Isa Lacteos LLC is pulling one-pound packages of the cheese from shelves after discovering they could contain Listeria monocytogenes, a harmful bacteria that poses serious health risks.
The contamination is particularly dangerous for vulnerable groups, including young children, elderly individuals, and people with compromised immune systems, who could face severe or potentially deadly infections from exposure to the organism.
Consumers who have purchased the affected cheese products are advised to dispose of them immediately and not consume them.
Farm operators across the country saw improved returns for their peanut crops during the final week of May, according to new agricultural pricing data.
Growers received an average payment of 24.7 cents per pound for all categories of farmer stock peanuts during the seven-day period that wrapped up on May 30. This marked an upward movement of 1.8 cents compared to earlier pricing.
The pricing information reflects what agricultural producers actually received for their peanut harvests sold during that specific timeframe.
The New York Yankees face a significant challenge as three-time American League MVP Aaron Judge will be absent from the lineup due to injury, but team officials remain optimistic about their ability to adapt their offensive strategy while competing for the AL East division title.
Team officials announced Thursday that Judge is dealing with a stress fracture in his right side’s first rib and will be unavailable for an undetermined period. The organization plans to reassess his condition in four to six weeks following a recovery period involving rest and restricted physical activity, with expectations that he will rejoin the team before the season concludes.
Currently sitting in second place in the AL East division entering Friday’s games, the Yankees trail the Tampa Bay Rays by just half a game. Manager Aaron Boone expressed confidence in his team’s ability to maintain their performance level during Judge’s absence.
“He’s the best hitter in the sport, so you know there’s a void there,” Boone told reporters following Thursday’s 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. “But we also have really good players that can pick it up, too.”
First baseman Ben Rice has been delivering strong offensive production, maintaining a .300 batting average alongside 17 home runs — matching Judge’s season total for the team lead — and 44 RBIs.
Multiple reports indicate the Yankees are preparing to bring back prospect Spencer Jones from the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. The 6-foot-7 player faced difficulties during his initial major league opportunity in May, managing only a .167 batting average without scoring any runs across 10 games.
This season with the RailRiders, the 25-year-old has posted a .269 batting average with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs.
The organization acknowledges the difficulty of compensating for Judge’s production, as he has compiled a .248 batting average with 38 RBIs alongside his 17 home runs this season. Third baseman Ryan McMahon believes the team can succeed by diversifying their offensive approach.
“I think we’ll be all right. We’ll be good,” McMahon commented after Thursday’s game. “We have the guys who can do a lot of different things with the stolen bases and hit-and-runs. We just might need to pull it out a little bit more.”
Jazz Chisholm Jr., who will need to elevate his offensive contributions, emphasized that Judge’s unavailability cannot serve as justification for subpar team performance.
“We’re all baseball players, and we’ve got to go out there and win a game,” Chisholm stated Thursday.
The anticipated returns of Jasson Dominguez and Giancarlo Stanton should provide additional offensive support for the Yankees. According to the team’s most recent injury report, Dominguez was scheduled to start a minor league rehabilitation assignment Friday, while Stanton could potentially return by mid-June.
A university’s military and veterans support team is working to promote career opportunities for individuals with military connections in their community.
The team is highlighting professional development prospects available on a national level for service members, veterans, and their families.
This outreach effort represents part of ongoing initiatives to support the military-connected population in their career advancement and professional growth.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Following a devastating overtime defeat where his squad surrendered a two-goal advantage, Vegas Golden Knights coach John Tortorella expressed confidence in his team’s position as the Stanley Cup Final against Carolina stands even at one game apiece.
True to his characteristic style, Tortorella kept his reasoning brief and to the point.
“I like our team, where we’re at,” Tortorella stated Friday. “We’re good. We’re ready to play. I like a lot of things about what’s gone on in the first two games. I’m not giving you specifics.”
The Golden Knights head back to their home venue for Game 3 against the Hurricanes on Saturday evening, carrying valuable experience from an unprecedented start to the championship series. This marks the first occasion in NHL history where both opening contests of a Cup final witnessed teams overcoming multi-goal disadvantages to claim victory.
The Golden Knights fell behind 2-0 in the series opener before rallying for a 5-4 triumph, then held a 2-0 advantage Thursday evening until deep into the final period’s second half. Following Carolina’s three goals in slightly more than five minutes, captain Mark Stone managed to even the score with goaltender Carter Hart off the ice for an additional attacker, sending the game to overtime.
“We have pretty good control, and then some minor mistakes and it ends up in the back of the net,” center William Karlsson explained. “Just kind of ride it out all game long and hopefully not give Carolina any chances to come back.”
Players acknowledged how the Raleigh crowd helped fuel the Hurricanes’ rally, which made them eager to return to their Strip-based arena known as the Fortress. Despite the Golden Knights’ relatively short nine-year history, their home atmosphere has become among the league’s most intimidating.
“We feed off the crowd,” forward Keegan Kolesar explained. “You can tell from (Game 2), once things started going their way, they’re playing a lot faster, a lot harder when their crowd is involved. Go back to even the COVID year, it makes you realize how important fans are because when they’re not in that building, it can be pretty miserable, so really excited to have that back in our building.”
Vegas has compiled a 6-2 record at home throughout the playoffs while posting a 7-3 mark on the road.
Since replacing Bruce Cassidy following his dismissal in late March, Tortorella has emphasized maintaining consistent approaches regardless of venue.
“There’s no difference,” Tortorella declared. “We’re going to play. We know how to play. We know how we want to play.”
Carolina maintained a flawless 6-0 away record through the opening three playoff rounds, including their Eastern Conference Final series in hockey-obsessed Montreal.
“I don’t think we really care, to be honest, where we play,” said Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen, who has posted a 1.27 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in road games this postseason. “We’re really just focused on our foundation in our game, and that’s really what sets us up for success.”
A major concern for Vegas involves the possible unavailability of top-pairing defenseman Brayden McNabb, who absorbed an 87.3 mph slap shot to the face 11 minutes into Game 2 and couldn’t continue. Should McNabb be unable to participate in Game 3, left-handed shooter Ben Hutton or right-handed Kaedan Korczak would likely step in.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper was taken into custody Friday morning facing domestic violence allegations.
The 28-year-old player was detained on allegations of two domestic violence counts plus one criminal mischief count, based on Douglas County jail documentation. Parker Police took Cooper into custody at 11:16 p.m. Thursday evening, with his jail booking completed at 2:38 a.m. Friday morning.
Cooper made his initial court appearance Friday in the 23rd Judicial District Court and must return Monday for a disposition hearing.
Team officials issued a statement to The Associated Press saying they “are aware of the matter and are gathering more information.”
The Associated Press contacted Cooper’s agent for comment but has not received a response.
Selected in the seventh round from Ohio State during the 2021 draft, Cooper is beginning his sixth year with Denver. He has been a starter in every contest since 2023 and recorded 31 1/2 career sacks, with eight coming last season when he also notched a playoff sack.
Cooper achieved a personal-best 10 1/2 sacks in 2024 and secured a four-year, $54 million contract extension late in that season.
Denver launched the on-field portion of their offseason training program this week, and Cooper took part in Thursday’s practice session that was accessible to media personnel.
Drivers in the Pike Creek area should plan alternate routes Friday night as construction crews prepare to install safety barriers along Paper Mill Road.
The Delaware Department of Transportation has announced that Paper Mill Road will be completely shut down between Upper Pike Creek Road and Limestone Road starting at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 12th. The road closure will remain in effect until 5:00 a.m. Saturday morning while workers install a barrier wall as part of guardrail construction.
Transportation officials say detour signs will be posted to help guide drivers around the work zone during the overnight closure.
The company that manages the S&P 500 index announced Thursday it will maintain its current standards for when massive corporations become eligible to join its collection of stock market indexes.
S&P Dow Jones Indices revealed that its index committee reviewed feedback from a “wide range of market participants” before choosing to keep its existing standards for determining when a business qualifies for the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, or S&P SmallCap 600 indexes.
Current requirements for joining these indexes include being headquartered in the United States, trading on NYSE or Nasdaq, and showing profits during the previous year.
S&P currently mandates that businesses completing initial public offerings must trade on an “eligible exchange” for a minimum of 12 months before being considered for index inclusion. The committee evaluated reducing this timeframe to six months but chose against making this change.
The committee also rejected creating special exceptions to its standards based solely on market capitalization, which represents how the stock market values a company.
This decision by S&P follows actions by other leading U.S. index managers who have implemented measures to include very large corporations shortly after their stock market launches.
Last March, Nasdaq revealed new standards allowing for faster inclusion of large companies that recently completed initial public offerings into its flagship Nasdaq 100 Index.
Nasdaq’s revised guidelines aim to ensure the index, which follows the 100 biggest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq exchange, better represents the market immediately rather than potentially months after a major company goes public.
In explaining its choice, S&P acknowledged potential compromises in maintaining its current index eligibility standards, but stated its present method gives its indexes “substantial market coverage and sector balance.”
Numerous pension funds and mutual funds rely on S&P and Nasdaq indexes as investment benchmarks.
These actions by S&P and Nasdaq occur as multiple leading artificial intelligence companies in the U.S. are preparing for major IPOs this year.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is anticipated to go public this month with intentions to raise up to $75 billion, potentially making it the biggest stock market launch ever.
Additionally, Anthropic, which creates the Claude chatbot, revealed Monday its intentions for a planned IPO, while OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is scheduling an IPO potentially as early as this fall.
ATLANTA (AP) — Few things capture the American spirit quite like taking an age-old musical instrument and electrifying it with modern technology. This revolutionary creation, the electric guitar, has inspired countless teenagers to chase their rock star ambitions.
The instrument transformed suburban garages into makeshift practice studios for aspiring musicians throughout America. Those unable to play, unwilling to learn, or lacking musical friends could always resort to air guitar performances. (Notably, acoustic air guitars seem remarkably uncommon.)
Almost a century ago, Americans’ passion for innovation, music, and amplifying sound converged when George Beauchamp designed and Adolph Rickenbacker manufactured the first commercially viable electric guitar, known as “the Frying Pan.”
Innovation didn’t stop there. Musician and creator Les Paul attached strings and pickups to a wooden block he dubbed “the Log,” crafting one of the earliest solid-body electric guitars. This marked a turning point in musical history.
Consider Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” opening riff without electric guitar amplification. Would this anthem about a guitarist have ever been written? The instrument drives Jimi Hendrix’s interpretation of “All Along the Watchtower” and powers Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run.” It gave birth to the guitar hero, the musical virtuoso, and the ultimate expression of American showmanship: the guitar solo.
The sound is bold and amplified. It famously “goes to 11,” after all.
The instrument proved so controversial that Bob Dylan faced accusations of betrayal when he embraced electric performance.
Electric guitars became so fundamental to rock and pop that MTV launched its popular “Unplugged” series, requiring artists to perform with acoustic instruments as a refreshing alternative.
Like many great American innovations, it spread globally, continuing to inspire young dreamers worldwide. They just need access to an electrical outlet.
WASHINGTON — Price increases are climbing once more after a period of gradual cooling in recent years, putting financial strain on American families and driving up costs for fuel, food, and daily essentials. Consumer prices jumped 3.8% in April compared to the previous year, marking the steepest rise in three years.
During a Wednesday discussion on Fox Business, financial commentator Larry Kudlow questioned Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, about the severity of current economic conditions. Hassett offered an optimistic perspective, suggesting price increases were experiencing a significant decline, especially when excluding blue states from the analysis.
Economic data, however, contradicts this assessment.
Here’s what the numbers reveal.
HASSETT: “Inflation is really out of control in the blue states. If you take out New York and California the story is radically different. So these really high costs, high regulatory states are driving inflation as well.”
THE FACTS: This statement is inaccurate and seems to rely on outdated information. Price increases are elevated across all nine Census Bureau regions nationwide, fueled by rising fuel costs linked to Middle Eastern conflict, which have also increased airline ticket prices. Higher energy expenses have boosted transportation costs, driving up food prices. Apparel costs have also surged, potentially reflecting delayed effects from President Trump’s tariffs.
“It’s not a blue state story,” said Omair Sharif, chief economist at Inflation Insights. “Gas is going up in every state.”
Hassett referenced a White House Council of Economic Advisers report showing slightly elevated price increases in blue states. However, this report utilized November data, predating the Iran war that started Feb. 28. Since then, skyrocketing fuel costs — climbing over 40% nationally per AAA — have eliminated those regional differences.
Simply put, excluding blue states from calculations has minimal impact, since numerous red states are experiencing higher price increases as well. The Labor Department produces the most widely tracked inflation measure, the consumer price index, publishing regional breakdowns. The Pacific region, comprising primarily Democratic-governed states like California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, and Alaska, recorded a 3.5% annual inflation rate in April — below the 3.8% national figure.
The East South Central region consists entirely of Republican-governed red states, posting a 4.5% annual inflation rate in April, exceeding the national average. This region includes Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Certain red states are experiencing lower price increases than the national figure. The West South Central region, encompassing Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, recorded a 3.2% price increase in April year-over-year. However, before the pandemic this region typically saw approximately 1% annual inflation, indicating deterioration even there.
Blue states like California or New York do typically maintain higher overall price levels than red states. For instance, Thursday’s gas prices averaged $3.72 per gallon in Texas according to AAA, compared to $5.98 per gallon in California.
Yet inflation tracks price changes, not absolute levels. Texas gas prices have surged since the Iran war began, mirroring California’s experience. Compared to last year, Texas gas prices have climbed nearly 36%, while California prices rose 26%.
HASSETT: “It’s on a deep downward dive if you look at the trimmed mean or the core, it’s headed right towards the Fed’s target.”
THE FACTS: This characterization is misleading. Core inflation measured by the consumer price index has actually increased this year, rising from 2.5% annually in January to 2.8% in April, the most recent available data. This figure remains below the overall 3.8% rate because core calculations exclude volatile food and energy prices to better capture underlying trends. The headline figure typically follows core movements over time, explaining why the Federal Reserve and economists emphasize core measurements.
Using the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge — the personal consumption expenditures price index, or PCE — annual core inflation similarly climbed to 3.3% in April from 3.1% in January.
“There’s no deep dive happening in core inflation anywhere,” Sharif said.
A White House official, speaking anonymously, noted that CPI-measured core inflation remains below January 2025 levels.
The trimmed mean Hassett referenced represents one of numerous specialized alternative measurements, gaining recent attention through citations by Kevin Warsh, the new Federal Reserve chair appointed by President Trump. This calculation essentially eliminates many of the largest price movements, both upward and downward, attempting to determine whether price increases are spreading across diverse categories.
Hassett correctly noted that the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank’s PCE trimmed mean has declined modestly since year-start, dropping from 2.5% to 2.3%, approaching the Fed’s 2% target. Yet Dallas Fed president Lorie Logan cautioned Wednesday that this measure might mislead during inflationary surges due to calculation peculiarities. It remained low well into 2021’s inflation spike, for example.
The Cleveland Fed produces a separate CPI-based trimmed mean calculation, which recently increased to 2.8% from 2.6%.
President Donald Trump announced Friday his intention to have Bill Pulte, his newly appointed acting director of national intelligence, downsize the agency, which has already undergone significant reductions during his current administration.
Speaking to reporters while traveling to Wisconsin, Trump expressed his belief that the agency’s staffing levels have been “way too high for way too long” and indicated his support if Pulte decides to implement cuts.
“Bill Pulte is very good, he’s very talented,” Trump commented during his flight aboard Air Force One. In a separate conversation with The Wall Street Journal, the president revealed he has already requested that Pulte begin terminating employees.
During his discussion with the Journal, Trump confirmed he has already shared his perspective with Pulte, who previously led the Federal Housing Finance Agency but lacks experience in national security matters.
“I’d like to see it smaller. I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn’t be there,” Trump stated, referring specifically to intelligence officials who worked during the administrations of Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, according to the Journal.
Trump explained to the publication that he wants Pulte to initiate the dismissal process, with the eventual permanent intelligence director continuing the effort. The president has signaled he will not put Pulte forward for formal nomination to the permanent role.
“Frankly, it might be good for him to shake it up before people come,” Trump explained. “Because, if he (Pulte) reduced the size, in conjunction with me … and in conjunction with possibly the person coming in … he can do a lot of the hard work and we wouldn’t have to saddle somebody that goes in.”
The president selected Pulte for the role earlier this week in an unexpected decision that has faced opposition from both parties in the Senate, which must approve presidential appointments. This interim assignment has complicated efforts to renew an important national security surveillance program on Capitol Hill, with Democrats crucial to the vote expressing distrust of Pulte — whose position supervises 18 intelligence organizations — to help manage the surveillance initiative.
Before Pulte’s appointment, his predecessor Tulsi Gabbard had already begun reducing the office’s scope. Last August, the administration announced plans to decrease the office’s annual budget by over $700 million while dramatically reducing personnel numbers.
During that announcement, Gabbard characterized the office as having become “bloated and inefficient” as she revealed the approximately 40% staff reduction.
Gabbard stepped down from her position last month following her disclosure of her husband’s cancer diagnosis.
BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge on Friday invalidated a Trump administration immigration measure implemented following an incident where two National Guard members were shot, which created additional barriers for immigrants from dozens of nations seeking to remain in or enter the United States.
In a decision that severely criticized the administration, U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. stated the measure “threw the lives of countless immigrants living in the United States into indeterminate legal limbo,” and he charged the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services with disregarding existing law.
“In enacting its latest immigration policies, USCIS: claims statutory and regulatory authority that it does not possess; makes decisions without the reasoned explanations that it must provide; acts without regard for the reliance interests of applicants that it must consider; and justifies its actions with pretextual concerns of ‘national security’ that mask anti-immigrant sentiments that it is forbidden from letting influence its decision-making,” he wrote. “In legal terms that means USCIS’s actions are contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The measures put in place following the National Guard shooting incident last year resulted in immigrants from 39 African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern nations being “categorically barred” from obtaining final determinations on their asylum, work authorization, green card, and citizenship petitions, among other applications.
“This ruling reaffirms a basic principle: the federal government cannot shut down lawful immigration pathways or discriminate against people based on where they come from,” said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, which represented the plaintiffs in the case. “These unlawful policies caused enormous harm to families, workers, asylum-seekers, and communities across the country who were left in limbo, unable to work, access protections, or move forward with their lives.”
The measures affect U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which processes petitions for immigrants seeking work authorization and citizenship. The agency, operating under the Homeland Security Department, frequently approves asylum claims, but only for individuals already present in the United States when filing. Immigration judges handle asylum cases for those detained at the border; the court decision does not impact them, nor do the measures that led to the litigation.
This represents part of a continuing push by the administration to strengthen U.S. entry requirements for travel and immigration, which opponents argue unfairly blocks travel for individuals from numerous nations. The administration indicated it would broaden the limitations following the detention of an Afghan national suspect in the shooting incident involving two National Guard personnel during Thanksgiving weekend.
In its dismissal motion, which the court rejected, the government contended that Congress provided the executive branch extensive authority over immigration matters, including “the entry of aliens into the United States as well as discretion within the statutory scheme to confer as well as withdraw various discretionary benefits.”
“This case rests on a remarkable premise: that a federal court should prevent an agency from issuing the very policy guidance that provides government personnel with the guardrails necessary to ensure consistent, non-arbitrary, and individualized decisionmaking consistent with federal law,” the government wrote in its brief.
Immigration advocacy organizations praised the court’s decision.
“This ruling sets a powerful precedent that the administration cannot ignore the law as laid down by Congress and cannot arbitrarily bar immigration benefits on the basis of national origin by fiat,” Jamal Abdi, president at the National Iranian American Council, said. “Fortunately, this is still a nation of laws, and those who uphold America’s values have recourse to challenge and push back on such discriminatory, arbitrary policies.”
Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran who heads a coalition that supports Afghan resettlement efforts called #AfghanEvac, said the ruling was a “significant victory for the rule of law and for thousands of Afghan allies and other immigrants who followed every requirement asked of them.”
“Just this week in Dallas and Fort Worth, we met people who feared losing jobs because delayed work permit renewals threatened their livelihoods, families who postponed education, travel, and homeownership because they did not know when their cases would be resolved, and future Americans who had expected to become citizens only to see their applications stall without explanation,” VanDiver said.
KYIV, June 5 – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s public correspondence proposing direct peace negotiations to end the conflict was formally directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin, but strategically crafted to resonate with attendees at this week’s St Petersburg investment forum and international audiences.
The Ukrainian leader made his letter public Thursday night while Putin was conducting briefings with international news editors at Russia’s leading business conference. One day earlier, Ukrainian drone attacks had struck an oil facility in St Petersburg, creating massive smoke plumes visible near the forum location.
According to a Ukrainian official with knowledge of the correspondence, Ukraine’s leadership believes segments of Russia’s power structure – including “officials, businessmen, and Russia’s partners” – desire an conclusion to the conflict that has caused Russia’s $3 trillion economy to remain stagnant.
The high-profile business event has showcased competing perspectives within Russia regarding the four-year conflict. Some attendees have advocated continuing military operations and preparing for extended confrontation with Western nations, while others have stressed the economic benefits of concluding a war that grows closer each week.
For several months, Zelenskiy has consistently renewed his appeals for a ceasefire and proposed meetings with Putin, which Putin has repeatedly rejected, including again on Friday.
The Ukrainian official, who requested anonymity, maintained that Zelenskiy genuinely seeks to restart diplomatic discussions.
However, Dmytro Iarovyi, associate professor at the Kyiv School of Economics who specializes in political psychology, characterized the drone attack and “performative” correspondence as a coordinated effort to influence the conference’s messaging.
Iarovyi explained the letter was designed to communicate to Russian citizens and Western administrations – especially U.S. President Donald Trump – that recent territorial advances and damaging long-distance attacks on Russia have positioned Kyiv much more favorably for any future negotiations.
“Trump always says ‘Ukraine doesn’t have any cards’,” stated Kurt Volker, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO and Ukraine envoy during Trump’s first presidency. “Well, Ukraine is now showing that it’s in a stronger position.”
Multiple rounds of U.S.-supported peace negotiations have reached an impasse, with both nations maintaining their established positions.
Putin informed the international editors that discussions with Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, last August had already outlined the requirements for ending the conflict – seemingly referencing his demands that Ukraine surrender the remainder of Donbas, its eastern industrial region and military stronghold.
However, Zelenskiy currently appears more resistant than previously to U.S. pressure for territorial concessions. His correspondence stated he welcomed American participation but emphasized that Ukrainian matters would “not be decided in Anchorage” but rather by Ukraine and Russia, noting Russia could no longer anticipate capturing all of Donbas.
A French citizen convicted of participating in an alleged conspiracy to undermine Mali’s military leadership has received a 20-year prison sentence, according to a source familiar with the proceedings on Friday. The case has further damaged diplomatic relations between the West African nation and France.
Yann Vezilier will serve his sentence in Mali after being convicted late Thursday, according to the source who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak with media.
Mali’s leadership announced Vezilier’s detention last August alongside two Malian generals, claiming he worked for French intelligence to rally political leaders, civil society members and military personnel against Assimi Goita’s administration.
France’s foreign ministry rejected these claims at the time, calling them “unfounded” and stating that Vezilier’s detention violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The West African nation has faced more than ten years of turmoil driven by Islamist insurgencies in its northern desert regions and political upheaval that resulted in military takeovers in 2020 and 2021, which brought Goita to leadership.
Government and justice ministry representatives in Mali did not respond immediately to requests for comment Friday. France’s foreign ministry also declined to provide comment.
Diplomatic ties between Mali and France, which previously ruled the territory as a colony, have significantly worsened in recent years. This deterioration reflects a wider regional pattern that has also seen Burkina Faso and Niger create distance from Paris.
A federal bankruptcy judge has given the green light to Saks Global’s restructuring plan, paving the way for the high-end retailer to emerge from Chapter 11 proceedings with reduced debt and fewer store locations.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Alfredo Perez granted approval to the company’s reorganization plan during Friday’s court session in Houston, Texas, praising the retailer for doing an “extraordinary” job stabilizing operations following a difficult bankruptcy filing in January.
The approved restructuring will eliminate the company’s existing equity and transfer ownership to senior lenders who have backed the reorganization effort.
Through its bankruptcy proceedings, Saks Global will eliminate most of its previous debt obligations and continue operating as a downsized entity. The company used the Chapter 11 process to rebuild relationships with high-end brand suppliers, shutter discount retail outlets, and close more than half of its Saks Fifth Avenue locations.
The reorganized company will operate 49 upscale retail sites, consisting of 33 Neiman Marcus locations, 15 Saks Fifth Avenue stores, and Bergdorf Goodman. When the bankruptcy began, Saks Global operated 33 Saks Fifth Avenue stores.
The restructuring agreement gives senior lenders ownership of Saks Global following their provision of $1 billion in fresh financing during bankruptcy proceedings, plus a commitment of another $500 million once the company completes its Chapter 11 exit.
Saks Global secured backing from junior creditors by establishing a litigation trust funded with $20 million initially, designed to pursue legal actions that could generate additional creditor recoveries. These junior creditors, collectively owed approximately $1.5 billion, would receive nothing without the litigation trust arrangement, court documents indicate.
Saks Global initiated bankruptcy proceedings on January 13 carrying $3.4 billion in debt, following a problematic merger with Neiman Marcus that created cash flow problems, hindered store inventory restocking, and damaged relationships with key suppliers including Chanel, LVMH and Kering.
Multiple U.S. states are gearing up to file legal action aimed at stopping the massive $110 billion deal between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation who spoke with Reuters on Friday.
The specific states planning to join the legal challenge have not been identified, though California’s top prosecutor had indicated Thursday that a decision on potential action would come soon. On Friday, representatives from that office refused to provide additional comment.
Stock prices reflected investor concern following the news, with Warner Bros shares dropping 1.8% while Paramount stock fell 4%.
The entertainment and financial sectors have been monitoring this significant transaction closely, as it would combine several of the industry’s most iconic and long-standing franchises.
The merger proposal has generated opposition from performers, screenwriters and other industry professionals who worry it could lead to widespread job cuts.
Company officials have pushed back against claims that employment in creative roles would decline, arguing that the combined entity would actually need to produce additional content following the merger to draw more streaming platform users.
Ten members of the rowing team have earned recognition as CRCA Scholar-Athletes, showcasing their dedication to academic excellence alongside their athletic pursuits.
The College Rowing Coaches Association honor celebrates student-athletes who demonstrate outstanding performance in their studies while competing at the collegiate level.
This recognition underscores the rowing program’s emphasis on balancing athletic competition with academic achievement, as these ten athletes have successfully excelled in both areas throughout their collegiate careers.
Municipal offices in Salisbury, Maryland will remain shuttered on Friday, June 19, 2026 as the city honors Juneteenth, officials announced.
Residents should note that garbage pickup normally scheduled for Friday will be shifted to Saturday, June 20, 2026.
The weekend will feature multiple community festivities for residents and visitors, including:
Juneteenth 5K, organized by How We Build — June 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., City Park
3rd Friday: Luau Theme — June 19, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Downtown Salisbury
Eastern Shore Juneteenth Festival — June 20, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Downtown Salisbury
Municipal leaders are asking residents and drivers to prepare in advance and think about alternative travel routes during the community festivities. Officials expressed gratitude for residents’ patience and community support.
Additional details about future events can be found on the Downtown Salisbury website calendar: https://www.downtownsby.com/events/event-calendar
A 52-year-old father of six received a 21-year prison sentence on Friday for a sexual assault that took place more than two decades ago, while an innocent man spent 17 years wrongfully imprisoned for the same crime in what authorities are calling one of Britain’s most severe wrongful conviction cases in recent memory.
Paul Quinn, now 52, was convicted in April after a six-week trial at Manchester Crown Court on charges including two counts of rape, choking with intent, and grievous bodily harm. His sentence includes 21 years behind bars plus an additional three-year extended license period with release conditions upon his eventual freedom. Quinn becomes eligible for parole after serving 14 years.
During Friday’s sentencing, Justice Robert Bright addressed Quinn directly, stating: “You sat back and enjoyed your liberty at the expense of an innocent man.”
Quinn was 29 when he committed the assault and had a history of sexual offenses dating back to age 12.
The wrongfully convicted man, Andrew Malkinson, now 60, had his conviction overturned by the Court of Appeal in July 2023 when DNA evidence connected Quinn to the brutal 2003 attack on a 33-year-old woman in Greater Manchester. The victim had identified Malkinson from a police lineup.
Malkinson, who worked as a shopping center security guard when the attack occurred, was convicted in 2004 and received a life sentence with a seven-year minimum term. Because he consistently proclaimed his innocence, he remained incarcerated for ten additional years beyond the minimum sentence. Prison officials released him in 2020, though his name continued to appear on Britain’s sex offender registry.
Malkinson expressed anger that Quinn did not receive a life sentence, saying in a statement through Appeal, a British organization fighting wrongful convictions: “I hope that this man does not get parole and that he serves longer than me. Anything less is not justice.”
Improvements in genetic testing technology enabled Malkinson’s legal team and Appeal to discover Quinn’s DNA on pieces of the victim’s clothing.
Malkinson is pursuing compensation from British officials for his wrongful imprisonment and has questioned whether police improperly influenced the victim during the identification process.
Toby Wilton, representing Malkinson through law firm Hickman & Rose, stated: “While Andy is relieved this chapter of his ordeal is now closed, it is not the end of this matter as far as he is concerned.”
The case’s repercussions continue with an ongoing public investigation launched after a 2024 review revealed institutional failures that could have cleared Malkinson ten years before his actual release.
Six Greater Manchester Police officers, including five former and one current member, face investigation while two senior officials from the agency responsible for reviewing potential wrongful convictions have stepped down.
The police department has issued an apology to Malkinson.
Detective Chief Superintendent Rebecca McKendrick, who leads the current investigation, commented: “We know this outcome has come two decades too late for those impacted by this case. However, we will not allow time to be a barrier to justice for anyone who has further information about Paul Quinn and any further potential sexual offending.”
ANGURUWATOTA, Sri Lanka (AP) — A devastating blaze at a care facility for individuals with mental health needs in western Sri Lanka has resulted in the deaths of more than a dozen people, with those who survived the tragedy being transferred to a nearby facility.
The relocated survivors are now receiving care at an alternative location following the fatal incident.
This report features a collection of photographs selected by AP photo editors documenting the aftermath and relocation efforts.
A federal magistrate has denied bail to a former CIA official facing charges related to fraudulent military compensation claims, after investigators discovered more than $40 million worth of gold bars stored in his home’s basement.
David J. Rush will stay behind bars pending trial, U.S. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick decided during a Friday court session in Alexandria, Virginia. The judge determined that Rush’s intelligence background gives him unique capabilities to evade authorities.
“He’s in a different position than most people to flee and avoid detection by law enforcement,” Fitzpatrick said.
The charges against Rush center on allegations that he fraudulently obtained tens of thousands of dollars in military leave compensation following his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy in 2015. Federal agents arrested him last month after discovering over 300 gold bars, approximately $2 million in cash, and around 35 high-end watches during a search of his residence, according to FBI documentation.
Defense attorney Jessica Carmichael argued that the gold bar discovery amounts to prosecutorial sensationalism, emphasizing that Rush faces no charges connected to possessing the precious metals. She described the gold bars as “basically a non-issue” and “nothing more than a sensational tidbit,” explaining that Rush lawfully acquired them and secured them in a basement safe.
“Mr. Rush never claimed they were his,” she said.
FBI records indicate that between November and March, Rush obtained a “significant quantity” of foreign currency and tens of millions worth of gold bars for “work-related expenses.” Justice Department prosecutor Gavin Tisdale argued that Rush violated protocols by keeping the gold bars at his residence.
“That’s the issue — his skirting of rules and regulations,” he said.
Following a partially sealed court proceeding, Tisdale provided a brief case overview, telling the magistrate that evidence against Rush continues to strengthen daily.
“Mr. Rush simply cannot be trusted to abide by this court’s conditions,” he said.
Military records show Rush joined the Navy in 1997 and received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy Reserves with the rank of lieutenant in 2015.
Federal investigators allege Rush provided false information about his educational and military credentials on employment applications, incorrectly stating he served as a Navy pilot and earned degrees from Clemson University in South Carolina and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York.
Authorities confirmed he never served in a pilot capacity and did not attend either educational institution.
A Los Angeles jury delivered a $176 million verdict to the family of two brothers who lost their lives when they were struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk incident that occurred almost six years ago.
Jurors determined that Rebecca Grossman and Scott Erickson, a former pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, were both at fault in the tragic deaths of Mark Iskander, 11, and Jacob Iskander, 8.
Wednesday’s verdict covered wrongful death claims and emotional suffering damages. A trial judge will make the final decision on how much money each defendant must pay.
Legal proceedings are set to continue Friday as the jury still needs to consider whether the boys’ parents, Nancy and Karim Iskander, should receive punitive damages.
Grossman received a 15-year-to-life prison sentence in 2024 following her conviction on charges of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter, and hit-and-run driving in a criminal case. She helped establish the Grossman Burn Foundation and is married to a well-known burn specialist.
The children’s parents pursued civil litigation against both Grossman and Erickson, who was operating his vehicle in front of her when the Iskander boys were fatally injured. Legal proceedings in that case started in April.
The fatal incident took place during the evening hours of Sept. 29, 2020, in Westlake Village, located on Los Angeles County’s western border.
Brian Panish, representing the Iskander family, contended that both defendants drove dangerously after consuming margaritas together. The pair were romantically involved while Grossman was separated from her spouse.
Panish stated that Grossman was traveling at 73 mph when her vehicle hit the children in the crosswalk on a street with a 45 mph speed restriction.
He explained that Grossman was behind Erickson, who was also exceeding the speed limit and barely avoided hitting the family.
“This was a totally preventable collision,” Panish told the jury in closing arguments Wednesday. “They went out for a walk and they never came home.”
Esther Holm, representing Grossman, rejected claims that her client was under the influence. She argued that Grossman became distracted after witnessing the boys’ mother jump away from Erickson’s approaching car.
“Ms. Grossman was not driving impaired,” Holm told the jury. “She did not see the children, as her attention was diverted by Ms. Iskander.”
Jeff Braun, Erickson’s legal counsel, acknowledged the tragic nature of the boys’ deaths but stressed that his client’s car “made no contact with the children.”
HARTFORD, Conn. — A Connecticut police officer charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a Black man during a mental health emergency made his initial court appearance Friday, drawing support from dozens of fellow law enforcement officers who gathered outside the courthouse.
Joseph Magnano, 23, remained silent during the brief Superior Court hearing in Hartford but was seen embracing supporting officers afterward. Many of the officers wore their badges over civilian clothing as a show of solidarity.
The Hartford mayor terminated Magnano’s employment following the February 27 fatal shooting of Steven Jones. The incident sparked significant community outrage and raised serious concerns about department protocols for responding to individuals experiencing mental health emergencies.
Speaking to media Friday, the local police union president maintained his defense of Magnano’s actions.
“They told him he was a criminal for doing what he was trained to do,” James Rutkauski said.
The victim, Jones, 55, had a documented history of mental health issues and was brandishing a large knife on a city street when officers first responded that winter day.
Body camera footage reveals three officers spending several minutes attempting to convince Jones to surrender the weapon while assuring him of their intent to help.
“Steve, you’re OK. We’re going to make sure you’re OK,” Officer James Prignano says. “Just drop the knife. We’re going to go talk to somebody, OK?”
The recordings show Jones remaining silent throughout the encounter.
Approximately 12 minutes following the initial 911 call, Magnano arrived on scene, immediately drew his weapon and began shouting commands for Jones to drop the knife, warning him, “You’re going to get shot.” A woman can be heard pleading, “Don’t shoot him!”
The footage captures Prignano gesturing toward Magnano, seemingly urging him to step back. As Jones began moving slowly in Magnano’s direction, the officer issued one final warning before discharging his weapon nine times. Jones succumbed to his injuries four days later.
Connecticut Inspector General Eliot Prescott determined through investigation that Jones posed no immediate threat at the time of the shooting.
Magnano wrote in his incident report that he was “fearful of Jones making a sudden lunge towards either an officer or citizen.”
While Jones’ family members were not present at Friday’s hearing, representatives from the local NAACP attended the proceedings.
“They take an oath to protect and serve,” Corrie Betts, president of the Greater Hartford NAACP branch, said of police. “So when they’re called to a mental health call and an individual ends up dead, is that protecting and serving?”
The Chicago Bears’ board of directors has given the green light to proceed with constructing a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana, the franchise revealed on Friday. This decision would result in the team playing their home games outside of Illinois for the first time since the organization was established.
“We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city,” Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey and president and CEO Kevin Warren said in a joint statement.
“It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses.”
This development follows just four days after the Bears indicated they were maintaining a “late spring/early summer timeline” for assessing possible stadium locations in Hammond and Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Just this week, Illinois state legislators concluded their spring session without passing a last-ditch stadium funding proposal designed to retain the Bears within Illinois borders.
Constructing their new venue in Indiana would mark a historic shift for the Bears, who would be departing Illinois for home games for the first time during their 106-year existence.
Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the possibility of meeting with Ukraine’s leader on Friday, after receiving an open letter suggesting direct negotiations to end the conflict that has now entered its fifth year.
The Ukrainian president’s letter, distributed to multiple nations including the United States, claimed that most Russians have become weary of ongoing missile and drone strikes, rising inflation, and fuel shortages, making them ready for peace.
The letter also warned that prolonging the conflict might jeopardize Putin’s leadership, noting that historical patterns show change typically follows when Russia becomes exhausted.
During remarks at an annual economic conference where wealthy Russian business leaders voiced concerns about elevated interest rates and economic decline caused by the war, Putin questioned the sincerity of the peace overture.
“This letter contains some rather rude remarks. Was it a way to create the conditions for a face-to-face meeting or a way not to set up a face-to-face meeting? I think it was the latter,” said Putin.
When asked about the possibility of meeting with the Ukrainian leader, whom the 73-year-old Russian president deliberately avoided naming and referred to only as “the letter’s author,” Putin responded directly:
“I don’t see the point in meeting; the only point is for the Ukrainian side to halt the advance of our armed forces. But we need agreements – not for six months, not for three months, but for the long term.
“Let the experts get to work and come up with some solutions. After that, we can meet…,” the Russian leader said.
Russian military commentators have also criticized the Ukrainian letter as a calculated publicity campaign intended to fuel internal Russian dissent rather than genuinely pursue peace.
During a Thursday session with international journalists, Putin maintained his uncompromising position regarding the conflict and stated that Russian forces continue making daily battlefield gains. However, he acknowledged that U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace initiatives might halt the fighting if Kyiv demonstrates willingness to make concessions. Each side blames the other for refusing to negotiate.
The war has evolved into a prolonged battle of attrition across eastern Ukraine, resulting in substantial casualties for both armies. Despite Russia’s significant military and territorial advantages over Ukraine, Moscow controls approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian land more than four years after Putin’s decision to deploy tens of thousands of soldiers.
International sanctions combined with Ukrainian aerial attacks on Russia’s energy facilities and strategic installations have increasingly strained the country’s economic situation, bolstering arguments from business and political leaders who favor negotiating a peace settlement.
Ukraine maintains it will not retreat from its remaining positions in the eastern Donbas area and refuses to acknowledge Russian control over seized Ukrainian territories.
Russian forces launched another massive assault this week, firing hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at Ukrainian population centers, including Kyiv, resulting in dozens of civilian deaths. Ukraine has intensified its own attacks within Russian borders, targeting oil refineries among other facilities.
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware women’s soccer forward Leilah Sallee has been awarded the Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship, Conference USA announced on Friday.
The scholarship recognizes outstanding student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence both on the field and in the classroom. Sallee, who played forward for the Blue Hens, was selected as one of the recipients of this prestigious academic honor.
The announcement was made by Conference USA officials on Friday, highlighting Sallee’s achievements as a student-athlete at the University of Delaware.
Five astronauts working aboard the International Space Station were directed to seek emergency shelter on Friday while Russian crew members addressed an air leak in their section of the orbiting laboratory, according to NASA.
The space agency lifted the emergency directive approximately two hours after it was issued, allowing the astronauts to resume their regular duties on the station. Four crew members from NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission sought refuge in their Dragon capsule, joined by Chris Williams, a NASA astronaut serving with the station’s Expedition 74 team.
The Crew-12 team taking shelter included:
JESSICA MEIR, SPACECRAFT COMMANDER
An American astronaut leading NASA’s Dragon capsule for the SpaceX Crew-12 mission. Originally from Caribou, Maine, Meir joined NASA’s astronaut corps in 2013. She is making her second journey to space.
JACK HATHAWAY, SPACECRAFT PILOT
An American NASA astronaut serving as Dragon’s pilot. The U.S. Navy commander hails from South Windsor, Connecticut, and is experiencing his first space mission.
SOPHIE ADENOT, MISSION SPECIALIST
A French astronaut with the European Space Agency, Adenot joined the astronaut program in 2022. She holds an engineering degree from Toulouse, France, and previously worked as both a helicopter pilot and design engineer.
ANDREY FEDYAEV, MISSION SPECIALIST
A Russian cosmonaut with Roscosmos making his second extended mission. He previously completed 186 days in orbit serving as an Expedition 69 flight engineer in 2023.
The current Expedition 74 crew, which started December 8 and is scheduled to conclude this summer, includes:
CHRIS WILLIAMS, FLIGHT ENGINEER
An American NASA astronaut serving as flight engineer for Expedition 74.
SERGEY KUD-SVERCHKOV, COMMANDER
A Russian Roscosmos cosmonaut leading the Expedition 74 crew.
SERGEI MIKAEV, FLIGHT ENGINEER
A Russian cosmonaut working as flight engineer for Expedition 74.
Federal officials announced Friday they have sanctioned an international network accused of secretly transporting Iranian liquid petroleum gas to Asian markets while falsely labeling it as originating from Oman.
The Treasury Department’s action comes as the administration continues applying economic pressure on Iran amid ongoing diplomatic talks between the nations.
According to information released by the department, the sanctions affect 12 organizations spread across several countries – five located in the Marshall Islands, four operating from the UAE, and one based in China. Additionally, six liquid petroleum gas tankers face restrictions, with four of those vessels flying Panama’s flag.
Treasury officials stated the operation utilized shell companies in both the UAE and China, along with overseas banking arrangements, to transport millions of barrels of Iranian LPG while hiding its true source to circumvent existing U.S. restrictions.
“Treasury will continue to sever Iran’s shadow fleet, shadow banking networks, and access to global trade,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in the statement.
The sanctions package also includes measures against the Iranian currency exchange firm Mehrdad Geramian Nik and Partners Co and its executives, who officials claim facilitated hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign currency transactions for Iranian banks already under sanctions.
The Inter Miami striker Lionel Messi has been selected to spearhead the MLS All-Star roster announced Friday for the upcoming exhibition against Liga MX’s elite players.
The two-time league MVP and current MLS Cup champion tops the 2026 MLS All-Star First XI chosen for the July 29 match at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Nashville SC contributes three players to the team, while the Chicago Fire adds two representatives. The selections came through voting by MLS supporters, players and media based on first-half season performance, with the league currently paused for the FIFA World Cup.
Messi, earning his third MLS All-Star selection, joins the forward line with Hugo Cuypers from Chicago Fire and Son Heung-Min from LAFC.
The midfield features Sebastian Berhalter from Vancouver Whitecaps, Zavier Gozo from Real Salt Lake and Hany Mukhtar from Nashville.
The defensive unit includes Anthony Markanich from Minnesota United, Mbekezeli Mbokazi from Chicago Fire, Tim Ream from Charlotte and Andy Najar from Nashville, with Brian Schwake from Nashville serving as goalkeeper.
The complete 26-player All-Star Game roster will be filled out with 13 additional players selected by Charlotte head coach Dean Smith and two more chosen by MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s proposal for direct peace negotiations during remarks made Friday at Russia’s annual economic forum in St. Petersburg.
Putin characterized Zelenskiy’s open letter, which suggested face-to-face discussions to end the ongoing conflict, as containing inappropriate language and lacking genuine diplomatic intent.
“This letter contains some rather rude remarks. Was it a way to create the conditions for a face-to-face meeting or a way not to set up a face-to-face meeting? I think it was the second,” Putin stated.
When directly asked whether he would be willing to meet with the Ukrainian leader, Putin responded: “I don’t see any point for now.”
During a separate media session the previous day, Putin maintained his uncompromising position regarding the conflict while claiming Russian forces continue making daily territorial gains. However, he suggested that U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace initiatives might bring an end to hostilities if Ukraine showed willingness to make concessions. Each side continues to blame the other for refusing to negotiate in good faith.
Russian nationalist figures also criticized Zelenskiy’s diplomatic overture on Friday, characterizing it as a calculated publicity campaign aimed at creating internal Russian discord rather than pursuing genuine conflict resolution.
Aircraft manufacturer Airbus finds itself uncertain about timing for the debut of an expanded A220 aircraft following tepid interest from major leasing firms and ongoing discussions about flight range and capabilities, according to six industry insiders.
The company had previously generated excitement among potential customers earlier this year by suggesting a possible announcement during this summer’s Farnborough Airshow, but has since backed away from those expectations.
A high-ranking Airbus official indicated that an announcement at Farnborough, scheduled for late July, was now “not probable,” though the company hasn’t completely eliminated the possibility of a 2024 launch.
“We are studying all the options; no decisions have been made,” an Airbus spokesperson stated.
An expanded A220 model would allow Airbus to rework agreements with suppliers and reduce manufacturing expenses, potentially helping the company address losses from the program it acquired for one dollar in 2018 after Canada’s Bombardier faced financial difficulties.
The A220 program continues to operate at a loss and has been dropping orders to Brazilian competitor Embraer.
Industry insiders report that Airbus has been promoting a relatively minor enhancement described as a “simple stretch” that wouldn’t increase maximum takeoff weight or require expensive Pratt & Whitney engine improvements.
The aircraft would accommodate approximately 180 passengers, an increase from the current 160-passenger capacity, resulting in roughly 10% lower per-seat costs but reduced flight range, according to two individuals with knowledge of the project.
Not all carriers are willing to sacrifice range, which limits the number of potential buyers. Airlines meeting in Brazil for an IATA conference this weekend also remain concerned about reliability issues with current Pratt & Whitney engines.
“Airlines are possibly sold on the economics, but not necessarily the performance,” aviation analyst Rob Morris commented.
RTX, Pratt & Whitney’s parent company, chose not to provide comment.
Airbus displayed greater optimism in January, informing financial professionals at the Airlines Economics conference in Dublin that 2026 would represent a “big year” for the A220, sources reported.
Five months later, prospective customers indicate they haven’t received the detailed information typically expected when an aircraft launch is imminent.
“One of the questions we’ll have to examine is the range of the aircraft,” Air Canada’s chief operations officer Mark Nasr shared with Reuters this week.
The urgency to develop something new also diminished when AirAsia committed to purchasing 150 units of the current model.
“It remains a matter of when … rather than if, but it’s not now,” Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury informed reporters in April, discussing the larger A220’s launch timeline.
Airbus is additionally evaluating potential effects on sales of its crucial A320neo narrow-body series, which is positioned slightly above the proposed A220-500 in terms of size, two sources familiar with the situation revealed.
Leasing companies also express concern about negatively affecting A320neo values.
“Lessors are so exposed to the A320 that the last thing they need is a new anything; the less disruption the better off they all are,” a senior industry source explained.
Aviation analyst Morris suggested this shouldn’t postpone the project indefinitely.
“The A320 lessors should be okay: the market for the plane has sufficient liquidity and a strong customer base,” he noted.
Five crew members aboard the International Space Station were directed to seek temporary shelter on Friday while repairs were underway to address a new air leak in the orbital facility.
The astronauts relocated to a SpaceX vehicle docked at the station as cosmonauts addressed the leak, which developed in the Russian section of the space laboratory.
“The decision was made out of an abundance of caution,” NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens said via X.
After repair efforts were temporarily halted, the crew exited the capsule and resumed their normal duties aboard the station.
This section of the orbiting facility has experienced ongoing issues with structural cracks and air leaks in recent years. NASA reported that Roscosmos opted to conduct more comprehensive repairs following the discovery of additional problems.
Both space agencies continue their efforts to identify what’s causing the structural cracks to develop.
The artificial intelligence company that created the Claude chatbot is calling for leading AI developers around the globe to establish a unified approach for temporarily halting progress on sophisticated AI systems. The firm warns that technological advancement is occurring at such a breakneck pace that humanity risks losing oversight of these powerful tools.
In a Thursday blog post, the company behind Claude stated that as state-of-the-art AI becomes increasingly efficient at completing various tasks, “it would be good for the world to have the option to slow or temporarily pause” further development.
The firm announced that its internal research division will investigate this matter alongside other organizations and “take actions” to help establish frameworks for a legitimate slowdown or suspension, though they provided no additional specifics.
According to the company, AI systems are becoming more capable at an accelerating rate, particularly in their ability to independently handle software-related work such as computer programming. Current trajectory analysis suggests that with sufficient computational resources, an AI system might eventually become capable of creating and improving its own replacement through what experts call “recursive self-improvement.”
While such self-developing AI would represent a significant technological breakthrough offering advantages in scientific research, medical care, and other fields, the company noted it “also might increase the risks of humans losing control over AI systems.”
This concern has been voiced by various technology industry leaders for years.
The company’s statement follows a separate alert issued earlier this week by University of Toronto researchers who demonstrated how AI technology could potentially create a novel form of AI “worm” that modifies its cyber attack methods while spreading across devices and commandeering extensive computer networks.
“I think it’s really important that people understand that it’s not just the biggest, most powerful language models that pose the security concerns,” lead researcher Nicolas Papernot said in an interview.
The blog post authors, company co-founder Jack Clark and Marina Favaro, head of the research institute, explained that any pause would allow time for “societal structures and alignment research” to match the pace of AI development. Alignment refers to the industry goal of ensuring technology operates in harmony with human values and objectives.
Their proposed coordination system would enable advanced AI laboratories to confirm that international competitors have genuinely halted or reduced their research efforts, “and that a bad actor could not use the auspices of a coordinated slowdown to jump ahead in secret.”
The company emphasized that a coordinated international framework is essential because without such cooperation, an AI development slowdown might allow the “least cautious” participants to gain ground and intensify pressure on companies and governments facing difficult AI safety decisions.
This announcement comes while the company is competing with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI to launch public stock offerings, with a potential IPO valuation approaching nearly a trillion dollars.
Eight of the 15 Latin Americans who were sent to Congo in April as part of the Trump administration’s controversial immigration enforcement have now made their way back to their countries of origin, according to Congo’s government and legal representatives speaking Friday.
Federal immigration courts had previously determined these individuals would probably encounter persecution upon return to their home nations.
Congo represents one of no fewer than eight African countries that have entered into third-country deportation agreements with the United States.
Through a collection of frequently undisclosed agreements, the Trump administration has sent thousands of individuals to almost two dozen nations other than their countries of origin, according to advocacy groups. Legal experts in immigration law indicate the administration employs third-country deportations as a regulatory workaround to indirectly compel asylum seekers to return to their native countries.
Alma David, a U.S.-based attorney representing one of the 15 migrants, confirmed that eight deportees have traveled back to their home countries in recent weeks.
David’s client, a Colombian woman who had previously spoken with The Associated Press about her circumstances and uncertainty while in Congo, continues to remain in the central African nation, according to her lawyer.
Another Colombian, Adriana Maria Quiroz Zapata, also remains in Congo, despite a federal judge’s order last month directing the Trump administration to return her to the United States. She was sent to Congo even after that country had declined to accept her due to its inability to provide for her medical requirements.
Four individuals from Peru and three from Colombia traveled home earlier this week with assistance from the International Organization for Migration, a U.N.-affiliated agency, David reported.
Their return occurred through the IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return program, where the organization covers transportation expenses and logistics for migrants who agree to return to their home countries, serving as an option instead of forced removal.
The attorney explained that these migrants had received court protections preventing their removal to their home countries by U.S. federal courts, which determined they would probably experience persecution upon return.
“The fact that they chose to return there anyway raises serious concerns that they likely felt backed into a corner because no viable alternative was presented to them,” David said.
The IOM has stated that assisted voluntary returns are “strictly voluntary and based on free, prior and informed consent.”
One Colombian man traveled back to his home country independently in recent days, David noted.
“These developments confirm the strictly transitional, temporary, and time-limited nature of this mechanism, as announced from its launch,” the Congolese government said in the statement. “Further departures will take place shortly as part of the implementation of the arrangement.”
This announcement coincides with rights attorneys filing a case against Equatorial Guinea before Africa’s leading human rights body, alleging the central African nation violated deportees’ rights by compelling them to return to their home countries from the U.S.
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — Officials at Slovenia’s capital city zoo are celebrating three new arrivals that could help save one of the world’s most threatened species.
Three Siberian tiger cubs made their debut at the Ljubljana Zoo less than two weeks after their birth on May 27. The newborns represent a significant conservation victory for a species with only approximately 500 individuals surviving in their natural habitat.
These magnificent big cats face extinction primarily due to disappearing habitat and illegal hunting activities that continue to reduce their numbers.
The cubs’ parents, Arisa and Ussuri, have called the Ljubljana facility home since their 2004 arrival. Zoo officials say the birth followed extensive preparation and considerable optimism about the breeding program.
“We were not really expecting, but hoping, working on it because we have a good breeding pair,” she said. Despite introducing the pair during optimal timing, “we weren’t completely sure,” she added.
“So we were also a bit surprised and of course very happy,” Strus said.
Successfully reproducing wild species within captive environments presents numerous challenges and frequently fails to produce offspring.
The newborns remain extremely fragile and must stay separated from all individuals except their mother during this critical period. However, zoo personnel and guests can observe the family through live video feeds displayed on monitors.
Observers gathered around the screens showed obvious delight watching the mother tend to her offspring. Barbara Gallaido, visiting from San Francisco, described the experience as “really fabulous.”
“I’ve seen tigers in the wild in India, but not like this, not with cubs,” she said. “It was really great.”
Four-year-old Arisa is experiencing motherhood for the first time, and Strus reports she’s adapting excellently to her new role.
“She is constantly licking them (cubs,) breastfeeding them and they are resting together,” she said. “So far so good. But … we still need to wait and see what will happen.”
Strus explained that tiger offspring typically develop sight and hearing capabilities approximately two weeks following birth. The mother should bring her young outside their den for initial exploration when they reach one month of age.
New Castle County police have arrested a Wilmington resident on serious assault charges following a disturbance in a local neighborhood Wednesday evening.
Law enforcement officers were dispatched to Willis Place in the 1500 block within the Cleland Heights area around 10:41 p.m. on June 3, 2026, after receiving reports of an active altercation.
When police arrived at the scene, they identified the suspect as Jamir Garvin, age 26, of Wilmington. Garvin now faces charges of first-degree assault in connection with the incident.
British actor Anthony Head, whose smooth voice and sophisticated demeanor made him a beloved figure in television, has passed away at the age of 72, according to his family’s announcement on Friday.
His daughters, both actresses Emily and Daisy Head, confirmed through the Press Association news agency that their father died from complications related to pneumonia.
Head first captured British television viewers’ attention during the 1980s when he starred in a memorable series of Nescafe instant coffee commercials, playing one part of a romantic duo whose relationship kept audiences guessing.
American audiences came to know Head through his portrayal of librarian Rupert Giles, the wise mentor figure in the beloved supernatural television series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” which aired from 1997 through 2003.
In his latest role, Head portrayed Rupert Mannion, the antagonistic former spouse of Rebecca, the character played by Hannah Waddingham, in the popular series “Ted Lasso.”
“Our grief is far greater than the hole he has left behind, but we know his legacy will live on, in the shows he was a part of, and in the audiences that love them,” his daughters said. “How lucky we are to know we are able to watch him doing what he loved, even when he is no longer with us.”
WASHINGTON — Military leaders continue awaiting clear direction from Pentagon leadership after President Donald Trump’s shifting decisions regarding European troop deployments have disrupted service members’ lives and potentially cost American taxpayers millions, according to two U.S. defense officials who spoke with The Associated Press.
European NATO partners were confused in May when Trump announced plans to deploy 5,000 U.S. service members to Poland, coming just weeks after he directed the same number withdrawn from Europe following tensions with Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding the Iran conflict. Trump administration officials maintain that European troop reductions have been long-term plans developed in coordination with partner nations.
The Republican commander-in-chief posted on social media two weeks prior that he would deploy forces to Poland — on the identical day Pentagon leadership had formally directed the cancellation of a scheduled soldier rotation to that location, according to one defense official.
Military equipment for the unit was already in transit. Transporting it required $32 million in military spending, according to U.S. Transportation Command, the defense agency primarily responsible for global troop and equipment movement.
These sudden policy shifts are requiring military leadership to “retroactively engineer” policies matching the president’s most recent statements, the official explained. Both officials received briefings on these decisions and, alongside others, agreed to speak anonymously when discussing classified military operations.
This confusion is not only concerning European partners who worry about signals being transmitted to Russia, but also threatens to damage confidence among American service members — including some whose deployments were halted just before departure — while occurring during existing Army budget pressures.
The scheduled Poland deployment of 4,000 service members from the Army’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, was halted through a military memo distributed at May’s beginning. European partners learned about this decision during the month’s middle period.
Several troops received notification shortly before travel not to board Poland-bound flights, while those already deployed — initially approximately 1,000 service members — remain awaiting confirmation about their return, according to a U.S. military official.
Military leadership also continues awaiting Pentagon specifics regarding how to fulfill Trump’s directive to deploy 5,000 troops to Poland, that official stated. Current planning assumes these forces will come from units already stationed in Europe, rather than additional U.S.-based deployments, the official noted.
U.S. Transportation Command had contracted shipping to transport the team’s equipment from Texas to Poland and return departing unit gear to America. The incoming team’s transportation cost totaled $32 million, including ship charter and equipment loading and unloading operations.
Since the ship was contracted to transport one unit to Europe and return another to America, determining potential savings from an earlier deployment halt decision remains difficult.
Nevertheless, the military official indicated that unplanned personnel and equipment returns from Europe likely exceed Pentagon budget allocations and represent additional expenses.
Complete rotation cancellation costs remain difficult to calculate due to multiple variables, explained Joe Costa, a former senior Pentagon official who currently directs the Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense program focusing on U.S. military challenges.
Costs likely stem from returning equipment and troops deployed ahead of the main deployment and would probably represent the lower end of the rotation’s total expense, Costa stated. The more significant impact affects troop readiness when personnel trained for specific missions may receive different deployment assignments, he explained.
U.S. military contracts with private transportation companies include cancellation provisions that frequently impose additional charges when deployments are terminated, according to John Deni, a senior nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council who has researched such expenses.
“The question is what additional costs were incurred by deciding to send them back prematurely, changing the arrangements, changing the plan?” asked Deni, a former U.S. military adviser and planner specializing in European forces.
Whether the Pentagon can recover those costs or expenses related to the unit’s European movement remains unclear. The Defense Department declined to answer questions regarding deployment plan change costs, and the White House directed comment requests to the department.
Pentagon leadership has consistently stated plans to reduce troop numbers to encourage Europe to assume greater defense responsibilities and described the decision as part of a “comprehensive, multilayered process.”
Last month’s memo also resulted in canceling a Germany deployment for a battalion specializing in long-range rocket and missile operations.
When Trump initially threatened European troop reductions of 5,000 personnel, Pentagon officials first suggested withdrawing the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, permanently stationed in Germany, the defense official stated.
Instead, officials chose to cancel the other unit’s Poland rotation. Then Trump’s subsequent decisions created additional confusion for that plan as well.
Withdrawing Germany-stationed troops could cost in the low billions since no dedicated U.S. space and infrastructure exists to house them and their families, Costa explained.
“The other option is basically breaking up the unit,” Costa noted. “They move the equipment in different places. They move the people to different places. That carries significant readiness costs because now you’re artificially jamming pieces of units into places where they don’t necessarily belong.”
Withdrawal or deployment pauses can also damage soldier and family morale since they plan for these assignments months and years ahead, Deni observed. The uncertainty creates disruption.
“That’s often the last thing you want to do to military families,” Deni stated.
What will happen to European-stationed U.S. troops remains uncertain, both officials indicated. Options include relocating military units assigned to Germany to Poland, but that could require several years and increased costs, the military official explained.
These changes occur while the Army faces budget shortfalls, which the service’s top uniformed officer, Gen. Christopher LaNeve, recently acknowledged to Congress.
Estimates place the deficit between $2 billion and $6 billion, according to an Army official who also spoke anonymously to discuss sensitive defense matters. One consequence has included reducing nationwide soldier training courses, which ABC News previously reported.
In a statement, the Army indicated it has provided guidance to its commands to “make tough and sound resource decisions that optimize and prioritize resources toward their most critical requirements, to include major training and readiness events.”
The Army official also noted the service has received missions including National Guard deployment in Washington, increased U.S.-Mexico border presence and its Iran war participation — all straining its budget.
The Department of Homeland Security expects to reimburse the Army for border mission costs.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told lawmakers at a May 15 hearing that he was “optimistic” there would be progress on those payments “within a week or two.” However, the Army has not yet received reimbursement.
“We want those backfilled payments,” Driscoll stated then.
The European U.S. military is also reducing non-combat training support and strictly prioritizing essential functions, the military official noted.
Federal immigration authorities have eliminated a policy requiring them to track and report deaths of individuals who die shortly after being released from detention centers, a move that medical experts say could hide the true impact of detention conditions on human lives.
The change removes a 2021 requirement established during the previous administration that mandated Immigration and Customs Enforcement to investigate and report to Congress any deaths occurring within 30 days of a detainee’s release from custody.
The original policy was designed to prevent the agency from escaping responsibility for deaths by releasing critically ill individuals from their facilities. In previous cases, people who were brain-dead or battling serious infections have died shortly after being released from immigration detention.
Medical professionals who have studied deaths in immigration custody condemned the policy shift on Friday.
“Tracking deaths immediately after custody is a standard approach that allows health systems in jails, prisons and immigration detention to learn about gaps in care that may occur before a person leaves a facility,” said Dr. Homer Venters, former chief medical officer of the New York City jail system. “Eliminating reporting of these deaths represents a willful act of ignoring the most serious health outcome that can reflect inadequacies in care or help track outbreaks.”
Records indicate that immigration detainees frequently die at medical facilities where they are transported for care after their health deteriorates while in detention centers. These individuals, though, have typically been classified as still being under agency custody.
The Washington Post initially disclosed the policy modification on Thursday. The Department of Homeland Security, which supervises the immigration agency, subsequently acknowledged the change in a statement describing it as “common sense.”
“Under this updated policy, when an individual is no longer in ICE custody then ICE will no longer be responsible for monitoring or reviewing deaths that may occur,” the statement said.
The statement indicated the agency maintains its dedication to transparency and noted the revised policy contains procedures for “timely notification, review and reporting of deaths occurring in ICE custody.” The agency has not yet released the complete updated policy.
The decision to restrict death reporting occurs as more immigration detainees are dying. A minimum of 18 detainees have died since January 1, a rate that could exceed last year’s death count, which marked the highest in twenty years. Detainees are taking their own lives at record levels, and specialists believe many other deaths from medical causes could have been prevented with proper healthcare.
Dr. Sanjay Basu, a University of California-San Francisco epidemiologist who recently published an analysis of more than 270 ICE custody deaths, said the policy change will “make the mortality statistics appear lower without any actual improvement in care.”
“The period immediately following release is when deaths attributable to inadequate care during confinement become apparent,” he said. “Missed diagnoses, interrupted medications, untreated infections, and decompensating chronic conditions don’t always kill someone while they’re still in the building.”
As of early April, the agency was housing more than 60,000 detainees throughout its nationwide detention facility network, an increase from approximately 40,000 at the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term. The agency disputes claims that detainees experience medical neglect, stating they receive comprehensive healthcare services.
Prior to announcing Thursday’s policy modification, Department of Homeland Security acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis informed the Associated Press on Tuesday that no detainees died in agency custody during May. This marked the first month without a detainee death since November. At that time, Bis did not respond to questions about whether any death reporting policies had been altered.
“As we have repeatedly stated, deaths in ICE custody are exceedingly rare,” she said then.
A veteran character actor known for roles in major Hollywood films was fatally stabbed outside his Los Angeles residence, with authorities taking his girlfriend’s son into custody for the crime.
James Handy, 81, who had parts in “Jumanji” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” was discovered with a chest wound and unconscious outside his residence on Wednesday morning, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Medical personnel transported him to a local hospital where he was declared dead.
Authorities responded to the residence following an emergency call in which the caller stated: “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin,” police reported.
Michael Gledhill was taken into custody after informing responding officers that he was the individual they sought, the department stated.
The 44-year-old suspect, who resides with his mother at the home, faces charges for one count of murder, police confirmed. Court records indicate his bond was established at $2 million.
Legal representation for the suspect remains unclear at this time. County jail records do not list an attorney, and attempts to reach the public defender’s office went unanswered.
A New York native, Handy built a career spanning multiple decades in both television and cinema.
His notable performances included playing an exterminator in the 1995 adventure film “Jumanji” and portraying bartender Jimmy in last year’s “Top Gun: Maverick,” based on IMDB records. His television credits featured appearances on prominent crime series such as “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “The Closer” and “Cold Case.”
“I could not have asked for a more talented, humble or gracious client and friend than James Handy,” Pam Ellis-Evenas, from the Ellis Talent Group, said in an email to The Associated Press.
SALISBURY, Md. – The Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference has announced that Kai Smith from Salisbury University’s track and field team has been selected as the 2026 Outdoor Male Athlete of the Year.
Additionally, head coach Jim Jones and his coaching staff earned recognition as the C2C Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year, according to today’s announcement from the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference.
The honors recognize outstanding performance in the 2026 outdoor track and field season for both the individual athlete and the coaching team at Salisbury University.
The world’s most prominent cryptocurrency is on track for its weakest showing at this stage of the year in more than ten years, as surging artificial intelligence investments and attractive new stock offerings including SpaceX draw money away from digital assets.
The digital currency’s value has dropped approximately 15% over the past week, marking its steepest decline since November 2022 when the FTX exchange collapsed. Currently trading near $63,000, the cryptocurrency has shed roughly one-third of its worth during 2026, representing its largest loss at this point in any year since 2015 at minimum, according to LSEG data.
The situation worsened when Michael Saylor’s Strategy, which holds more bitcoin than any other corporation, announced Monday it had offloaded some of its digital currency holdings for the first time since 2022.
“It is instructive to see how assets can struggle as they move from being the flavour of the month to being suddenly out of fashion,” RBC BlueBay Asset Management chief investment officer, fixed income, Mark Dowding said in a blog.
The changing environment for the cryptocurrency, which reached unprecedented peaks above $125,000 in late 2024, shows several key shifts.
PRICING PRESSURES MOUNT
The digital asset now trades roughly 40% below its level when U.S. President Donald Trump assumed office in January 2025, despite his pledge to establish America as the global cryptocurrency hub. Multiple appointments of crypto-supportive officials to important regulatory and financial positions had initially lifted market confidence.
However, increased participation by major institutional investors and banks, along with readily available exchange-traded products, has reduced the very characteristics that made the cryptocurrency attractive as a portfolio diversifier – namely its extreme price swings and independence from traditional asset movements.
The DVOL index from crypto options platform Deribit, which measures expected volatility in bitcoin options, currently sits around 47, its peak since early April but only slightly above a record low of approximately 31 reached in late May. From the index’s 2021 debut through roughly April of last year, it rarely dropped below 50.
Regarding correlation patterns, before 2020 the cryptocurrency showed no consistent relationship with the S&P 500. However, throughout most of the past six years, both have moved together. This connection has recently reversed dramatically, with AI-powered stock gains continuing while the digital currency stagnates.
RIVALRY WITHIN DIGITAL ASSETS
The era when bitcoin dominated the cryptocurrency landscape has ended. The digital asset space now features major competing currencies including ether, solana and BNB, plus smaller “alt-coins” that collectively represent one-fifth of the total market, CoinGecko reports.
Stablecoins, which maintain fixed values tied to traditional currencies like the U.S. dollar, have also eroded bitcoin’s market position.
CoinGecko data shows bitcoin now represents 56% of the cryptocurrency market, down from 63% twelve months ago. While ether and alternative coins have maintained relatively stable market shares, stablecoins now comprise nearly 13% of the market compared to roughly 7% a year earlier.
Daily trading volume in the leading stablecoin tether now exceeds the combined volume of bitcoin and ether, while trading in second-place USDC matches the volume of the next ten digital currencies combined, CoinGecko data indicates.
CAPITAL MIGRATION PATTERNS
Bitcoin faces competition not only from other digital currencies but from traditional investments seeking investor funds. When artificial intelligence began gaining momentum following ChatGPT’s late 2022 debut, bitcoin initially benefited from investment flows targeting technology-related assets.
AI now commands stock market attention, with capital flowing into companies building data centers, semiconductor manufacturers, chip producers and even copper wire suppliers.
Over the past year, U.S. semiconductor stocks have jumped 170% while bitcoin has declined 40%. The money entering AI-focused investments must originate from existing positions.
Investors are withdrawing funds from major bitcoin ETFs at unprecedented rates, with more than $2.7 billion in net withdrawals during the week ending Thursday, LSEG data reveals. Total net outflows for 2026 have reached $3.1 billion.
The four largest semiconductor ETFs – VanEck’s Semiconductor ETF, the Roundhill Memory ETF, State Street’s SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF and iShares Semiconductor ETF – have attracted over $3 billion in June’s first week alone and an impressive $21 billion year-to-date.
A groundbreaking cellular treatment initially created to combat blood cancers is now opening doors for kidney patients who previously had no chance of receiving a transplant, according to new research that could transform care for thousands of patients.
Medical researchers have successfully used CAR T-cell therapy to help patients whose immune systems are “sensitized” – meaning they’ve developed antibodies against foreign tissue from prior blood transfusions, pregnancies, or previous transplants. These antibodies typically cause their bodies to reject most available donor kidneys.
Finding compatible donor kidneys for these highly sensitized individuals has traditionally been extremely challenging or completely impossible.
The innovative treatment works by extracting a patient’s immune cells, altering them in laboratory settings to reduce antibody production, then returning the modified cells to effectively restart the patient’s immune response system.
Research teams working independently – one treating two patients at a U.S. medical facility and another caring for one patient in Germany – achieved remarkable results. All three individuals showed significant decreases in the dangerous immune antibodies that normally attack transplanted kidneys.
Consequently, all three patients successfully received kidney transplants, according to findings published Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine.
“This is the first demonstration that CAR T cells can be used not only to treat cancer, but also to help patients who previously had no opportunity to receive a compatible donor kidney,” said Dr. Ali Naji of the University of Pennsylvania, who oversaw treatment for the two U.S. patients.
“For patients who have spent years on the kidney transplant waiting list, this approach could be transformative,” Naji added.
The cellular therapy is also demonstrating potential benefits for difficult-to-treat autoimmune conditions, based on four preliminary studies presented at the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology conference in London.
In one trial, six individuals with treatment-resistant rheumatoid arthritis received an experimental CAR-T therapy called mivocabtagene autoleucel, developed by Kyverna Therapeutics. All participants showed reduced disease activity, with half achieving lasting remission.
During follow-up periods spanning 24 to 36 weeks, five of the six patients remained free from immunosuppressive medications, reported Fredrik Albach of Charité Universitätsmedizin in Berlin.
In separate research, Yajing Zhang from Beijing GoBroad Boren Hospital in China studied 11 patients with treatment-resistant systemic sclerosis, a serious autoimmune condition causing tissue hardening. Following CD19/BCMA CAR-T cell treatment, both skin thickness measurements and lung scarring showed substantial improvement.
“By effectively targeting both skin fibrosis and lung progression, this immunological ‘reset’ strategy offers true curative potential, paving the way for (mid-stage) trials to redefine the future management of this severe disease,” Zhang stated.
Additional research by Yuichi Maeda of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg examined an experimental therapy called zorpocabtagene autoleucel from Miltenyi Biomedicine in patients with severe systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, or idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, focusing on improving intestinal bacterial balance.
Harmful bacterial overgrowth “decreased to levels comparable to those of healthy controls after the treatment,” researchers noted, while immune activity driving patient symptoms decreased significantly.
The study authors determined that CAR T-cell therapy modifies gut bacteria in autoimmune disease patients, and these immune-microbial changes may support extended disease remission.
Finally, Xiaobing Wang of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital and research partners documented that CAR-T cell therapy in four patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or systemic sclerosis achieved “deep, tissue-level remission.”
French anti-terrorism prosecutors announced Friday they have launched a preliminary investigation into allegations of torture and war crimes involving the treatment of French citizens by Israeli authorities during the interception of a Gaza-bound activist flotilla.
The flotilla participants said they were attempting to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza and protest Israel’s naval blockade of the Palestinian territory when Israeli forces intercepted their vessels.
According to the PNAT anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office, the investigation was initiated following a May 28 referral from the French foreign ministry under Article 40 of France’s criminal procedure code, which mandates that public officials report suspected criminal activity.
The inquiry focuses on allegations of torture and war crimes, with France’s central office for combating crimes against humanity and hate crimes, known as OCLCH, taking charge of the investigation.
Flotilla organizers claim activists faced mistreatment, with multiple individuals requiring hospitalization for injuries and at least 15 people reporting sexual assaults, including rape. All activists have since been freed from custody.
Israeli authorities have rejected these abuse allegations, and Reuters could not independently confirm the claims.
Several other Western nations, including Canada, Germany and Italy, have also criticized Israel’s handling of the activists.
German tennis player Alexander Zverev has secured his place in the French Open championship match after defeating Jakub Mensik in a four-set semifinal battle on Friday in Paris.
The 29-year-old overcame the 26th-seeded Czech player with scores of 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 on Court Philippe Chatrier, bringing him one step closer to capturing his first Grand Slam championship.
Zverev, who has previously fallen short in three major finals including a French Open final two years earlier, will await the outcome of the all-Italian semifinal between 10th seed Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Arnaldi to determine his Sunday opponent.
“I knew that it would be my toughest challenge. I managed it and I won, so I’m happy,” Zverev commented after his victory, noting his achievement as only the fifth active player to reach multiple Roland Garros title matches.
“It’s amazing the way he (Mensik) played these last two weeks, he beat so many unbelievable players. He started playing amazing in the third set, stepping up his level, but this is a Grand Slam with best-of-five-set matches,” Zverev explained.
“Things happen and your opponents will play better. You have to deal with it. I hope to play another great match on Sunday,” he added.
The opening set remained competitive until Zverev capitalized on his opportunity in the 11th game, executing a crosscourt backhand winner to create a break point opportunity. He converted the chance when Mensik’s return found the net, allowing the world number three to serve out the set with a powerful ace.
Zverev maintained his momentum in the second set, breaking early as the 20-year-old Mensik struggled in his first Grand Slam semifinal appearance. The Czech player appeared overwhelmed during a changeover, sitting with a towel covering his head as Zverev extended his advantage with a second break to claim the set decisively.
Following a lengthy medical timeout to address a neck problem, Mensik regrouped in the third set, combining powerful serves with skillful drop shots to break Zverev’s serve and take a 4-2 lead before winning the set. However, Zverev responded strongly in the fourth set, closing out the match without significant difficulty to advance to his second French Open final.
STATEWIDE, Del. (June 5, 2026) – The Delaware Division of the Arts (DDOA) collected 20 honors during the Delaware Press Association’s yearly Communications Contest Awards ceremony, which took place May 13 in Dover. The recognition celebrated the agency’s outstanding achievements in communication and narrative excellence.
Although the competition primarily features journalists, it also welcomes other communicators and organizations.
The Mystic Harbour Water & Sewer Advisory Board has scheduled a meeting for Friday, June 5, 2026, beginning at 2:00 PM.
The board has published an agenda for the upcoming session, which is available for public review. Community members can access the meeting agenda through the county’s official website.
Those interested in attending or following the board’s activities can find additional information by returning to the events calendar on the county website.
German automaker Audi remains committed to Formula One despite ongoing discussions about major engine regulation changes that could bring back V8 power units by 2030 or 2031.
The company’s Chief Executive Gernot Doellner addressed concerns at the Monaco Grand Prix, stating that potential shifts away from current turbo hybrid systems wouldn’t force Audi out of the sport it just entered this season.
Formula One’s governing body FIA is pushing for less complex and more affordable engines in future regulations, with president Mohammed Ben Sulayem supporting a return to naturally aspirated V8 engines powered by sustainable fuels.
When reporters asked if the proposed changes could end Audi’s involvement, Doellner responded: “No, not right now. I believe and trust that we will have a good discussion regarding the regulations and we will definitely have sustainable fuels … it’s more in some areas a philosophical question.”
The CEO made his comments following Audi’s introduction of the Nuvolari, the manufacturer’s debut supercar featuring high-performance hybrid technology. While expressing openness to different engine configurations, Doellner emphasized his company’s preference for turbocharged systems.
“That’s definitely more important than talking about the number of cylinders,” he explained. “We prefer turbo due to the efficiency aspect. The Nuvolari has a V8. Audi has no problem with V8s.”
The FIA’s push for V8 engines stems from desires to cut expenses and simplify technology while bringing back the distinctive loud sounds that characterized Formula One racing in earlier eras.
Despite showing flexibility on cylinder count, Doellner stressed that Audi’s main concern involves shaping future rules that preserve energy efficiency and cost management while giving manufacturers room to enhance their power systems.
“Our focus is on the actual regulation and to optimise that, to optimise our drivetrain to the regulation we have,” he stated.
“Of course we just entered, we invested in a drivetrain concept, and so we are not keen on changing soon. We are happy with stability.”
The executive expressed confidence in ongoing regulatory discussions, noting: “The process is running. It’s in good hands and we are part of that process together with the other engine manufacturers. FIA is leading the process and I’m very optimistic that the outcome will be a good one.”
Current Formula One cars utilize V6 turbo hybrid power systems that split energy equally between traditional combustion and electric components.
Rising concerns about expenses and technical complexity have created momentum for adjusting that balance to 40-60 for the upcoming season, with possible elimination of hybrid systems entirely in favor of V8 engines not used since 2013.
WASHINGTON — The federal government’s financial crimes enforcement division has issued new guidance directing banking institutions to monitor for suspicious financial activities connected to individuals without legal immigration status, marking another step in the current administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network — known as FinCEN — released guidance on Friday instructing financial institutions to monitor for identity theft, payroll tax fraud, and money laundering operations connected to the employment of unauthorized workers.
The advisory follows President Donald Trump’s executive order from May requiring banking institutions to conduct enhanced reviews of customer citizenship status.
The directive instructs banking regulators and federal agencies to identify indicators that individuals lacking legal status may be establishing accounts or securing loans and credit cards. The order proved less stringent than financial institutions had anticipated, as previous reports indicated the administration was considering mandatory citizenship data collection requirements.
While avoiding broad-scale exclusion of entire population groups from banking services, the order and recent advisory work to limit financial system access for those residing in the country without authorization.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the Trump administration “will not allow illegal aliens to abuse financial institutions to steal billions of dollars from hardworking American taxpayers.”
“Schemes to pay unlawful workers often rely upon access to the U.S. financial system, including U.S. banks,” he said.
Given that banking institutions have historically not gathered citizenship or immigration status data from customers, no dependable public statistics exist regarding the financial system risks these customers may present.
The financial services sector had conducted intensive lobbying efforts for months to prevent the administration from implementing an executive order mandating citizenship status collection, contending such requirements would prove costly and create extensive administrative burdens. With the order providing guidance rather than requirements, it appears the banking industry successfully influenced the administration’s approach.
The advisory identifies more than twelve warning signs that financial institutions should monitor to identify individuals potentially residing in the country illegally.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun delivered sharp condemnation of Iran on Friday, claiming Tehran is exploiting his nation as a negotiating tool in diplomatic talks with the United States. His remarks represent some of his harshest public criticism of Iran and its Lebanese partner Hezbollah amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.
During his CNN interview, Aoun declared that “the people of Lebanon are paying the price … for the sake” of Iran’s interests, adding that citizens were “fed up” with the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. His statements highlight the deep sectarian and political rifts within Lebanese society.
“They are using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiation with the United States,” Aoun stated regarding Iran, based on interview excerpts posted on CNN’s website. “It’s unacceptable.”
The Shi’ite Muslim organization Hezbollah, established by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 1982, sparked the current hostilities over three months ago by launching attacks in support of Tehran during a U.S.-Israeli offensive against Iran.
Aoun, a former military commander who now serves as head of state, belongs to the Maronite Christian community as mandated by Lebanon’s sectarian governance system.
Since parliament elected him to the presidency last year, he has advocated for Hezbollah’s peaceful disarmament. Early in the conflict, his call for direct negotiations with Israel further strained relations with the organization.
Iran has established a Lebanon ceasefire as a prerequisite for any broader peace agreement with Washington regarding the regional conflict that started with the U.S.-Israeli assault on Tehran on February 28.
On Thursday, Hezbollah turned down a ceasefire proposal that Lebanese and Israeli officials had endorsed during U.S.-facilitated discussions in Washington. The proposed agreement required Hezbollah to halt attacks and pull its forces back from southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah’s leader Naim Qassem declared in a Thursday written statement that the Washington proposal was opposed by “broad segments of the Lebanese people.”
Responding directly to Qassem, Aoun countered: “The Lebanese people are not your people.”
Lebanese officials report that Israeli military operations have resulted in thousands of deaths in Lebanon since March and forced approximately 1.2 million residents from their homes. Israeli forces currently control portions of southern Lebanon.
Nigerian officials announced Friday that 1,094 of their citizens have requested voluntary repatriation from South Africa in the wake of xenophobic violence, marking a significant increase from the 130 people who previously sought to return home.
According to Nigerian foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, a joint screening operation involving foreign ministry representatives from both nations, along with South African immigration and police officials, is currently underway to assess eligibility for return.
“The screening by foreign ministry officials from both countries and South African immigration and police will conclude on Saturday, with only those cleared to be repatriated and final numbers and flights set thereafter,” Ebienfa told Reuters.
South African officials have agreed to waive penalties for immigration violations including visa overstays, though people facing criminal charges will not be permitted to leave, according to Ebienfa.
While Nigeria submitted its repatriation list before Ghana, Ghana received priority for the return process, Ebienfa explained. Ethiopia is scheduled next in line after Nigeria, with transportation arrangements to be finalized once the screening concludes.
Nigerian leadership has strongly criticized the violence targeting its citizens in South Africa, particularly condemning the deaths of two Nigerian nationals who were allegedly attacked by security personnel.
Russian officials announced Friday their intention to deploy a satellite internet constellation similar to Elon Musk’s Starlink system, with testing scheduled to begin within weeks and commercial service launching in 2027.
Alexei Shelobkov, CEO of Iks Holding, the firm behind the project, revealed the timeline during the St. Petersburg Economic Forum. “The good news is that it is already being created. Satellites are already being launched. In the coming weeks, we will begin testing, and as promised, it will start operating commercially in 2027,” Shelobkov stated during a panel discussion.
Military analysts have noted that recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil facilities and industrial targets have been aided by advanced AI-equipped drones capable of accessing SpaceX’s Starlink network, which offers better resistance to electronic interference.
Ukraine reported in January that Russian forces were utilizing Starlink terminals for drone navigation into Ukrainian airspace and stated they were collaborating with SpaceX to prevent such usage.
Bureau 1440, a subsidiary of Iks Holding, announced in March the deployment of its initial 16 low-orbit Rassvet satellites, with plans to expand the constellation to 900 satellites over multiple years. In comparison, SpaceX operates more than 10,000 satellites currently in orbit. Starlink services are prohibited in Russia, with penalties imposed for using the equipment.
A federal court has overturned immigration policies implemented during President Donald Trump’s tenure that prevented individuals from dozens of nations from receiving final determinations on their asylum requests, work authorization, permanent residency, and naturalization petitions.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell, presiding in Providence, Rhode Island, determined on Friday that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had put in place a collection of illegal policies that specifically targeted individuals from 39 nations across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
The invalidated policies had prevented people from countries included in the travel ban from obtaining final rulings on their immigration applications and requests for legal status in the United States.
The French president’s office announced that Emmanuel Macron will join British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday in London.
According to the Elysee’s statement, the gathering aims to maintain close cooperation on their joint commitment to backing Ukraine while applying greater pressure on Russia’s military campaign. The statement declared that “Russia is facing military, economic, and strategic failure — and persists, unsuccessfully, on the front lines in a deadly war.”
The Ukrainian president is seeking increased European leadership in efforts to end the ongoing conflict, particularly as concerns grow that U.S. President Donald Trump may be focused on Iranian issues instead.
Earlier this week, Zelenskiy published an open letter on Thursday calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage in direct talks to conclude what has now been more than four years of warfare. The Kremlin confirmed Putin received the correspondence.
Speaking on Friday, Macron expressed support for direct dialogue, stating: “We have always advocated for direct negotiations between Ukraine and the Kremlin… I think that it is Ukraine and Russia who can build both a ceasefire and a peace plan. It is the Europeans who can help with this.”
During his visit to Montenegro, Merz echoed the sentiment for diplomatic engagement, saying “we are open to dialogue, what is missing is Putin’s willingness.”
The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) has issued notice of several overnight lane restrictions scheduled for this week at the Interstate 95 and Route 896 interchange area.
Officials say multiple southbound I-95 lanes will be shut down overnight from Monday through Thursday to allow crews to complete pavement marking work. The closures will also affect toll lanes during this period.
Additionally, one northbound I-95 lane will be closed overnight Wednesday, with rolling roadblocks implemented to accommodate sign structure maintenance.
Route 72 will also see overnight lane restrictions in both directions for bridge maintenance work beginning Monday, according to the transportation department.
ROME, June 5 (Reuters) — Italian officials made an urgent plea Friday for the freedom of two of their citizens being held in eastern Libya, who along with eight other pro-Palestinian advocates have been refusing both food and water for four consecutive days.
In May, Israeli military forces detained 430 individuals aboard 50 vessels in international waters, stopping a “Global Sumud Flotilla” mission attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
The individuals currently detained in Libya represent a different faction of Flotilla advocates who attempted to reach the Palestinian territory through overland routes.
Officials in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi could not be reached for immediate response.
Italian Consul Filippo Colombo has made formal requests to local authorities seeking the freedom of the two Italian citizens and has asked for authorization to meet with them, according to the foreign ministry.
The ten prisoners have now entered their fifth day of refusing sustenance in opposition to their confinement and alleged abuse, Global Sumud Flotilla announced in a Thursday statement, noting that their physical condition is rapidly declining.
“A dry hunger strike (refusing to drink as well as eat) is rapidly fatal; without immediate intervention, this humanitarian crisis will turn into a tragedy,” the Flotilla said.
The organization reported that the volunteers are being confined in remote, non-civilian detention facilities run by the Libyan Interior Ministry, and are receiving conflicting information and empty assurances of freedom.
Global Sumud Flotilla called for immediate access by independent medical observers and foreign diplomatic personnel, along with the prompt, unconditional freedom of all volunteers.
The group has remained in custody since May 24, when the delegation came to the city of Sirte seeking to arrange safe transit for a humanitarian convoy destined for Gaza with Libyan officials.
However, all ten individuals were taken into custody on immigration violation charges.
Chinese military officials announced Friday they sent naval vessels and aircraft to observe and track a Dutch warship as it sailed through the Taiwan Strait, saying they managed the situation “effectively.”
The Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter had previously drawn criticism from Beijing last week when Chinese authorities claimed the vessel unlawfully entered the Paracel Islands region in the contested South China Sea. Dutch officials responded at that time by stating their warship was navigating through South China Sea waters for diplomatic, security and economic purposes while following international maritime law.
According to the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command (ETC), the Dutch naval ship’s journey through the Taiwan Strait occurred following its operations near the Paracel Islands beginning May 27.
“Forces of the PLA ETC will stay on high alert at all times and resolutely safeguard China’s sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability,” Xu Chenghua, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said in a Friday statement.
Dutch naval officials were not immediately available to provide a response.
Beijing considers the strategically important and narrow strait to be Chinese territorial waters, in addition to asserting control over democratically governed Taiwan.
WASHINGTON — The nation’s employment sector displayed remarkable durability in May, weathering the financial burden of the Iran war with stronger-than-anticipated results.
Companies nationwide created 172,000 new positions last month — nearly twice what economic analysts had predicted — while unemployment remained steady at 4.3%.
Friday’s Labor Department data revealed that May’s employment growth dipped modestly from April’s revised figure of 179,000 jobs. The jobless rate held at the same low 4.3% mark.
Employment creation has recovered this year following a disappointing 2025, demonstrating durability amid economic instability and severely elevated fuel costs stemming from the Iran war.
May’s employment increases spanned multiple sectors. Municipal governments brought on 55,000 new employees, while dining establishments and taverns hired 48,000 workers, and medical facilities added 35,000 positions.
Additional evidence of labor market vigor came through Labor Department adjustments that incorporated an extra 93,000 positions across March and April. Employment expansion averaged 188,000 monthly from March to May, representing the strongest three-month hiring period since early 2024.
“The hiring recession is over. American firms are hiring again,” said Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union. “The job rebound is happening in almost every industry … This is encouraging news for job seekers and for the U.S. economy. The labor market has stabilized and is showing early signs of a genuine rebound.”
With five months remaining until significant midterm elections in the U.S., citizens have expressed mounting dissatisfaction over increasing expenses, leaving uncertainty about whether this year’s robust employment figures will offset those concerns.
Recent inflation statistics revealed that beyond fuel costs, grocery prices, apparel, and utility bills are climbing, suggesting inflation could be becoming more deeply rooted.
Despite increased hiring activity, salary improvements remained limited. Average hourly compensation increased 0.3% from April and 3.4% compared to May 2025, aligning with the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation objective.
Employees, job hunters, and companies remain trapped in an uncomfortable “no-hire, no-fire” employment environment. “Those who have jobs are clinging to them, while those without are left wanting,” Diane Swonk, chief economist at the tax and consulting firm KPMG, wrote in a commentary ahead of the jobs report. “The result is a sense of being frozen or left in a sort of labor market purgatory.”
Numerous young adults face difficulties entering a stagnant employment landscape. Workers who experienced layoffs encounter challenges returning to employment. Almost 28% of jobless individuals in April remained without work for over six months, the largest proportion since December 2021.
Recognizing diminished opportunities, citizens hesitate to abandon current positions for potentially better alternatives. In April, voluntary departures fell to the lowest point since the alarming period of August 2020, when COVID-19 was spreading widely.
During the previous year, companies created 9,700 positions monthly, the smallest increase outside a recession since 2002.
This year, recruitment has improved, generating an average of 114,000 new positions monthly from January through May. Substantial tax refunds — resulting from President Donald Trump’s 2025 tax reductions — have boosted the economy, counteracting higher energy costs since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February. However, most refunds have been saved, while gasoline prices stay above $4 per gallon.
Medical companies have led much of the hiring activity over the past year.
Martha Gimbel and Ryan Nunn of Yale University’s Budget Lab note that strong healthcare hiring isn’t surprising as Americans age and need more prescriptions and trips to the doctor. In fact, the industry’s job growth is in line with Labor Department predictions from a decade ago. “The question is not why healthcare has kept hiring—it is why other industries have not,” they wrote in a report published Tuesday, suggesting that one explanation might be an immigration crackdown that has reduced the supply of foreign-born workers.
At minimum, the United States requires fewer new positions than previously. Declining immigration and increasing Baby Boomer retirements mean fewer individuals compete for employment. Consequently, the break-even threshold — new jobs needed to maintain stable unemployment — has likely fallen to nearly zero, down from the typical 155,000 monthly positions required two or three years ago, according to a Federal Reserve report.
Some experts worry that artificial intelligence will eliminate entry-level positions. However, economists Gregory Daco and Lydia Boussour of the tax and consulting firm EY-Parthenon wrote in a commentary Tuesday that AI “adoption is proving more gradual and costly than many anticipated. Firms are increasingly using AI to enhance productivity and control labor costs.” But AI, they wrote, has reduced hiring rather than “triggering broad-based layoffs.”
Additionally, a new study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York identified a different culprit for young people’s struggle to land jobs after college: the rise of remote work. Businesses, it seems, are reluctant to hire new grads for work-at-home jobs because it is harder to train and mentor them when they aren’t coming into the office.
U.S. financial markets declined following the positive employment data as expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate reductions continue diminishing.
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — The Russian president delivered remarks Friday at the annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, claiming that emerging nations have taken on a more significant position in worldwide commerce while Western nations’ economic influence has diminished.
During his address, he criticized Western countries for harming international economic stability through one-sided sanctions policies.
He argued that Western nations damaged confidence in their own monetary systems by freezing Russian financial assets overseas.
“The sanctions and blocking of Russia’s sovereign reserves have irreversibly impacted the standing of international currencies, the dollar and the euro,” he stated. “Just like Russia, any other country could lose access to their legitimate assets in dollars or euros, as well as Western financial and payment systems.”
The leader also claimed that excessive government debt has contributed to declining worldwide confidence in Western financial institutions.
“The roots of the current global turbulence lie in the transition from a vertical, hierarchical model, which served the interests of a small number of states, to a more complex, distributed and multipolar one,” he remarked. “Russia views global changes not only as a threat but also as immense opportunities. And to capitalize on them, we aim to act swiftly and pragmatically.”
The gathering occurs while Russia faces economic challenges related to the ongoing Ukrainian conflict. Government officials have implemented tax increases and expanded domestic borrowing to manage budget shortfalls.
During a Thursday media session, the Russian leader disputed claims that his nation’s economy was in serious trouble. He explained that his administration had deliberately implemented cooling measures to control rising prices.
The St. Petersburg event, often compared to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, traditionally serves as a platform for showcasing the country’s economic progress and attracting international investment. Since military operations began in Ukraine in 2022, Western officials and business representatives have avoided attendance, prompting Russia to invite participants from other regions to support its vision of a “multipolar world.”
This year’s attendees include a substantial delegation from Saudi Arabia, along with the presidents of Uzbekistan and Tanzania and China’s vice president. Notably, a U.S. official, Rodney Mims Cook Jr., head of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, is participating for the first time in several years.
On Thursday, he also discussed Ukrainian drone strikes within Russian territory and promised to strengthen defensive capabilities.
“To our regret, some of them break through,” he told reporters regarding the aerial attacks. “Russia has an air defense system, we need to improve it, strengthen it, and we will do that.”
Just before the forum began Wednesday, a Ukrainian drone strike ignited an oil facility in the city and struck a nearby military installation.
The Russian leader indicated openness to Ukrainian compromise based on agreements from last year’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, stating that Ukraine must accept these terms to resolve the conflict, now in its fifth year.
Thursday brought a public letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposing direct negotiations. Zelenskyy recognized changing U.S. priorities, noting it would be unwise to wait for America to refocus on Ukraine while dealing with the Iran conflict.
From Washington, Trump expressed support for potential talks between the two leaders, calling such a meeting “great.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reported that the Russian president had not yet reviewed the letter and reiterated previous statements that Zelenskyy could visit Moscow for discussions, a proposal Zelenskyy has firmly declined. Last month, the Russian leader suggested the possibility of meeting in a neutral location, but only when there is an agreement ready for signing.
Speaking Thursday, he again dismissed Zelenskyy’s calls for an immediate ceasefire, emphasizing Moscow’s preference for a complete resolution rather than temporary peace.
“Naturally, the Ukrainian side would like us to suspend the advances made by Russian troops,” he explained. “But it would be better to end the war by agreeing to the compromises that were discussed in Anchorage.”
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A Dutch court on Friday handed down identical 47-month prison terms to three men who orchestrated the brazen theft of ancient Romanian gold artifacts from a museum.
The Northern Netherlands District Court declined to identify the convicted thieves due to privacy regulations, but stated they deserved imprisonment given “the nature and gravity” of their criminal actions.
The stolen items — the Cotofenesti helmet along with three golden bracelets representing treasured artifacts from Romania’s ancient Dacia civilization — were taken from the Drents Museum during January 2025 while part of a traveling exhibition.
Cornel Constantin Ilie, who serves as interim director of Bucharest’s National History Museum, characterized the artifacts as “relics of our historical memory, as the legacy of a civilization that continues to define us.”
Authorities recovered the helmet and two bracelets after reaching an agreement with two defendants who assisted in their return in exchange for prosecutors seeking lighter sentences. One bracelet remains unaccounted for.
“The art treasures are part of Romania’s past and are of great importance to current and future generations,” the court’s written decision stated.
Officials valued the stolen collection at 5.7 million euros ($6.6 million) for insurance purposes, though the court noted “that is just a number, whereas the importance and value of objects like these cannot be expressed in money. They are, in a literal sense, priceless.” Romania has reclaimed the recovered pieces.
The perpetrators employed an improvised explosive device and sledgehammer to force entry into the museum. Police surveillance footage released following the break-in showed three individuals prying open a museum entrance with a crowbar before an explosion occurred.
Despite only two suspects cooperating with authorities to retrieve the artifacts, the judges reduced sentences for all three defendants, determining they should all “profit from the return of the treasures.”
Financial turbulence in private lending markets is now affecting private equity firms, with major investment managers restricting client withdrawals this week. Swiss investment firm Partners Group, which manages approximately $185 billion in assets, implemented withdrawal limits after experiencing increased redemption requests driven by market-wide instability in private credit sectors that typically provide financing for private equity deals.
The asset management company cited growing withdrawal demands from its investment funds and acknowledged being impacted by industry-wide turbulence from private credit markets. Until now, such financial strain had been limited to specific situations in the equity sector, such as software company Medallia, which private equity firm Thoma Bravo is transferring to its creditors.
Declining share prices for Partners Group triggered similar drops among comparable firms across Europe and the United States, demonstrating widespread investor skepticism about the asset category.
Similar to other private investment platforms, Partners Group confronts obstacles to its accelerated expansion, as growing investor concerns about asset valuations, market transparency, and liquidity in private markets affect its growth path.
Reuters previously documented mounting concerns about Partners Group’s performance over several months, especially regarding its evergreen funds, an industry innovation created to provide clients with easier access to their investments.
Private credit investment funds are also facing ongoing withdrawal pressure during the second quarter of 2026.
Blackstone’s private credit fund limited withdrawals to 5% after receiving requests for 10% of outstanding shares. Likewise, Cliffwater’s $31.3 billion fund received 17% in redemption requests, which were also restricted to 5%.
These developments follow $7.1 billion in withdrawals across eight major investment vehicles during the first quarter, demonstrating continued investor interest in removing capital from private markets.
The swift growth of private credit has also stalled temporarily, with U.S.-focused direct lending activity dropping 40% to $44.76 billion in the second quarter of 2026. Market data shows reduced fundraising activity and heightened withdrawal requests from investors, indicating a cautious period for the sector.
This pattern may reduce revenue for private credit managers by restricting asset expansion and transaction fees, particularly as funds maintain cash reserves while managing withdrawal demands.
Norway’s top diplomat is firing back at American accusations that the Scandinavian nation hasn’t adequately addressed forced labor issues, calling the claims baseless and arguing they shouldn’t be grounds for new trade penalties.
The dispute emerged after the Trump administration this week unveiled plans for tariffs reaching 12.5% on goods from 60 nations, including Norway, citing their alleged failure to combat products made through forced labor – a characterization numerous American trade allies have disputed.
“We strongly disagree with the U.S. authorities’ assessment that Norway is not doing enough to prevent forced labour,” Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide said in a statement to Reuters late on Thursday.
The foreign minister highlighted his country’s early adoption of anti-forced labor measures, stating: “Norway was among the first countries to introduce legislation to prevent forced labour in supply chains, through the Transparency Act. We have communicated this clearly to U.S. authorities.”
According to experts, business organizations, and certain human rights advocates, President Trump’s proposed tariff strategy against trading partners is unlikely to effectively combat modern slavery and might actually worsen the situation.
Investment firms are identifying major profit opportunities across multiple industries as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, with analysts predicting the massive soccer tournament will drive billions in economic activity.
The upcoming championship, running from June 11 to July 19, represents the largest soccer competition in history and could stimulate consumer spending during a period when overall economic demand remains uncertain.
This marks the first World Cup hosted by three countries simultaneously — the United States, Canada and Mexico — and FIFA’s economic impact study, developed alongside the World Trade Organization, projects the event will add roughly $41 billion to worldwide GDP.
Investment research firm B. Riley projects approximately 13.1 million people will attend the World Cup, including both ticket holders and other visitors, resulting in 21.3 million hotel reservations through digital booking platforms.
Financial experts identify major U.S. hotel chains Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt, plus online booking services Airbnb, Booking Holdings and Expedia, as companies positioned to gain from increased travel demand.
Marriott anticipates World Cup-related business momentum will extend into the third quarter, while Airbnb predicts property owners in the New York-New Jersey region, Boston and Los Angeles will see the highest earnings during the competition.
Goldman Sachs views the World Cup as potentially beneficial for domestic airlines, noting that “June is typically a seasonally lower inbound leisure and corporate travel period, with a meaningful amount of peak July/August outbound travel season occurring after the WC is over.”
However, rising jet fuel costs linked to conflict with Iran have pushed airlines to increase ticket prices, causing cost-conscious travelers to postpone or abandon summer vacation plans.
Jefferies research estimates over 1 billion beer servings will be consumed worldwide during the tournament, providing a 0.3% volume increase for the brewing industry, with improvements anticipated in markets including the U.S., Mexico, Brazil and China.
“After five successive years of volatility, beer should be better in 2026,” Jefferies analysts stated.
The tournament’s scheduling and location work favorably for beer consumption, with approximately 75% of games taking place in the U.S. and 84% of participating team matches occurring in time zones where beer drinking is culturally common.
Multiple investment firms including Bernstein, Goldman and Jefferies expect Anheuser-Busch InBev, which produces Corona beer and serves as the official tournament beer sponsor, to see the greatest gains. Heineken, the globe’s second-largest brewing company, should also benefit through its presence in Latin America and Europe.
Goldman Sachs anticipates increased fan merchandise purchases will boost revenue at Dick’s Sporting Goods and Academy Sports.
Athletic apparel companies including Adidas, Puma and Nike stand to gain through enhanced brand recognition and marketing opportunities during the World Cup, analysts noted.
Goldman highlighted that Adidas, serving as the official match ball sponsor with team uniform agreements across several squads, is well-positioned to capitalize on global tournament exposure.
Citi identified conventional grocery chains like Albertsons and Kroger, along with major retailers Walmart and Target, as likely beneficiaries of increased household spending throughout the World Cup period.
Restaurant sales are also expected to climb, supported by tourism and group viewing events, potentially benefiting McDonald’s, Domino’s Pizza, Wingstop and Chipotle, alongside food distribution companies Performance Food Group, US Foods and Sysco.
“We expect the 2026 men’s World Cup to generate the highest US advertising revenue in the event’s history,” Deutsche Bank analysts predicted.
Morgan Stanley estimates the tournament could produce approximately $300-$400 million in advertising income for Fox, which owns English-language broadcasting rights. Deutsche Bank identified Comcast-owned Telemundo, holding Spanish-language rights, as another beneficiary.
Digital companies like Alphabet’s YouTube and Meta Platforms’ Instagram may see gains from heightened user engagement, according to Citi.
Deutsche Bank expects online sports wagering companies Flutter Entertainment and DraftKings to outperform competitors, as World Cup betting activity will likely increase overall gambling volumes.
Macquarie projects global betting will surpass $50 billion — approximately $0.5 billion per game — for the tournament, compared to more than $35 billion during the 2022 competition.
NASA ordered crew members aboard the International Space Station to take shelter in their docked spacecraft and get ready for a possible emergency departure on Friday while Russian personnel work to repair a deteriorating air leak in the Russian section of the space laboratory.
The four crew members from NASA’s Crew-12 mission currently stationed on the ISS — including two American astronauts, one French astronaut and one Russian cosmonaut — received instructions from NASA mission control at 9:04 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday to board their Crew Dragon vehicle attached to the station and put on their spacesuits as a precautionary measure in case the air leak becomes severe enough to require an emergency departure, according to a NASA official.
Twenty years of government investment have positioned Turkey as a significant supplier of military drones and defense equipment worldwide, with the NATO alliance member seeking to capitalize on this growth as Western nations boost military spending and security partnerships evolve.
The country, which previously depended heavily on international arms manufacturers, now provides military equipment to approximately 40 nations, primarily throughout the Gulf region, Africa, Asia, and portions of Europe. Customers view Turkish weapons as more affordable, quicker to obtain, and easier to modify compared to other options.
Following Russia’s military action in Ukraine, European nations are reevaluating their security dependencies and questioning the reliability of U.S. security commitments. This has led many NATO partners to view Turkey not just as a strategic military position on the alliance’s southeastern border, but also as a valuable industrial collaborator.
The Turkish government anticipates that hosting U.S. President Donald Trump and fellow NATO leaders at next month’s summit will boost arms sales and collaborative manufacturing in Western markets, especially within the European Union. Turkish companies currently encounter significant obstacles there, including defense programs limited to EU members and political opposition stemming from various diplomatic disagreements.
Trade data examined by Reuters reveals that Turkish defense sales, which include the prominent armed drones utilized by Ukrainian military forces, have increased more than threefold since 2021, reaching $10 billion in the previous year. This represents approximately 3.7% of the major emerging economy’s total export revenue.
Sales to Europe and the United States nearly quadrupled during this timeframe, totaling $5.6 billion.
This expansion demonstrates the maturation of Turkey’s domestic defense sector, which encompasses drone manufacturer Baykar, Turkish Aerospace Industries, and smaller companies like Arca Defense and Kale.
Industry experts indicate that consistent government support, adaptable supply networks, and willingness to tailor systems for customers have enabled these companies to rapidly enter markets where Western manufacturers face production limitations or extended purchasing processes.
CONFLICT CREATES CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Turkey’s defense agency reports the country seeks to double defense exports within two years, potentially creating essential income as it works to reduce debt and finance additional development.
Located between two significant conflicts — Ukraine to the north and Iran to the southeast — Turkey’s security interests are also involved, considering its defensive gaps in air protection and aircraft and tank engines that could be resolved through commercial and technology agreements.
Can Kasapoglu, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, stated Turkey’s defense industry had achieved a “major leap” through exporting sophisticated systems, particularly aerial drones.
He explained that the Ukrainian conflict demonstrated modern combat relies not only on advanced equipment but also on manufacturing capacity and sustainability — areas where Turkey has established credibility.
NATO GATHERING HIGHLIGHTS CAPABILITIES
Turkey provides roughly 65% of armed drones utilized globally and serves as a significant ammunition exporter. The country also manufactures, or intends to manufacture, naval vessels, an aircraft carrier, air defense systems, and armored vehicles. Indonesia announced last year it would purchase 48 Turkish fighter aircraft currently in development.
Turkey’s goals also present political and image-related challenges. Recently, the country revealed a prototype domestic intercontinental ballistic missile at an Istanbul defense exhibition, drawing criticism from some specialists regarding practicality and messaging after a promotional video showed a theoretical launch that seemed to target North America.
Turkish representatives indicate the defense industry will be emphasized at the NATO conference in Ankara on July 7–8. Alliance leader Mark Rutte has described a scheduled defense industry forum there as NATO’s most extensive to date.
EUROPEAN OBSTACLES
U.S. demands for NATO partners to increase their defense responsibilities, including plans to remove thousands of soldiers from Germany, present both possibilities and uncertainty for Turkey, which maintains the alliance’s second-largest armed forces.
Defense Minister Yasar Guler stated in April that European allies should eliminate security arrangements excluding non-EU NATO members like Turkey, contending such policies might “harm Europe’s security and resilience more than the U.S. reduction of forces in Europe”.
Turkey remains mostly excluded from the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, while certain governments have maintained distance from Ankara due to regional policy disagreements and concerns regarding democratic decline, including an extensive legal campaign against the primary opposition party.
Despite this, Turkish companies have obtained defense contracts with Poland, Spain, Portugal, and Romania, while Baykar has purchased Italy’s Piaggio Aerospace and formed partnerships with Leonardo for production.
WORLDWIDE MILITARY INVESTMENT SURGE
International military expenditure increased 24% to almost $2.9 trillion over five years through 2025, including a 75% rise in Europe, based on Stockholm International Peace Research Institute data.
During the same timeframe, Turkey’s defense agency expanded the number of supported research and development projects to over 1,400, doubling the previous amount.
Defense analyst Arda Mevlutoglu indicated conditions exist for enhanced cooperation with Europe if political barriers can be addressed.
“Europe needs solutions that can be implemented rapidly … but high-level political will is needed for this cooperation to move healthily,” he stated. “Turkey is in a process of realignment and recalibration toward both Europe and … NATO.”
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RALEIGH, N.C. — A wild final quarter-hour of hockey saw the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights light up the scoreboard with five goals Thursday night in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, with one additional score disallowed.
The dramatic conclusion somehow topped the excitement from the series opener two days prior, when Vegas’ Tomas Hertl netted the game-winner with 3:24 remaining on the clock. With the series now even, the Hurricanes mounted an incredible comeback from a multiple-goal disadvantage.
Here’s the breakdown of the action:
Trailing 2-0 after generating minimal offensive pressure through two periods and most of the third, Carolina trapped the Golden Knights in their defensive zone, firing three shots at goaltender Carter Hart. When Vegas cleared the puck down the ice, the home crowd sensed their team gaining momentum.
“The building got going,” captain Jordan Staal said. “Obviously, we just needed a spark.”
Logan Stankoven, who has emerged as one of Carolina’s top performers throughout the playoffs, decided to create his own opportunity. He stripped the puck from Rasmus Andersson behind the goal, moved toward the net and deflected the puck off defender Jeremy Lauzon for the score.
“It’s tough to find goals,” Staal said. “We got a bounce. That’s kind of all it took.”
The shift in energy was immediate, and Carolina’s fourth line maintained the pressure. William Carrier managed to stay onside and, while getting entangled with Lauzon, fed the puck to teammate Mark Jankowski on the rush, who beat Hart to level the score.
“I didn’t have a lot of time, honestly,” said Jankowski, who notched his first playoff goal after having two others disallowed. “Just got it on my stick, got my head up and just tried to give my best shot possible. Didn’t have a lot of thought behind it, honestly. Instinct half kicked in there.”
With Vegas forward Ivan Barbashev, a two-time Cup winner, positioned near the net with space to work, Carolina netminder Frederik Andersen extended across his crease to deflect the puck with his stick blade. After players swarmed the area, the puck found its way into the net, but referee Jean Hebert immediately nullified the goal, ruling goaltender interference due to contact with Andersen.
Golden Knights coach John Tortorella disputed the decision. Officials and the NHL’s on-site review center quickly upheld the original call, awarding Carolina a power play opportunity.
“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddie,” Tortorella said. “Our player stabbed it, didn’t move the goalie and it goes through him into the other side. I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times.”
Carolina entered the man-advantage having failed on all four previous power play chances in the series and converting just 7 of 60 opportunities during the playoffs. Shayne Gostisbehere fired from the blue line, with Staal deflecting the shot past Hart from close range to give the Hurricanes their first lead of the contest.
“Just shooting pucks and finding ways to get it to the net,” Staal said. “Just finding ways to get a good, quality shot.”
Jackson Blake’s interference penalty on Barbashev gave Vegas their own power play chance. Carolina’s penalty killers successfully defended the advantage, maintaining their impressive 56-for-60 record, good for 93.3% efficiency.
Moments after the man-advantage ended and with Hart pulled for an extra attacker, Golden Knights captain Mark Stone evened the score. The puck deflected off Stone, and Carolina’s Jaccob Slavin accidentally directed it into his own goal.
Hertl’s tripping penalty on Staal at 3:17 of overtime gave the Hurricanes another power play opportunity.
Gostisbehere connected with Seth Jarvis, who had been moved to the third line by coach Rod Brind’Amour due to his recent struggles. Jarvis unleashed a one-timer that beat Hart, securing a 4-3 victory for his team.
“It’s huge,” Jarvis said. “To be able to contribute to win and help the team out like that is nice, get the power play going even more after Jordo, follow his lead. Just keep this wave rolling now.”
PARIS (AP) — French officials faced intense criticism Friday following the suspected murder of an 11-year-old girl, with authorities under fire for failing to properly handle prior sexual assault allegations against the man now in custody.
The search for Lyhanna, the young girl identified by law enforcement, has captured nationwide attention since she vanished following school on May 29 in southwest France.
Authorities described her last-seen outfit as a striped black-and-white shirt, dark shorts, and yellow socks featuring imagery from the Japanese anime “One Piece.”
Following nearly a week of intensive searching by law enforcement and community volunteers, officials revealed Thursday that a child’s remains wearing “similar clothes” had been discovered at a remote farm location in the Gers region of southwestern France. Medical examiners have been called to conduct an autopsy.
President Emmanuel Macron expressed his outrage over the case during a diplomatic trip to Montenegro Friday, breaking from his typical practice of avoiding domestic commentary while abroad. The president described feeling “shocked” and said the incident exposed serious flaws in France’s systems.
“Things didn’t happen as they should have done. That is clear. And so it is unacceptable,” Macron said. “We cannot look her family in the face and say everything went well.”
News outlets report that a 41-year-old suspect was observed outside Lyhanna’s school in Fleurance and later captured on security footage driving with the child. According to media accounts, the man claimed to investigators he left her near the town’s public pool.
Regional prosecutor Clémence Meyer revealed this week that the suspect had been the subject of numerous prior complaints from young victims and their families, including rape accusations.
One allegation involving the sexual assault of a child at the suspect’s residence in 2020 underwent investigation, including medical examinations and police questioning, but officials dismissed the case this year citing insufficient evidence, according to the prosecutor.
The man was already under active police investigation for separate rape allegations when Lyhanna disappeared. In that ongoing case, a child claims the suspect repeatedly assaulted her at his home during 2024 and 2025, with the case moving between different legal jurisdictions, the prosecutor explained.
Meyer noted that yet another minor came forward with rape allegations against the man just this week.
Government officials have initiated a formal review of the handling of these cases. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin announced investigators will examine delays in transferring cases between jurisdictions, reliance on paper rather than digital communication, apparent police failures to follow directives, and “why we didn’t intervene despite many months of complaints against the man.”
“It’s completely unacceptable,” Darmanin stated Thursday. “We are all terrified by this malfunction.”
The minister said the case highlights “our poor organization and without doubt, the fact that at the Justice Ministry and elsewhere, we don’t take the words of children seriously.”
Health officials have confirmed the discovery of a dangerous parasitic insect in a young cow in Texas. The New World screwworm, a flesh-eating fly species, was wiped out from American territory during the 1960s but has now resurfaced.
The detection represents a significant concern for livestock producers across the country. This parasitic fly species is known to cause severe damage to cattle and other animals, making its reappearance particularly troubling for the agricultural sector.
Close to 600 police officers from throughout Delaware will participate in the milestone 40th Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Delaware, scheduled for June 10-12, 2026. The officers will carry the Flame of Hope to honor Special Olympics Delaware athletes.
The inspiring three-day journey will cover multiple segments from Fenwick Island to Wilmington, demonstrating law enforcement’s unwavering dedication to inclusion and supporting people with intellectual disabilities. Since beginning, Delaware’s Law Enforcement Torch Run has generated more than $13 million to fund year-round athletic training and competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Wednesday, June 10
The northern route kicks off at 9:00 a.m. from New Castle County Police Department, proceeding to Wilmington PD for a 9:30 a.m. ceremony, then continuing via Kirkwood Highway to Delaware State Police Troop 6.
The southern route starts at 3:30 p.m. in Fenwick Island, traveling to the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand for a 7:00 p.m. ceremony. After the ceremony, officers and athletes will run one mile to Grove Park.
Thursday, June 11
Two southern torch segments begin early morning—from Delmar PD at 6:15 a.m. and Georgetown Circle at 6:55 a.m.—merging in Harrington and proceeding to Dover for a 1:45 p.m. ceremony at Legislative Mall.
The northern segment departs Middletown PD at 10:30 a.m., also reaching Dover for the afternoon ceremony. Law enforcement personnel, Special Olympics athletes, and state legislators are welcome to participate.
Friday, June 12
The torch departs Newark Shopping Center at 2:30 p.m. and concludes its journey with the final segment to the University of Delaware’s Bob Carpenter Center, where the 2026 Summer Games Opening Ceremony begins around 4:00 p.m.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run represents more than just a relay—it serves as a beacon of hope, inclusion, and community spirit. Officers from police departments statewide unite to celebrate the courage and perseverance of Special Olympics athletes while helping guarantee Delaware athletes maintain access to opportunities for skill development, confidence building, and friendship.
Special Olympics Delaware provides year-round training and competition opportunities across 16 sports, supported by a dedicated community of volunteers, coaches, and sponsors. Events like the Torch Run help enable these experiences for thousands of athletes throughout the state.
In an early morning vote Friday, the U.S. Senate approved funding for President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement operations, concluding weeks of political standoffs and intense opposition to a controversial settlement fund that nearly blocked the measure.
Additionally, Trump announced Thursday that federal housing finance regulator Bill Pulte, whom he selected as acting director of national intelligence, will not serve as his “permanent” selection for this crucial security role after lawmakers from both parties criticized Pulte’s limited national security background in recent days.
Employment data released Friday by the Labor Department showed job creation decreased modestly last month compared to a revised figure of 179,000 positions added in April. The jobless rate remained steady at a low 4.3%.
The employment sector has shown signs of improvement this year following a challenging 2025, demonstrating resilience despite elevated energy costs and growing economic instability after the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran in late February.
Employment gains have rebounded this year after a difficult 2025, displaying surprising resilience amid economic uncertainty and severely high energy costs resulting from the Iran conflict.
The previous occasion when Washington, D.C., voters selected both a new congressional delegate and mayor in a single election cycle, gasoline cost $1.33 per gallon and George H.W. Bush occupied the White House.
This autumn, they will repeat this process under dramatically different conditions.
With the city approaching crucial primary elections this month to select nominees for these positions, President Trump’s impact on the nation’s capital is emerging as a significant campaign topic. The new group of candidates is considering the best strategy for dealing with Trump’s Republican administration and congressional oversight of the predominantly Democratic city’s operations.
“It’s going to be a big sea change in city politics, no matter how the elections shake out,” said Amanda Huron, a professor at the University of the District of Columbia who teaches courses on D.C. history and politics. But Washington’s lack of full autonomy brings “all sorts of peculiarities around the city’s governance.”
Trump, who has long supported the New York Knicks, announced his intention to attend an NBA Finals match at Madison Square Garden next week following an invitation from the team’s owner.
Calling himself a “big fan” of both the team and owner James Dolan, Trump revealed Thursday that he will attend at least one game next week. The NBA considers this would mark the first time a sitting president has attended an NBA Finals game.
“The answer is yes — he’s invited me, I’m going,” Trump said regarding Dolan’s invitation. While speaking with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump indicated he was considering Game 3 on Monday but didn’t eliminate Game 4 on Wednesday. “Maybe I’ll do both.”
Trump, who is managing a war in Iran, congressional tensions, and approaching midterm elections, mentioned he ensured he watched portions of Game 1 on Wednesday when the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs and gained a 1-0 series advantage.
Water started flowing back into the recently restored Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Thursday, Trump revealed from the Oval Office.
During an unrelated event, Trump displayed a video showing water flowing into the newly painted basin located at the base of the Lincoln Memorial.
“That’s clean, beautiful water,” the president stated.
Live footage displayed water collecting in the basin’s center, with workers and vehicles still present inside the pool area.
Trump mentioned the project to paint the shallow basin in a dark color, which he refers to as “American flag blue,” was finished Wednesday. The administration indicated in a legal document that the pool would be completely filled with water by Sunday at the latest.
Trump also revealed plans to construct a “promenade” that would enable visitors to walk from behind the Lincoln Memorial to the Potomac River.
Trump stated Thursday that federal housing finance regulator Bill Pulte, his selection for acting director of national intelligence, will not become his “permanent” choice for this vital security position.
The Republican president’s announcement that he was eliminating Pulte from permanent consideration followed bipartisan criticism on Capitol Hill recently regarding Pulte’s insufficient national security credentials. The role requires Senate approval, which legislators suggested was improbable if Pulte became the official nominee.
“He’s not going to be permanent because, you know, I don’t think he’d want to be permanent,” Trump stated while answering questions in the Oval Office following a coal-related event. He described Pulte as a “very smart guy” and mentioned he might examine previous elections that Trump alleges, without reliable proof, were “rigged” against him.
The Senate approved measures to fund Trump’s immigration enforcement operations early Friday, following weeks of postponements and intense opposition to an unrelated $1.776 billion settlement fund that nearly prevented the bill’s passage.
Lawmakers voted 52-47 to approve the $70 billion measure funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol for the next three years, extending through Trump’s term, after Democrats had prevented the funding for months. The legislation will now proceed to the House, which is anticipated to consider it next week.
The final vote occurred just before 5 a.m., after Republicans narrowly rejected several attempts by members from both parties to include provisions in the bill that would permanently prohibit Trump’s settlement fund for supporters who claim they’ve faced political persecution.
LIMA, June 5 – Peru’s upcoming presidential election this Sunday may be determined by the voting power of small-scale gold miners who have thrived under relaxed regulatory oversight through a government program established in 2016 and initially scheduled to conclude in 2020.
The REINFO initiative permits these miners to function without complete environmental clearances or full operational licenses, and has seen multiple extensions as worldwide gold values climbed and the unofficial mining industry grew in scope, worth, and political clout.
Currently, approximately 500,000 unofficial miners across Peru generate roughly $11 billion in gold shipments for 2025, representing nearly half of the nation’s total output. This mining workforce creates a massive economic and voting constituency based primarily in countryside areas that may determine the outcome of Sunday’s final election round between conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori and leftist contender Roberto Sanchez.
Despite representing opposing political philosophies, both Fujimori and Sanchez are actively seeking support from small mining operations. Current polling indicates a close contest with Fujimori holding a narrow advantage. In 2021, she was defeated by Pedro Castillo by approximately 45,000 votes, representing just 0.25% of the total, while Sanchez draws backing from the same rural territories where Castillo prevailed.
The REINFO program faces expiration on December 31, though neither presidential hopeful seems prepared or capable of eliminating the initiative, which has evolved into a significant force in Peruvian governance.
Advocates describe REINFO as an essential economic support system for millions living in poverty-stricken rural communities. Opponents argue it has established protection for unlawful mining operations and criminal organizations while causing extensive environmental destruction.
A Reuters examination of REINFO registration information and voting records reveals that small miners enrolled in the program have diversified their political investments, while government officials have struggled to remove problematic participants.
The Sanchez campaign gains momentum from rural inland regions where unofficial mining operations are common. Lima and nearby metropolitan areas generally favor Fujimori, who has appealed to major mining corporations that resist the REINFO program, pledging to eliminate illegal mining while updating the unofficial sector and increasing government financing access.
As a lawmaker, Sanchez supported REINFO extension and suggested reallocating unused mining rights to small-scale operators. Mining territories helped advance him to the final round despite trailing in initial polling.
Mining represents almost 12% of Peru’s GDP, making the country a significant worldwide source of copper, gold and silver. However, numerous mining areas still lack fundamental infrastructure and government funding, an issue Sanchez has promised to tackle.
“Thirty years of mining and the mining towns are still the poorest in our country,” Sanchez told Reuters.
Magna Ismael Palomino, coordinator of CONFEMIN, Peru’s largest artisanal mining organization, stated that small-scale miners and related industry workers are supporting Sanchez. Palomino expressed desire for unused mining rights held by major corporations to be transferred to artisanal miners and wants REINFO extended for a minimum of three years.
“We’ve realized that the economic power of big mining has set the governing agenda,” Palomino said. “They dictate how small, artisanal mining should be and want it to disappear.”
By the end of 2025, almost 20 million hectares were designated for mining concessions in Peru, with more than half controlled by medium and large corporations. Only approximately 10% of this territory was actively being explored or mined, based on government and NGO information.
CONFEMIN and artisanal miners have organized demonstrations throughout mining regions supporting Sanchez. Records indicate millions of soles flowing from around 450 REINFO-connected individuals to political organizations, though contributions cross party lines and often relate to regional campaigns or self-funded efforts.
“We reject that. We have never been accustomed to financing any congressman,” Palomino said. “We self-finance our mobilizations… but we have never had that bad habit of giving money in exchange for a project becoming viable.”
Iván Arenas, a mining consultant, noted that much political backing goes unreported officially.
“There’s indirect financing through logistics, mobilization, resources,” Arenas said, referencing demonstrations organized by mining federations supporting Sanchez.
Major mining corporations claim the expanding influence of unofficial mining is distorting both the political framework and the industry.
Peru has approximately $63 billion in mining developments planned. Disputes with unofficial miners have postponed some projects, particularly the $2.6 billion Los Chancas development.
Raúl Jacob, finance vice president at Southern Copper, stated that the magnitude of unofficial mining revenues can “create or enable illegal avenues to obtain permits or certain legislation.”
Julia Torreblanca, head of Peru’s mining chamber, emphasized that political funding should be more open.
“Today, illegal mining is a more powerful economy than drug trafficking,” she said. “We need transparency on candidates and officials financed by this illegal economy.”
A Reuters analysis of more than 24,000 active REINFO permits revealed that a 2025 cleanup removing over 50,000 permit-holders charged with violations left most of the framework unchanged.
A total of 1,005 individuals whose individual permits were canceled now function as legal representatives in companies holding REINFO permits. Additionally, 1,255 companies experienced at least one permit cancellation but maintained operations with remaining permits.
The framework recovers rapidly. Approximately 2,600 legal representative appointments in current REINFO companies occurred in 2025 or 2026. Some individuals possess up to 20 permits spanning multiple companies and personal registrations. International citizens and large corporations also control multiple permits in a framework originally intended for small-scale local miners.
Compañía Minera Agregados Calcáreos holds the most permits with 35 permits despite losing 13 permits in 2025. According to Peru’s SUNAT tax agency, it is controlled by Holcim Peru, a subsidiary of Swiss cement giant Holcim, which did not respond to a request for comment.
Drivers traveling on Elderon Drive should plan for potential delays today due to ongoing construction activities causing periodic lane restrictions.
According to traffic officials, the lane closures will continue intermittently throughout the day until 6 PM as crews complete necessary work along the roadway.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and use alternate routes when possible to avoid delays in the area.
Motorists traveling on Interstate 495 should be aware of ongoing cleanup activities taking place in the highway’s median strip today.
Crews are conducting trash removal operations along both the northbound and southbound lanes of I-495 in the area between Newport and Claymont. The cleanup work is expected to wrap up by 4 p.m. this afternoon.
Drivers are advised to exercise caution while passing through the work zone and may experience minor delays during the cleanup period.
ST PETERSBURG, Russia, June 5 – An entertainment venue in St. Petersburg, Russia has given one of its attractions the same name as a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile that Moscow has launched three times against Ukraine – the “Oreshnik.”
The rocket-shaped ride sends guests soaring upward before sending them plummeting in sudden drops that leave stomachs churning.
The naming choice has drawn criticism from some park guests.
“I don’t think it fits. The best name for it would be ‘Rocket’… I don’t understand what it’s got to do with the Oreshnik – who came up with that name?” one woman said.
Another visitor at the park on Friday shared his concerns with Reuters: “A children’s attraction should have a children’s name, that’s my personal opinion.”
The Oreshnik missile – which Russia initially launched against Ukraine in 2024, with the most recent firing occurring last month – can travel distances exceeding 5,000 km (3,100 miles). President Vladimir Putin has claimed the weapon cannot be intercepted, though Western experts have challenged this claim.
During a Thursday press conference, Putin revealed to reporters that Russia has not deployed the Oreshnik against Ukraine under actual combat circumstances, but has only conducted tests to study the outcomes. He indicated these test results would guide Moscow’s future decisions regarding full-scale deployment of the weapon, potentially targeting urban areas.
Motorists traveling northbound on Christiana Road over Interstate 95 should expect traffic pattern changes due to ongoing work in the area.
A right shoulder lane shift is currently in effect on the Route 273 bridge crossing, with the traffic modification scheduled to continue until 4 PM today.
Drivers are advised to use caution when traveling through the work zone and allow extra time for their commute.
Dover police have taken into custody 36-year-old Binbido Jean-Raymond Pierre, a homeless Dover resident, after a cigarette theft investigation escalated into a barricade situation and kidnapping incident Thursday night.
The incident began on June 4, 2026, around 9:13 p.m. when Dover officers were called to the Wawa at 2800 N. DuPont Highway for a theft report. According to the investigation, a 32-year-old store worker was helping a customer when Pierre came to the checkout counter asking for a pack of cigarettes. As the worker went to get the cigarettes, Pierre pulled up his shirt to reveal what looked like a weapon – described as a dark, shiny item. Pierre then demanded the cigarettes, making the worker fear for his well-being. The employee gave him the cigarettes, and Pierre walked away with a carton worth about $104.
Following the theft, Pierre stayed on the store property behaving erratically before departing ahead of police response. Officers examined security video and started working to identify the suspect.
That same night around 11:23 p.m., Dover police were dispatched to the Holiday Inn Express at 1780 N. DuPont Highway for reports of a disruptive person who might be carrying weapons. Witnesses said Pierre became confrontational with hotel workers, physically shoved a 22-year-old male staff member, and made death threats while showing a dark object.
Upon police arrival, Pierre ran away to the nearby First State Inn at 1760 N. DuPont Highway. Officers quickly discovered that Pierre had broken into a motel room without authorization and trapped himself in a bathroom with a 33-year-old man, leading to deployment of the Dover Police Special Operations Response Team (SORT) and Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT). During talks with negotiators, officers found out that Pierre was carrying at least one knife and was stopping the victim from exiting the bathroom. The victim said Pierre made threats to kill him if he tried to leave, forcing him to stay in the room involuntarily.
Through ongoing dialogue, officers persuaded Pierre to let the victim go safely and give himself up peacefully. The investigation showed that Pierre had illegally broken into the motel room, made threats against several people, and held the male victim captive while carrying knives.
Following both investigations, Pierre faces these charges:
• Robbery First Degree • Burglary First Degree • Kidnapping Second Degree • Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony • Offensive Touching • Two counts of Terroristic Threatening
Pierre was sent to SCI with a $123,600 secured bond. A booking photo was not provided at the time of this report.
Anyone with further information about these incidents should call the Dover Police Department at (302) 736-7111.
Canadian immigration authorities are streamlining the citizenship process for LGBT Americans seeking to relocate north of the border, according to CIC News reports. While typical American applicants face approximately a year-long wait for Canadian citizenship approval, LGBT individuals are receiving expedited processing with some cases resolved in as little as two weeks.
Immigration officials report a noticeable increase in applications from LGBT Americans. The accelerated approval process reflects Canada’s stated goal of protecting LGBT individuals from potential “harm” they might face in the United States.
Illinois state legislators have passed legislation that would permit minors to obtain birth control without requiring parental consent. The Democratic governor, J.B. Pritzker, has indicated his intention to sign the bill into law. Pritzker has been a strong advocate for abortion rights and, working alongside a supportive legislature, has pushed to establish Illinois as one of the nation’s most abortion-friendly states. The state has also positioned itself as a destination for women traveling from states with more restrictive abortion laws who seek to terminate their pregnancies.
Legislation passed by New York lawmakers would substitute gender-neutral language for traditional parental terms throughout the state’s legal code. The measure, now awaiting approval from Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, would eliminate “mother” from all state statutes in favor of “gestating parent.” Similarly, “father” would be replaced with “non-gestating parent” under the proposed changes.
The initiative has faced pushback from conservative officials in the state. State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar criticized the proposal, describing it as “Woke culture run amok. It’s an example of how out of tune the New York legislature is. It’s an unnecessary and wasteful use of time.”
A devastating vehicle breakdown in Niger’s Sahara Desert has claimed the lives of 49 people who died from dehydration after being stranded in the harsh wilderness, local officials confirmed.
The tragedy unfolded when a transport vehicle carrying Nigerien citizens home from a religious celebration in Mali experienced mechanical failure over 80 kilometers west of Assamaka, close to the Mali and Algeria borders, according to Niger’s Agadez region governorate in a statement released Thursday evening.
Two survivors managed to escape the deadly situation by walking over 50 kilometers to find water, then continued their journey to Assamaka where they notified local authorities about the stranded group.
An investigative team dispatched by Agadez Region Governor Gen. Ibra Boulama Issa discovered the vehicle had been traveling for multiple days from Talhandek, a Malian community located approximately 300 kilometers from Niger’s border.
Officials have not yet determined what caused the mechanical failure or the duration of time passengers remained stranded in the desert.
“On the spot, the findings were particularly disturbing. Dozens of lifeless bodies were found under the immobile truck and in its surroundings,” the Agadez governorate said.
Images released by regional authorities depicted the tragic scene with bodies scattered across the desert landscape alongside personal items and clothing.
“Deprived of water and unable to repair the vehicle despite the efforts of the driver, his apprentice and passengers, travelers found themselves trapped in the heart of a hostile environment where extreme temperatures and lack of supply points make survival extremely difficult,” the governorate said.
All 49 deceased individuals were laid to rest in collective burial sites at the location where they perished, which authorities described as a “particularly delicate and emotionally exhausting task” for those who survived.
Human rights attorneys have filed a lawsuit against Equatorial Guinea with Africa’s premier human rights commission on Friday, alleging the West African country illegally forced deportees from America back to their home nations in breach of their protections.
The legal filing requests the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which serves as the African Union’s primary human rights authority, to command Equatorial Guinea to stop all future deportations, transfers or removals while enhancing detention standards. The petition also seeks financial compensation for individuals already sent back to their origin countries.
Multiple advocacy organizations, including the Global Strategic Litigation Council coalition, are pursuing the lawsuit on behalf of 14 African migrants expelled from America to Equatorial Guinea from November 2025 through April 2026.
While the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has authority to issue rulings and emergency measures, plus refer matters to the Africa Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, these directives lack binding power. However, advocates believe this groundbreaking case could pressure African governments accepting US deportees.
This represents the region’s first legal challenge involving individuals with legal removal protections who were nonetheless transported to countries where persecution awaits them, according to Beatrice Njeri, the Global Strategic Litigation Council’s regional litigator for Africa.
In March, the commission had previously approved a lawsuit questioning the illegal and extended detention of third-country deportees in the African kingdom of Eswatini.
One month following that decision, Eswatini’s Supreme Court determined that four men sent there could finally access legal representation after being refused in-person attorney meetings for nine months while confined at a maximum-security facility.
Through multiple frequently-classified agreements, the Trump administration expelled thousands of individuals to almost two dozen nations other than their own, according to advocates, as part of America’s extensive immigration enforcement efforts. Immigration attorneys stated the Trump administration utilized third-country deportations as a legal workaround to indirectly return asylum seekers to their origin nations.
Equatorial Guinea represents one of no fewer than eight additional African countries with which America has negotiated third-country deportation arrangements.
Last week, Equatorial Guinea officials transported six deportees to their eastern African country of origin, which attorneys characterize as “chain refoulement,” the indirect transportation of people to locations where persecution threatens them, despite legal safeguards from American courts.
The attorneys stated the migrants encounter political, religious and ethnic persecution in their origin countries, plus violence targeting sexual orientation. Some had previously faced arrest or detention by police or military forces there, with many experiencing torture and sexual violence. All had received protection from US immigration judges against being returned to their home nations under federal immigration statutes.
Following arrival in their home country, two deportees later escaped to another nation and entered hiding. Another has remained unreachable since his forced removal last week, with lawyers expressing serious concerns about his safety.
Three others were sent back to Equatorial Guinea after their origin country declined admission due to lacking proper travel documentation and receiving no advance notification of their arrival.
The migrants were subsequently returned to Equatorial Guinea, where they continue facing legal uncertainty.
“They have effectively been rendered stateless,” said Bella Mosselmans, director of the Global Strategic Litigation Council, characterizing the process as “a cycle of hell.”
Under a secretive $7.5 million agreement with Washington, no fewer than 32 individuals were expelled from America to Equatorial Guinea, which the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jeanne Shaheen, has described as “one of the most corrupt governments in the world.”
The Associated Press documented the circumstances of deportees forced back to their home nations. It also obtained exclusive entry to a hotel converted into a detention facility for asylum seekers deported from the United States by Equatorial Guinea’s all-powerful president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
Equatorial Guinea ranks among Africa’s wealthiest nations due to its petroleum reserves. It also suffers widespread corruption and human rights violations, according to US officials.
Virtually no dissenting voices exist in Equatorial Guinea, where the government faces accusations from rights organizations and the US State Department of detaining, torturing and even executing those who dare challenge authority.
The nation’s primary foreign investors are American companies, while its military receives funding for training from the US government.
A sea-based drone connected to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine detonated Friday morning at Romania’s Constanta port along the Black Sea, though no injuries occurred, according to the country’s Defense Ministry.
The ministry reported that the device exploded on its own around 10:30 a.m., with the location already secured and cordoned off by Romania’s Intelligence Service, coast guard personnel, and defense officials.
Officials confirmed the drone did not belong to Romania’s military forces and was unrelated to recent training operations conducted by Romanian forces in the Black Sea region. Emergency responders evacuated the surrounding area as a precaution.
This maritime explosion follows another drone incident from the previous week, when a Russian aerial drone targeting Ukraine veered off course and hit an apartment complex in Romania’s Galati, a Danube port city, wounding two residents in the NATO member nation.
The head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, announced during a press briefing that helicopter crews were dispatched to scan for additional drones while officials sent emergency text alerts to local residents.
“There is a possibility that there may be other drones,” he said. “We are not panicking. These are preventive measures. If there are other drones, we want to make sure there is not another explosion in an area where people are not evacuated.”
Emergency officials evacuated more than 1,300 individuals from multiple Black Sea coastal areas and shut down access roads leading to those locations.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan praised law enforcement and security agencies for acting “quickly and preventively” ahead of the blast, emphasizing that protecting lives and securing port facilities remained the top priority.
“With a military conflict on the border, it is obvious that the security environment we are in is a sensitive one, which is why we will maintain a high level of vigilance,” he said, adding that the incident is a “direct consequence of the war of aggression unleashed by Russia against Ukraine.”
These two events represent additional examples in an ongoing pattern of drone intrusions from both Russian and Ukrainian forces affecting NATO territory since Moscow began its comprehensive assault on Ukraine in February 2022.
Romanian military forces eliminated another maritime drone in Black Sea waters on Wednesday. Since the conflict began in the neighboring country, the Defense Ministry reported that Romanian naval units have destroyed nine out of 156 sea mines discovered in Black Sea waters.
French President Emmanuel Macron offered Romania assistance Friday following the explosion, stating, “We will do whatever your authorities consider as a necessity in order to protect the sovereignty of the land and the air.”
“You can count on us,” he said.
The European Union expressed “full solidarity and support to Romania,” according to European Council President António Costa on Friday.
“The EU condemns the repeated violations of airspace of Member States and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the security of all Member States,” he said in a post Friday online. “This is the third significant security incident in Romania in recent weeks. These incidents are a direct consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”
KATHMANDU, Nepal — A mountaineering guide who endured seven days on Mount Everest’s dangerous terrain was receiving medical care at a Nepal hospital on Friday, as his relatives pursued legal remedies over what they called delayed rescue operations.
The 57-year-old Dawa Sherpa was discovered Thursday moving through snow near the Khumbu Icefall area, located just beyond Everest’s base camp, seven days following his disappearance. He was transported by aircraft to Kathmandu where he rejoined his relatives. Medical staff at HAMS Hospital reported he was receiving care for frostbite, dehydration and leg injuries, though his condition remained stable during recovery.
Relatives expressed frustration over the delayed start to search operations and initiated legal proceedings against Dawa’s employer, Himalayan Traverse company based in Kathmandu, while also lodging a formal complaint with the Department of Tourism, the agency overseeing Nepal’s mountaineering activities.
“Action needs to be taken by the mountaineering department. It was negligence of the company that resulted in so much delay in starting rescue,” stated Karma Gelje Sherpa, Dawa’s nephew. “If he had been a foreign climber, rescue would definitely have been organized much faster and prompt, but he happened to be an old Nepali.”
Representatives from Himalayan Traverse were unavailable for immediate response on Friday.
Dawa was last observed around May 29 making his way down the peak, though he failed to return to base camp despite two international climbers who accompanied him successfully completing their descent. These climbers were among the final group on the mountain as the seasonal climbing period concluded and equipment was being removed.
His final known position was at Yellow Band, situated above Camp 3 at an elevation of 7,200 meters (23,622 feet). Base camp sits at 5,300 meters (17,388 feet).
Dawa had been climbing alongside British mountaineer Chris Thrall and a Polish climber whom local news outlets identified as Mariusz Chmielewski. In a social media post, Thrall explained he needed to assist the Polish climber during descent due to his deteriorating condition and frostbite injuries.
“He (Dawa) had been in death zone for 19 hours and at that point, a decision was made that we needed to descent through the Icefall,” Thrall wrote earlier this week, describing his reasoning for not ascending to search for Dawa.
Helicopter search missions dispatched to locate him proved unsuccessful.
Officials have not explained why the climbing party remained on the mountain after authorities had already removed route ladders on May 29.
Dawa’s relatives had abandoned hope for his survival and were conducting their second day of funeral ceremonies, which traditionally continue for multiple days.
The group that located him belonged to the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, an organization responsible for installing ladders and ropes at the beginning of each climbing season before removing equipment and conducting cleanup operations after climbers depart.
FAIRFAX, Va. — A former IRS law enforcement officer from Virginia will learn his fate Friday when he receives sentencing for orchestrating the deaths of his wife and an innocent victim who was deceived into coming to their residence.
Brendan Banfield had maintained that he fatally shot Joseph Ryan after discovering Ryan assaulting his wife on the morning of Feb. 24, 2023. However, prosecutors demonstrated that Banfield worked alongside au pair Juliana Peres Magalhães to orchestrate Ryan’s deception as part of an elaborate plot to eliminate Christine Banfield, who worked as a pediatric intensive care nurse.
The defendant is facing a potential life sentence. Beyond the murder charges, a jury in February also found Banfield guilty of endangering a child since the couple’s 4-year-old daughter was present in the home when the killings occurred.
Throughout the proceedings, Magalhães provided testimony revealing that Banfield had expressed his desire to wed her and start a family together, but explained he needed to “get rid of” his wife beforehand. According to Magalhães, who began employment with the family in 2021 at age 21, he rejected the idea of divorce proceedings because “she would have more money than he would” and due to his desire to maintain custody of their daughter.
The au pair informed jurors that she and Brendan Banfield created a false identity using Christine Banfield’s information on a website dedicated to sexual fetishes. They utilized this platform to deceive Ryan into visiting their Herndon, Virginia residence under the pretense of a sexual encounter involving a knife, then arranged the scene to appear as though they had defended themselves against a dangerous intruder.
According to Magalhães’ testimony, on the day the murders took place, she remained outside the residence in a vehicle with the couple’s child. Upon Ryan’s arrival, she contacted Brendan Banfield, who had positioned himself at a nearby McDonald’s restaurant. The two brought the child downstairs before proceeding to the bedroom where they confronted Ryan. Brendan Banfield shot Ryan, then used the knife Ryan had brought to stab Christine Banfield. When Magalhães observed Ryan still moving, she fired an additional shot that resulted in his death.
Following her agreement to provide testimony against Brendan Banfield, Magalhães entered a guilty plea to manslaughter charges. She received a 10-year prison sentence after Banfield’s trial concluded.
WASHINGTON (AP) — When Washington, D.C., voters last selected both a congressional delegate and mayor in a single election cycle, gasoline cost $1.33 per gallon and George H.W. Bush occupied the White House.
They’re preparing to make those choices again this autumn — in dramatically altered conditions.
With the district approaching crucial primaries this month to select nominees for these positions, President Donald Trump’s impact on the federal city has become a dominant campaign theme. Candidates are evaluating the best strategies for dealing with Trump’s Republican administration and congressional oversight of the predominantly Democratic municipality’s operations.
“It’s going to be a big sea change in city politics, no matter how the elections shake out,” said Amanda Huron, a professor at the University of the District of Columbia who teaches courses on D.C. history and politics. But Washington’s lack of full autonomy brings “all sorts of peculiarities around the city’s governance.”
Following Trump’s return to the presidency last year, the National Guard maintains an indefinite presence as part of what he describes as a crime-fighting initiative. He’s placing his personal mark on the capital’s historic monuments. Additionally, significant federal workforce reductions have intensified economic challenges for the city, which faces one of the nation’s highest jobless rates.
The district has historically maintained a complex, often tense relationship with federal authorities: Although residents elect local officials, Washington’s federal district status restricts their actual influence over municipal matters. This already constrained independence has faced additional pressure under Trump and his federal law enforcement intervention, which began last year.
This autumn, sitting council members Janeese Lewis George and Kenyan McDuffie lead the competition to succeed Mayor Muriel Bowser, who won election in 2014. The primary contenders seeking to replace longtime congressional Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton are Robert White Jr. and Brooke Pinto, both serving on the D.C. council.
Primaries scheduled for June 16 will determine these positions, which in the heavily Democratic city typically determine November’s winners.
Washington differs from other municipalities in lacking control over its destiny.
Voter options exist through a restricted home rule compact approved by Congress in 1973 that permitted residents to choose their local government officials.
However, Congress maintains authority over municipal matters, including budget approval and laws enacted by the city council. Congressional representatives elected by constituents thousands of miles distant regularly propose measures affecting city operations.
This arrangement requires local officials to navigate constituent pressures alongside congressional and administrative demands — a balancing act Bowser repeatedly faced.
Throughout Trump’s initial presidency, she directed the creation and designation of Black Lives Matter Plaza, located north of the White House, in 2020. Months following Trump’s second-term inauguration, she consented to its removal following pressure from congressional Republicans.
This action, federal workforce cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency, and increased federal law enforcement and National Guard deployment have become key election themes. Currently, approximately 3,500 troops operate in the city — a figure officials expect will reach 5,000 as the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations near.
Trump has consistently claimed his intervention has transformed Washington into “one of the safest” and most attractive cities nationwide, experiencing a significant crime reduction.
George told The Associated Press that her primary focus involves tackling “the affordability crisis here in D.C., which the Trump administration has only made worse by unjustly firing federal employees en masse and militarizing our streets.”
McDuffie identified public safety as his main concern as crime remains problematic. He proposes adding 1,000 police officers across four years, fully staffing the 911 call center following years of persistent understaffing, and implementing a public health approach to violence prevention.
“We cannot have an affordable city,” he said, “without public safety as its foundation.”
Both candidates pledged to strengthen the city’s legal protections against federal interference and criticized Bowser for excessive cooperation with federal authorities targeting the city’s immigrant population.
Alex Dodd, co-founder of Free DC, an activist group supporting city independence, said the organization endorsed George because of her willingness to be more aggressive in opposing Trump and congressional Republicans.
“When our leaders comply with this administration before being forced, they are giving this regime an enormous advantage,” he said.
Pat Wheeler, a native Washingtonian and communications consultant who served as a department head at Morgan State University, applauded Bowser for cooperating with the Trump administration on some aspects. She noted failure to do so could have sparked retribution and a loss of what little control city officials have.
“Trump can snap his finger and the whole Republican Congress will say, ‘Let’s put a federal control board over the mayor,’” she said.
The D.C. delegate position carries no voting power, but provides the district’s nearly 700,000 residents, who lack other congressional representation, a platform through House floor speeches and legislation proposals.
However, critics argued the 88-year-old Norton became less effective during Trump’s second administration and insufficiently visible in challenging administrative and congressional interference with city autonomy. She submitted paperwork ending her reelection campaign in January.
Norton, serving 18 terms, has maintained a distinguished career. Both she and her predecessor, Walter Fauntroy Jr., achieved national prominence emerging from the civil rights movement.
“Eleanor Holmes Norton is maybe one of the last major political figures who comes out of the civil rights movement,” said Matt Dallek, a political historian at The George Washington University. “It’s a real passing of the torch.”
Campaigns for her replacement have emphasized local autonomy, Trump’s influence, and affordability concerns. Leading candidates and council members Pinto and White have also engaged in personal disputes questioning campaign funding sources and Republican connections.
Pinto told the AP her primary objective involves self-governance, which has “never been a true reality for the people of D.C.”
She identified affordability for middle-class and working families as another priority.
White’s campaign stated he’s “not willing to continue to see our tax dollars used to allow DC police to cooperate and conspire with federal agents to trample our constitutional rights and to terrorize our communities.”
Brenda Manley, a longtime resident of Ward 7, an area with a storied Black history across the Anacostia River, said the city was well managed despite the tensions with Trump. But she said she hoped all the candidates would spend more time on the campaign focusing on programs that are beneficial to all residents, like a tuition grant program championed by Norton or major strides made in education during Bowser’s tenure.
MADRID, June 5 – Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday rejected allegations that he was aware of a suspected conspiracy to obstruct corruption investigations targeting his Socialist Party, expressing his disappointment and anger regarding the matter.
A High Court judge recently commanded the seizure of multiple documents and digital files from party offices during an investigation focusing on Santos Cerdan, Sanchez’s former political ally who previously served as the Socialists’ organization secretary, as well as additional party members, attorneys, a business owner and a law enforcement official.
The individuals face allegations of trying to sway administrative choices and sabotage judicial processes or law enforcement activities that could impact the Socialist Party or the administration. Cerdan has rejected any wrongdoing.
“I never endorsed it, nor did I ever have any information or knowledge of something I would never have tolerated,” Sanchez stated to media members upon arriving at a European Union summit in Montenegro.
The Prime Minister described his administration as “clean” and noted that the party’s legal representatives were reviewing all court filings connected to the matter.
“My party has integrity and the corruption only involves a few people,” Sanchez declared.
The leader, who assumed office eight years ago after removing a scandal-ridden center-right administration while promising to reform politics, faces criticism even from supporters due to multiple corruption cases proceeding through Spain’s judicial system.
Sanchez has not been identified in any of the investigations and has characterized them as part of an effort to remove him from office.
A Swiss construction chemicals company is repositioning its business strategy to capitalize on China’s building renovation sector and American infrastructure development, according to comments from the firm’s chief executive published June 5.
Thomas Hasler, CEO of Sika, discussed the company’s evolving approach during an interview with Finanz und Wirtschaft that appeared Friday. He explained that the manufacturer has broken down its Chinese operations into smaller segments to better serve the diverse local markets across the country.
The company has adjusted its Chinese business model, which previously concentrated heavily on new construction projects, to now emphasize renovation work as well. This shift is particularly important in cities like Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, where markets have reached near-saturation levels.
Despite the elimination of electric vehicle subsidies, Hasler noted that the company continues to see steady expansion in China’s automotive sector.
In the United States, Hasler identified infrastructure construction as a promising area for growth, noting that such projects remain largely unaffected by President Donald Trump’s resistance to renewable energy initiatives.
The company is gaining market share in traditional infrastructure development including roads and bridges, though it has experienced a decline in commercial construction where reshoring had been a major growth factor before tariff tensions increased.
Regarding data centers, Hasler called them “a definite growth driver,” explaining that operators seek the most secure facilities to prevent operational interruptions.
The executive reported that the company’s data center project pipeline is at capacity, as the sector experiences rapid growth across Europe and Asia as well.
Despite continued challenges, Hasler expressed optimism about potential improvements in markets like Germany and France, pointing to increased building permit numbers as an encouraging sign among the company’s customer base.
WASHINGTON – A critical foreign surveillance program is heading toward expiration next week after the U.S. Senate failed to advance renewal legislation on Friday.
The chamber voted 47-52 against proceeding with debate on reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is set to lapse on June 12 without congressional intervention. Seven Republicans crossed party lines to join Democrats in opposing the procedural motion, with only Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman supporting it.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed disappointment that nearly all Democrats voted against moving forward with the debate. The outcome represents a major blow for Republicans, who hold slim majorities in both congressional chambers.
Democratic opposition centers on President Donald Trump’s decision to name Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, citing his absence of national security credentials.
Thune indicated the Trump administration may need to evaluate whether Pulte’s appointment is hindering efforts to extend the warrantless domestic surveillance authority, which lawmakers previously extended for 45 days on April 30.
“Next week, it gets real,” Thune told reporters. “A few days from now … the program goes dark. I just think that would be a dangerous mistake for the country. Hopefully, responsible folks will come to the table and at least help us figure this out.”
While acknowledging the timing of Pulte’s appointment “arguably wasn’t the best,” Thune maintained, “I still don’t think it ought to derail something that’s this important.”
This legislative defeat adds to a series of instances where some Senate Republicans have resisted various Trump proposals, including his request for $1 billion to construct a 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom and create a $1.776 billion fund for compensating political allies who claim government mistreatment.
Public polling indicates limited support for such initiatives as voters seek Washington action on rising inflation rates, partly attributed to the United States’ conflict with Iran that has disrupted global oil transportation.
