The annual National Safe Boating Week will take place from May 16 through May 22, 2026, according to information from the Safe Boating Campaign.
This week-long national observance is designed to raise awareness about water safety and encourage responsible practices among recreational boaters throughout the United States.
The designated week provides an opportunity for boating safety organizations, coast guard units, and marine law enforcement agencies to promote educational programs and safety initiatives aimed at reducing accidents on the water.
During this week’s events in the nation’s capital, senators gave their approval to Kevin Warsh for his appointment as Federal Reserve chair, prompting quiz writers to craft a question centered around his name. That question joins nine others in this week’s current events quiz.
Motorists traveling on Boyds Corner Road should prepare for potential delays due to ongoing construction work affecting traffic flow in the area.
Transportation officials report that intermittent lane restrictions are currently in place along the stretch of roadway between Vessel Drive and DuPont Parkway. The construction activity is causing periodic lane closures that are expected to remain in effect until 5:30 AM.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when navigating through the work zone area.
Young adults in their twenties are achieving homeownership at rates that exceed what millennials accomplished at the same age, defying expectations in today’s challenging real estate market.
Francisco Vazquez, 27, stands in front of his new home in Milwaukee, Wis. He was able to buy it after changing his career track and saving aggressively, including for one year while he lived rent free with his parents.
The current generation of twenty-something homebuyers demonstrates different characteristics compared to their predecessors. They are more frequently purchasing homes while unmarried and are less dependent on parental financial support to make their purchases possible.
This trend represents a notable shift in homebuying patterns, particularly given the obstacles young buyers face in today’s housing market, including elevated prices and interest rates that have made homeownership increasingly difficult to achieve.
Democratic Party leadership, struggling to remain competitive in conservative states where their political brand faces challenges, are trying an unconventional approach this election cycle: supporting candidates who aren’t Democrats.
Across states including Nebraska, Idaho and Alaska, Democratic officials are looking beyond their own party’s nominees while quietly encouraging — and sometimes openly endorsing — independent candidates they believe can perform better than those carrying the Democratic label. The Democratic National Committee and Washington allies are quietly backing this new approach.
Some of these independent candidates are coordinating through group messaging as they work on strategies that could disrupt Congress, which remains stuck in partisan deadlock.
Nebraska Democrats this week selected a nominee for U.S. Senate, Cindy Burbank, who stated that a key campaign goal was ensuring no Democrat would appear on the November ballot to split votes away from independent Dan Osborn. After voting ended, Burbank confirmed her intention to withdraw in the coming weeks during a private discussion with a party official, according to state Democratic chair Jane Kleeb.
Democratic leadership believes Osborn, who lost by just 7 points in his 2024 Senate race, represents the strongest opportunity to unseat Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts.
The Democratic shift toward independents represents a deliberate strategy in certain areas — and a more subtle understanding elsewhere — spanning multiple high-profile Senate and House races plus statehouse competitions. Independent Senate candidates are also campaigning in states like Idaho, South Dakota and Montana, where Democratic leadership has been reluctant to fully endorse the independents, though many consider them the party’s best option to block Republicans this election season.
“For some states, and Nebraska is one of them, where Democrats are 32% of the electorate, this is a long-term strategy for us,” said Kleeb, who also serves as a vice chair to the Democratic National Committee.
Kleeb explained her state party is supporting independents in at least four state legislative races beyond the U.S. Senate: “We have to build a coalition with independents in order to win elections so we can do good work for the people. Period.”
Parts of the Democratic Party’s national political infrastructure appear supportive.
The Democrats’ fundraising platform, ActBlue, works with some of the independent candidates, along with popular Democratic-allied website builders. Meanwhile, some of the party’s campaign committees in Washington quietly offer logistical assistance in certain cases, while avoiding public attacks on the independent candidates even in races where a Democratic nominee exists.
“The Democratic Party’s brand is awful right now,” said Democratic strategist Josh Schwerin. “The combination of the brand problem and the existential nature of the threat that our country is facing requires us to have a big tent and look for candidates who can win.”
Some Democratic donors, strategists and party leaders from other states have privately objected, arguing Democrats should not abandon their own nominees for short-term political advantages. They want Democratic officials, both in Washington and locally in conservative states, to work harder to improve the Democratic brand’s appeal — even if becoming competitive takes several more years.
“What’s the independent going to do for the Democratic Party if they win?” asked Democratic strategist Mike Ceraso, who views the shift toward independents as an effort to disguise Democrats in some instances. “We’re the party of truth and honesty and integrity, but we’re playing these stupid political games?”
Additionally, there’s no assurance that independent candidates, if elected, would back all Democratic policy priorities or even Democratic leadership in Congress.
In Idaho, independent Senate candidate Todd Achilles, an Army veteran and former Democratic state legislator, said he won’t be caucusing with either party if elected. He described his politics as “straight down the middle,” and said he believes in individual liberties.
“Idahoans should be able to live how they want,” he said. But the Democratic Party was a bad fit because it “has given up on little red states like Idaho.”
Among his criticisms of Democrats is that the party made a significant error by initially running Joe Biden again for president in 2024. However, he also said “the shine is coming off” the former president, whom Idaho voters supported by 36 points in 2024.
Achilles said he and other military veterans running for Senate as independents communicate in the text chain and are “very much on the same page.” He says the group wants to establish “guardrails,” including term and age limits and campaign finance reform.
“The priority is to get Congress functioning again,” he said. “We gotta break the grip of the two-party system.”
In South Dakota, Navy and Air Force veteran Brian Bengs has started an independent campaign to defeat Republican incumbent Sen. Mike Rounds, who’s seeking a third term this fall.
Bengs campaigned as a Democrat against Senate Majority Leader John Thune four years ago and lost by 43 points.
A lifelong independent, he said he was rejected by the party this time when he requested to run with its organizational support but without the label. Nevertheless, he maintains he can win without the party’s formal endorsement.
One important lesson from his 2022 campaign, he says, was how difficult it was to connect with voters while carrying the Democratic Party label.
Voters would immediately ask, “What are you?” he recalled.
“When you say, ‘I’m a lifelong independent running as a Democrat,’” Bengs said, the response was swift. “‘I’ll never vote for a Democrat.’ And that was it,” he said.
“So that takeaway soured me on running again in any party system, because it was just a soul-sucking experience.”
In Alaska, some Democrats believe that commercial fisherman Bill Hill, a retired school superintendent, may represent their strongest chance at defeating first-term Republican Rep. Nick Begich for the state’s only House seat.
Hill, a lifelong independent, raised more than $780,000 in the first three months of the year, surpassing Democrat Matt Schultz, a pastor, who raised $578,000.
The state Democratic Party chose not to endorse Schultz at its recent convention, which Hill also attended. The House Democrats’ campaign committee in Washington has also declined so far to promote Schultz’s candidacy. Hill, meanwhile, is collecting local union endorsements.
Hill’s message to voters, he said, is the same for Republicans, Democrats and independents: “You need to be pragmatic about who you choose to support in this election cycle, because at the end of the day, we need a change in the House seat in Alaska.”
A spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee criticized independents like Osborn, Bengs, Achilles and Seth Bodnar, who is running in Montana, as “fake Independents who would push liberal Democratic policies in the Senate.”
Currently, there are two independents in the Senate: Maine Sen. Angus King and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Both caucus with Democrats.
In an interview, Hill said he’s unlikely to caucus with Republicans in Washington if elected, but he’s not committing to joining Democrats either. He was hesitant to criticize the Democratic Party or the former president.
Hill acknowledged the challenge of running for Congress as an independent, but said there are benefits, too.
“There’s freedom,” he said. “I can truly represent the working people of Alaska.”
WASHINGTON — Jerome Powell’s eight-year tenure as Federal Reserve chair began with concerns about sluggish inflation and high unemployment, but ends with the American economy fundamentally changed by pandemic-era price surges and political turbulence.
When Powell assumed leadership of the nation’s central bank eight years ago, economists fretted over persistently low inflation and interest rates, alongside insufficient job creation. Today, as he concludes his chairmanship, the economic landscape bears little resemblance to those earlier concerns.
Following the pandemic, consumer prices skyrocketed and have stayed above the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal for more than five years, frustrating voters and making housing, vehicles, and food increasingly expensive. The central bank’s primary short-term interest rate climbed to its highest point in twenty years during 2023, while joblessness dropped to levels not seen in fifty years.
Throughout this period, Powell weathered continuous personal criticism from President Donald Trump that started just months into his appointment. However, in January, he resisted an unusual legal probe by the Justice Department, establishing himself as among the few senior Washington officials willing to confront the Trump administration.
Powell indicated he plans to remain on the governing board until he feels confident the Fed’s autonomy is fully secured. His effectiveness in shielding the central bank from daily political pressures will define much of his institutional impact.
“It is not an unblemished record, but in an extremely challenging context, he’s performed exceedingly well,” said David Wilcox, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and director of research at Bloomberg Economics. “And my overall assessment is that the country has been lucky indeed to have him as chair.”
Unlike numerous previous Fed leaders, Powell, 73, lacks formal economics training, having worked as an attorney and in financial services before joining the Fed’s board of governors in 2012. Known for his modest demeanor both publicly and privately, Powell typically introduces himself as “Jay” and would showcase his guitar abilities, developed while busking across Europe as a student, during the Fed’s holiday celebrations.
The post-pandemic inflation explosion will inevitably form a central component of Powell’s historical record, with consumer prices reaching a four-decade peak of 9.1% in June 2022.
Current price levels stand 27% above pre-pandemic figures from six years ago, representing a dramatic shift for a nation accustomed to minimal inflation for decades. Prices increased only 10% during the six years preceding the pandemic. Food costs have risen 30% compared to six years ago, after climbing just 3.6% in the six years before COVID arrived.
Powell and fellow Fed officials — along with most economic experts — initially characterized the inflation spike as “transitory,” attributing it to supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic, as COVID shuttered manufacturing facilities and delayed port operations worldwide.
Their immediate focus centered on economic crisis support.
Through two March 2020 actions, they reduced their benchmark interest rate by 1.5 percentage points to nearly zero. The Fed additionally purchased substantial quantities of Treasury bonds and government-backed mortgage securities to lower long-term interest rates and implemented other measures to inject money into the financial system, maintaining credit market operations during pandemic upheaval.
In April 2020, Powell stated that the Fed would “continue to use these powers forcefully, proactively, and aggressively until we are confident that we are solidly on the road to recovery.”
Despite inflation surpassing the Fed’s 2% target throughout 2021, the central bank maintained its key interest rate near zero until March 2022, when inflation reached 6.9% according to the Fed’s preferred measurement.
The Fed’s hesitation in raising rates reflected traditional economic thinking that inflation from supply disruptions would prove temporary, and if a central bank increased borrowing costs to combat it, higher rates would simply damage the economy and increase unemployment as supply problems resolved.
Meanwhile, the Trump and Biden administrations injected approximately $5 trillion in government spending into the economy through multiple stimulus payments, small business support, and additional aid. This monetary flow sparked a spending surge precisely when supply chains couldn’t meet demand.
By maintaining its key rate near zero for an extended period, Powell’s detractors argue, the Fed amplified excessive spending and intensified inflation.
“Even though there was all the evidence there in the data that aggregate demand was going through the roof, they still said it was a transitory supply shock,” said Mickey Levy, a former top economist at Bank of America and a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution. “The Fed contributed to that inflation and completely misread the tea leaves.”
As inflation spread to areas like apartment rentals and surveys revealed growing American concerns about its persistence, Powell changed course and supervised the most aggressive interest rate increases since the early 1980s to counter the price surge.
Nevertheless, many prominent economists, including former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, feared that conquering inflation would necessitate a recession and sharp unemployment increases. Instead, inflation fell to 2.3% by September 2024, according to the Fed’s preferred measure, nearly achieving its 2% target.
By reducing inflation without severe economic disruption, Powell largely accomplished an elusive “soft landing.” Inflation subsequently rose after Trump implemented comprehensive tariffs last April.
Combating inflation represented a dramatic departure for a Fed chair who began his term emphasizing the Fed’s employment maximization mandate. Before the pandemic, Powell frequently praised the advantages of robust job markets for disadvantaged workers, earning recognition from many progressive economists.
However, some economists contend the Fed’s employment focus contributed to its delayed inflation response. In an August 2021 speech, Powell cited the then-elevated unemployment rate of 5.4% as justification for avoiding premature rate increases.
Many analysts still defend Powell’s employment mandate support. Julia Coronado, president of MacroPolicy Perspectives and a former Fed economist, argued Powell was correct to maintain low rates before the pandemic, even as unemployment steadily decreased, because inflation showed no signs of worsening.
“If you can actually push a little harder for a little longer with no consequences for inflation, then you should damn well do it,” she said. “He was absolutely right about that. He’s still right about that.”
Powell stated in late April that “overweighting the employment market” bore no responsibility for the inflation spike.
“It was a global shock that happened essentially very, very similarly all over the world,” he said.
Last July, in what may prove the most memorable image of his Fed leadership, Powell and Trump appeared before cameras wearing hard hats at the Fed’s extensive $2.5 billion building renovation site, which Trump had criticized as wasteful.
Trump alleged the project would cost even more — $3.1 billion — and presented Powell with a paper detailing the expenses. Powell retrieved his reading glasses and publicly corrected the president by pointing out that he had included a third building already renovated.
This moment exemplified Powell’s readiness to challenge Trump’s unprecedented attacks. Economists have historically supported Fed independence because it enables the central bank to implement difficult measures — such as aggressive interest rate increases to fight inflation — that politicians often resist due to their potential pain.
Powell benefited from extensive congressional relationship-building. Research by University of Maryland economist Thomas Drechsel found that Powell met with senators more than twice as frequently as his two predecessors, with meetings equally distributed between both parties.
During one visit, Powell even charmed North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis’ dog, a gesture that proved highly beneficial. Tillis essentially prevented Senate confirmation of Kevin Warsh, Trump’s choice to replace Powell, until the building project investigation was abandoned. The Justice Department ultimately discontinued its probe.
Even those who criticize Powell’s policy decisions acknowledge his Fed defense efforts.
“The big plus is the way he has protected central bank independence,” said Don Kohn, a former vice chair of the Fed. “That is the most important thing for the future of the Federal Reserve and for protecting the public interest in having an independent central bank.”
Powell hasn’t announced when he might leave the Fed, though he could continue on the governing board until January 2028.
“You want people to … set interest rates to benefit the general public,” Powell said at his final news conference, “and focus only on that and ignore political considerations. This isn’t bipartisan, this is nonpartisan.”
WASHINGTON — Jerome Powell’s eight-year tenure as Federal Reserve chair began with economists concerned about sluggish inflation, low interest rates, and insufficient employment opportunities for Americans.
As Powell concludes his leadership of the nation’s central bank following eight challenging years, the economic landscape has dramatically shifted: Post-pandemic inflation climbed to levels not seen in decades and has stayed above the Fed’s 2% goal for over five years, frustrating consumers facing higher costs for housing, vehicles, and food. The central bank’s benchmark short-term rate reached its highest point in twenty years during 2023, while joblessness dropped to levels not witnessed in fifty years.
Throughout his tenure, Powell weathered constant personal criticism from President Donald Trump that started just months into his role. However, this past January, he challenged an extraordinary legal probe by the Justice Department, establishing himself as among the few senior Washington officials willing to confront the Trump administration.
Powell stated his intention to remain on the governing board until he feels certain the Fed’s independence has been fully restored. His efforts to shield the central bank from political interference will define much of his tenure.
“It is not an unblemished record, but in an extremely challenging context, he’s performed exceedingly well,” said David Wilcox, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and director of research at Bloomberg Economics. “And my overall assessment is that the country has been lucky indeed to have him as chair.”
Powell, 73, differs from many previous Fed chairs as he lacks formal economics training, having worked as an attorney and in financial services before joining the Fed’s board of governors in 2012. Known for his modest demeanor both publicly and privately, Powell typically introduces himself as “Jay” and would showcase his guitar abilities, developed during his college years busking across Europe, at the Fed’s annual holiday celebrations.
A defining element of Powell’s leadership will be the inflation surge following the pandemic, when consumer costs jumped to a four-decade peak of 9.1% in June 2022.
Current prices stand 27% above pre-pandemic levels from six years ago, representing a dramatic shift for a nation accustomed to minimal inflation for decades. Costs increased only 10% during the six years preceding the pandemic. Food prices have risen 30% compared to six years ago, after climbing just 3.6% in the six years before COVID arrived.
Powell and fellow Fed officials — along with most economists — initially characterized the inflation spike as “transitory,” attributing it to supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic as COVID forced factory closures and port delays worldwide.
Despite inflation surging beyond the Fed’s 2% target throughout 2021, the central bank maintained its benchmark rate near zero until March 2022, when inflation reached 6.9% using the Fed’s preferred measurement.
The Fed’s hesitation to increase rates reflected conventional economic thinking that inflation from supply disruptions would be temporary, and raising borrowing costs to combat it would only damage the economy and increase unemployment as supply problems resolved themselves.
Simultaneously, the Trump and Biden administrations injected approximately $5 trillion in government spending through various stimulus payments, small business assistance, and other relief programs. This monetary influx drove a spending surge precisely when supply chains couldn’t meet the increased demand.
By maintaining near-zero rates for an extended period, Powell’s detractors argue, the Fed amplified excessive spending and intensified inflation.
“Even though there was all the evidence there in the data that aggregate demand was going through the roof, they still said it was a transitory supply shock,” said Mickey Levy, a former top economist at Bank of America and a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution. “The Fed contributed to that inflation and completely misread the tea leaves.”
When inflation began affecting sectors like housing costs and surveys indicated growing public concern about its persistence, Powell changed course and supervised the most aggressive rate increases since the early 1980s to address rising prices.
Nevertheless, many prominent economists, including former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, feared that conquering inflation would necessitate an economic downturn and substantial unemployment increases. Instead, inflation declined to 2.3% by September 2024 according to the Fed’s preferred gauge, approaching its 2% objective.
Through reducing inflation while avoiding severe economic contraction, Powell essentially accomplished the challenging “soft landing.” Inflation subsequently rose again after Trump implemented extensive tariffs last April.
Combating inflation marked a significant change for a Fed chair who initially prioritized the Fed’s employment mandate. Before the pandemic, Powell frequently praised the advantages of robust job markets for disadvantaged workers, earning recognition from progressive economists.
Some economists contend the Fed’s employment emphasis contributed to its delayed inflation response. During an August 2021 address, Powell cited the then-high unemployment rate of 5.4% as justification for postponing rate increases.
Many analysts still support Powell’s commitment to maximum employment. Julia Coronado, president of MacroPolicy Perspectives and former Fed economist, argued Powell correctly maintained low rates before the pandemic despite declining unemployment, since inflation showed no signs of worsening.
“If you can actually push a little harder for a little longer with no consequences for inflation, then you should damn well do it,” she said. “He was absolutely right about that. He’s still right about that.”
Last July, in what may become the most memorable image from his chairmanship, Powell and Trump appeared before cameras wearing hard hats at the Fed’s ongoing $2.5 billion building renovation site, which Trump had criticized as wasteful.
Trump alleged the project would cost more — $3.1 billion — and presented Powell with documentation of the expenses. Powell retrieved his reading glasses and publicly corrected the president, explaining that Trump had included a third building already completed.
This moment exemplified Powell’s readiness to challenge Trump’s extraordinary criticisms. Economists have historically supported Fed independence because it enables the central bank to implement difficult measures — like substantial rate increases to fight inflation — that politicians often resist due to their potential economic pain.
Powell gained from cultivating strong congressional relationships. Research by University of Maryland economist Thomas Drechsel found Powell met with senators more than double the frequency of his two predecessors, with meetings equally distributed between both parties.
Even those critical of some policy choices acknowledge Powell’s defense of the Fed.
“The big plus is the way he has protected central bank independence,” said Don Kohn, a former vice chair of the Fed. “That is the most important thing for the future of the Federal Reserve and for protecting the public interest in having an independent central bank.”
NEW DELHI, May 15 – Foreign ministers from BRICS nations concluded their yearly gathering in New Delhi on Friday without reaching agreement on key issues, prompting India to release a chair’s statement rather than the traditional joint declaration due to conflicting perspectives on Middle Eastern developments.
The economic alliance encompasses Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
The disagreements stem partly from the opposing positions of Iran and the UAE regarding Tehran’s ongoing conflict with the U.S. and Israel, a confrontation in which Iran has focused attacks on the UAE more extensively than other Gulf nations.
Russia and Ukraine carried out a prisoner exchange on Friday, with both nations releasing 205 captured soldiers as part of a broader diplomatic agreement.
According to Russia’s Defence Ministry, the returned Russian military personnel were transported to Belarus where they are receiving necessary care and support. Officials in Moscow noted that the United Arab Emirates served as the mediator for the prisoner swap.
Ukrainian authorities also verified that their prisoners of war had been successfully returned.
The exchange represents part of a larger arrangement between the two warring nations to swap 1,000 soldiers total, stemming from an agreement tied to a ceasefire that U.S. President Donald Trump helped broker earlier in May. That temporary ceasefire lasted from May 9 through May 11, though both sides reported violations of the truce during that period.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy demanded accountability from Moscow on Friday as he paid respects at the site where a Russian missile devastated a residential apartment complex, claiming the lives of 24 people, including three young children.
Emergency crews concluded their search efforts at the destroyed building, which suffered the attack during what officials described as Russia’s most intense aerial bombardment of the Ukrainian capital in 2024.
“Our first responders … worked non-stop for more than a day,” Zelenskiy posted on the Telegram messaging platform following his visit to the attack location in Kyiv’s Darnytskyi district, situated on the left bank of the Dnipro river, where he laid flowers and spoke with emergency personnel.
“The Russians practically levelled an entire section of the building with their missile,” he stated.
Moscow launched its comprehensive military operation against Ukraine in February 2022, and Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia deployed over 1,500 drones and numerous missiles in coordinated attacks throughout the country during two straight days this week.
Western Ukraine, located far from active combat zones, experienced six fatalities during Wednesday’s bombardments.
“A Russia like this can never be normalized – a Russia that deliberately destroys lives and hopes to remain unpunished. Pressure is needed,” Zelenskiy declared, renewing his requests for international partners to assist Ukraine in bolstering its aerial defense capabilities.
DAY OF MOURNING IN KYIV
Municipal leaders in Kyiv designated Friday as an official day of remembrance for the casualties, ordering national flags lowered to half-staff throughout the metropolis of three million residents. All recreational activities were either canceled or delayed.
The Interior Ministry reported that emergency response efforts at the residential complex continued for over 28 hours, with hundreds of rescue personnel examining 3,000 cubic meters of debris.
Municipal authorities confirmed that 24 bodies were retrieved from the wreckage while approximately 30 individuals were pulled out alive. Close to 50 people sustained injuries, and roughly 400 residents needed mental health assistance, according to interior ministry officials.
Zelenskiy stated that preliminary investigations indicated a newly manufactured Russian Kh-101 missile was responsible for hitting the residential structure.
Moscow has not provided immediate response regarding the apartment building attack. Russia maintains it does not intentionally target civilian populations, though throughout more than four years of conflict, it has repeatedly struck residential complexes and other non-military infrastructure in aerial campaigns throughout Ukraine.
The World Health Organization issued a call Friday for stricter government oversight of nicotine pouches, expressing concern that these highly addictive products are being marketed in ways that specifically target younger consumers.
These lip-inserted products, which deliver a nicotine hit to users, have quickly emerged as a key revenue source for major tobacco corporations seeking to compensate for declining cigarette sales. However, advocacy groups and scientists have raised concerns about how these products are being promoted.
The global health organization emphasized that governments must implement stronger protective measures to shield people, particularly young individuals, from developing addictions.
According to the WHO, certain products contain elevated levels of highly addictive nicotine and utilize technology designed to accelerate and intensify drug delivery, while appealing to youth through specific flavors and attractive packaging.
“These products are engineered for addiction,” stated Etienne Krug, director of the WHO’s Department of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention at the WHO.
The international health organization highlighted extensive promotional campaigns on social media platforms and through influencers, lifestyle-focused marketing approaches, and sponsorships of concerts, festivals and sporting events with significant youth followings, including Formula 1. Even some supporters of pouches as smoking harm reduction tools acknowledge these marketing approaches are problematic.
The WHO reported that approximately 160 nations lack specific pouch regulations and recommended implementing various controls such as nicotine content limits, promotional restrictions, and flavor prohibitions or strict limitations.
Certain researchers and government officials believe nicotine pouches can help minimize tobacco-related health risks by providing smokers and potential smokers with cigarette alternatives. Health regulatory bodies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration indicate evidence demonstrates these products cause significantly less harm than tobacco and even other alternatives such as vaping devices.
Industry representatives maintain their focus is on adult smokers and nicotine consumers. Laura Leigh Oyler, vice president of regulatory affairs at Nicokick, an online store for nicotine pouches in the United States — the world’s largest pouch market — referenced FDA data indicating minimal youth usage.
“They are primarily being used by adults who already consume nicotine and are looking for lower-risk alternatives,” she said.
Compact gardens showcasing indigenous plant varieties are increasingly appearing throughout metropolitan areas. A local volunteer working with these miniature green spaces in a Washington, D.C., community shows how urban environments can support native vegetation through small-scale gardening initiatives.
A rising trend across America shows families with children, parents, and grandparents choosing to share the same residence. These multi-generation living arrangements are also influencing changes in home design and construction.
Health officials across Africa announced Friday that a fresh Ebola outbreak has emerged in Congo’s isolated Ituri province, where authorities have documented 246 suspected cases and 65 fatalities.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of deaths and suspected infections have occurred within the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones.
“Four deaths have been reported among laboratory-confirmed cases. Suspected cases have also been reported in Bunia, pending confirmation,” the agency said.
The deadly virus spreads easily through contact with bodily fluids including vomit, blood, or semen. While uncommon, the illness it triggers is serious and frequently leads to death.
This recent outbreak emerges approximately five months following the end of Congo’s previous Ebola crisis, which claimed 43 lives before being declared over.
The current situation represents the nation’s 17th occurrence since the virus initially surfaced in Congo during 1976. A particularly devastating outbreak between 2018 and 2020 in the country’s eastern region resulted in over 1,000 fatalities.
Located in a distant area of Congo with inadequate transportation infrastructure, Ituri sits more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) away from Kinshasa, the nation’s capital.
This health emergency adds to the challenges facing the Central African nation, which continues fighting multiple armed factions in its eastern territories, including the M23 rebel group that began an aggressive campaign in January of last year and has captured important urban centers.
The Ituri region specifically confronts ongoing attacks from the Allied Democratic Force militant organization, which maintains connections to the Islamic State and has killed numerous people throughout the eastern areas.
As Africa’s second-largest nation by territory, Congo regularly encounters operational difficulties when addressing disease outbreaks. During the previous year’s three-month outbreak, the World Health Organization initially struggled considerably with vaccine distribution due to restricted access and insufficient funding.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday that 24 people died when a Russian missile struck a residential building in Kyiv the day before, with three children among the victims.
Rescue teams completed their search through the debris after working for more than 24 hours, Zelenskyy reported on the social media platform X.
The missile struck a nine-story residential building on a corner during what Ukrainian air defense officials described as Russia’s most extensive bombing campaign since the full-scale invasion began.
The bombardment primarily focused on Ukraine’s capital city, where 48 additional people sustained injuries, including two children, according to Zelenskyy’s statement.
Officials in Kyiv declared Friday as an official day of mourning to honor the victims of the attack.
Analysis of the missile debris revealed that the weapon was manufactured during the second quarter of 2024, Zelenskyy noted, citing findings from Ukrainian investigators.
“This means Russia is still importing the components, resources, and equipment necessary for missile production in circumvention of global sanctions,” Zelenskyy wrote in a separate post on X Thursday evening.
“Stopping Russia’s sanctions evasion schemes must be a genuine priority for all our partners,” he added.
CISARUA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s inaugural giant panda birth has reached a major milestone as the healthy cub underwent medical evaluations Friday in preparation for meeting the public later this month.
The baby panda, officially named Satrio Wiratama but called “Rio,” demonstrated his developing abilities during the veterinary examination. At 169 days old, the cub has reached 10 kilograms (22 pounds), moves around independently, scales his mother’s body, and has begun consuming bamboo shoots.
Medical staff are closely observing Rio’s progress to evaluate his readiness for public interaction when he makes his anticipated appearance at Indonesian Safari Park, located outside Jakarta.
“What’s important to note is that all of Rio’s senses are active; he has the ability to understand the environment, assess the situation, adapt to more people, and hear sounds, even in certain levels of noise. We will train him gradually,” said Bongot Huaso Mulia, a veterinarian who monitors Rio’s progress.
According to Mulia, the young panda’s development exceeds typical timelines in certain areas, particularly regarding his dental growth.
Rio entered the world on Nov. 27, born to mother Hu Chun and father Cai Tao, both 15 years old. The adult pair came to Indonesia in 2017 as part of a decade-long conservation agreement with China. Their home is a specially constructed habitat at the park, situated approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) from the capital in Cisarua, West Java province.
The parent pandas have captured significant public attention throughout Indonesia. Rio’s arrival has excited panda fans nationwide, with social media buzzing with requests to see the youngster soon.
The panda family resides in an elaborate three-story structure called the Panda Palace, positioned on elevated terrain encompassing roughly 5,000 square meters of land (1.2 acres). The facility features elevator access, rest quarters, medical equipment, and both interior and exterior recreational spaces.
Rio’s name represents the shared dedication between Indonesia and China toward safeguarding threatened wildlife species.
Giant pandas serve as China’s unofficial national symbol, and Beijing’s practice of lending these animals to international zoos has traditionally functioned as diplomatic “panda diplomacy.”
Reproduction challenges make giant panda births especially significant. Fewer than 1,900 giant pandas exist in their natural Chinese habitats across Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces.
Rio’s birth resulted from artificial insemination procedures. Beyond adding another individual to the population, Rio contributes valuable genetic information for panda research efforts in both Indonesia and China, explained Aswin Sumampau, president director of the park.
“This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for, a small victory for us, as we’ve managed to breed a species that is extremely difficult to breed. Just imagine, for the past two years, no pandas were born at any ex-situ conservation facility worldwide. Taman Safari has managed to do that,” Sumampau said.
The world’s leading contract semiconductor manufacturer announced Friday its intention to divest up to 152 million shares of Vanguard International Semiconductor through a block transaction targeting financial institutional investors, thereby decreasing its ownership position in the chipmaker.
The Taiwan-based TSMC stated that the planned divestiture would lower its ownership in Vanguard International Semiconductor, known as VIS, to approximately 19% from its current level of around 27.1% calculated on a fully diluted basis. The semiconductor giant indicated it has no intentions to divest any additional VIS shares in the coming period.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced Friday that 205 Ukrainian military members have been returned from Russian detention as part of an initial phase of a larger prisoner exchange agreement.
The exchange marks the beginning of a more extensive prisoner swap arrangement where both Russia and Ukraine will release 1,000 prisoners of war from each side. This exchange is taking place during a three-day ceasefire that was facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump.
MANILA – The Philippines’ anti-corruption leader has imposed a six-month suspension on the Senate’s top security official after gunfire erupted in the legislative building Wednesday, followed by the flight of a senator sought by the International Criminal Court.
“It’s a preventive suspension meant to make things easier for us to get to the bottom of this,” Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla stated during a Friday press briefing.
“We can’t ignore something of this magnitude,” Remulla explained, noting that Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca’s suspension became effective Friday.
Reuters was unable to immediately reach Aplasca for his response to the suspension.
Military forces were sent to the legislative complex after Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who previously led President Rodrigo Duterte’s aggressive anti-drug campaign, called on his followers to gather and prevent his pending arrest on an ICC warrant.
Aplasca has acknowledged firing the initial warning shot during a confrontation with National Bureau of Investigation officers within the Senate facility.
“He was the first to fire. Do you fire at law enforcement? We do not tolerate that,” Remulla declared. “What right does he have to do that? Not even the President will do that.”
Dela Rosa, who had been sheltering in the Senate since Monday, has relocated elsewhere following what his spouse called an “escape” in the early morning hours Thursday.
“Flight is an indication of guilt, right? That’s a very basic tenet of criminal law. Flight is an indication of guilt,” Remulla observed.
“Is that how our senators should be, someone who runs from the law? He should be held accountable. He should just face the accusations and respond properly if he really has done nothing wrong.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr previously urged restraint and stated that no government staff participated in the confrontation. Both the Senate and law enforcement agencies confirmed that an inquiry into the shooting incident is ongoing.
According to the Philippine Constitution and the Ombudsman Act, the Ombudsman possesses the power to sanction public officials and can implement preventive suspensions to maintain objectivity during investigations.
A major healthcare company has finalized a $194 million sustainability-focused loan agreement with Singapore’s largest banking institution, linking portions of the financing to enhanced antibiotic management practices across multiple medical facilities.
IHH Healthcare announced Friday that it completed the S$250 million loan arrangement with DBS, which establishes performance benchmarks for four Singapore medical centers: Mount Elizabeth, Mount Elizabeth Novena, Gleneagles and Parkway East hospitals.
Under the agreement’s terms, these medical facilities must enhance their monitoring procedures to evaluate whether patients require continued antibiotic therapy within 72 hours of beginning treatment.
Both organizations stated that the initiative aims to reduce inappropriate antibiotic usage, which contributes to the development of drug-resistant bacterial strains and creates more challenging treatment scenarios for infections.
IHH Healthcare noted that this program aligns with Singapore’s broader national strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance.
A major Japanese manufacturer of memory chips announced Friday that it projects quarterly operating profits will reach 1.3 trillion yen ($8.20 billion) for the April through June period, as artificial intelligence applications drive unprecedented demand for semiconductor products.
Kioxia, which produces NAND flash memory chips, disclosed that its operating profits climbed 92.7% to 870.4 billion yen during the fiscal year that concluded in March, surpassing analyst projections.
The company revealed plans to offer American depositary shares on a United States stock exchange as part of efforts to expand its pool of investors.
Kioxia’s stock value has increased more than four times this year, pushing the company’s market value above major corporations including Sony and Fast Retailing, which owns the Uniqlo brand.
Other Asian semiconductor companies have also seen dramatic value increases, with South Korean manufacturer Samsung Electronics achieving a market valuation exceeding $1 trillion, while SK Hynix approaches the same benchmark.
The memory chip producer has navigated significant corporate changes in recent years, including its separation from scandal-plagued Toshiba through an acquisition led by Bain Capital, followed by its public listing in Tokyo during late 2024.
Companies in the memory chip sector typically require substantial capital investments and face exposure to unpredictable pricing fluctuations in the market.
Drivers using DE 72 should plan for potential delays as construction work continues to impact traffic flow in the area.
The roadway, also known as Paper Mill Road, is experiencing intermittent lane restrictions between Limestone Road (DE 7) and Willow Creek Lane while crews complete construction activities.
These temporary lane closures are expected to remain in effect until 5 AM, according to traffic officials.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when navigating through the construction zone.
HAVANA — Juan Miguel Mas spent almost 30 years leading Cuba’s Danza Voluminosa dance company, which regularly performed at elite theaters including the 2,000-capacity National Theater. The 60-year-old choreographer created an innovative movement featuring exclusively larger-bodied performers — work that became the subject of a Canadian documentary film.
Now the Havana native has moved away from the grand theaters where he once worked with professional performers. His current routine involves leading dance classes for young people and organizing community shows.
Mas faces the same challenges as other Cubans dealing with the island’s severe economic downturn, including frequent power failures, water shortages, rising prices and limited public transit options.
Artists face additional hardships, including canceled productions, eliminated funding for shows and widespread departures from the arts community. Mas recently learned his teaching position with the National Theater of Cuba has been terminated.
Arts journalist and essayist Michel Hernández described the situation bluntly. “The outlook for the arts is complex and bleak,” he said, explaining that Cuba’s once-accessible, government-funded cultural venues have declined dramatically, forcing artists to rely on costly private locations.
Despite these obstacles, Mas remains determined to stay.
“I am very interested in staying in Cuba,” he explained to The Associated Press during a recent Saturday while getting ready for practice with neighborhood children. “Were I to emigrate, I would lose contact with that ‘Cubanness’ that exists here, with the audience, the people, the folks next door.”
Mas was born in Havana in 1965 and learned dance and choreography from celebrated ballerina Laura Alonso and Ramiro Guerra, considered the founder of contemporary dance in Cuba. He also trained with Cuban-American performer and choreographer Lorna Burdsall, who supported him through discrimination from dance institutions due to his 160-kilogram (352-pound) weight.
In 1996, he launched Danza Voluminosa (or Voluminous Dance), which operated through 2024 and welcomed performers whose physiques didn’t match traditional dance standards. He also pursued acting and appeared in 2025’s “Cherri,” a dramatized movie inspired by his personal story.
To earn additional money beyond his modest income from youth instruction, Mas rents out part of his residence for commercial purposes and organizes weekend yard sales selling selected secondhand clothing, dishes and home items.
After his sister and teenage nephew moved to Spain last year, he lives by himself and manages costs by shopping at a neighborhood farmers’ market two blocks from home. He also benefits from having a government-subsidized pharmacy located directly across his street.
On a recent morning, carrying water to combat the heat, Mas walked six blocks to the bustling Marianao neighborhood, where 30 children and their mothers gathered to meet him.
The group quickly converted a street intersection into a performance space, and for 90 minutes straight, music played as the young performers sang songs and demonstrated dance routines while dressed as bees and other vibrant characters.
Despite facing significant challenges, Mas emphasized the value of maintaining ties to his neighborhood.
“It’s about bringing the knowledge of art to these children and lifting them out of a reality defined by conflict,” he said.
Australian officials have designated a neo-Nazi organization as the second group to be prohibited under new legislation that makes hate groups illegal.
The organization, previously called the National Socialist Network and also referred to as White Australia, announced it would dissolve after lawmakers enacted the legislation in January that permits certain groups to be outlawed. The legislation was created following the antisemitic assault on a Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach in December that resulted in 15 deaths.
“They changed their name, but didn’t change the fact that they were still an organization and were still engaging in the same sort of behavior that met the thresholds for this legislation,” Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated to media in Canberra on Friday.
The prohibition, effective at Friday’s conclusion, makes supporting, financing, training for, recruiting for, joining or leading the organization illegal, including if it reorganizes with a different identity, Burke explained. Violations carry penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment.
The Islamist organization Hibzt ut-Tahrir became the first group prohibited under the hate speech legislation in March. Both that group and the National Socialist Network were specifically named by legislators and government officials as the law’s main focus.
The legislation enabled authorities to ban hate organizations that didn’t qualify as terrorist groups under Australia’s existing definitions. It was part of multiple measures implemented to combat antisemitic hatred following the Bondi attack that shocked the nation.
The national security agency ASIO determines if an organization qualifies for designation as a hate group, and a government minister must subsequently authorize the ban. Requirements include that an organization’s actions could heighten violence risks and that it has promoted or participated in hate crimes.
“None of this will stop bigoted people from having horrific ideologies,” Burke stated. “But it does prevent this group from organizing, from meeting, and prevents some of the sorts of horrific bigoted rallies that we’ve seen around our country.”
The disbanded group’s leader Thomas Sewell faces trial on charges connected to an assault he allegedly led against an Indigenous protest site last August. Masked individuals attacked the Melbourne camp during an anti-immigration demonstration, wounding three people.
Sewell has entered not guilty pleas to his five charges. A separate investigation into the white supremacist shooting deaths of 51 Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2019 determined that Sewell had tried to recruit the shooter, Brenton Tarrant, into another white nationalist organization two years prior to the mosque killings.
Burke rejected claims that the National Socialist Network had truly disbanded. The organization posted on its Telegram account in January that it would dissolve to prevent member arrests, according to Australian media reports.
The minister indicated his administration was ready for court challenges from the banned organizations.
Prior to the Bondi shooting in 2024, Australia implemented a national prohibition on Nazi salutes and displaying swastikas and other Nazi imagery. This followed months of antisemitic incidents targeting synagogues and Jewish businesses and schools in Sydney and Melbourne.
The Chicago White Sox achieved a milestone Thursday night, defeating the Kansas City Royals 6-2 to push their record above .500 for the first time since their 2023 season opener.
Randal Grichuk powered the offensive attack with four RBIs, connecting for a two-run blast in the opening frame and adding two more runs with a base hit in the third inning. The victory marked Chicago’s fifth consecutive win, extending their current hot streak.
Chicago completed a three-game sweep of Kansas City, establishing themselves as baseball’s hottest team. With a 22-21 record, the White Sox have reached .500 after April for the first time since October 2022.
Left-handed starter Anthony Kay (3-1) delivered a solid performance for Chicago, surrendering six hits and two runs across six-plus innings. Kay walked two batters while striking out four on 97 pitches.
In other MLB action Thursday:
Cincinnati dominated Washington 15-1, with JJ Bleday launching two home runs and collecting six RBIs to help the Reds salvage the series finale. Matt McLain and Dane Myers also went deep, while Spencer Steer contributed two hits and three runs scored. Elly De La Cruz extended his multi-hit streak to six games with two hits and two runs. Chase Burns (5-1) shut out the Nationals over six innings, allowing just two hits.
The New York Mets completed their first series sweep of the season with a 9-4 victory over Detroit. Nolan McLean (2-2) worked seven innings of three-run ball for the win. Juan Soto delivered the go-ahead hit in the fifth and added a leadoff homer in the seventh. A.J. Ewing, Marcus Semien, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos also homered for New York.
Chicago Cubs avoided a sweep with a 2-0 shutout victory at Atlanta. Ian Happ homered while five Cubs pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout. Hoby Milner (1-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings. The Cubs snapped a season-high four-game losing streak.
Pittsburgh defeated Colorado 7-2 behind Ryan O’Hearn’s three-hit, two-RBI performance that included a home run. The Pirates took two of three games from the Rockies.
Seattle beat Houston 8-3 to win three of four games in the series. Luke Raley and Mitch Garver homered for the Mariners, while Brendan Donovan went 3-for-5 with a double and triple.
Milwaukee topped San Diego 7-1 in the series finale. Luis Rengifo drove in three runs while Kyle Harrison (4-1) threw five shutout innings with seven strikeouts.
Philadelphia edged Boston 3-1 as Kyle Schwarber hit his 18th homer of the season and Jesus Luzardo pitched six scoreless innings for the road victory.
Minnesota cruised past Miami 9-1, with Austin Martin and James Outman each driving in three runs. Zebby Matthews (1-0) scattered four hits over seven shutout innings in his season debut.
Los Angeles defeated San Francisco 5-2 to close their four-game series. Emmet Sheehan (3-1) threw six strong innings, while Alex Call hit a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth.
St. Louis rallied for a 5-4 win over the Athletics in West Sacramento. Ivan Herrera tied the game with a two-out single in the ninth, and Jordan Walker followed with the go-ahead double.
The Los Angeles Dodgers secured a 5-2 victory against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, splitting their four-game series behind a stellar pitching performance from Emmet Sheehan and a crucial sixth-inning rally.
Sheehan delivered six impressive innings on the mound, while Alex Call provided the decisive blow with a two-run double in the sixth that put the Dodgers ahead for good. Will Smith got things started early with a leadoff home run, and Teoscar Hernandez contributed three hits to the winning effort.
The victory allowed the Dodgers to claim the final two contests of the series after beginning the season with a disappointing 1-4 record against their division rivals. Los Angeles managed eight hits despite playing without Shohei Ohtani for the second straight game, as the star player received his first complete day off of the year while working through offensive struggles.
Sheehan improved to 3-1 on the season, surrendering just two runs on two hits while walking two and striking out six batters. Tanner Scott closed out the game with a flawless ninth inning to earn his fourth save of the campaign.
For San Francisco, Jung Hoo Lee provided the offensive highlight with a two-run inside-the-park home run. Starting pitcher Landen Roupp took the loss, falling to 5-4 after allowing four runs on six hits across 5 1/3 innings. He recorded seven strikeouts and issued two walks as the Giants dropped back-to-back games following a strong 4-1 stretch.
The Giants’ offensive struggles continued from the previous night when they were shut out by Ohtani and the Los Angeles bullpen.
Smith, batting leadoff for the first time in his professional career, wasted no time connecting on Roupp’s fourth pitch of the game, sending it just over the right field fence for his fourth homer this season.
The Dodgers extended their lead to 2-0 in the second inning when Hyeseong Kim drove in a run with a single.
Lee’s dramatic inside-the-park homer came in the fifth inning with a runner on first base. His blooper down the left field line took an unusual bounce off the retaining wall, rolling past Hernandez into the corner and allowing Lee to circle the bases for his third home run of the year, sliding safely into home ahead of the relay throw.
The decisive sixth inning saw pinch hitter Call deliver a clutch single to right field off reliever Matt Gage, bringing home two runs for a 4-2 advantage. Miguel Rojas added an insurance run with an RBI single to center field on the tenth pitch of his at-bat.
International bond markets concluded a difficult week on Friday with widespread declines as mounting signs of economic disruption from the Iran war led investors to expect more aggressive interest rate increases and slower economic growth.
Treasury yields in the United States reached approximately one-year highs as market participants expect the Federal Reserve may need to raise borrowing costs to combat inflation driven by energy price spikes related to the Iran conflict.
European government bonds from Germany, Italy and France faced selling pressure during morning trading sessions, while bond yields in Japan climbed to unprecedented levels.
Italy’s 10-year government bond yields jumped nearly 9 basis points to approximately 3.87%, marking a weekly increase of almost 14 basis points, while Germany’s benchmark Bund yields climbed about 6 basis points to roughly 3.11%.
Economic data released this week demonstrated that consumers and companies are beginning to experience significant price increases due to the conflict, which has driven crude oil prices up more than 50%.
Shorter-term two-year yields, which respond most quickly to shifting expectations about inflation and monetary policy, posted the steepest gains this week, though longer-term bond yields have also begun climbing as investors worry about extended impacts from energy price shocks.
“It’s not just inflation, but also higher deficits that should be the focus,” Jefferies strategist Mohit Kumar said.
“We are likely to see a number of support measures for fuel subsidies announced in the coming months.”
Kumar predicted a steepening pattern in government bond yield curves, describing a market condition where longer-term bond yields increase faster than shorter-term rates.
The benchmark 10-year Treasury note was most recently trading at 4.53%, gaining 7.3 basis points for the session and near its peak since last June.
British government bond yields experienced volatile trading throughout the week, reaching multi-decade highs, as political pressure intensifies on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step down following his Labour party’s significant defeats in local elections and the emergence of potential leadership rivals.
BEIJING, May 15 – Following discussions about trade, Taiwan and Iran, the Chinese President took the U.S. President Donald Trump on an exclusive walk through the historic Zhongnanhai compound in Beijing during the final portion of their diplomatic meeting.
The secure government complex, which previously served as an imperial garden and currently accommodates the offices of the ruling Communist Party and the state council, sits next to Beijing’s renowned Forbidden City near Tiananmen Square.
Audio equipment picked up the conversation between the two leaders, revealing Trump’s amazement upon learning that certain trees in the garden had survived for a millennium.
“Let me tell you, all the trees on this side are over 200 to 300 years old,” the Chinese President explained through his interpreter while pointing toward the massive tree trunks. “Over there, there are some more than 400 years old.”
Trump responded with surprise, asking “They live that long?”
The Chinese leader continued, “There are also 1,000-year-old trees in other places.”
When Trump inquired whether other international leaders had visited the compound, the Chinese President confirmed such visits were uncommon.
“Very rarely,” he answered. “At first, we usually didn’t hold diplomatic events here. Even after we started having some, it’s still extremely rare. For example, Putin has been here.”
The Chinese President then encouraged Trump to feel the bark of a tree that was 280 years old.
“Good. I like it,” Trump responded.
This exchange provided an unusual look at casual diplomatic moments between world leaders.
Previously in September, recording equipment had captured a conversation between the Chinese President and Russian President Vladimir Putin about organ transplants and human longevity potentially reaching 150 years as they approached Tiananmen Square for Beijing’s military parade.
Continental health officials announced Friday that an Ebola outbreak has been verified in the Ituri province of Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention released a statement indicating they are organizing an emergency meeting with Congo, Uganda, South Sudan and international partners to strengthen border monitoring, preparedness and response measures.
Officials reported approximately 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths, primarily concentrated in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, with four fatalities confirmed among laboratory-verified cases.
Preliminary research indicates the presence of a non-Zaire strain of the virus, with genetic analysis continuing to provide further identification.
“Africa CDC is concerned about the risk of further spread due to the urban context of Bunia and Rwampara, intense population movement, mining-related mobility in Mongwalu,” the agency stated.
The Ebola virus causes a serious and frequently deadly disease. According to the Africa CDC, transmission occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected individuals, contaminated objects or those who have died from the illness.
Six travelers from a cruise vessel struck by a deadly hantavirus outbreak touched down in Australia on Friday, beginning what officials expect will be at least a three-week isolation period.
A Gulfstream business aircraft transported the passengers from the Netherlands to RAAF Base Pearce near Perth, the capital of Western Australia. From there, the group was transferred to the Bullsbrook isolation facility located nearby.
On Thursday, Australian Health Minister Mark Butler announced the government would put in place “one of the strongest quarantine arrangements in response to this virus outbreak you’ll find anywhere in the world.”
The group consists of five Australian nationals and one citizen of New Zealand, who will remain at the isolation center that has sat mostly empty since its construction in 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Officials have not yet determined what additional safety measures may be needed for the remaining portion of the 42-day potential incubation timeframe identified by the World Health Organization, Butler explained.
According to Butler, other passengers from the cruise vessel MV Hondius who returned to the United States and Britain will complete most of their isolation periods in their own homes.
All six passengers showed negative test results for the virus prior to departing the Netherlands and have shown no signs of illness, Butler reported.
The hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius affected 11 people total, with three fatalities reported.
The vessel was traveling from Argentina to the Antarctic region and then to various remote islands in the South Atlantic Ocean when health officials identified the outbreak.
Now that all passengers and most crew members have been evacuated, the MV Hondius is returning to the Netherlands for thorough cleaning and sanitization procedures.
India implemented a 3 rupee ($0.03) per liter increase in fuel costs Friday as officials work to balance losses caused by escalating worldwide oil prices.
The capital city of New Delhi now sees gasoline priced at 97.77 rupees ($1.17) per liter, with diesel reaching 90.67 rupees ($1.09) per liter.
The nation depends on imports for approximately 90% of its oil supply and has faced significant challenges from climbing energy costs and distribution problems connected to the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz closure. Until this point, the country had resisted increasing consumer fuel costs despite dramatic rises in energy expenses, positioning it among the final major economies to transfer elevated crude prices to buyers.
These cost adjustments occurred just days following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for Indians to embrace voluntary conservation efforts.
During a Sunday address, Modi encouraged citizens to work from home when feasible, restrict international travel, and decrease gold purchases. He characterized fuel preservation and foreign exchange conservation as acts of “patriotism,” while promoting increased public transit usage, ride-sharing, and reduced fertilizer consumption.
Political opposition figures noted that Modi’s request came only after a significant state election cycle had finished, pointing out that fuel costs remained stable throughout the campaign period.
This week also saw India implement higher import tariffs on gold and silver at 15% as an attempt to reduce demand for imports that deplete foreign currency reserves.
The nation’s currency has dropped to historic lows recently as elevated oil costs have intensified import pressures and strained foreign exchange holdings.
India’s capital has emerged as the first state to implement conservation policies.
New Delhi officials announced fuel conservation initiatives Thursday, featuring required remote work days for certain government workers. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta explained the 90-day initiative seeks to decrease official fuel consumption and motivate residents to depend more heavily on public transit rather than personal vehicles.
The strategy requires employees capable of remote work to stay home twice weekly, while private businesses receive encouragement to voluntarily implement comparable policies.
The country has also expedited ethanol integration in gasoline as part of efforts to decrease crude oil dependency.
The majority of filling stations nationwide now offer gasoline mixed with 20% ethanol, with officials proposing expanded use of fuels containing 85% or complete ethanol in suitable vehicles.
Energy specialists noted that biofuel blending can provide protection from global energy disruptions but may further strain already diminishing groundwater supplies, encroach on agricultural land designated for food production, and affect older vehicle engines.
HONG KONG (AP) — Markets across Asia declined on Friday despite South Korea’s Kospi index achieving a historic peak before surrendering its advances, while investors monitored developments surrounding the Iran conflict and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Beijing summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
American futures declined following Wall Street’s achievement of new record highs.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1.2% to 61,880.04 despite earlier gains during the session. South Korea’s Kospi declined 3.2% to 7,727.34 after surpassing the 8,000 threshold for the first time and touching 8,046.78, driven partly by enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence developments.
The Hang Seng in Hong Kong decreased 0.9% to 26,145.66, while Shanghai’s Composite index gained 0.1% to 4,183.05.
The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia fell 0.1% to 8,629.70.
Taiwan’s Taiex declined 0.5%, while India’s Sensex rose 0.1%.
Trump is concluding his Chinese visit on Friday following multiple sessions with Xi that addressed topics including bilateral trade, expanded economic partnerships and Taiwan. Market participants are tracking updates on trade agreements covering American agricultural products like soybeans, beef and aircraft.
Despite positive sentiment regarding U.S.-China relations, some experts recommend approaching any agreements with caution. “Headline deals should be looked at with a healthy degree of scepticism,” wrote Leahy Fahy and Julian Evans-Pritchard, China economists at Capital Economics, in a Friday note.
Many of the announced projects and investments from U.S.-China agreements during Trump’s previous China visit in 2017 never came to fruition, they noted, as Washington-Beijing relations deteriorated significantly in subsequent years.
Trump also mentioned in an interview that China could purchase U.S. oil, more than a year after China essentially halted crude oil purchases from the United States following Trump’s implementation of significant trade tariffs last year.
Energy prices rose early Friday as U.S.-Iran negotiations on permanently ending the Iran war reached an impasse, and following the seizure of a vessel anchored near the United Arab Emirates and an attack on another cargo ship close to Oman.
Brent crude, the global benchmark, increased 1.3% to $107.06 per barrel. It was trading around $70 per barrel before the Iranian conflict began in late February.
U.S. benchmark crude rose 1.4% to $102.56 per barrel.
International energy transportation continues to face restrictions with the Strait of Hormuz, vital for worldwide oil and gas movement, remaining mostly blocked and as the U.S. established a naval blockade on Iranian ports since last month. The White House announced Thursday after bilateral discussions between Trump and Xi that both nations agreed the Strait of Hormuz must stay open.
On Thursday, Wall Street equities advanced with the S&P 500 benchmark climbing 0.8% to 7,501.24 and achieving a record high for the second straight day.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased more than 0.7% to 50,063.46, marking the first time it finished above 50,000 since the Iran war began. The tech-focused Nasdaq composite advanced 0.9% to 26,635.22.
Technology company Cisco Systems shares surged 13.4% after exceeding earnings expectations and announcing job cuts affecting fewer than 4,000 positions, while Nvidia gained 4.4% as investor optimism increased regarding updates on sales of its advanced H200 chips to Chinese companies as CEO Jensen Huang accompanied Trump to Beijing.
In currency markets, the U.S. dollar strengthened to 158.50 Japanese yen from 158.37 yen. The euro traded at $1.1651, declining from $1.1669.
India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar declared Friday that overhauling the United Nations and its related organizations continues to be a priority, stating that major UN institutions, especially the Security Council, still mirror an outdated time period.
Speaking at the BRICS foreign ministers’ gathering in New Delhi, Jaishankar emphasized that proper representation for Asia, Africa, and Latin America is crucial within the UN framework.
Health officials worldwide are facing a familiar challenge as a hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship triggers memories of early pandemic fears and online panic.
The virus, carried by rodents and known as the Andes strain, has infected passengers on a luxury cruise vessel quarantined in the Atlantic Ocean. Three fatalities have occurred among 11 confirmed cases, with dozens of other passengers now under monitoring as they return to approximately 20 different countries.
Public health authorities find themselves walking a tightrope between providing timely information about a virus that poses serious risks but is unlikely to spark a pandemic, while avoiding the spread of unnecessary fear.
The health department of Illinois state demonstrated this careful approach earlier this week when posting about an unrelated case. “Hantavirus thread incoming,” they wrote, “But you have to promise to read this whole thread before panic-texting your group chat. Deal?”
Multiple health officials interviewed said they are applying lessons learned from pandemic-era communication failures, emphasizing empathy while addressing uncertainties and combating false information.
“We spend half of our time discussing how we will communicate,” explained the emergencies lead at the EU’s European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
The pandemic exposed significant weaknesses in government response and public messaging. Many administrations reacted slowly or denied problems initially, delivered confusing and contradictory information, implemented varying policies worldwide, and allowed misinformation and political division to flourish.
These failures contributed to widespread institutional distrust. Research indicates that confidence in public health agencies dropped in 20 out of 27 EU nations between 2020 and 2022.
Current health communication efforts focus on balancing explanations of why this constitutes a serious global health situation with reassurances about low public risk levels, while maintaining honesty about remaining unknowns regarding a virus that has rarely transmitted between humans previously.
“There are people who say we are overdoing it, and on the other extreme, that we’re not doing enough,” the EU official noted. “We always base our messages on the evidence we have.”
Social media activity suggests these communication efforts remain challenging, with many individuals unnecessarily worrying about potential returns to lockdowns, social distancing requirements, and mask mandates.
“We have kind of lost perspective,” observed a professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai who specializes in hantavirus research and originates from Argentina.
He emphasized that disease outbreaks can represent major public health events requiring attention and action without necessarily becoming pandemics.
Online misinformation includes false claims presenting hantavirus as more dangerous than COVID, promoting unproven treatments like the anti-parasite medication ivermectin, vitamin D, and zinc. Conspiracy theories have also emerged, falsely linking the virus to vaccine side effects or pharmaceutical company profit schemes.
A psychology professor at England’s University of Cambridge who studies misinformation suggested the public requires better guidance on information interpretation, potentially including exposure to conspiracy theories they might encounter during outbreaks.
“We need to do more preparatory work to create resilience in the population,” he stated.
By Thursday, the outbreak had resulted in three deaths from 11 reported cases, all individuals who had traveled aboard the cruise vessel. Dozens of additional passengers remain under observation as they return home.
Unlike COVID, established protocols exist for controlling hantavirus transmission, officials noted. This particular strain has circulated in regions of Argentina and Chile for decades, and ship samples show no significant variation from that existing virus.
A former head of communications at the World Health Organization, who served until September last year, acknowledged improvements in current responses. “I’m definitely seeing improvements,” she said, particularly regarding sharing available information promptly.
“It seems like the public health community has absorbed crucial lessons, although not all of them.”
The WHO responded quickly to reassure the public, conducting regular press briefings, issuing alerts, and addressing misinformation through social media question-and-answer sessions since the outbreak became public on May 3.
The WHO chief took the unusual step of writing an open letter to residents of Tenerife, where the cruise ship docked on Sunday.
“But I need you to hear me clearly: this is not another COVID,” he wrote. “The current public health risk from hantavirus remains low. My colleagues and I have said this unequivocally, and I will say it again to you now.”
Some agencies began communications more slowly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States issued its first information on May 8, five days after news broke, but has since accelerated its communication pace.
“One of the things this is teaching us is a lesson we should have learned from COVID: What we say is really important,” said an infectious diseases expert at the University of Minnesota.
The cruise ship setting has complicated the narrative, echoing memories of the Diamond Princess outbreak during early COVID in 2020, where 14 people died and nearly 25% of the 3,000 passengers and crew became infected while docked off Japan.
“The whole cruise ship thing … is a very significant memory from the beginning of COVID,” explained an associate professor of medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
“There’s an emotional reaction that is stirring people.”
The similarity was apparent to a 40-year-old Tenerife resident as passengers began disembarking under strict infection-control protocols at the week’s beginning.
Witnessing the WHO leader’s arrival on the island with Spanish officials to help oversee the response brought back memories.
“It gave me the impression that this isn’t just the flu – otherwise all these people wouldn’t be coming,” she said at a playground, while adding that she understood their involvement helped ensure appropriate measures were taken.
A young man from a Minneapolis suburb who grew up enjoying rap music, video games and football is now thousands of miles from home, pursuing his destiny as a Buddhist monk in the mountains of northern India.
Jalue Dorje has dedicated much of his life to monastic preparation, studying sacred texts, practicing calligraphy and absorbing Buddhist teachings, after being identified as a reincarnated lama by the Dalai Lama and other prominent Tibetan Buddhist figures.
Following his high school graduation last year, Dorje relocated to a monastery situated in the Himalayan foothills, far from his Minnesota home.
After completing what would be equivalent to a college’s first semester, he traveled to Nepal for a reunion with his parents and participated in religious ceremonies and instruction at monasteries throughout the Kathmandu Valley.
The 12-day period of ceremonies and prayers concluded with Dorje and his parents making a spiritual journey to the historic Maratika or Halesi Mahadev Caves in eastern Nepal.
These caves hold religious significance for both Hindu and Buddhist faiths, with visitors traditionally decorating the cave walls using vibrant powders and presenting offerings of fruit and flowers.
After completing several years of meditation and spiritual discipline, Dorje plans to return to the United States to serve Minnesota’s Buddhist community as a teacher. He aspires to become a peaceful leader, drawing inspiration from figures like Nelson Mandela, Gandhi and the Dalai Lama.
A young Buddhist spiritual leader recently conducted blessings for thousands of followers at a monastery nestled in the Himalayan foothills.
Half a year before that ceremony and thousands of miles away, the same teenager was staying up all night playing Madden NFL video games on his Xbox in a Minneapolis-area home.
These contrasting worlds both belong to Jalue Dorje.
Dorje experienced a typical American adolescence, embracing rap music, gaming, and football. Yet he’s also a future spiritual guide — identified by the Dalai Lama from a young age as a reincarnated lama.
The Associated Press started documenting his journey several years back when he turned 14.
Today at 19, he completed high school last year and relocated to northern India to enter the Mindrolling Monastery, situated roughly 7,200 miles from his Columbia Heights residence.
During a recent visit to Nepal, he reunited with his parents who traveled from Minneapolis to witness sacred ceremonies and teachings led by the abbot of Shechen Monastery. This monastery sits near the ancient 1,500-year-old Boudhanath stupa, among Tibetan Buddhism’s holiest locations.
Gone were his typical hoodies and sweatpants — replaced entirely by maroon and golden monastic robes. However, underneath his traditional garments, he sported white Crocs adorned with “The Simpsons” Jibbitz charms.
Daily routines began at sunrise. Following prayer sessions, he would walk from his lodging through bustling Kathmandu streets near the towering white dome and spire of Boudhanath — surrounded by vibrant Tibetan prayer flags and the painted, watchful eyes of the Buddha.
After the Dalai Lama’s recognition when he was 2 years old, Dorje dedicated much of his childhood to monastic preparation. He committed sacred scriptures to memory, studied calligraphy, and absorbed Buddhist teachings.
Identifying a lama relies on spiritual signs and visions.
Dorje received identification at 4 months old from Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, a respected Tibetan Buddhism master. Multiple lamas later verified him as the eighth Terchen Taksham Rinpoche — the lineage’s first incarnation dates to 1655.
Dorje’s parents brought him before the Dalai Lama during a 2010 Wisconsin visit by Tibetan Buddhism’s spiritual leader. The Dalai Lama performed a ceremony cutting a lock of Dorje’s hair. He recommended the parents allow their son to remain in America to master English before monastery enrollment.
During childhood, he frequently questioned why he couldn’t sleep in on weekends and watch cartoons like his peers. His father would explain that eventually it would benefit him, “like planting a seed that one day would sprout.”
Speaking both English and Tibetan fluently, Dorje thrived in public education. Despite his 2019 lama enthronement ceremony in India, his parents permitted him to complete his American education.
Throughout his upbringing, he displayed a Dalai Lama photograph in his bedroom above DVD collections of “The Simpsons,” “South Park,” and “Family Guy,” alongside the manga graphic novel series “Buddha.”
He struck an agreement with his father, receiving Pokémon cards for memorizing Buddhist scriptures. He amassed hundreds of cards, occasionally hiding them in his robes during ceremonies.
Each morning began with sacred text recitation. School followed, then football practice. He returned for tutoring sessions on Tibetan history and Buddhism. Evenings involved calligraphy practice or listening to rap artists. After receiving his driver’s license, he drove around enjoying Taylor Swift music.
As a passionate sports enthusiast, he supports the Atlanta Hawks in basketball, Real Madrid in soccer, and the Atlanta Falcons in football.
During football games, teammates appreciated his upbeat attitude; he encouraged them to enjoy themselves and maintain perspective after defeats. However, during his final senior season game, he wept, understanding it would probably be his last time playing.
He also pursues writing and journalism interests. During high school, he created an award-winning Tibet story for the student publication.
He frequently assisted with local Tibetan community events.
For his 18th birthday celebration, the AP documented when over 1,000 attendees gathered at the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota for his farewell party before departing for the Indian monastery.
He traveled light to his new environment: headphones, laptop, a Fantasy Football magazine, and a book about the Indian Buddhist master who introduced Tantric Buddhism to Tibet.
His parents accompanied him to New Delhi, then drove north to Dehradun near the Himalayan foothills, resembling a college send-off. They purchased him a larger bed, more suitable for a football player than a monk. They painted his monastic quarters and installed a shrine for prayer.
He studied Buddhist philosophy and practiced calligraphy and chanting in India while his friends attended history, science, and literature courses at American colleges.
Despite the 10-hour time difference, he maintained friendships back home through texts and WhatsApp.
During breaks from chanting and prayers, he assembled Legos, visited an arcade for FIFA soccer games, and watched Marvel superhero movies plus NBA and NFL games on his laptop. He expressed particular excitement about the Super Bowl halftime show and praised what he called an incredible performance by Bad Bunny.
This marked his first experience with ascetic living. He consumed daily portions of rice and lentils and hand-washed his clothing.
However, he adapted well, easily connecting with monks from across Asia while discussing spirituality, popular culture, and sports.
After several years of reflection and ascetic practice, Dorje plans to return to America for teaching within Minnesota’s Buddhist community.
His aspiration involves becoming “a leader of peace,” modeling himself after Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama. It represents a lengthy journey that started shortly after birth. Yet he feels prepared, stating that this “is just the beginning.”
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — A quick glance reveals only scattered stone remnants of the community that Yusuf Abu Hamam’s relatives were compelled to abandon when he was a baby in 1948.
The community, al-Joura, was destroyed by Israeli forces during that period. It has since disappeared beneath residential areas of the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon and a national park’s grounds.
The area where Abu Hamam’s family settled — and where he lived most of his years — now also sits mostly in ruins. Structures in the Shati Camp in northern Gaza have been demolished and destroyed by Israeli bombing and demolitions throughout the last 2½ years of conflict.
On Friday, Abu Hamam and millions of Palestinians observe the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, meaning “catastrophe” in Arabic, which refers to the mass displacement and exodus of approximately 750,000 Palestinians from present-day Israel during the 1948 conflict surrounding Israel’s establishment. This marks the third Nakba remembrance since the Gaza war started.
The 78-year-old Abu Hamam, among a shrinking group of Nakba survivors, believes the present conflict represents an even worse disaster.
More than six months following an October ceasefire, he and Gaza’s remaining 2 million inhabitants are packed into fewer than half of the 25-mile coastal territory along the Mediterranean, encircled by an Israeli-controlled area covering the remaining land.
“There is no country left,” Abu Hamam said, speaking next to his home, which was heavily damaged by Israeli shelling earlier in the war. “A square kilometer and a half extending from the sea, this is what we are living in … It’s indescribable, unbearable.”
For Palestinians, the Nakba represented losing most of their ancestral land. Approximately 80% of Palestinians residing in the region that became Israel were forced from their residences by the emerging state’s forces before and during the conflict. The fighting started when Arab armies attacked after Israel’s creation as a Jewish homeland following the Holocaust. Palestinians who stayed received Israeli citizenship.
Following the conflict, Israel declined to permit Palestinian refugees to return to maintain a Jewish majority within its boundaries. Palestinians became what appears to be a permanent refugee population now totaling around 6 million, with most residing in refugee camps in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Gaza.
Approximately 530 Palestinian communities in what became Israel were demolished, according to the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics.
Abu Hamam’s birthplace was among them. Al-Joura was captured by Israeli forces as they advanced against Egyptian troops in November 1948. Soldiers received orders to demolish every residence in al-Joura and surrounding communities to prevent their Palestinian residents from returning, according to military records referenced by Israeli historian Benny Morris.
Refugees expanded the population of the small coastal territory that became the Gaza Strip. They remained in temporary camps, managed by a newly established U.N. agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, which supplied assistance and education. Those camps, including Abu Hamam’s Shati Camp, developed into crowded urban areas over decades, before many were destroyed during the recent Gaza conflict by Israeli bombardment.
The forebears of Ne’man Abu Jarad and his wife, Majida, were already residing in what would become the Gaza Strip in 1948. Both remember family stories about refugees arriving on foot from northern areas, like the community Abu Hamam originated from.
Although they escaped the initial Nakba, there was no avoiding what Majida now terms “our Nakba.”
Their community has been completely destroyed. During the past year, Israeli bulldozers and controlled explosions have demolished almost every structure in the northern Gaza towns of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun. A new Israeli military installation sits approximately 700 meters (765 yards) from where the Abu Jarads’ residence once existed, based on satellite images.
Also destroyed is the southern Gaza city of Rafah, formerly housing a quarter million residents, and other communities and areas in the Israeli-controlled portion of the Gaza Strip. The military states it is eliminating positions used by Hamas and preparing the region for rebuilding. Satellite images reveal nearly every building reduced to debris.
During the last 31 months of conflict, the Abu Jarads and their six daughters have been forced to relocate more than twelve times while escaping Israeli bombing and military operations. They presently reside in a camp in the southern city of Khan Younis. Their tent provides minimal protection from harsh winter winds or summer heat, Majida explained.
Their daughters have been absent from school for more than two years.
“The Nakba of ’48, I don’t think it can be compared to our Nakba,” Majida said. “In ’48, they say people were displaced once and settled in one place, and they are still there until now. But our Nakba, honestly, is more severe because our displacement has happened multiple times. There is no stability.”
Approximately 90% of Gaza’s more than 2 million residents have lost their residences, based on U.N. estimates, with most now living in massive tent camps with rodent problems and sewage pools. They depend on aid for survival.
Israel’s military campaign has resulted in over 72,700 Palestinian deaths, according to local health authorities. It began following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths. Militants also captured 251 hostages.
In the northern West Bank, tens of thousands of Palestinians are experiencing their 15th month of displacement, after Israeli forces ordered them from their refugee camps during an operation targeting militant organizations.
Since that time, troops have destroyed or severely damaged at least 850 buildings throughout the refugee camps of Nur Shams, Jenin and Tulkarem, based on satellite imagery analysis by Human Rights Watch published in December.
The 1948 Nakba also resulted in Palestinians losing their historical records, as those fleeing found it difficult to preserve documents and belongings connecting them to their homes.
One of the most extensive collections of Palestinian documents from the Nakba period belongs to UNRWA.
UNRWA personnel, who evacuated their Gaza offices after Israel ordered northern evacuation, were forced to abandon the agency’s comprehensive archive.
The staff then began a rescue operation for the most essential documents — birth, death and marriage certificates and refugee registration cards, according to Juliette Touma, a former senior UNRWA official.
Without these documents, Palestinians could forfeit their rights and refugee status. Staff members filled their personal luggage with papers and transported them through checkpoints and out of the territory, Touma explained.
The ongoing conflict has taken from Palestinians in Gaza what remained of their personal histories. Majida’s parents’ residence in Beit Hanoun was demolished, along with family photographs.
“There is nothing left,” she said.
Abu Hamam also states everything has been lost.
“When this war came, it devoured trees, stones and people,” he said. “Entire families were erased from the civil registry. Hundreds of families are still buried under the rubble.”
BUCHAREST, Romania — Disturbing footage shows dogs drinking from frozen water bowls and eating dried waste in concrete enclosures at a facility in eastern Romania.
These images were captured during a covert investigation by Vier Pfoten, an international animal welfare organization also called Four Paws, which examined conditions at Romania’s government-funded stray dog facilities.
During a 10-day period from Jan. 8-18, investigators visited nine facilities across the nation, recording what the organization characterizes as “high death rates and disturbing conditions” that represent “systemic neglect.”
The welfare organization discovered cramped enclosures, animals with untreated injuries, and numerous dogs housed in areas without protection from harsh winter weather.
With approximately 500,000 stray dogs, Romania maintains one of Europe’s largest homeless canine populations. Thousands of these animals live in government facilities where they await adoption or, sometimes, euthanasia.
Manuela Rowlings, who specializes in stray animal issues at Four Paws, explained to The Associated Press that their findings demonstrate these problems are widespread and require comprehensive reform.
“Public shelters are horrible places in Romania,” she stated. “It’s simply places where dogs are locked up and where they wait to die, and they do not even receive the minimum care or minimum standards.”
“Enclosures were frequently soiled with feces and overcrowded, leading to aggression and fighting among the dogs,” the Four Paws report states. “One dog even appeared to have bitten off parts of his own tail due to the highly stressful environment.”
During their visit to a government facility in western Arad County, considered among the better locations they examined, Four Paws discovered bare concrete flooring, no bedding or heating systems, and a complete absence of enrichment activities or toys. Despite these conditions, the organization commended staff members for their efforts to enhance the environment and promote adoptions.
The investigation criticized numerous facilities for making adoption processes difficult and noted that public records requests showed poor transparency regarding funding, animal intake numbers, and euthanasia statistics.
Romania’s National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority, which supervises animal welfare and shelter operations, did not respond to the AP’s requests for comment.
Data obtained by the welfare organization shows that in 2024, only 134 of 644 dogs brought to a facility in northeastern Galati County found homes, while 28 were legally euthanized and 412 died from “other causes.”
“There is nothing that can be reported to the authorities, because it is not illegal to keep dogs in very, very poor conditions in the shelters,” Rowlings said.
Following the death of a 4-year-old boy killed by stray dogs in Bucharest in 2013, Romania enacted legislation leading to mass roundups of homeless animals, with those not adopted within 14 days facing euthanasia.
Animal protection advocates have consistently maintained that widespread spaying and neutering programs offer the most effective long-term solution.
Hilde Tudora, Director of Animal Protection at Ilfov County Council, explained to the AP that comprehensive sterilization programs fail because the stray dog situation has become a “money-making machine,” with taxpayer funds often supporting private facilities.
“Private companies have swelled up with public money, and then it turned into a business,” she said. “There must be dogs, because if you castrate en masse, there’s no more merchandise … No one really wants to solve the problem.”
Proposed legislation introduced last November would classify animals as “living beings with rights and freedoms” and shift focus from euthanasia to sterilization and microchipping programs.
Andrei Baciu, a parliamentarian from the National Liberal Party, said Romania has spent over 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in the last three decades on euthanizing stray dogs.
“From a single pair of unsterilized dogs can appear, in just six years, over 67,000 puppies,” he said in a Facebook post. “Capturing and euthanizing them would cost around 13.4 million euros ($15.6 billion). With the same money, we could sterilize 268,000 dogs.”
A catastrophic breakdown of Cuba’s electrical infrastructure has left the island nation’s eastern regions completely without power, while residents in Havana continue to endure persistent electrical outages. Frustrated citizens in the capital responded by constructing flaming roadblocks in protest of the extended power failures.
In Colombia, the Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta wetland ecosystem is experiencing severe environmental damage caused by an invasive Asian plant species. The rapidly spreading aquatic vegetation is blocking fishing channels and obstructing waterways, threatening the economic survival of local communities who depend on the lagoon for income.
Large demonstrations filled the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina, as protesters marched to government buildings to oppose funding cuts that are undermining the financial stability of the nation’s university system.
This gallery was curated by photo editor Anita Baca based in Mexico City.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Senator Mitch McConnell holds such prominence in Kentucky that state legislators approved placing his statue next to Abraham Lincoln in the state Capitol. The 84-year-old politician, who conquered polio in childhood, went on to become the Senate’s longest-tenured leader and played a key role in establishing a conservative Supreme Court majority.
However, those seeking to succeed the departing senator aren’t offering glowing praise of McConnell as they campaign for his seat.
Congressman Andy Barr and former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, both vying for the Republican nomination in Tuesday’s primary election, have strategically positioned themselves at a measured distance from the man they previously called a mentor.
This represents the final phase of a generational transformation within the Republican Party, as veteran leaders like McConnell exit the political arena while President Donald Trump continues reshaping the organization. Though many recognize that McConnell no longer aligns with contemporary “Make America Great Again” ideology, the senator retains significant influence and devoted supporters throughout Kentucky.
The contenders are navigating a “razor’s edge” between an establishment still faithful to the senator and “voters’ unhappiness with Mitch McConnell’s old-school Reagan-Bush era Republicans,” explained Stephen Voss, a political scientist at the University of Kentucky.
McConnell distanced himself from the president following the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, stating he contributed to inciting the violence. Recently, he has resisted several of Trump’s appointments, including Pete Hegseth for defense secretary and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health secretary. He also pushed for ongoing military aid to Ukraine amid the Russian conflict.
Numerous Kentucky Republican officials acknowledge McConnell’s influence on their political trajectories. They reference the more than $65 billion his office claims he delivered to Kentucky, along with his efforts establishing GOP control in the state.
Some Republicans took offense when Nate Morris, a third primary contender, aired a commercial featuring a cardboard McConnell figure being discarded. Morris labeled Barr and Cameron as “McConnell’s boys.”
Appearing disconnected from Trump can prove damaging with Republican primary voters. However, the approach didn’t resonate with Shawnee State University student Landon Shaw, 21.
“He’s talking about how much he opposes McConnell,” Shaw observed, “he’s not talking about himself.”
The strategy seemingly failed with other voters as well. Morris trailed Cameron and Barr despite receiving $10 million in backing from Elon Musk. Two weeks prior, Trump offered him an unspecified diplomatic position and Morris withdrew from the contest.
While some goodwill exists toward McConnell, many Republicans desire new leadership.
“He did a great service for the United States, for Kentucky, but times are changing and we need to finally move on and thank him for his service,” stated Tony Quillen, 61, the property valuation administrator in Greenup County.
Cameron, who formerly served as McConnell’s legal counsel, tapped into voter dissatisfaction last year. He declared the senator was “flat out wrong” for opposing Hegseth, Kennedy and Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence in a social media video that essentially launched his candidacy.
He adopted a more moderate tone while speaking in a nearly empty banquet room following a recent Lincoln Day Dinner in Covington, Kentucky.
“If you talk to people, they acknowledge this is a change election and are ready for someone else to serve in that seat,” Cameron noted, “but they also don’t want you to kick a man when he’s on the way out. Call it the kindness or courteous nature of Kentuckians.”
Barr, who previously interned with McConnell, has indicated he wants an inclusive approach that welcomes McConnell-style Republicans, though he maintains a consistent campaign message regarding the senator.
“People have asked me,” Barr told attendees at a recent public library event, “are you a Mitch McConnell Republican or are you a Rand Paul Republican?” referring to Kentucky’s other senator.
“I am neither, I am an Andy Barr Republican,” he declared.
Trump endorsed Barr earlier this month. A Cameron campaign advisor responded with a statement highlighting Barr’s connection to the senator.
“Congrats to Mitch McConnell for getting his guy,” he commented.
Nevertheless, during one of their final pre-primary forums, both Cameron and Barr spoke positively about McConnell, based on reporting from The Paducah Sun, a local publication.
“A lot of dollars in resources have been secured here because of Sen. McConnell and we need somebody in Washington that’s going to maintain the responsibility,” Cameron stated.
Barr mentioned the state’s advancement under McConnell’s guidance. “It’s really important that Kentucky continues to do as Sen. McConnell said, to punch above its weight,” he remarked, emphasizing that he was his “own man.”
Voss, the politics professor, noted that the senator’s supporters understand the candidates’ challenging position.
“McConnell’s people are realistic enough to understand that the candidates need to distance themselves from McConnell,” he explained, “but that’s different than openly disrespecting or attacking him.”
Crude oil markets experienced significant gains exceeding 1% after President Donald Trump warned his patience with Iran is running short, while shipping concerns continue in the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway.
Brent crude futures climbed $1.32, representing a 1.25% increase to reach $107.04 per barrel by 0425 GMT. Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures advanced $1.33, or 1.31%, settling at $102.50.
Weekly performance showed strong momentum, with Brent advancing nearly 6% and WTI surging more than 7%, driven by uncertainty surrounding the fragile ceasefire in the Iran conflict.
In a Thursday evening Fox News interview, Trump declared: “I am not going to be much more patient. They should make a deal.”
During a Friday morning Bloomberg interview, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer noted China’s pragmatic approach regarding Iran involvement, emphasizing China’s interest in maintaining open access through the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping were scheduled to meet Friday, concluding a two-day state visit marked by ceremonial events and business agreements.
Vandana Hari, founder of oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights, explained: “With the Beijing summit not delivering any breakthrough on Iran, market focus is back on the deadlock and a blockaded Strait, with a tail risk of renewed military escalation.”
Regarding potential deals from the summit, Trump indicated China’s interest in purchasing American oil.
Recent shipping incidents near the Strait of Hormuz included Iranian personnel reportedly seizing a vessel off the United Arab Emirates and directing it toward Iranian waters Thursday. Additionally, an Indian cargo ship transporting livestock from Africa to the UAE sank Wednesday in waters near Oman’s coast.
The White House reported that Trump and Xi reached agreement on maintaining open shipping lanes.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported 30 vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz since Wednesday evening. While this represents a notable increase if verified, it remains well below the typical pre-war daily traffic of 140 ships.
Haitong Futures analyst Yang An identified supply constraints as the primary oil price driver.
“Oil prices swung several times yesterday but still closed near the day’s high,” he noted.
“Ships passing through the strait eased some market concerns, but not enough to change the strong trend driven by tight supply.”
A comprehensive overview of upcoming trading in European and international markets from Stella Qiu
Are stock market investors finally getting the message? Bond traders have been raising red flags for weeks — unchecked inflation suggests interest rate increases are back on the table.
The technology-driven market surge appears to be losing momentum. While Wall Street reached new record levels, boosted by a 4% surge in Nvidia after CEO Jensen Huang accompanied Trump on his trip to Beijing, Asian markets are showing widespread declines.
Japan’s Nikkei dropped more than 1% following producer price data that showed the largest increase in three years, strengthening expectations that the Bank of Japan will raise rates in June. South Korea’s KOSPI plummeted over 3%. European markets are facing approximately 1% losses at opening.
Adding to the concerns is the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran reports roughly 30 vessels are passing through, but this represents only a fraction of typical pre-conflict shipping volumes. Trump, following discussions with Beijing, appears to be growing impatient with the situation.
Worries are mounting that the strait could remain restricted past June, depleting worldwide reserves and pushing the globe toward a serious energy crisis.
Sophisticated bond market investors appear to be preparing for trouble. Weak U.S. Treasury sales this week served as an early indicator, showing diminished investor interest just as inflation pressures increase.
The most recent 30-year bond auction settled at 5% for the first time since 2007. Yields reached 5.061% on Friday, marking a 10-month high. Even shorter-term bonds aren’t immune, with the two-year climbing to 4.055%, hitting a one-year peak.
With oil prices rising and consumer spending continuing, markets are quickly adjusting expectations for Federal Reserve policy. The likelihood of another rate increase this year has more than doubled within a week to 45%, even with Trump’s Fed leadership choice, Kevin Warsh.
Considering all factors, taking a cautious approach might be wise for investors entering the weekend.
Important developments that may impact markets on Friday:
— Trump scheduled to conclude his official visit to China
Six passengers who were aboard a luxury cruise vessel during a fatal hantavirus outbreak have returned to Australia and begun mandatory isolation that will last a minimum of three weeks.
The group, consisting of four Australian citizens, one permanent resident, and one New Zealand resident, touched down Friday at a military airfield near Perth in Western Australia aboard a government-arranged aircraft, according to local news outlets.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed that every member of the returning group had received negative test results and showed no signs of illness before departing from the Netherlands.
“They will be transported immediately to the quarantine facility that’s effectively next door, and they will be tested again,” Butler told Sky News.
The World Health Organization reports that 11 passengers aboard the MV Hondius became infected with the virus, resulting in three fatalities.
Health officials from the WHO have advised a 42-day isolation period for all cruise passengers, while medical experts are encouraging public calm by emphasizing that this virus spreads much less easily than COVID-19 and presents minimal danger to the general population.
Rodents serve as the main carriers of hantavirus, though human-to-human transmission can occur in uncommon instances. The illness typically manifests with symptoms resembling the flu, including exhaustion and elevated body temperature, appearing one to eight weeks following contact, the WHO states.
BEIJING, May 15 – During his state visit to China on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had conversations about Iran and share the goal of preventing that nation from acquiring nuclear weapons while ensuring “the straits remain open.”
The meeting between the two world leaders took place at Beijing’s secure Zhongnanhai complex as Trump concluded his official visit to China.
Speaking about their discussions, Trump stated: “We’ve settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn’t have been able to solve.”
Three people died and 12 others were wounded, including children, when drones struck the Russian city of Ryazan early Friday morning, according to Regional Governor Pavel Malkov.
“To our great regret, three people have been killed and 12 injured, including children,” Malkov wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
The governor reported that the drone strike caused damage to two high-rise apartment buildings. Falling debris from the drones also struck an unspecified industrial facility in the area, Malkov stated.
Images posted on the unofficial Telegram channel Mash depicted smoke billowing from a high-rise structure and indicated that one building entrance was obstructed, trapping residents inside.
Additional unofficial sources published photos showing multiple apartments engulfed in flames.
The targeted city of Ryazan sits approximately 200 kilometers (120 miles) southeast of Moscow and houses a major oil refinery.
KATHMANDU, Nepal — In a monastery nestled within the Himalayan foothills, a 19-year-old Buddhist monk provides blessings to countless devotees. Using a ceremonial vessel and peacock feather, he touches each bowed head while sprinkling blessed water for spiritual protection, cleansing, and enlightenment. He pauses to acknowledge children who watch him with wonder, respect, and amazement. He works to match the rhythm of fellow spiritual leaders who, like himself, are selected few offering these final benedictions.
Half a year before this moment, thousands of miles distant, this young man was staying up all night playing Madden NFL on his Xbox near Minneapolis. During breaks, he would grab pizza rolls and Diet Coke, or check messages about upcoming visits to TopGolf or Buffalo Wild Wings.
These contrasting environments both represent home for Jalue Dorje.
Living as an ordinary American teenager, he developed a passion for rap music, gaming, and football. He also serves as an emerging spiritual guide who was identified by the Dalai Lama and additional Tibetan Buddhist authorities as a reincarnated lama from childhood.
At 19 years old, he completed high school last year and relocated to northern India to enter the Mindrolling Monastery, approximately 7,200 miles from his Columbia Heights residence. He recently visited Nepal to reunite with his parents, who traveled from Minneapolis, and participated in holy ceremonies and lessons led by the abbot of Shechen Monastery.
Traditional burgundy and gold monastery garments had taken the place of his typical hoodies and sweatpants. Yet he continued referencing both Drake and Shantideva, the 8th-century Indian monk. Under his robes, he sported white Crocs adorned with “The Simpsons” Jibbitz charms. He frequently wore these at Shechen Monastery, located near the 1,500-year-old Boudhanath stupa, among Tibetan Buddhism’s holiest locations.
Every morning brought dawn awakening. Following prayers, he walked from his lodging through busy Kathmandu streets filled with fruit vendors, incense, and spices, avoiding mopeds near the towering white dome and spire of Boudhanath with its vibrant Tibetan prayer flags and painted, watchful Buddha eyes.
On one particular day, he approached the monastery and removed his Crocs before entering a prayer hall designated for doctorate-holding monks and lamas. Incense filled the air. Ancient instruments — cymbals, bells, and drums — accompanied the monastic chanting.
Standing before three massive golden Buddha statues, Dorje bowed to Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, the monastery’s spiritual leader, and offered him a golden plate representing the entire universe, plus a “khata” — a white Tibetan ceremonial scarf.
This marked Dorje’s first mandala, or offering, since beginning his destined spiritual journey. He describes this as a moment of recognition regarding his progress.
“This is the real one, you know? We’re here and this is really happening,” he says. “I’m doing what the prophecy fulfilled.”
Following the Dalai Lama’s recognition at age 2, Dorje dedicated much of his childhood to monastic preparation, memorizing holy texts, practicing calligraphy, and studying Buddha’s teachings.
Lama identification relies on spiritual indicators and visions. Dorje was four months old when Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, a respected Tibetan Buddhism master, identified him. Multiple lamas later confirmed him as the eighth Terchen Taksham Rinpoche — the original was born in 1655.
Jalue Dorje’s parents brought him to meet the Dalai Lama in 2010 during Tibetan Buddhism’s spiritual leader’s Wisconsin visit. The Dalai Lama performed a hair-cutting ceremony and recommended the parents allow their son to remain in America to master English before monastery enrollment.
“From my parents’ end, educating me was a really big one,” Dorje says. “They followed the words of his holiness; he laid the foundation, and they took that gamble.”
During childhood, he questioned why he couldn’t sleep late on weekends and watch cartoons like other children. His father assured him this would eventually benefit him, “like planting a seed that one day would sprout.”
He recalled early morning recitation and memorization sessions. He remembered online critics questioning his status as a reincarnated lama, which upset his parents. He also remembered both parents working diligently cleaning hotel rooms and hospital laundry while raising him.
“It wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns every day,” Dorje says. “We overcame a lot.”
Speaking both English and Tibetan fluently, Dorje succeeded in public school. Despite his official lama enthronement during a 2019 India ceremony, his parents allowed him to remain in America until graduation.
During his upbringing, he displayed a Dalai Lama photograph in his bedroom above DVD collections of “The Simpsons,” “South Park,” and “Family Guy,” alongside the “Buddha” manga series.
His bedside table held a journal containing football play diagrams he hoped to execute as left guard for his school team. His living room wall featured a poster showing his senior photo in sunglasses and football uniform, making a meditation gesture with his fingers.
He maintained an arrangement with his father, receiving Pokémon cards for memorizing Buddhist scriptures. He accumulated hundreds, occasionally hiding them in his ceremony robes. “I remember,” he says, “when I first learned my Tibetan ABCs, when I was able to recite it all by memory, my dad was so happy.”
His days were extensive. Each morning began with sacred text recitation. School followed, then football practice. He returned home for Tibetan history and Buddhism tutoring. Evenings involved calligraphy practice or listening to rap music. After getting his license, he drove around enjoying Taylor Swift.
What alternative career might he have pursued? “Sports journalist would have been cool,” he says. He enjoys writing. As an enthusiastic fan, he supports the Atlanta Hawks in basketball, Real Madrid in soccer, and the Atlanta Falcons in football.
His preferred athlete is U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu: “She brings so much swagger, but it doesn’t overshadow the sports.” During high school, he wrote an award-winning Tibet story for the student newspaper.
On the football field, teammates appreciated his optimism; he encouraged them to enjoy themselves and maintain perspective during defeats. However, during his final senior season game, he cried, understanding it would likely be his last game ever.
He frequently assisted with local Tibetan community events. For his 18th birthday, over 1,000 people gathered at the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota for his final celebration before joining the India monastery.
During the lengthy flight, his thoughts wandered.
“I was like, ‘Dang! I’m missing the first week of NFL!’” He packed minimally: headphones, laptop, a fantasy football magazine, and a book about Guru Rinpoche, the Indian Buddhist master who introduced Tantric Buddhism to Tibet.
His parents accompanied him to New Delhi, then drove north to Dehradun, near the Himalayan foothills, in a college drop-off equivalent. They purchased him a larger bed. They painted his monastic room and built a shrine for dawn and dusk prayers.
As an only child, his departure brought tears from his parents. His longest previous solo journey from home was a three-day northern Minnesota camping trip.
“Everything leading up to this point in the history of all your lifetimes — the billions and billions of lifetimes you accumulated — leads to your family,” Dorje says. “To have such great parents is a result of a great past life’s merit. But not only past life merit, but the connection of karma — and love.”
Initially, his mother, Dechen Wangmo, worried about her toddler son during extended prayer sessions.
“Would he be hungry? What if he fell asleep?” she recalled thinking. She continued worrying about him as a teenager: “He’s a tulku,” she says, using the Tibetan term for a reincarnated lama, “but he’s my son.”
To her relief, he flourished. While his friends attended history, science, and literature classes at U.S. colleges, he studied Buddhist philosophy and practiced calligraphy and chanting in India.
“He’s kind of found his groove at the monastery,” says Kate Thomas, one of his Minneapolis tutors.
Despite the 10-hour time difference, he maintained contact with home friends through texts and WhatsApp. During free time, he assembled Legos, visited an arcade for FIFA soccer video games, and watched Marvel superhero films plus NBA and NFL games on his laptop. He was particularly excited about the Super Bowl halftime show: “That was an incredible performance by Bad Bunny — I can’t lie!”
This marked his first experience with ascetic living, consuming daily rice and lentil rations and hand-washing his clothing. However, he adapted well, befriending monks from across Asia while discussing spirituality, popular culture, and sports.
“Dudes are dudes!” he says.
This was his first opportunity socializing with other “tulkus” — reincarnated spiritual masters near his age. Among them was Trulshik Yangsi Rinpoche, 13. He’s considered the reincarnation of Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche — the Tibetan Buddhist master who originally recognized Dorje as a tulku at four months old.
At the monastery, they connected over their shared love of Tintin comics. Dorje became his English instructor.
“I think of him as my spiritual teacher,” Dorje said after sharing a meal with the younger lama. “I’m profoundly grateful that I get to repay my debt to the one who found me and improving his English.”
Yangsi Rinpoche smiled, then reflected: “He’s my best friend.”
Hours after Dorje blessed thousands — including his parents — on the final day of the 12-day ceremonies, the family rose before dawn to visit the ancient Maratika or Halesi Mahadev Caves, 100 miles southwest of Mount Everest. They traveled eight hours on dirt roads, crossing mountains and valleys, for a pilgrimage to caves sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.
After exploring the caves with wonder, Dorje sat cross-legged on rocky ground beside his father, Dorje Tsegyal. They prayed together, as they had done nearly daily since his childhood.
After several years of contemplation and ascetic practice, Dorje plans to return to the United States to teach Minnesota’s Buddhist community at the Nyingmapa Taksham Buddhist Center. His objective: becoming “a leader of peace,” following examples set by the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, and Gandhi.
This represents a lengthy path that started shortly after his birth. He feels prepared. “This,” he says, “is just the beginning.”
CHIYAH, Lebanon (AP) — Ayman al-Zain stood watching as heavy machinery removed debris from what remained of his athletic apparel shop, one of many structures leveled during Israeli attacks targeting the Hezbollah militant organization.
With a fragile ceasefire now reducing but not eliminating hostilities, Al-Zain considered whether to reconstruct his business in Beirut’s southern neighborhoods that he had planned to leave to his children. However, rebuilding appears unlikely in the near term, and not solely due to concerns about additional air attacks.
“Everything is expensive,” he explained to The Associated Press. “If I want to open a new store and get mannequins, hangers and some accessories, the prices are very different than before.”
The conflict between the U.S. and Israel against Iran, along with the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, has created financial turbulence throughout the Middle East. Lebanon’s difficulties have been magnified by pre-existing economic troubles and largely uncontrolled markets susceptible to exploitation.
“This continues to be a major economic shock, one of honestly an existential nature,” stated Economy Minister Amer Bisat, a member of the Lebanese Cabinet that assumed power more than a year ago with reform objectives.
Beginning in 2019, the small Mediterranean nation has endured an economic catastrophe that devastated its local currency’s worth and destroyed its banking infrastructure.
Lebanese financial institutions failed at that time, wiping out depositors’ funds and forcing roughly half of the 6.5 million residents into poverty, following years of widespread corruption, waste and poor governance. The nation experienced approximately $70 billion in financial sector damages, further increased by roughly $11 billion from the 2024 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, according to the World Bank. The Lebanese pound has subsequently declined more than 90% of its strength versus the U.S. dollar.
The financially struggling state power company delivers just a few hours of electricity daily, forcing most Lebanese to depend on diesel-powered generators for additional power. This situation makes the economy especially susceptible to fuel cost increases.
Lebanon was already “grappling with multiple rounds of crises,” explained Mohamad Faour, professor of finance at the American University of Beirut. “So this round of war only made an already fragile situation more fragile.”
During this latest conflict, 1.2 million Lebanese citizens have been forced from their homes, primarily from southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern districts. Many are taking refuge in educational facilities without employment or depleting their remaining funds on apartment rentals or hotel accommodations.
During an AP interview at his workplace, Bisat calculated that the nation confronts economic damages of approximately 7% of its gross domestic product from the war because “companies are closing, people are losing their jobs, tourists are not showing up.”
Signs of rising costs are everywhere.
At the typically busy fresh food market in Sabra, south of Beirut, seller Ahmad al-Farra appeared discouraged as an older woman shopping for watermelon, tomatoes and potatoes left empty-handed after seeing the costs.
Costs have surged since the U.S. and Israel began their war against Iran on Feb. 28, quickly followed by renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
“We’re keeping our prices low so we can sell, and even then we’re not selling,” al-Farra explained as an Israeli drone buzzed overhead.
Even customers with spending power are worried and reducing non-essential buying, leaving many establishments nearly empty.
Riad Aboulteif, who operates multiple restaurants and bars in the capital, reported his income has fallen by approximately 90% since hostilities started, as Lebanon’s diminishing middle class reduces expenses.
Citizens are preserving more funds for basic needs and avoiding plans for birthday celebrations or other special events, he noted at one of his establishments in Beirut’s busy Hamra area, where lively customer conversations once drowned out the jazz music from the speakers.
That evening, only a handful of tables had patrons. He has been forced to reduce employees and modify his menus to provide more budget-friendly options.
At the same time, the nation’s financially ruined government has found it difficult to stop unfair and illegal profiteering and the stockpiling of fuel and other vital supplies.
Numerous farming regions in southern and eastern Lebanon are now unreachable due to airstrikes and fighting, but al-Faraa suspects suppliers have increased costs beyond what’s needed to cover expense rises.
Some of the most dramatic price increases have occurred with generator charges.
Households and businesses have for years paid several utility bills to cover privately provided electricity and water due to absent government services. Local generator operators impose monthly fees, and some property owners maintain their own generators and pass costs to renters.
Angry business operators report that generator expenses have sometimes doubled, compelling them to reduce operating hours or close on certain days to lower costs.
“If we didn’t take these measures, we cannot continue,” Aboulteif stated.
Bisat noted his ministry has performed more than 4,000 inspections of private generators, fuel stations and stores nationwide since the war started in March and filed numerous court complaints. However, the problem will not be rapidly solved.
Currently, the government has limited capacity to control the small number of companies that import and distribute fuel and other products.
With no war conclusion visible, the economic circumstances show no indication of improvement.
A fragile ceasefire exists between the U.S. and Iran, but discussions between Washington and Tehran have stalled. A temporary truce between Israel and Hezbollah has decreased but not eliminated fighting in Lebanon.
For the present, Lebanese families and business operators are addressing the difficulties daily while hoping for improvement.
“Only God knows how we’ve been trying to manage ourselves,” al-Farra stated.
VIENNA (AP) — Eurovision Song Contest performers have just three minutes to create a memorable impact.
Capturing audience attention among 25 competing acts in Saturday’s grand finale in Vienna requires maximum effort in both musical and visual presentation.
For this year’s leading contenders, Finnish performers pop vocalist Pete Parkkonen and classical musician Linda Lampenius, their strategy includes fire jets, an antique violin from the 18th century, and a crew of “ninjas” dedicated to preventing mishaps.
Their track “Liekinheitin,” which translates to “Flamethrower,” has gained favor among supporters and gambling odds with its fusion of popular and classical music styles — plus its dramatic presentation.
Here’s the process behind crafting their attention-grabbing act.
Parkkonen and Lampenius describe their musical style as “new pop with a classical touch.” Their composition about passionate love delivers explosive energy where Parkkonen’s intense singing creates contrast with Lampenius’ dynamic violin playing.
The Finnish team needed to obtain special authorization for Lampenius to perform her instrument live. Eurovision regulations require that main vocals be sung live, while instruments use pre-recorded tracks to facilitate quick transitions between performances.
Lampenius explains “Flamethrower” was “written as a duet,” requiring both artists to perform live for proper execution.
“It’s a woman and a man, it’s a female voice and a male voice. So I do all my lyrics through my violin, by playing, and you (Parkkonen) are singing it with words. But we are talking. We are (equally) as important, both of us.”
The duo remained uncertain upon reaching Vienna whether Eurovision officials would approve their request. Final authorization came only after they demonstrated their act before a live audience during rehearsal.
The European Broadcasting Union, Eurovision’s organizing body, stated that competition rules permit “live audio capture of instruments may exceptionally be permitted where artistically justified.”
Lampenius traveled with two violins as backup — a prized Gagliano crafted in 1781 for optimal live sound quality, plus a less expensive alternative for potential playback use. This strategy would protect the Gagliano from the somewhat dangerous staging elements.
Lampenius and Parkkonen report they have been practicing for this opportunity since November. After winning Finland’s national Eurovision selection in February, they estimate having performed their song hundreds of times.
Precision is essential. Their act culminates with fire bursts erupting from the stage while Lampenius, wearing a flowing gown and aided by a leaf blower, plays her valuable violin.
Lampenius admits it’s “a bit scary when you think of it.”
However, she feels confident knowing she has dark-clothed crew members who refer to themselves as “ninjas” standing by to protect her costume from the flames — a critical but invisible element for home viewers.
“They’re running with me – first one guy carrying my dress when I’m running, then the other one catching me during my run,” she explained. “And he helps me also when I jump up on the stage and do the pirouette.”
During the dramatic concluding pose where Lampenius balances on chairs in high heels while holding her violin high, Parkkonen manages both his vocal performance and serves as a safety observer, ready to catch her if she falls.
Civil rights organizations nationwide are mobilizing for what leaders describe as a new chapter in the ongoing battle for voting rights, following a recent Supreme Court decision that has significantly diminished protections for minority voters.
The movement’s leaders say they’re facing the same fundamental struggle as previous generations, but with fresh urgency after the nation’s highest court ruled two weeks ago to eliminate racial considerations in the drawing of congressional and legislative districts.
“We have to respond as quickly as possible,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson during a recent interview. Johnson asked The Associated Press, “The real question is how do we as a country really address the effort to shrink us backwards into a 1950s reality?”
Johnson’s organization, which has championed Black political rights for 117 years, joins dozens of other groups gathering this Saturday in Alabama for demonstrations and ceremonies honoring the Civil Rights Movement that led to the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Activities are planned for both Selma, the site where voting rights marchers faced violent attacks from white police on Bloody Sunday, and Montgomery, where a postponed march ended two weeks afterward.
However, unlike the events of 61 years past, this weekend’s Alabama gatherings aren’t the culmination of an extended campaign. Civil rights advocates instead hope these events will spark a revitalized movement following the Supreme Court’s recent decision to further erode the VRA by prohibiting racial factors in district mapping.
Activists recognize the challenge of opposing a predominantly white conservative network that has gained control across the White House, Congress, federal judiciary, and numerous state governments throughout the former Confederacy, where most Black Americans continue to reside.
Jared Evans from the Louisiana-based Power Coalition for Equity and Justice described the VRA as “the foundational nucleus of the Civil Rights Movement.” Evans stated, “They’ve taken that from us,” referencing both the recent Louisiana v. Callais ruling on congressional boundaries and the 2013 Shelby v. Holder decision that eliminated federal supervision of election procedures in areas with histories of discrimination.
Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, who serves as senior pastor at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once delivered sermons, characterized the situation from his pulpit as “Jim Crow in new clothes.”
Drawing inspiration from King and earlier voting rights campaigns, Warnock declared, “We need political power. We need economic power. We need personal power.” He reassured his congregation that “your adversaries know that your voice matters” because they’re “bending over backwards” to diminish it.
Evans looked to historical precedent when describing the path forward.
“Our response must be and will be a second Reconstruction period,” Evans declared.
According to organizers, their ultimate objective involves winning additional elections, influencing policy debates, and safeguarding diverse political representation across all governmental levels.
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, a Black congresswoman representing Selma, Alabama, identified an immediate priority to “reform and reintroduce” the Democrats’ primary voting legislation, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act.
Sewell, whose own congressional seat could face threats under redistricting changes, said Democrats aim to “completely” eliminate partisan gerrymandering.
The legislation would also “bring back pre-clearance,” she explained, referring to the federal approval requirements that the court eliminated in Shelby.
“We need to come up with a modern-day formula for showing just how egregious the behavior of these state actors is,” Sewell stated.
The Supreme Court determined in Callais that states aren’t required to create majority nonwhite districts under the Voting Rights Act and should actually avoid considering race entirely when establishing boundaries. By contending that the law’s anti-discrimination measures had themselves become discriminatory, the ruling permits states to redraw predominantly Black districts that historically elected Democrats while claiming the designs reflect partisan rather than racial motivations.
President Donald Trump celebrated the decision as “a BIG WIN for Equal Protection under the Law, as it returns the Voting Rights Act to its Original Intent, which was to protect against intentional Racial Discrimination.”
Many organizations planning to participate in Saturday’s Alabama events have already visited Southern state capitols, where white Republican legislators quickly moved to redraw congressional maps following Callais.
Lawmakers in Alabama and Louisiana returned to single majority-Black districts, abandoning second districts that lower federal courts had mandated under now-overturned VRA interpretations. Tennessee legislators dismantled a majority Black district by dividing greater Memphis across three separate sprawling districts — creating what Evans called an obvious racial gerrymander that courts had previously prohibited.
Expecting the Callais decision, Florida and Texas completed their redistricting before the ruling. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a term-limited Republican, has scheduled a June session to redraw congressional boundaries for the 2028 election cycle. Mississippi and South Carolina have postponed action for now.
South Carolina state Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey stood among the few white Republicans opposing GOP redistricting proposals. He said that even pressure from Trump couldn’t convince him to disenfranchise Black South Carolinians rather than pursuing what’s best for his state.
Other white conservatives continue discussing plans to target Reps. Jim Clyburn and Bennie Thompson, the sole Black U.S. House representatives from South Carolina and Mississippi, respectively.
Evans, the Louisiana organizer, predicted the coming battle won’t focus solely on congressional representation.
“Look for them to go after state house and state senate seats — and then it will be the local level,” he warned, adding that “it’s going to be an entire erasure of Black representation.”
Predominantly minority districts created under the VRA before Callais consistently elected Democrats. Black Americans have overwhelmingly supported the party since President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act, triggering a decades-long shift of most white Southern politicians to the Republicans. Latino and Hispanic voters also tend to favor Democrats in most regions.
The immediate conflict influences the midterm election battle for U.S. House control during Trump’s presidency’s final years. Trump initially urged Republican-controlled states to redistrict in ways that would preserve the party’s narrow House majority.
However, Johnson, the NAACP leader, argued that all voters should recognize more than partisan conflict or regional racial disputes.
Beyond party loyalty, Johnson contended, white conservatives seek to restrict various rights “depending on how you pray, depending on who you love,” while also promoting economic policies that harm workers across racial and ethnic boundaries. From legislation to federal judge confirmations that determine constitutional issues, these policy results begin with election outcomes.
“It’s not a Black problem,” Johnson emphasized. “That’s an American problem.”
Evans, Johnson and others acknowledged the complexity of uniting diverse organizations and energizing voters around issues like redistricting and gerrymandering. But they maintain that the bold nature of Republicans’ actions has increased participation.
Johnson reported participating in a Mississippi organizing call this week with 8,000 attendees. Evans noted crowded corridors in the state capitols of Baton Rouge and Nashville, respectively.
The NAACP and partner organizations have contested new maps in multiple states, despite Callais. Many groups aim to boost midterm participation among Black voters and others frustrated with white conservatives’ tactics in racially diverse communities.
Johnson emphasized the importance of persistence.
The 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling was transformative, with a unanimous court declaring segregated public schools unconstitutional and overturning 19th-century precedents that denied Black Americans’ basic rights.
Yet implementation required 17 years — and numerous additional court cases — before most Southern school districts complied. Disputes over mandatory student busing extended beyond the South. A full decade passed after Brown before Congress and Johnson enacted the movement’s landmark legislation.
No clear leader has emerged for a contemporary movement.
Johnson noted that even with King leading before his assassination, “there was tension around strategy” during the 1950s and 1960s.
But even “through that tension, through many episodes, we were able to get directly in the right place.”
A Florida judge will hear arguments Friday on whether recently approved congressional districts violate the state’s constitutional prohibition against partisan gerrymandering, in a case that could significantly impact November’s midterm elections.
Legal challenges filed by voter advocacy groups seek to prevent the new districts from being implemented for the upcoming elections. The outcome could complicate President Donald Trump’s efforts to maintain a slim House majority through strategic redistricting that benefits the GOP.
The Republican Party currently controls 20 of Florida’s 28 House seats. The revised congressional map, enacted by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis following a rapid two-day special legislative session, may boost GOP prospects to capture four more seats in November.
State lawmakers passed the new House boundaries on April 29 — the identical date the U.S. Supreme Court diminished federal Voting Rights Act safeguards for minorities by overturning a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana. Following that decision, multiple Southern states have moved to dismantle minority districts that typically elect Democrats.
Congressional boundaries are normally redrawn every ten years following the census to adjust for population changes. However, since Trump advocated for mid-decade redistricting last year, Republicans believe they could secure up to 15 additional seats through new House maps across Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama. Democrats expect to gain six seats through revised maps in California and Utah.
Democrats had anticipated winning up to four extra seats in Virginia. However, the Virginia Supreme Court recently invalidated a Democratic redistricting proposal approved by voters, determining the legislature failed to follow proper procedures when placing it on the ballot.
The U.S. Supreme Court determined in 2019 that federal courts lack jurisdiction over partisan gerrymandering disputes. The court noted that such claims could still be addressed in state courts under their respective constitutions and statutes.
Florida residents passed a state constitutional amendment in 2010 that forbids drawing U.S. House districts with the purpose of benefiting or harming a political party or sitting representative. The amendment prevents districts from reducing racial or language minorities’ capacity to choose their preferred representatives. It additionally mandates districts be geographically compact and utilize existing political and geographic boundaries when possible.
Legal action filed by voter representatives requests emergency relief blocking the new U.S. House map for violating that amendment. The litigation emphasizes allegations of political bias.
“The plan takes the state’s partisan skew to an unprecedented extreme,” stated one of three lawsuits filed in Leon County.
A court filing submitted on behalf of the Florida Senate contends that partisan motivation has not been established and emergency relief against the new districts is inappropriate before a complete trial.
While DeSantis convened lawmakers before the Supreme Court’s decision in the Louisiana case, he expected an eventual ruling that would weaken Voting Rights Act protections for minority districts. Among various modifications, Florida’s new map alters a southeastern Florida district that DeSantis’ office stated was designed to help elect a Black representative to satisfy federal Voting Rights Act requirements.
DeSantis’ office reported that no racial information was considered when creating the new map he submitted to the Legislature. In a communication to lawmakers, DeSantis’ General Counsel David Axelman claimed that Florida’s constitutional language regarding racial redistricting conflicts with the U.S. Constitution. If one component is invalid, Axelman argued, then the complete 2010 amendment becomes null, including sections prohibiting partisan gerrymandering.
PORT ISABEL, Texas — Children who once played on sunny lawns outside their subsidized housing units have disappeared, replaced by abandoned furniture lining the streets waiting for pickup. A thriving residential community has transformed into an eerily quiet neighborhood with empty playgrounds.
The dramatic change occurred after the housing authority in Port Isabel, a Gulf Coast community of 5,000 residents — many immigrants employed at hotels and restaurants on nearby South Padre Island beaches — sent a confusing notice about proposed Trump administration housing policies. The housing authority mistakenly suggested that new regulations barring housing assistance to families containing undocumented members were immediately taking effect. The resulting chaos offers a preview of potential consequences if the proposed federal rule becomes reality.
“The impact was not limited to undocumented immigrants, but really to immigrants who are here legally as well as people within their families who are citizens,” Marie Claire Tran-Leung, senior staff attorney at National Housing Law Project, said.
Current federal policy has permitted mixed-status families to reside in subsidized housing for many years, requiring undocumented or ineligible members to pay full, unsubsidized rent portions. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development seeks to eliminate this arrangement.
Housing advocates project that approximately 80,000 individuals nationwide could lose their homes under the proposed policy, which forms part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration enforcement strategy. Many affected residents would be U.S. citizens, particularly American-born children with undocumented parents.
The Port Isabel Housing Authority distributed a notice on Feb. 3 demanding all household members demonstrate legal status within 30 days or face removal. Three weeks later, officials issued a “clarification” stating no such documentation was necessary.
The damage was already done.
Fifty percent of Port Isabel public housing residents departed within one month of receiving the initial notice. Occupancy dropped from 91% in January to 43% in May, dramatically below the 94% national average.
The HUD proposal remains pending.
Housing authority officials provided no explanation for their initial error and ignored multiple comment requests from The Associated Press.
Concerns about potential removal and speculation that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement might become involved created widespread alarm among residents.
“My kids and I spoke and wondered what we were going to do, but then we said it’s better to leave and avoid any retaliation,” a single mother from Mexico raising two teenagers who are U.S. citizens told The Associated Press. She, like other former residents, spoke on condition of anonymity due to fears of being deported.
She consulted legal aid organizations that assured her and others they could remain in public housing. However, she and her children determined the risk was too great and abandoned their home of almost ten years, securing an apartment in the same school district that costs approximately $500 more monthly.
The relocation also extended their commute to the island, where both mother and daughter are employed, by roughly 10 minutes. The 18-year-old arrives home from school at 4:30 p.m. and eats quickly before her mother drives her to work starting at 5 p.m. The daughter excels academically as a senior and plans college attendance in the fall with scholarship assistance, but worries about her family’s financial stability. Her brother lost his job, and their mother received cancer treatment last year, reducing her energy and creating financial hardship.
Additional families confront even more severe difficulties.
One mother of three relocated her family to a one-bedroom trailer illegally positioned between two other trailers. Her eldest son sleeps in the living area.
Another three-person family sold beds and furniture to fit into a small trailer, only to discover the landlord prohibited use of the mailing address, complicating their children’s schooling and health coverage.
“Since we got the letter, everything changed from one day to the next. It wasn’t the same anymore. Before the letter, the kids were happy, playing outside,” the mother of two said.
The Trump administration introduced the proposal in February targeting any household containing one ineligible resident, disqualifying entire families. Officials estimated 24,000 recipients were ineligible across 20,000 households.
“We have zero tolerance for pushing aside hardworking U.S. citizens while enabling others to exploit decades-old loopholes,” HUD Secretary Scott Turner said at the time.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which advocates for low-income families, estimates that 79,600 people could be forced to leave their homes, with a disproportionate impact on children and Latinos.
The regulation generated over 16,000 public comments, predominantly critical responses, including opposition from municipal leaders nationwide.
The New York City Council informed HUD that approximately 12% of city households include at least one member lacking legal status. About 240,000 children live in those homes.
“This proposed rule will unequivocally lead to increased displacement, homelessness, poverty, and decreased educational and health outcomes,” the council wrote.
HUD is anticipated to release a final rule version after reviewing public feedback.
Labor representatives at Volkswagen have firmly rejected any possibility of shutting down German manufacturing facilities, maintaining their unwavering stance against plant closures while expressing willingness to consider alternative solutions for underutilized production sites.
The automaker is seeking ways to reduce surplus capacity across its German manufacturing network while avoiding facility shutdowns, which were prohibited under a 2024 restructuring agreement with labor unions. Potential alternatives being explored include defense industry partnerships and collaborative arrangements with Chinese companies.
Three key union figures – works council leader Daniela Cavallo, IG Metall union chief Christiane Benner, and regional union representative Thorsten Groeger – emphasized that the 2024 agreement protecting German facilities remains non-negotiable.
“The fundamental situation has not changed — nor have the red lines set by the employee side,” they stated. “With us as the general works council and IG Metall, there will be no plant closures.”
The German automaker has seen its profit margins decline due to sluggish consumer demand and expensive investments in electric vehicle technology. Additional pressures have mounted from intense Chinese competition, increased tariffs, and Middle Eastern conflicts that have raised operational costs and created market uncertainty.
Following another earnings decline early this year, CEO Oliver Blume intensified efforts to find additional cost savings.
Blume has suggested potential facility-sharing arrangements with Chinese partners to address the overcapacity issue, though no formal discussions have been announced. Meanwhile, negotiations continue regarding a potential sale of Volkswagen’s Osnabrueck facility to a defense contractor.
During a Financial Times conference in London this week, Volkswagen brand leader Thomas Schaefer indicated the company was working to manage excess production volumes and described facility closures as “the second-best option.”
The union representatives expressed openness to considering proposals from within the company or external partners, as long as these initiatives honor the commitments management made in 2024.
Cavallo, Benner and Groeger reiterated their core principles of maintaining quality employment, career advancement opportunities and job stability, vowing to vigorously oppose any measures that contradict these values both currently and going forward.
Larry Culp, the chief executive of GE Aerospace, was observed Friday exiting a meeting at the Beijing offices of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, the country’s influential economic planning body, a Reuters witness reported.
The executive’s meeting at the NDRC facility follows recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump on Fox News regarding his Thursday discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. Trump announced that China had committed to purchasing 200 Boeing aircraft, marking the nation’s first acquisition of American-manufactured commercial planes in almost ten years.
Given GE Aerospace’s role as Boeing’s main engine provider, the company is positioned to benefit from this purchasing deal, though the agreement was smaller than the approximately 500 aircraft that market analysts had anticipated, leading to stock price declines for both firms.
Both Culp and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg are participating in a business group consisting of more than twelve American corporate leaders who are traveling with Trump during his initial state visit to China in nearly a decade.
GE Aerospace has not yet provided a response to inquiries about the specific purpose behind Culp’s meeting at the NDRC.
An Australian Federal Court judge delivered a stern rebuke to Tesla on Friday, expressing shock at what he called the electric vehicle manufacturer’s inadequate cooperation in a major class action lawsuit.
Justice Tom Thawley questioned whether the Elon Musk-led company was treating the legal discovery process with appropriate seriousness, cautioning Tesla it could face “a really bad time” if cooperation doesn’t improve.
The sharp criticism came after attorneys representing 10,000 Australian Tesla owners reported that the U.S.-based automaker had delivered only 2,000 documents following eight months of discovery proceedings.
Brisbane law firm JGA Saddler brought the legal action, alleging Tesla deceived Australian buyers regarding phantom braking issues, actual battery range capabilities and autonomous driving features.
Tesla has maintained it does not misrepresent its vehicles’ capabilities.
During Friday’s pre-trial proceedings, JGA Saddler attorney Rebecca Jancauskas explained the case necessitates Tesla providing documentation related to engineering software, computer systems and customer complaints from international markets, but materials received so far have been insufficient.
“From what we’re getting, we can’t brief our experts,” Jancauskas informed the court. “The paucity of discovery is what’s thrown a massive spanner in the works.”
Justice Thawley stated it was reasonable to expect comprehensive documentation from Tesla, noting the company could request redaction of confidential or sensitive materials.
“I find it gobsmacking that only 2,000 documents have been produced and I wonder whether the exercise has been treated seriously,” he said.
The judge added his belief that “one would need to get into engineering drawings and reports that had been made from others, and into investigations that may or may not have been undertaken.”
Tesla’s legal representative Imtiaz Ahmed explained the defense team had manually examined approximately 100,000 documents and still needed to review roughly 75,000 more. He said the automaker had concerns about revealing confidential and sensitive information, including individual names that opposing counsel might contact.
Thawley established a July 31 deadline for Tesla to complete its discovery obligations, warning that “if it’s inadequate, you can expect a really bad time, and I will get into what’s gone on and whether it’s been done appropriately.”
The judge set September 1 for the next case management hearing.
Milwaukee Brewers officials are taking a wait-and-see approach with star outfielder Christian Yelich, who has been dealing with back stiffness that may require a stint on the injured list.
The team has given Yelich two consecutive days off to address the back issues, with Friday’s evaluation expected to determine his immediate future. Yelich had just returned from missing 24 games with a left groin injury when he played Tuesday against the visiting San Diego Padres, going hitless in four at-bats during Milwaukee’s 6-4 victory.
Following Tuesday’s contest, Yelich developed back stiffness that kept him sidelined for Wednesday’s defeat and Thursday’s win that concluded the series against San Diego. Team officials believe the current problem stems from back surgery the player had in August 2024.
Manager Pat Murphy provided an update after Thursday’s 7-1 triumph over San Diego, saying, “He felt much better today. We’ll find out a lot more (Friday). I think (Friday) will be kind of a telling tale whether he needs a longer break.”
Milwaukee begins a three-game road series against the Minnesota Twins on Friday in Minneapolis.
Murphy explained that similar issues occurred previously, noting, “He had the same thing last year. If you talked to his doctor, they would tell you the same thing, that this is going to happen from time to time. Do you know anybody with back surgery that absolutely has no problems with their back? That’s just not how it is.”
The 34-year-old Yelich has posted a .291 batting average this season with a .350 on-base percentage and .418 slugging percentage, along with one home run and 10 RBIs across 16 games.
The three-time All-Star earned National League Most Valuable Player honors in 2018 and carries career statistics of a .285/.374/.464 batting line with 234 home runs, 861 RBIs and 224 stolen bases over 1,632 games.
Yelich spent his early career with the Miami Marlins from 2013-17 before joining Milwaukee via trade in January 2018.
Workers at Samsung Electronics in South Korea announced Friday they will proceed with a planned work stoppage next week, despite the tech giant’s latest attempt to restart salary negotiations without preconditions. The news sent the company’s stock tumbling by as much as 5.9%.
Talks between the labor group and Samsung over compensation and bonus structures fell apart this week with government mediators involved, raising the stakes for a potential strike at the globe’s largest memory chip manufacturer.
Union representatives said Friday they would consider new discussions after June 7, but are moving ahead with their 18-day work stoppage beginning May 21 that threatens to interrupt chip manufacturing operations.
Market experts blamed the stock drop on mounting worries about how a strike might affect production capabilities and Samsung’s capacity to fulfill customer orders.
“There appears to be rising concerns over delivery reliability if the strike takes place and sentiment that rivals could benefit from the uncertainty,” said Ryu Young-ho, a senior analyst at NH Investment & Securities.
The likelihood of a work stoppage seemed to be growing since Samsung had not appeared to offer new proposals to workers, according to Ryu.
Samsung Electronics acknowledged in a public statement that it had proposed talks without conditions, but declined to elaborate further.
South Korea’s Labour Commission has urged both parties to participate in another government-facilitated negotiation session Saturday to prevent the strike from occurring.
The labor organization had previously stated it would only participate in discussions if Samsung presented a comprehensive proposal meeting worker demands by 0100 GMT Friday.
Frustrated by what they describe as a significant disparity in bonus compensation compared to competing chipmaker SK Hynix, union leaders have warned that more than 50,000 employees could leave their positions next week.
High-ranking South Korean officials, including the prime minister and finance minister, have expressed alarm that a Samsung work stoppage must be prevented, cautioning it could create substantial threats to economic expansion, export revenues and financial markets.
South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan stated Thursday that a strike would inflict permanent economic harm and that emergency intervention might become necessary.
According to South Korean regulations, only the labour minister possesses emergency arbitration authority. Labour Minister Kim Young-hoon has emphasized the importance of continued dialogue between Samsung and its workers.
Investment bank JPMorgan released analysis suggesting the production consequences of a strike could exceed earlier projections, based on the union’s expectations of widespread worker participation.
JPMorgan calculated potential damage to Samsung’s operating profits at 21 trillion won to 31 trillion won ($14.08 billion to $20.79 billion), with sales losses potentially reaching approximately 4.5 trillion won.
Samsung Electronics stock was down 5.2% at 0305 GMT, while the benchmark KOSPI index fell 3.4%.
The leaders of South Korea and Japan have scheduled a diplomatic meeting for this weekend, according to an announcement from Seoul’s presidential office on Friday.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will host Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the South Korean city of Andong from May 19 through May 20. The location holds personal significance as it is Lee’s place of birth.
This diplomatic gathering represents the second time the two leaders will meet face-to-face in 2024. Their previous encounter took place in January when Lee traveled to Nara, Takaichi’s birthplace, as part of what officials describe as continuing “shuttle diplomacy” between the neighboring countries.
President Trump concluded his Beijing visit on Friday with a final private meeting at Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s official residence before departing for Washington.
The two leaders spent Thursday addressing contentious topics including the Iran conflict, trade relations, technology issues and Taiwan.
Trump revealed that Xi informed him China is willing to help broker an end to the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Since China purchases the most Iranian oil, Trump hopes Xi will leverage this relationship to pressure Iran into accepting U.S. conditions. Trump also mentioned that Xi promised China would not supply Iran with military equipment.
Throughout this visit, Trump has maintained an optimistic view of U.S.-China relations. However, this perspective faces challenges when confronting the most difficult issues between the two nations, including Taiwan, the Iran conflict and trade disputes.
During their summit filled with ceremony and diplomatic courtesy, Xi cautioned Trump that disagreements over Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing considers its territory, could lead to U.S.-China confrontations or conflict. Trump approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December but has not proceeded with delivery. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later warned Thursday that China attempting to seize Taiwan by force would be “a terrible mistake.”
Trump also emphasized trade matters and agreements for China to purchase more agricultural goods and passenger aircraft, establishing a board to resolve their disagreements and prevent another trade war like the one sparked last year following Trump’s tariff increases.
The president’s convoy traveled to Zhongnanhai, the Chinese central leadership complex adjacent to the Forbidden City in Beijing.
The compound’s gardens hosted Trump and Xi for an official photograph commemorating Trump’s visit, followed by a working tea session.
The leaders also planned a private lunch before Trump’s Friday afternoon departure to Washington.
Last year, the Trump administration announced it would begin canceling visas for certain Chinese students, including those connected to the Communist Party or studying in sensitive areas.
When questioned about this policy during a Fox News interview, Trump stated, “I frankly think that it’s good that people come from other countries and they learn our culture, and many of them want to stay here.”
Approximately 270,000 Chinese students attended U.S. colleges and universities during the 2023-2024 academic year, representing nearly a quarter of all international students.
Trump referenced a figure of 500,000 Chinese students in the interview and commented, “if you want to see a university system die, take a half a million people out of it.”
“It’s something I’m always looking at. But it’s a very insulting thing to tell a country, we don’t want your people in our schools,” he explained.
Adjacent to Beijing’s Forbidden City sits a secretive complex surrounding two artificial lakes created for imperial enjoyment.
Zhongnanhai, meaning “middle and southern seas,” represents China’s power center as Chinese President Xi Jinping’s primary residence and central government headquarters.
Zhongnanhai draws comparisons to the White House, the Kremlin or South Korea’s Blue House. However, unlike other presidential residences, Zhongnanhai rarely serves as the primary location for diplomatic visits.
China’s leadership reserves the highly protected grounds exclusively for their closest allies and carefully chosen dignitaries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Xi has described as his closest friend, visited Zhongnanhai at least twice, in 2024 and 2025.
Xi also invited former U.S. President Barack Obama to Zhongnanhai in 2014, where the two leaders enjoyed an evening walk and dinner.
Elon Musk’s 6-year-old son appeared Thursday at the Great Hall of the People wearing Chinese-style clothing and carrying a tiger bag that became an internet sensation in China.
The small, tiger-head crossbody bag comes from artisanal brand YASTEE, which collaborates with embroiderers in southern China to create handcrafted items.
According to local media, a bag similar to the one Musk’s son wore requires several days to make and decorate by hand.
The bag became viral on Chinese social media and sold out within hours on the company’s online platforms.
In his interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News, the president said he invited them to join his meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People despite their participation not being planned.
Trump explained the American business executives were in the building “and I said I think I can get them in five minutes.”
Trump declined to identify which executives participated but said they introduced themselves and spoke briefly, appearing to impress Xi. He noted most had never met the Chinese president.
“He actually said that was very good. That was a good idea,” Trump said regarding Xi’s reaction.
Trump, whose delegation included the CEOs of Mastercard and Visa, said he also discussed with Xi expanding U.S. credit card companies’ access to the Chinese market.
“I said, ‘What about using Visa in China?’” Trump mentioned in his Fox News interview. “For some reason they were blackballed and maybe that’ll come off.”
China permits foreign cards to connect with instant payment apps like Alipay and WeChat Pay. However, physical card usage remains limited primarily to international hotels, luxury shopping centers, and select upscale restaurants.
Visa and Mastercard have long sought greater access to Chinese consumers and businesses in the world’s second-largest economy.
Trump inquired about releasing Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old former newspaper publisher and pro-democracy activist serving a 20-year sentence in Hong Kong, during his meeting with Xi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed in an NBC News interview Thursday.
“We would like to see him released. We would be open to any arrangement that would work for them, as long as he’s given his freedom,” Rubio stated.
Lai published Apple Daily, a tabloid that criticized Chinese and Hong Kong government officials.
“He’s all business,” Trump told Sean Hannity of Fox News in a recorded interview following Thursday’s meeting with the Chinese leader. “There’s no games. There’s no talking about how nice the weather is.”
Trump described Xi as “a very smart person” and said they maintain “a good relationship.”
“He’s all about China,” Trump observed.
The president suggested during the Fox News interview that Iranian officials initially “said very strongly” that the U.S. could send teams to collect hundreds of pounds of enriched uranium believed buried beneath nuclear sites severely damaged by U.S. military strikes last year.
However, he said Iran later withdrew from the agreement.
“They agreed to it. They take it back. They agree, you know it’s back and forth,” he explained.
Iran’s willingness to surrender enriched uranium represents a crucial point in negotiations to end the conflict.
Trump has consistently maintained Tehran is prepared to do so, but Iran has largely dismissed such claims.
Trump added during the interview that Iran claims only the U.S. and China possess sufficient technology to extract the enriched uranium, given its deep underground location.
Trump and Xi planned additional discussions Friday.
They scheduled time together at Xi’s official Beijing residence before Trump returns to Washington.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC that “there’s going to be some agricultural purchases” resulting from this visit.
U.S. soybean farmers suffered significant losses during Trump’s trade war with China and have pressed him to convince Beijing to increase purchases of their crops.
China is expected to meet its commitment to buy 12 million metric tons (13.2 million tons) of U.S. soybeans this year, though this falls well short of the 25 million to 30 million metric tons (27.5 million to 33 million tons) purchased previously.
China, the largest foreign purchaser of U.S. soybeans, completely stopped buying them last year after Trump raised tariffs on all Chinese products. Following Trump’s October meeting with Xi, the White House announced China agreed to purchase 12 million metric tons.
The American Soybean Association hopes Trump can negotiate an agreement for an additional 8 million metric tons (8.8 million tons) by August 31.
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s Democratic governor enacted groundbreaking legislation Thursday designed to curtail corporate political influence and anonymous “dark money” organizations that have poured unlimited funds into elections following a landmark 2010 Supreme Court decision.
The legislation, set to become effective July 1, 2027, changes how corporations are classified to prevent their involvement in election spending. Meanwhile, volunteers in Montana are collecting petition signatures to potentially place a comparable measure before voters this November.
The Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission eliminated restrictions on corporate and union political expenditures, provided they avoid direct campaign contributions. The case originated when Citizens United, a conservative organization, sought to air television advertisements for its anti-Hillary Clinton documentary during her 2008 presidential campaign.
Both major political parties have benefited from this decision. According to campaign finance monitoring organization OpenSecrets, outside political spending in 2024 federal elections exceeded $4 billion — nearly twelve times the amount spent in 2008.
A portion of these funds originated from dark money organizations that face no donor disclosure requirements, with the Brennan Center for Justice recording an unprecedented $1.9 billion in such spending during 2024. This type of funding has also influenced various state-level contests.
Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez’s office, led by the Democratic official, expressed opposition to the state’s new measure, contending it would prove challenging and expensive to defend through litigation.
“Hawaii is taking a brave and bold step to get corporate and dark money out of America’s politics,” stated Tom Moore, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, the organization that developed the legal framework underlying the legislation. “It will send a powerful message that will be heard loud and clear across the Pacific and across the mainland.”
Federal authorities have reached a settlement agreement with an Indian energy mogul accused of misleading investors about a massive corruption scheme involving his company’s solar power operations, according to legal documents made public Thursday.
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed charges in late 2024 against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani, who both lead Adani Green Energy Limited. Regulators alleged the pair committed to paying Indian government officials hundreds of millions of dollars worth of bribes in return for energy purchase contracts at artificially high prices.
During this same period, the energy firm raised billions from Wall Street investors who were reportedly told the company maintained strong anti-corruption policies and received guarantees from top executives that no bribes would be paid.
Federal regulators stated these actions breached antifraud sections of U.S. securities regulations.
Settlement documents reveal Gautam Adani has agreed to pay $6 million in civil fines, while his nephew will pay $12 million. The proposed agreement does not require either party to admit wrongdoing.
The Adani Group rejected the accusations when they were first made, describing them as without merit. Legal representatives for both men did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.
Both individuals face criminal charges filed in late 2024 in New York for securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud. The New York Times and Bloomberg reported Thursday that these criminal charges will likely be dismissed. Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York did not respond to inquiries from The Associated Press.
The decision to dismiss charges appeared to be influenced by developments following President Donald Trump’s election to a second term and Gautam Adani’s public praise of the president.
In March 2025, Trump suspended enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits overseas business bribes, leading some in India to believe the Adanis’ legal troubles were severely weakened.
Gautam Adani built his influence in the world’s largest country by developing a coal business empire during the 1990s.
The Adani Group eventually expanded into multiple sectors, making investments in critical areas including renewable energy, defense and agriculture.
Operating under the motto “Growth with Goodness,” the company developed a clean energy portfolio exceeding 20 gigawatts, featuring one of the globe’s largest solar installations in Tamil Nadu state.
The Adani Group previously aimed to become India’s dominant renewable energy company by 2030, planning to spend $70 billion on clean energy developments by 2032.
Adani’s strong connections to the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have drawn criticism, while U.S.-based Hindenburg Research has alleged the company engaged in “brazen stock manipulation” and “accounting fraud.”
The Adani Group dismissed these accusations as “a malicious combination of selective misinformation and stale, baseless and discredited allegations.”
Following the announcement of the Brooklyn case, Kenya’s president terminated multimillion-dollar agreements with the Adani Group covering airport upgrades and energy initiatives. Adani Green Energy pulled out of wind energy developments in Sri Lanka after the country requested price renegotiations. A major French oil company also halted new investments.
Industry experts believe a crucial element in Adani’s rapid expansion has been his ability to match his company’s objectives with the Modi administration’s goals. Critics claim he benefits from crony capitalism and receives special government treatment, including in contract awards, which the Adani Group has disputed.
Four people died when a medical transport aircraft went down in mountainous terrain near Ruidoso, New Mexico, during the early morning hours of Thursday, according to local authorities. The crash also started a forest fire in the area.
By midday, the blaze had expanded to cover 35 acres amid windy and dry weather conditions, Lincoln County Manager Jason Burns reported. Burns expressed that county authorities were “very concerned” about the fire, with local agencies collaborating alongside the U.S. Forest Service to control the flames.
What caused the aircraft to crash remains unclear, Burns stated. Search teams located the wreckage between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Thursday in challenging, steep and rocky terrain within the Capitan Mountains that proved hard to reach, requiring crews to walk the final half-mile to access the site, according to Burns.
Those who perished included flight crew members and medical staff, Burns noted. Authorities have not released the identities of the deceased.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families, loved ones, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident,” Burns stated during a press briefing.
The aircraft had taken off from Roswell Air Center with Sierra Blanca Regional Airport as its destination, the Federal Aviation Administration reported. Both the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will conduct investigations into the incident.
Trans Aero MedEvac operated the aircraft, which had been conducting a medical transport mission and was declared overdue when radio communications and radar tracking were lost, the company announced.
Trans Aero MedEvac has provided services throughout southeastern New Mexico and west Texas since 1966.
Ruidoso is a mountain community with fewer than 8,000 permanent residents, located at the foot of south-central New Mexico’s Sierra Blanca range. The region, which encompasses Lincoln National Forest, features dense forests and rural landscapes.
A previous medical aircraft accident in the Devil’s Canyon section of Lincoln National Forest claimed five lives in 2007. That incident occurred shortly after the flight departed from Ruidoso Regional Airport en route to Albuquerque.
Before Thursday’s accident, NTSB data shows 25 deadly medical aircraft crashes have occurred over the last 25 years, resulting in nearly 70 fatalities.
Multiple incidents have happened within the last 18 months, including a jet that went down in a Philadelphia neighborhood in January 2025, killing eight people, and an August crash on the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona that killed four. In December, a Mexican Navy aircraft carrying a young patient and seven others crashed in the Gulf off the Texas coast.
Medical evacuation aircraft flights typically don’t pose greater risks than other flights since they operate between airports like standard aircraft, according to aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti. Medical helicopter operations carry higher dangers because they frequently involve landing on roadways or makeshift sites near accident scenes to rapidly transport injured individuals to hospitals.
Research examining air medical accidents across a 20-year span through 2020 revealed that helicopters accounted for more than 70% of deaths.
“Typically when an air medical air plane accident occurs, the reasons are usually the same as any other airplane accident. There’s not unique issues with the air medical mission,” stated Guzzetti, who previously worked as a crash investigator for both the NTSB and FAA.
Federal prosecutors are reportedly preparing to abandon criminal fraud charges against Gautam Adani, an Indian billionaire who has committed to a $10 billion investment in American economic projects, according to two individuals with knowledge of the situation.
On Thursday, Adani also settled a corresponding civil fraud case filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning an alleged bribery operation targeting Indian government officials, pending judicial approval.
The potential abandonment of criminal charges follows a presentation by Adani’s attorney, Robert Giuffra, who also represents U.S. President Donald Trump personally. Giuffra informed Justice Department officials last month that Adani could not proceed with the investment while facing prosecution, according to one source.
Following Trump’s 2024 electoral victory, Adani had publicly committed to investing that sum and generating 15,000 American jobs.
According to the source, who requested anonymity, Giuffra devoted most of his 100-page presentation to challenging the case’s strength, arguing jurisdictional problems and insufficient evidence. Giuffra presented similar arguments in court documents for the related SEC case last month.
One source indicated that some prosecutors emphasized the $10 billion investment would not influence their case, though it remains uncertain whether others held different views.
The Justice Department has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Bloomberg News initially reported the Justice Department’s consideration of dismissing Adani’s case.
This represents another instance of Trump’s Justice Department moving to drop a prominent criminal case initiated by federal prosecutors under his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden.
In November 2024, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn filed charges against Adani regarding an alleged conspiracy where he reportedly agreed to provide approximately $265 million in bribes to Indian government officials to secure approval for developing India’s largest solar energy facility.
Prosecutors alleged that Adani and his suspected accomplices obtained more than $3 billion through loans and bonds while concealing their corruption from financial institutions and investors.
The Adani Group has characterized the allegations as “baseless.”
Adani also confronted a related SEC civil fraud case, which the securities agency settled Thursday pending court approval, according to court documents. Sagar Adani, Gautam Adani’s nephew, also faced SEC civil allegations.
Both Adani and his nephew agreed to pay $18 million in civil penalties without admitting or denying wrongdoing, court records indicate.
Adani Green Energy stated that both individuals and the SEC had submitted documents to a New York court requesting entry of a final judgment, which awaits approval.
Last month, the Adanis’ legal team argued their clients disputed any credible evidence supporting the SEC’s alleged bribery conspiracy.
They contended that the Adanis’ non-involvement in the offering and the lack of fraudulent intent or negligence warranted dismissal.
They also described the SEC allegations as “impermissibly extraterritorial,” noting that the Adanis and all purported misconduct occurred in India, while the bonds never traded on American exchanges.
The 63-year-old Adani possesses a net worth of $82 billion according to Forbes magazine, ranking him among the world’s wealthiest individuals.
A federal court has temporarily halted enforcement of major components of Texas legislation that would have granted state authorities the ability to detain and remove individuals suspected of unauthorized border crossings.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge David Ezra in Austin granted a temporary restraining order requested by the American Civil Liberties Union and allied organizations representing thousands of individuals who would have fallen under the law’s scope.
Judge Ezra, a Reagan appointee, determined that the state legislation violated federal supremacy and inappropriately encroached upon the federal government’s established authority over immigration matters and deportation procedures.
“At the broadest level, SB 4 conflicts with federal immigration law because it provides state officials the power to enforce federal law without federal supervision,” Ezra wrote.
Representatives for Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose office is defending the law, did not respond to requests for comment.
The legal challenge was initiated last week to stop portions of the 2023 legislation from becoming active, following an April decision by a federal appeals court that reversed a previous injunction from the Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration that had blocked the Republican-supported measure known as SB 4.
Republican President Donald Trump’s administration had abandoned a legal challenge that the Biden administration had brought against the law. Immigration advocacy groups that had also filed suit continued their efforts, but the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined the organizations did not have proper legal standing for their case.
The new ACLU-supported legal action aimed to resolve that problem by filing on behalf of noncitizens who would face the law’s four primary requirements, scheduled to become effective Friday.
These requirements include provisions that would criminalize under state law someone’s reentry to the U.S. following deportation, even with federal authorization or after obtaining permanent resident status, and would authorize Texas magistrate judges to issue removal orders.
Legal representatives for the challengers celebrated Ezra’s decision in a collective statement.
“Texas cannot override the U.S. Constitution and should stop wasting time attempting to do so,” they said.
Toyota Motor has requested permission to construct a new vehicle assembly facility at its current Texas manufacturing site, with approximately $2 billion in planned investment, according to regulatory documents.
The proposed San Antonio project, which has been given the code name “Project Orca,” is scheduled to break ground by late 2026, with vehicle manufacturing expected to commence in 2030, based on documents submitted to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
The automaker’s investment plan allocates $1.05 billion toward building construction and facility enhancements, while $950 million will go toward purchasing machinery and equipment.
The expansion is projected to generate 2,000 new employment opportunities between 2028 and 2030.
“We regularly evaluate our manufacturing footprint to ensure we remain competitive and aligned with customer demand. This reflects our long-term commitment of investing in the North American region, local manufacturing/jobs, and suppliers,” Toyota said in a statement to Reuters.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer reported Thursday that while China has made improvements in rare earth mineral exports to America, Beijing continues to cause delays in approving certain shipments.
Speaking during a Bloomberg Television interview, Greer explained that Chinese officials sometimes move slowly on export licenses, requiring U.S. officials to step in and advocate for American companies affected by the delays.
“I would give them a passing grade on this,” Greer stated.
“We’ve certainly seen the rare earths come back up to better levels. Sometimes it’s slow. There are times when we have to go and make our point,” he added.
Beijing implemented rare earth export restrictions in April 2025 as a response to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Liberation Day. These controls remain in place and continue to limit certain rare earth exports, despite an October agreement where the White House claims China committed to allowing unrestricted shipment flows.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet provided a response to requests for comment. Beijing has consistently justified its April 2025 export restrictions and maintains that it processes all qualified applications.
Greer is currently in China as part of Trump’s diplomatic team for discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
According to Greer, the United States has recently taken delivery of multiple large yttrium shipments. This rare earth element is exclusively manufactured in China and has been scarce for over a year, creating supply problems for American semiconductor and aerospace sectors.
“Whenever we see an issue, we hear from specific companies, we engage with our Chinese counterparts and we find them to be constructive,” Greer commented.
Reuters previously reported in April that China had given approval for several substantial yttrium exports, though current levels still fall significantly short of previous export volumes.
The University of Delaware baseball team secured a 7-3 win over Western Kentucky on Thursday evening at Bob Hannah Stadium in Newark, opening their final home series of the season with a victory against the CUSA opponent.
The Fightin’ Blue Hens improved their season record to 18-23 overall and 6-22 in conference play with Thursday’s win. Western Kentucky saw their record drop to 28-25 for the season and 13-15 in CUSA action following the loss.
The victory at Bob Hannah Stadium provided the Blue Hens with momentum as they continue their Conference USA campaign in what represents their concluding home stand of the year.
Motorists traveling on Route 13 southbound should expect delays due to ongoing construction activities affecting traffic flow in the area.
The construction work has resulted in the closure of the right travel lane and right shoulder on the southbound side of Route 13. The affected stretch runs between Caboose Road and Voshells Mill Road.
According to traffic officials, these lane restrictions will remain in place until 6 AM. Drivers are advised to use caution when traveling through the work zone and allow extra time for their commute.
Ukrainian boxing champion Vasiliy Lomachenko is making his return to the ring after stepping away from professional fighting, his manager revealed Wednesday.
“We are working on his comeback this fall,” Egis Klimas told ESPN.
The fighter, who compiled an 18-3 record with 12 knockouts before stepping away from the sport last summer, recently became a free agent on Tuesday and plans to pursue major bouts as part of his return to boxing.
At 38 years old, Lomachenko has captured world championships across three weight classes: featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight. His professional success built upon a stellar amateur career that featured two Olympic gold medals representing Ukraine in 2008 and 2012, along with an outstanding 396-1 amateur record.
Known as “Hi Tech,” Lomachenko’s most recent bout took place in 2024, where he scored a TKO victory over former lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. in Perth, Australia. Following his inability to line up another fight after that victory, Lomachenko considered his options before ultimately deciding to retire.
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Names like Have-A-Look, Handsome, Thanks, Trust, Privilege, Doubt, Problem, and Shame aren’t merely words in Zimbabwe. Parents select these names purposefully in a society where choosing what to call a child extends far beyond simple identification and can provide insight into family stories, feelings, and situations.
Initially, Privilege Mubani, a 37-year-old bar manager in Harare, the capital city, hadn’t considered the significance of her name much.
However, when she matured, she questioned her father about her name’s meaning. His response revealed a tale she had never envisioned, one containing stigma, strength, and surprising happiness.
Her mother had conceived while unmarried. In their traditional society where unwed motherhood faces disapproval, she had abandoned hopes of marriage.
But then a man appeared who married her despite the social stigma, making her mother feel vindicated.
“People had been laughing at her. She was being mocked for having a ‘fatherless’ child. Naming me Privilege was her own expression of gratitude,” she said with a grin.
The country’s preference for English names demonstrates its past as a British colony and its predominantly Christian population. English continues as an official language and the primary one used in education and government.
However, this custom extends beyond colonial influence.
In this southern African country, names frequently serve as brief stories of happiness, sorrow, belief, struggle, or strength during a child’s birth, explained David Chikwaza, a decolonization researcher at Dublin City University’s School of History and Geography in Ireland.
“It is an echo of pre-colonial naming traditions. Zimbabweans, and Africans in general, are very spiritual and the naming of a child always carried deep symbolism,” Chikwaza said. “Parents would name their child as a way of addressing a societal or a personal issue. Colonialism promoted English as a language of sophistication, so Africans simply turned to the English vocabulary for expression, but the meanings remain the same.”
This creates a naming system that frequently captivates people from other countries.
When Zimbabwe’s national soccer team played in January’s African Cup of Nations tournament, their remarkable player names caught public attention and became popular on social media.
“I have never seen a team with cooler names. I am hearing the commentator say these names and I am like, there’s no way these are real,” one TikTok user said, reacting to players named Teenage, Godknows, Divine, Marvellous, Knowledge, Prince and Prosper.
This uniqueness also becomes material for humor.
Learnmore Jonasi, who reached the finals of “America’s Got Talent” in 2024, frequently gets laughs from American audiences by joking about his name and others from his homeland.
Names like Givemore, Best, Promise, Guarantee, Anxious, Innocent, Confidence and Hardlife are among many that might seem unusual elsewhere, but appear normal in Zimbabwe.
Many people view their names with pride and even as goals to achieve.
Consider Lovejoy Mutongwiza, a 33-year-old journalist and chief executive of 263chat, an online news outlet. He views his name as a reason to celebrate.
“My mum and dad said they were madly in love and in a happy place in their lives when they conceived me, so they aptly named me Lovejoy,” he said. “It’s a befitting name. I think I have lived up to it because I am rarely angry. I am naturally a bubbly person.”
Some people accept names that others might consider negative.
Shame Chikwana said he has never felt troubled by his name and rejected his sister’s suggestions to choose a more typical name as an adult.
“I would never trade it for any other name. I was named after my late grandfather so it’s a heritage I am carrying,” said the 51-year-old, adding that his parents refused to divulge why his grandfather was given the name.
“I hope it stays within the family for generations to come,” he said.
BENGALURU, India (AP) — The ongoing conflict with Iran has created severe energy disruptions across Asia, with ordinary citizens bearing the brunt of skyrocketing fuel costs and supply shortages.
In New Delhi, taxi operator Ravi Ranjan faces mounting financial pressure as shipping interruptions from the Iran conflict force him to pay dramatically higher prices for household cooking fuel. The situation has worsened as India’s prime minister encourages citizens to cut back on driving and travel.
Ranjan’s expenses have tripled, he explained, with cooking fuel deliveries experiencing significant delays.
“I used to get a cylinder of LPG for 1,000 rupees ($11), now I pay 3,000 rupees ($31) in the black market,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Chennai on India’s coast, marketing professional Sushmita Sankar reports that both gasoline and cooking fuel costs are rising dramatically due to the conflict. Sankar notes that ethanol-blended gasoline — now the standard option at filling stations — appears to be reducing her vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
“Fuel expenses are increasing and with only ethanol mixed petrol available, I feel my car’s mileage has reduced in the last year or so,” she said. “Already our days are busy with work and taking care of our child’s school and other needs. Having to now spend a lot of time to fill my car or buy LPG is making things even more hectic.”
Responding to cooking gas shortages and rising crude oil costs, India has suggested allowing automobiles to operate on 85% or even pure ethanol. The country has also prohibited sugar exports through at least September to maintain domestic supplies and ensure sufficient raw materials for potential increases in ethanol blending.
Officials argue that increased ethanol use will decrease vehicle emissions, though motorists worry about reduced fuel efficiency. Environmental specialists also note that using corn, rice and other food crops for ethanol production could interfere with food and animal feed requirements.
Asia experienced the earliest and most severe fossil fuel disruptions from the Iran conflict’s impact on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy shipping route.
With countries preparing for additional impacts, governments seek to expand biofuel usage to reduce fuel import dependence. Indonesia and Malaysia are also advancing policies to increase fuel mixing with palm oil-derived alternatives, though specialists caution this could promote agricultural expansion and forest destruction.
Even with this conflict-driven focus, implementing higher fuel blends across Asia may require years due to the time needed for supply chain development, blend research and vehicle compatibility testing.
The prime minister asked Indians this month to make “nationally responsible choices” to conserve fuel by increasing public transportation use, carpooling and avoiding international travel.
India purchases nearly 90% of its crude oil from abroad, so the Iran conflict has impacted gasoline-dependent vehicles and millions of households and restaurants requiring LPG. Natural gas-dependent industries have also suffered effects. However, a national electrical system powered mainly by coal and some renewable sources has maintained electricity supply.
Following the Iran conflict’s start, Indian officials responded by diversifying oil suppliers and suggesting higher biofuel blends, though energy specialists say this has only partially reduced the impact.
Most Indian fuel stations now offer a 20% ethanol mixture after the nation reached its goal of nationwide blend distribution in 2025, five years earlier than the government’s original timeline. Officials are considering raising the blend percentage across all gasoline to 27% by 2030. The recent transport ministry announcement suggesting vehicles that operate on 85% ethanol or pure ethanol represents the clearest indication yet for auto manufacturers to start producing compatible vehicles. The schedule for these higher blends remains undetermined.
“Moving toward higher ethanol blends reflects the government’s long-term vision for energy security, lower emissions, and reduced dependence on imported crude oil,” said Chandra Kumar Jain, president of the Grain Ethanol Manufacturers Association.
India’s 20% ethanol blend resulted in a 2.5% decrease in crude oil imports in 2025, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.
While any oil import reduction benefits the country, a disadvantage of the accelerated fuel blending pace is policy uncertainty and confusion among car manufacturers, said Charith Konda of IEEFA.
Southeast Asia similarly views bioenergy as protection from the current crisis and future disruptions, according to Reza Yosri, an energy specialist at consulting firm Ramboll.
Indonesia aims to raise fuel blending to 50% biodiesel from the current 40% under a program initiated in March by the president, who declared, “We are going in a big way to biofuel.”
The biofuel program represents part of Indonesia’s drive for “energy sovereignty” following recent fuel disruptions, according to Putra Adhiguna of Jakarta-based Energy Shift Institute.
Fuel blending will also assist Indonesia in creating a domestic market for palm oil it exports worldwide, he explained. However, he emphasized the need to monitor land clearing and forest destruction.
In April, Malaysia authorized a plan to gradually raise its fuel mixing to 15% biodiesel and 85% fossil diesel, with a potential 20% blend being evaluated.
Rising fuel costs have “revived the idea,” explained Ahmad Rafdi Endut, a Kuala Lumpur-based energy analyst. Nevertheless, he warned that higher concentrations will require additional testing and consumers remain concerned about decreased mileage.
Although ethanol blending is frequently promoted as a gasoline replacement, specialists caution that the situation is more complex.
Shyamasis Das of the New Delhi-based Centre for Social and Economic Progress noted uncertainty about how higher blends would impact existing engines, and scaling up production for engines capable of running on higher concentrations will take time.
Motorists may experience compromises. Ethanol contains less energy per unit than gasoline, meaning vehicles typically use more fuel to travel the same distance, Das clarified.
Worries persist that crops required for ethanol production could compete with food supplies, increasing prices and worsening water shortages, Das added. In India, approximately 70% of ethanol derives from crops including sugarcane, corn and rice.
Creating one liter (34 fluid ounces) of ethanol can demand between 3,000 liters (792 gallons) and 10,000 liters (2,641 gallons) of water, a resource already strained in a nation experiencing groundwater depletion.
While biofuels can decrease vehicle emissions, their total climate effect depends on production methods.
Konda, the IEEFA analyst, suggested that electric vehicles represent a more effective long-term approach, combined with transitioning industries to renewable energy rather than fossil or biofuels.
The climate advantages of crop-derived ethanol can be constrained by elements including land usage and water consumption, analysts report.
Das, from CSEP, emphasized that producing ethanol from materials requiring no additional land or water — such as agricultural waste, municipal refuse and used oils — is essential.
“If the biofuel is not sourced from residues or waste, they are not usually treated as renewable,” he said.
HUNTSVILLE, Texas — Texas reached a grim milestone Thursday evening when officials executed a man whose intellectual disabilities had been acknowledged by experts on both sides of the case, making him the 600th person put to death in the state since capital punishment resumed in 1982.
Edward Busby Jr. was declared dead at 8:11 p.m. after receiving a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville. The execution proceeded after the U.S. Supreme Court removed a stay that had been granted over questions about his mental capacity. His legal team had mounted numerous final appeals to prevent the execution.
Busby had been sentenced to die for the suffocation murder of Laura Lee Crane, a 77-year-old former professor at Texas Christian University. According to prosecutors, Crane was taken from a grocery store parking lot in January 2004 and died after being placed in her car’s trunk with 23 feet of duct tape covering her entire face, blocking her ability to breathe.
This execution represents Texas’s 600th since the state reinstated the death penalty four decades ago. Busby became the fourth person executed in Texas this year and the 12th across the United States. The same day, Oklahoma also carried out an execution of Raymond Johnson, who had killed his former girlfriend and her infant daughter nearly two decades earlier.
During his final moments, when the warden offered him the opportunity to make a last statement, Busby expressed repeated remorse and pleaded for forgiveness.
“I am so sorry for what happened,” he said while restrained on the execution table. “Miss Crane was a lovely woman. I never meant anything bad to happen to her.” He expressed wishes that he could “take it all back” and acknowledged he had “no right to get in that car.”
“I’ll take the blame if that helps.”
He spoke about giving his life to God and encouraged his sister, who was watching and praying from behind a nearby window, to find a church and “pick up your cross.”
“I’m here because this is the will of God,” he said before the lethal injection began.
When the pentobarbital sedative started flowing, Busby took a sudden breath, shut his eyes and gasped. He then made snoring noises that gradually became quieter. All movement and sounds stopped within 40 seconds, though he wasn’t officially declared dead until 38 minutes later.
The execution had appeared uncertain after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay last week to examine his intellectual disability claims more thoroughly. However, the Supreme Court reversed that stay Thursday following a request from the Texas Attorney General’s Office, which contended that similar challenges had been previously dismissed and were “meritless” due to “conflicting evidence.”
Busby’s legal representatives immediately sought another stay, but a lower court rejected their request.
The Supreme Court ruled in 2002 that executing intellectually disabled individuals violates constitutional protections. However, the court has allowed states flexibility in determining how to assess such disabilities.
Busby’s defense team had contended that his execution should not proceed because experts hired by both the defense and the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office had concluded he was intellectually disabled.
The district attorney’s office had previously recommended changing Busby’s sentence to life imprisonment. However, the trial judge rejected the intellectual disability findings and maintained the death sentence in 2023.
In a Wednesday statement, the district attorney’s office explained it had requested Thursday’s execution date because it determined that under existing law, Busby did not qualify as intellectually disabled.
Courts had previously postponed two other scheduled execution dates for Busby.
According to prosecutors, Busby and his accomplice, Kathleen Latimer, kidnapped Crane from a Fort Worth grocery store parking lot and forced her into her vehicle’s trunk while they drove around. Prosecutors stated she died from suffocation after having 23 feet of duct tape wrapped around her face.
Busby was later apprehended in Oklahoma City while driving Crane’s vehicle and directed authorities to her body in Oklahoma, just across the Texas border.
Latimer is currently serving a life sentence for murder.
Bryan Mark Rigg, an author and historian representing the Crane family as an execution witness, stated they “neither support or oppose the death penalty. However, they are united in their respect for the rule of law.”
Rigg, who had been Crane’s student as a child, described how she spent decades helping children with learning disabilities and “was discarded in a field like a piece of trash.” He emphasized the execution was not about revenge but “accountability under the law and about remembering the life of an extraordinary educator.”
MIAMI (AP) — At a judicial conference near Miami, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas called on Americans to mark the upcoming 250th anniversary of independence by defending their core values, emphasizing that the Constitution provides shared ground for a nation facing significant divisions.
“We can disagree on all sorts of things, but we’ve got to have something in common or we don’t have a country,” Thomas stated during the conference. “These documents, our founding documents, our founding history, whether we think it’s perfect or it shouldn’t be amended, or we might disagree about how far it goes, but we can say this is something that we all treasure.”
The justice made these comments during an interview conducted by Kasdin Mitchell, a former clerk who received a nomination from President Donald Trump this month for a federal judgeship in Dallas.
Thomas, who has now achieved the distinction of being the second longest-serving justice in the Supreme Court’s history, reflected on growing up in the segregated South and his more than thirty years serving on the nation’s highest court.
However, the 77-year-old justice showed no signs of considering retirement in the near future, which would provide President Trump with a chance to strengthen his impact on the Supreme Court by appointing a fourth justice—more than any president has named in nearly a century.
“Justice Marshall said you take a job for life, you do it for life,” he noted, referencing Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court, whom Thomas succeeded.
Thomas explained that his extended time on the court has provided him with a distinctive view of the widespread cynicism affecting society and fueling Americans’ lack of confidence in their government.
Drawing on his grandfather’s example—a man whose father had been enslaved and who had minimal formal schooling yet maintained faith in America’s potential for improvement—Thomas outlined his philosophy favoring limited government.
“One of the rods in this society versus so many of the others where the rights are parceled down by a government is that we were taught from the cradle that we were equal in God’s eyes, that was self-evident,” Thomas explained. “If you look at Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King or Abraham Lincoln, they all speak in terms of these transcendent rights beyond the ability of man to take away even though man had the power to infringe upon them.”
TAIPEI, May 15 (Reuters) – Taiwan’s government expressed appreciation to the United States on Friday for maintaining its supportive stance and dedication to regional stability, while confirming that American policy toward the island remains consistent during President Donald Trump’s ongoing state visit to China.
The United States serves as Taiwan’s primary international ally and maintains legal obligations to supply the island with defensive capabilities, despite China’s claims over Taiwan and demands for arms sales to cease.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Thursday that discussions between Trump and President Xi Jinping included the topic of democratically-led Taiwan, while emphasizing that American policy toward the territory continues without modification.
Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung issued a statement through his ministry expressing gratitude to the U.S. for consistently voicing its support and highlighting the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait region, while confirming that U.S. Taiwan policy remains steady.
The ministry noted that Chinese military forces persist in conducting operations near Taiwan, engaging in “harassment and intimidation.”
“This demonstrates that Beijing is a major risk to current regional peace and stability,” the statement said.
During Thursday’s discussions, Xi warned Trump that poor management of the nations’ Taiwan-related disputes could lead China-U.S. relations to a “dangerous place.”
Speaking to NBC, Rubio characterized any Chinese use of force regarding Taiwan as a “terrible mistake.”
Joseph Wu, secretary-general of Taiwan’s National Security Council, responded to Rubio’s comments later that evening through his X social media account, expressing agreement with the sentiment.
“We’re determined to defend the status quo & deter aggression,” Wu posted.
Chinese military operations in Taiwan’s vicinity continue on a daily basis.
Taiwan’s defense ministry reported Friday morning that seven Chinese warships were detected in the area during the previous 24-hour period, while no aircraft were observed.
Trump is scheduled to depart for the United States Friday afternoon following tea and lunch engagements with Xi.
A federal jury in Texas ruled Wednesday that Exxon Mobil did not defraud shareholders in connection with disclosures about its Canadian oil sands and Rocky Mountain gas operations.
The lawsuit, filed in 2016, accused Exxon of hiding that its Canadian bitumen operations were unprofitable, improperly handling carbon-cost calculations in reserve assessments, and postponing impairment charges related to Rocky Mountain dry gas assets.
According to court documents filed in Dallas federal court, shareholders who purchased Exxon common stock between February 24, 2016 and October 28, 2016 could not demonstrate that the company deceived them.
The plaintiffs argued they purchased Exxon stock at inflated prices because the energy company hid important details about its reserve assessments and financial reporting methods.
Exotic dancers in Montreal are organizing a work stoppage during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, timing their labor action to coincide with what they say is the most profitable period for strip clubs in the city.
The Sex Work Autonomous Committee has scheduled the strike for May 23, which falls on the eve of the fifth Formula One race of the season. The group is pushing for recognition as employees rather than independent contractors, along with the workplace protections that come with employee status.
The workers’ main objective is eliminating the “bar fee” that dancers must pay to perform at clubs. They are also seeking improved safety and sanitation standards in their workplaces, plus an end to discriminatory practices in hiring and shift assignments.
“As strippers, we are considered independent contractors, this means that on paper we are treated the same as, say, an independent plumber that you would hire for your home repairs,” SWAC said in a statement.
“The independent contractor plumber is responsible to no one but themself, while the independent contractor stripper is responsible to club management, at the expense of their job.”
The organization deliberately chose the Grand Prix weekend for maximum impact on club owners’ bottom line.
“The clubs are at their busiest, making it the most lucrative period of the year for our boss,” the statement continued.
“This is our chance to threaten that income and affect them when it hurts the most. During this time, despite management making more money, dancers have to put up with … generally worse working conditions.”
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer revealed during a Bloomberg TV interview on Friday that restrictions on advanced semiconductor exports to China did not feature prominently in recent diplomatic conversations with Chinese officials in Beijing.
These remarks indicate that any potential breakthrough allowing sales of advanced H200 processors to China remains uncertain, even though the CEO of a major chip manufacturer received a last-minute invitation to accompany U.S. President Donald Trump on his Beijing visit this week.
“This was not a major topic of discussion at the bilateral meeting. We did not talk about chip export controls at the meeting,” Greer stated, noting that “15 to 17” U.S. CEOs who attended Thursday’s meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed their respective companies’ concerns.
According to Reuters, approximately 10 Chinese companies received clearance to purchase H200 processors, including major technology firms Alibaba, Tencent and Bytedance, though no actual shipments have occurred. The Trump administration granted approval for H200 exports to China in December and imposed additional requirements in January.
Greer emphasized that accepting H200 imports would constitute a “sovereign decision” for China.
“They’re fluid, right? They change over time. It depends on what threats you see, what’s commercially available worldwide, what the Chinese can already do,” Greer explained.
“And so you want to make sure you strike a balance between national security, protecting high tech, but also making sure that we’re benefiting from overseas markets. And so those are the kinds of things that went into the H200 decision as to whether the Chinese are going to buy or not.”
Although Chinese artificial intelligence companies such as DeepSeek increasingly emphasize their use of domestically produced processors, American semiconductor restrictions continue to hinder Beijing’s efforts toward technological independence as domestic manufacturing facilities face challenges scaling production.
Shortages in computing capacity have compelled numerous Chinese AI companies to limit user access in recent months, while Chinese policymakers express concern about increasing reliance on American chips, viewing this as a potential supply chain weakness.
Conservative American legislators and former officials from the previous administration have contended that providing advanced AI processors to China would enable them to match American capabilities in cutting-edge artificial intelligence and support China’s military objectives.
“They’re making their own determinations. They’re very committed to domestic production,” Greer commented.
“They often see U.S. high tech sometimes as a threat to them because if we’re ahead of the game like we are on AI chips, sometimes they feel that can stop their own growth.”
Workers at Samsung Electronics in South Korea announced Friday that the technology giant has offered to restart labor discussions without any preconditions, following the breakdown of government-facilitated negotiations regarding compensation and bonus structures.
The labor organization indicated its willingness to engage in discussions after June 7, though it intends to proceed with a planned work stoppage beginning May 21 that could impact operations at the globe’s largest memory chip manufacturer.
Samsung Electronics released a statement verifying its proposal for talks without conditions, but did not offer additional details at the time.
The workers’ union had stated Thursday that it would participate in negotiations if the corporation presented a comprehensive proposal addressing worker concerns by 0100 GMT Friday.
Government leaders in South Korea, including the prime minister and finance minister, have expressed alarm that a work stoppage at Samsung must be prevented, cautioning it could create substantial threats to the nation’s economic expansion, export activity and financial markets.
Samsung Electronics stock prices dropped 2% during morning trading following the announcement of unconditional negotiation proposals, while the overall KOSPI index fell 1.1%.
The US dollar strengthened on Friday and is on track for its strongest weekly performance in more than two months, driven by mounting inflation concerns that are increasing speculation about a Federal Reserve interest rate increase this year.
Rising energy costs and ongoing shipping disruptions have intensified inflationary pressures, contributing to the greenback’s rally.
Financial markets are also closely monitoring the second day of crucial talks between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, as Trump pursues economic concessions from Beijing amid the ongoing Iran conflict.
According to US officials, the discussions have centered on both leaders’ mutual goal of reopening the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping route, which Iran has essentially blocked since hostilities began in late February. The talks also highlighted Xi’s apparent willingness to purchase American oil as a way to decrease China’s reliance on Middle Eastern energy sources.
While investor response to the summit has been relatively subdued as markets wait for additional details, the offshore yuan reached near its strongest position in over three years, trading at 6.7874 against the dollar.
“The meeting is broadly in line with market expectations and slightly constructive at the margin,” said Cliff Zhao, chief economist at CCB International.
“A better tone is helpful, but markets will still look for more clarity on trade, business access and specific policy arrangements.”
Across broader markets, the dollar gained momentum, climbing to a two-week peak of 98.98 against a collection of major currencies.
The dollar index is positioned to increase more than 1% for the week, marking its most significant gain since early March.
The dollar’s strength pushed the Japanese yen beyond 158 per dollar, keeping traders watchful for potential intervention from Tokyo. The yen was trading at 158.45 during early Asian sessions and appeared set to decline more than 1% for the week.
The euro dropped 0.04% to $1.1662, also moving toward a weekly decline exceeding 1%.
The dollar’s upward momentum has accelerated throughout the week, supported by indicators showing rising domestic inflation even as the US economy demonstrates resilience despite the continuing Middle East crisis.
Thursday’s economic data revealed that US retail sales continued to grow in April, while weekly unemployment claims figures suggested labor market stability.
Market participants now see a 44% probability that the Fed might increase rates in December, up significantly from the 22.5% chance calculated a week earlier, based on CME FedWatch tool data.
“While we are still cognizant of the softer domestic demand conditions that are being weighed down by rising energy costs, our U.S. CPI forecasts have been revised higher in 2026 again with risks still biased towards the upside,” said Alvin Liew, senior economist at UOB.
“We now expect an extended period of pause to cover the remainder of 2026 before the Fed resumes easing in 2027.”
Among other currencies, the British pound fell to a one-month low of $1.3385, having dropped 0.9% in the prior session following British health minister Wes Streeting’s resignation, which has intensified the political turmoil there.
“The prospect of a potentially disruptive leadership transition and yet another challenging fiscal backdrop heading into the autumn is likely to weigh on sentiment,” said Henry Cook, senior Europe economist at MUFG Bank.
“We see the balance of risks to the UK outlook as firmly skewed to the downside.”
The Australian dollar retreated from its recent four-year high due to the greenback’s strength, declining 0.04% to $0.7217.
Professional football teams displayed remarkable creativity Thursday evening as they unveiled their upcoming season schedules through an array of entertaining presentations featuring artistic elements, gaming references, film nods, and even animated television shows.
The organizations also took opportunities to playfully tease their future opponents, make light of their own situations, and reference notable offseason incidents.
The Indianapolis team utilized an animated approach featuring characters from the long-running cartoon series. Their presentation acknowledged their extended losing streak in Jacksonville by showing the famous father character vanishing into bushes when displaying their away matchup against the Jaguars.
The animation also depicted the young son character repeatedly scribbling on a school blackboard: “We will not include Tyreek Hill in these videos.”
The New York franchise adopted an artistic “football is ART (craft blend)” concept, mixing specially labeled paint colors to reveal their opponents and corresponding dates.
Their opening game against the Tennessee team featured paint shades called “Dolly Denim” and “Bachelorette Blush,” referencing a city famous for a country music icon and party destinations. The Miami matchup incorporated spray tan, del boca vista, major key and finkle — nodding to the Ray Finkle character from the 1994 film “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” — while the Minnesota game used raspberry beret and minnetonka blue colors.
The New Orleans organization employed a “season forecast” theme that featured personalities including Jim Cantore from The Weather Channel. The Los Angeles team drew inspiration from the film “Napoleon Dynamite” for their “A Dynamite schedule” presentation.
The Pittsburgh franchise created an extended presentation lasting over 4 minutes and 36 seconds that celebrated local culture, traditions, cuisine, and regional dialect with “Ready to yinzify your DNA, n’at?” A Pittsburgh-born actor Billy Gardell guides a new security employee through the experience with the schedule information revealed at the conclusion.
The Los Angeles team produced an even lengthier presentation using the video game Halo Infinite for a 6-minute and 12-second reveal, beginning with a social media post asking whether they should create their schedule video using the game, with “NO” spelled out alongside the word “yes.”
This team also reminded Baltimore about backing out of their potential trade with another franchise for player Maxx Crosby.
They additionally appeared to reference the Patriots coach’s recent activities in their headlines with a mention of “Next Photo Dump 1 Mile.”
The Jacksonville organization capitalized on perhaps the most talked-about offseason haircut, featuring their quarterback Trevor Lawrence trimming his lengthy hair on camera after presenting their schedule, which then displays on screen in an edited version under 2 minutes.
The Tennessee team returned to street interviews for their schedule announcement, building on their 2023 approach. This year, they used “You never know who you’ll see on the street” set to the classic rock song “Who Are You,” asking random individuals if they were notable figures associated with specific opponents.
The Atlanta organization borrowed the style from a popular social media account known as ArtButMakeItSports for their schedule preview. They published a series Thursday morning titled “Art but make it our 2026 opponents,” showcasing paintings representing each opposing team.
WASHINGTON — Federal lawmakers are advancing measures to extend the working years for U.S. Capitol Police officers as security threats targeting Congress members surge and the department faces critical staffing challenges.
The Senate unanimously approved legislation Thursday that would permit Capitol Police officers to continue working until age 62, while the House passed separate legislation earlier this year allowing service until age 65. Currently, officers can request waivers to work past the mandatory retirement at age 57 or after two decades of service, but only until age 60.
The proposed changes could help address personnel shortages that Chief Michael Sullivan described to Congress as affecting “all operational units” throughout the force.
“We have 300 officers right now that could say I’m done, I’m ready to walk away,” Sullivan warned House appropriators in March, referring to officers reaching age limits or 20-year service marks. “That would be catastrophic for us.”
The bipartisan Senate measure was crafted by California Sen. Alex Padilla, the leading Democrat on the Senate Rules Committee, working alongside Senate Rules Committee Chairman Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Padilla described the proposal as a modest response to escalating security concerns.
Retaining veteran officers provides significant value, Padilla explained, noting “we’re talking about officers who have served for a long, long time and have a tremendous amount of institutional memory, experience and expertise.”
“After bicameral and bipartisan discussions, I hope to see this measure signed into law,” Padilla stated.
Currently, nearly 60 sworn officers are working under retirement waivers, according to the House Administration Committee — more than twice the typical size of a Capitol Police recruiting class.
“No officer should be forced to retire when they can still do the job,” said Republican Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, who chairs the administration panel.
The Capitol Police force has implemented numerous improvements following the security breakdowns of Jan. 6, 2021, when thousands of President Donald Trump’s supporters overwhelmed officers, stormed the Capitol grounds and violently entered the building while protesting his electoral loss. Many officers departed afterward, leaving ongoing retention and budget challenges.
For the first time, the department’s budget request exceeded $1 billion this year as leadership seeks to expand the force and enhance member protection. Sullivan informed lawmakers the department currently employs approximately 1,250 uniformed officers but requires 150 additional personnel to fully staff all positions without relying on overtime pay.
“I’m concerned with the overtime that we put on our folks every single day,” Sullivan testified during March oversight proceedings. “There’s drafts on a consistent basis and it pushes the men and women that we have to the limit.”
Sullivan characterized funding for the department’s protective intelligence operations, which safeguard members, as “very slim.”
Multiple officers have departed for other federal agencies offering superior benefits, Sullivan noted.
“There’s nothing keeping folks here,” he said.
Staffing shortages stem partly from increased member protection demands. Congressional threat levels have more than doubled over five years.
Department data shows almost 15,000 threats against Congress members were investigated in 2025, representing a 58 percent jump from 2024. Sullivan indicated 2026 threat numbers are projected to climb even higher.
The department has restructured member security protocols, expanding protection for lawmakers and families in home districts nationwide while partnering with local police departments it reimburses. A January analysis noted increased threat reporting following the launch of a specialized center two years ago for receiving and processing threat reports.
The report indicated lawmakers from both parties face a “wide range of threats.”
These expanded responsibilities demand additional personnel and expertise, Sullivan emphasized.
“While we focus on those individuals at the beginning of their career, we also need to focus on that experience that’s at the end of their career,” he told lawmakers.
The parliament of the Solomon Islands chose opposition leader Matthew Wale as the nation’s new prime minister on Friday, following last week’s removal of incumbent Jeremiah Manele through a no-confidence vote.
In a parliamentary ballot, Wale secured victory over Peter Shanel Agovaka with 26 votes compared to 22, according to Governor General Sir David Tiva Kapu, who serves as the representative of the nation’s head of state, Britain’s King Charles. The results were announced during a news conference.
Following his selection, Wale acknowledged the challenging circumstances facing his new administration.
“We take government at a difficult time, given what is happening throughout the world,” Wale said after his election.
“We are not immune from the impacts of these geopolitical events.”
The Solomon Islands, positioned 1,600 km (1,000 miles) northeast of Australia, has gained strategic significance in recent years as its relationship with China has grown stronger. The nation entered into a security agreement with China in 2022, raising alarm among the United States and neighboring South Pacific countries.
Wale had previously spoken out strongly against this agreement, arguing it would harm regional security and potentially damage relationships with current partners. However, in recent years he has worked to improve relations with China.
In 2025, he headed a delegation to Beijing, where he commended China’s economic progress and stated his party’s support for the one-China principle, based on information from a visit summary released by the Communist Party of China.
Federal authorities are moving forward with plans to bring criminal charges against Cuba’s Raul Castro, according to a Department of Justice official who spoke Thursday evening.
The proposed charges against the 94-year-old former Cuban leader, who is the brother of Fidel, would require approval from a grand jury, though officials have not specified when that process might occur.
According to the Justice Department official, the anticipated charges will center on incidents involving the destruction of aircraft.
Earlier reporting by CBS indicated the case stems from Cuba’s fatal attack on aircraft in 1996 that were being flown by the humanitarian organization Brothers to the Rescue.
Federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida have been leading efforts to investigate possible criminal violations by high-ranking Cuban government leaders.
America anticipates that China will commit to purchasing agricultural goods valued in the “double-digit billions” following a presidential meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing, according to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who made the announcement Friday.
Greer referenced the existing agreement from last October involving 25 million metric tons of soybeans annually and indicated America also anticipates “see an agreement for double-digit billion purchases of ags over the next three years per year coming out of this visit.”
“And that’s more general, that’s aggregate. That’s not just soybeans, that’s everything else,” he explained during a Bloomberg Television interview.
China represents the world’s largest purchaser of soybeans, which rank as America’s top agricultural export to the nation, and these crops have remained central to trade discussions throughout both Trump presidencies.
Leading up to the summit, financial markets had not expected Beijing to increase the soybean commitment above the current 25 million ton level, an outlook supported by remarks from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday indicating the current arrangement addressed the matter.
Two major cities set to host World Cup matches are implementing new restrictions on pre-game festivities that will change how fans experience the tournament atmosphere.
Boston and Philadelphia announced Wednesday that tailgating activities will only be permitted for individuals who possess tickets to the matches, representing a shift from standard practices at Gillette Stadium and Lincoln Financial Field.
“The people who should come to Gillette on a game day are people who have a ticket to the event,” stated Jim Nolan, COO of Kraft Sports and Entertainment. “So, if you don’t have a ticket, don’t come to Gillette.”
The announcement provides relief to supporters who worried about a complete prohibition on tailgating following confusion last month when officials initially suggested all pre-game parking lot activities would be eliminated entirely.
However, the new policy adds another expense for fans already facing elevated ticket and parking costs for the international tournament.
“Parking in the lots is controlled by FIFA, so anyone who is looking to purchase a parking space can work with FIFA. There’s a website available where you can purchase the parking,” explained Meg Kane, CEO & President of Philadelphia Soccer 2026. “If you have a ticket for the match on the day that the ticket says, and you have a parking space, you’re absolutely welcome to enjoy the traditional fan experience. That’s something that we’re going to embrace in every way.”
Kane acknowledged the policy represents a significant departure from typical professional football game experiences.
“It is a change for Philadelphians to know that this is not like a traditional Eagles game, where there are 25,000 people here who have no tickets, and are here for that part of the party,” she noted.
FIFA has not yet disclosed whether similar restrictions will apply at all tournament locations. New Jersey has already implemented even stricter measures, completely prohibiting tailgating at MetLife Stadium. Previous FIFA communications had suggested various limitations might be implemented.
Last week, a representative from the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee told the Dallas Observer that tailgating “will have a slightly different feel but additional fan information for all FIFA World Cup 2026 matches will be communicated in advance of the tournament.”
Motorists traveling on eastbound US 40 should expect delays as construction work has forced the closure of two left lanes between Church Road and Walther Road.
The lane restrictions are scheduled to remain in place until 5 AM, according to transportation officials.
Drivers are advised to plan for extra travel time and use caution when navigating through the construction zone.
NEW YORK (AP) — The organization Global Citizen, which fights poverty worldwide, has experience with major events. The advocacy organization brought together more than 60,000 people at its Central Park festival last year to focus attention on protecting rainforests and improving energy access.
Now Global Citizen is working on its biggest project to date: organizing the inaugural FIFA World Cup halftime show scheduled for July 19, developed with assistance from Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin. The event will showcase Super Bowl-style entertainment — rarely seen in soccer — starring Madonna, Shakira and BTS. Additionally on Thursday, Shakira unveiled the tournament’s official anthem “Dai Dai” featuring Afrobeats star Burna Boy.
Event planners hope to channel the tournament’s anticipated billions of global viewers toward a charitable effort created in partnership with soccer’s worldwide governing organization. Using what Global Citizen founder Hugh Evans described as the “complementary” bonding forces of soccer and music, the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund seeks to collect $100 million for community organizations that give disadvantaged children educational opportunities and sports access.
“I hope that on the world’s biggest stage, finally, the importance of investing in education steals the show,” Shakira told the Global Citizen NOW summit in New York on Thursday. Later, she told The Associated Press in an interview that she wanted to help the “many children who are being left behind.”
“That should be our first concern,” Shakira said. “I’m so excited that finally we’re gonna use a global event like this one as a platform to discuss what’s most important: kids’ education.”
However, that effort might face challenges due to the enormous expense of game tickets. One dollar from each World Cup ticket purchase will support the education fund. But with tickets priced in the four- to five-figure range, plus expensive travel and accommodation costs, some host cities are reducing their attendance projections.
Adding to the complexity of their unity message is FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s growing relationship with President Donald Trump, whose limiting immigration policies and recent military actions create what opponents view as an unwelcoming atmosphere unusual for an international sports competition.
Infantino presented FIFA’s new peace prize to Trump in December. Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter, was also named to the education fund’s board.
Evans is not concentrating on politics, though. “I’m a pragmatist,” he told the AP. “I’ve always believed that if we can do something so unbelievably positive, it has the potential to unite people at a time when the world needs it most.”
Thursday’s Global Citizen NOW summit presenters highlighted their capacity to create cross-industry backing for initiatives like the education fund. The yearly spring meeting brings together performers, corporate leaders and international officials to explore joint approaches to eliminating extreme poverty, often connecting with the United Nations’ comprehensive “sustainable development goals” that span from ending hunger to reaching gender equality.
They’ve collected $47 million thus far for the education fund, according to a Thursday announcement at a Global Citizen summit in New York City. Corporate backers Bank of America, MetLife and Cisco contributed $15 million collectively, according to Evans. MetLife is adding an extra $5 for each video that supporters share online showing themselves juggling a soccer ball with the hashtag #FootworkForFutures.
Indian education entrepreneur Sunny Varkey and his Varkey Foundation provided $3 million. Also being contributed are ticket revenues from The Weeknd’s successful world tour along with the joint tour recently revealed by Usher and Chris Brown. Shakira announced Thursday she will contribute 100% of her “Dai Dai” earnings plus $1 from each ticket to her newly expanded tour in the United States.
Evans is now approaching national leaders for additional financial backing. He invited current or future World Cup host nations to add supplemental funding.
“It has the potential to say to the whole world: We are global citizens… We’re all on this amazing planet together. Let’s solve the world’s biggest problems together,” Evans said, adding that the move can foster a human approach rather than a “nationalistic” one.
Evans referenced the 27 initial FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund recipients, announced earlier this week, as motivation. Among the beneficiaries was Hit the Books, a Harlem-based nonprofit that uses mixed martial arts as the hook to provide students with additional educational resources.
The grants range from $50,000 to $250,000. Jhae Thompson, executive director of Hit the Books, said the support is meaningful because many nonprofits support hundreds of children on incredibly small budgets.
“What we are really leveraging is the foundation of what a young person needs in order to build character, to build discipline, to build confidence,” Thompson told the Global Citizen NOW audience.
Global Citizen has developed partnerships in new areas as traditional supporters including the U.S. reduce their international aid spending. That growth includes the Middle East, represented by the addition of Mariam AlMheiri to their board.
AlMheiri, who heads the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court of the United Arab Emirates, emphasized that “when you look at a football, everyone’s happy” — a positive association she hopes will translate into support for the education fund.
Marcus Samuelsson, a multiple James Beard Award-winning chef and avid soccer fan, noted that this World Cup is spread across three different countries: the United States, Mexico and Canada. The tournament, he added, has expanded from its origins as a competition largely between South American and European nations to represent countries in Africa and Asia, too.
He hopes that wide geographic spread inspires curiosity about global issues.
“You start thinking about these countries. You maybe want to go there on vacation, maybe you want to go there, volunteer and help out. Whatever gets you going,” Samuelsson told AP. “And it can start by falling in love while watching them.”
President Donald Trump concluded his rapid visit to China on Friday, maintaining that ties between the world’s two largest economies are strong and improving, even as major disagreements persist over Taiwan, Iran, and other critical issues.
On his final day in Beijing, Trump took to social media to claim that Chinese leader Xi Jinping had “congratulated me on so many tremendous successes” and clarified that Xi was speaking only about his predecessor, former U.S. President Joe Biden, when he “very elegantly referred to the United States as perhaps being a declining nation.”
However, Trump’s optimistic assessment of U.S.-China ties conflicts with challenging realities surrounding the most contentious matters between the two global powers.
China has demonstrated minimal public enthusiasm for American requests to become more engaged in addressing the Iran situation, despite Trump revealing in a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity that Xi had privately offered assistance during their discussions. The White House also maintains that China could do more to reduce the supply of Chinese-produced precursor chemicals flowing into Mexico for illegal fentanyl production that has devastated numerous American communities.
During private discussions, Xi cautioned Trump that their disagreements regarding the self-governed island of Taiwan could push the world’s leading powers toward “clashes and even conflicts” if mismanaged, according to Chinese government representatives.
Trump and Xi planned additional time together at Xi’s official Beijing residence on Friday before the American president’s lengthy return trip to Washington.
Xi’s stern warnings about Taiwan dominated Thursday’s discussions, even as Trump emphasized the idea that America and China maintain a “special relationship.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed NBC News that American policy regarding Taiwan remained “unchanged” and warned it would be “a terrible mistake” for China to attempt taking Taiwan through military force. He characterized Xi’s remarks as routine.
“They always raise it on their side. We always make clear our position, and we move on to the other topics,” Rubio explained, noting he was among senior advisors joining Trump for the discussions.
In recent weeks, China has emphasized its position that Taiwan represents the “core” of its interests and remains essential for maintaining stable U.S. relations.
Trump has insisted Taiwan boost its defense expenditures, and in December, the White House revealed an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, representing the largest ever for the island democracy.
However, America has not yet started delivering these weapons sales, and Trump indicated he planned to address this issue with Xi in Beijing. He has also complained that Taiwan “stole” America’s semiconductor industry and demanded Taiwan compensate the U.S. for protection.
Meanwhile, Trump has used tariff threats and Biden-era incentives to encourage Taipei to commit to substantial investments in American semiconductor production and purchase billions in U.S. liquefied natural gas and crude oil. This approach toward Taiwan has sparked questions about whether Trump might reduce support for the island democracy.
Ma Chun-wei, a China-Taiwan relations specialist at Taiwan’s Tamkang University, explained that the strengthened defense partnership between Washington and Taipei has prompted China to intensify its Taiwan rhetoric.
“For Xi Jinping, he must show that the Taiwan issue is in China’s hands. He must demonstrate this image, or else he would be criticized,” Ma stated.
Iran featured prominently when Trump met with Xi on Thursday for their two-hour session in the Great Hall of the People.
The leaders reached agreement that the Strait of Hormuz — essentially blocked since the Iran conflict began — must reopen to support worldwide energy needs, Trump revealed in his Fox News interview. Approximately 20% of global oil passed through the strait before hostilities commenced on Feb. 28.
Trump disclosed in the interview that Xi privately volunteered help in resolving the conflict, though the specifics remained unclear given China’s strategic alliance with Iran.
“He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open,” Trump stated. “He said if I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help.”
The president also noted Xi opposed implementing tolls on vessels using the strait and showed interest in China potentially buying more American oil to decrease Chinese reliance on Gulf oil going forward.
Earlier this week, Trump had minimized the significance of Iran discussions with Xi regarding the 11-week conflict that has caused rising energy costs and threatens global economic recession if not resolved quickly.
“We have a lot of things to discuss. I wouldn’t say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control,” Trump informed reporters Tuesday before departing for Beijing.
Yet before Air Force One reached Beijing, Rubio indicated administration officials would argue to Chinese representatives why they should help pressure Iran to negotiate an end to the war.
“Economies are melting down because of this crisis,” Rubio stated aboard the presidential aircraft during the Beijing flight. This situation, the secretary added in a Wednesday Fox News interview with Sean Hannity, will cause consumers to buy “less Chinese product.”
“So it’s in their interest to resolve this,” Rubio concluded.
China, which has criticized American and Israeli attacks on Iran, possesses unique influence as Iran’s largest trading partner. The Chinese government has managed the war’s economic impact using strategic oil reserves, but this protection has limits. Economic experts warn the Iran conflict could significantly affect China’s export-dependent economy.
Prior to the visit, the White House emphasized Trump wouldn’t make the trip without seeking concrete results, hinting at possible trade announcements.
Such developments remained possible, with American officials hoping to secure Chinese commitments for purchasing U.S. soybeans and beef. Trump told Fox News that Xi had indicated China’s commitment to buy 200 Boeing aircraft from America.
Thursday’s discussions included increasing Chinese purchases of American agricultural products and expanding investment opportunities between both markets, the White House reported. Trump administration officials also seek to establish a Board of Trade with China for addressing commercial disputes.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized friendship and cooperation in U.S.-China relations while meeting with American business leaders, including Tesla’s Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who accompanied Trump’s Beijing delegation.
“China and the United States have been able to maintain frank and smooth dialogue and communication and actively safeguard a stable and healthy bilateral relationship” despite international turbulence, Li remarked.
Muslim American organizations are speaking out against congressional hearings led by Republican lawmakers, arguing these sessions are being used as weapons to target Muslim communities across the nation by promoting fear and hostility.
The Republican majority in Congress organized a Wednesday hearing through a House Judiciary Subcommittee with the title “Sharia-Free America: Why Political Islam and Sharia Law are Incompatible with the U.S. Constitution.” This followed a similar hearing conducted in February.
During the proceedings, Republican Representative Chip Roy stated: “The radicals pushing political Islam do not want to coexist with America’s culture and political order. They want to replace it.”
Opponents of these hearings argue they unfairly target Muslims for mockery, resurrect harmful stereotypes and conspiracy theories, and serve no real purpose since American law already takes precedence throughout the United States.
Sharia represents a collection of legal and moral guidelines that different Muslim communities interpret in various ways. The concept of implementing sharia in America lacks widespread backing among American Muslims and their leadership. No evidence exists showing that any major Muslim organization in the U.S. has pushed for sharia to be imposed across the country.
The organization representing more than 50 Muslim groups, the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations, criticized what it described as the “weaponization of government against American Muslims” and accused the hearings of engaging in “the politics of fear.”
Zainab Chaudry, who serves as the Maryland director for the Council on American Islamic Relations, stated: “Anti-Sharia hearings are not about protecting the Constitution. They are about demonizing Islam and portraying Muslim Americans as perpetual outsiders.”
Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin, who holds a ranking position on the House Judiciary Committee, characterized the hearings as a diversion that undermines religious freedom.
Civil rights advocates have documented increasing anti-Muslim sentiment over the years, linking it to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and more recently to anti-immigration policies, white supremacist movements, and tensions related to Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
According to data from CAIR, the organization documented 8,683 complaints involving anti-Muslim and anti-Arab incidents across the United States in 2025, marking the highest number since the group started collecting this information in 1996.
Research published in April by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate think tank indicates that anti-Muslim prejudice expressed by Republican elected officials has increased significantly since early 2025, pointing to more than 1,100 online posts from Republican congressional members and governors.
Republican governors in Florida and Texas have labeled CAIR as a “terrorist” organization, targeting the group that has opposed Republican President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement measures and pro-Palestinian demonstrations. CAIR and other civil rights organizations have rejected these accusations.
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A federal judge in San Francisco is requesting additional information before giving final approval to a massive $1.5 billion settlement between artificial intelligence company Anthropic and authors who claim the company improperly used their written works to develop its AI chatbot Claude.
During Thursday’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin withheld final approval while seeking more details about attorney compensation and payments to lead plaintiffs in what represents the largest known copyright settlement in U.S. history.
A now-retired judge had previously given preliminary approval to the agreement in September.
This lawsuit represents one of many filed by copyright holders, including writers and media companies, challenging how technology firms train their artificial intelligence systems, and marks the first significant U.S. case to reach a settlement.
During the proceedings, an attorney representing the authors revealed that copyright holders have filed claims covering more than 92% of the approximately 480,000 works covered by the settlement. However, the agreement has faced criticism from some authors who believe the settlement amount is insufficient, provides excessive compensation to attorneys, or improperly excludes certain copyright holders.
The authors initiated their lawsuit against Anthropic in 2024, claiming the company, which receives backing from Amazon and Alphabet, utilized unauthorized copies of their books to train Claude to interact with users.
In a previous ruling last June, Judge Alsup determined that Anthropic’s use of the authors’ works for training purposes constituted fair use, but concluded the company violated copyright by storing over 7 million unauthorized books in a “central library” that wasn’t exclusively designated for AI development. A trial had been set for December to establish damages for the alleged copyright infringement, with potential penalties reaching hundreds of billions of dollars.
Additional authors and publishers pursuing similar claims have initiated separate legal actions against Anthropic that remain active. On Wednesday, a coalition of more than 25 writers who chose not to participate in the settlement, including Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida, filed a fresh lawsuit against Anthropic in California.
The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York announced Thursday that he believes current interest rate policy should remain unchanged, even as Middle East conflicts create economic uncertainty.
Speaking at a New York event, the central bank official described monetary policy as being in a “good place” currently.
“I don’t see there’s any reason at all to raise rates right now or lower rates right now,” the Fed leader stated.
The remarks came during an address to the Conference of Business Economists, where the official largely repeated positions he has outlined in recent public statements.
The central banker emphasized the importance of maintaining stable inflation expectations, noting that while short-term forecasts have increased, longer-term projections remain steady, which he characterized as positive.
Regarding tariff impacts on inflation, the official said he believes most effects have already occurred, though he continues monitoring price pressure developments.
“We’re not seeing…unusual second-round effects or persistent effects. But we just have to keep watching,” he explained, citing stable inflation expectations and a job market that isn’t driving up price pressures.
The Fed official also addressed current stock market strength, saying it aligns with investor sentiment about economic prospects.
“There is optimism about higher productivity growth going forward, partly AI and other things,” he noted. “It’s not surprising that the stock market’s high” given how “bullish” people are about the future of the economy.
Market watchers currently anticipate the federal funds target rate will remain in its current 3.5% to 3.75% range in coming months.
While the Middle East conflict has triggered price pressure increases, the duration of these effects remains uncertain due to the ongoing nature of the situation.
Attorneys representing Democratic groups and civil rights organizations argued before a federal judge Thursday that the president overstepped constitutional boundaries with an executive order aimed at restricting mail-in voting access.
Federal Judge Carl Nichols did not issue an immediate ruling on the request to halt implementation of the March 31 executive order, which marks the second election-related directive since the president began his second term. Multiple legal challenges have been filed arguing that only state governments and Congress hold constitutional authority over election procedures, not the executive branch.
An earlier executive order from last year requiring documentary citizenship proof for voting was mostly blocked by federal courts on similar constitutional grounds. The latest directive was issued after a voting reform bill supported by the administration failed to advance in Congress. The legal battle unfolds as primary elections are underway and election administrators prepare for upcoming midterm contests.
“I understand the time pressure here,” Nichols stated, questioning attorneys from both sides without indicating his position.
Legal representatives for the challengers contended that the president cannot alter election procedures to benefit himself and the Republican Party. They maintained the order’s provisions violate the law and are intended to pressure states into restricting voter registration and ballot availability.
“It is harming our clients every day in the middle of an election season,” stated Orion Nevers, representing the NAACP.
Mail-in voting tends to favor Democratic voters. The president has consistently made unfounded allegations about widespread fraud in mail voting, continuing efforts to restrict the practice that began before his 2020 defeat. These unsubstantiated claims contributed to the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack and have been thoroughly discredited through numerous audits and investigations, including Republican-led reviews.
Since taking office again, the president has expressed intentions for Republicans to assume control of elections in Democratic strongholds and has initiated probes into the 2020 election results.
The current executive order directs the Department of Homeland Security to compile voter eligibility rolls for each state and aims to prevent the Postal Service from delivering absentee ballots to individuals not appearing on state-approved lists.
Government lawyers are seeking dismissal of the legal challenge. Justice Department attorney Stephen Pezzi argued Thursday that the lawsuit is premature, describing it as “shadowboxing” since the voter list referenced in the complaint does not yet exist.
“It’s a little hard to address these questions in the abstract,” Pezzi commented.
Nichols, who received his judicial appointment from the current president, questioned Pezzi about the legality of distributing the proposed list to states.
“I think it would be the plaintiffs’ burden to explain why it’s unlawful,” Pezzi responded. “I don’t mean to be cute with that answer.”
The executive order mandates federal agencies create a registry of adults the government claims to have “confirmed” as U.S. citizens and distribute it to states no later than 60 days prior to federal elections.
“There isn’t a way to lawfully compile it,” argued Lalitha Madduri, representing Democratic Party plaintiffs.
Danielle Lang, counsel for the League of United Latin American Citizens, characterized the executive order as designed to generate “the maximum amount of chaos and confusion” for local election administrators.
Motorists will need to find alternate routes to reach Coastal Highway (DE 1) as the entrance ramp from Broadkill Road (DE 16) remains blocked for construction activities.
The access ramp closure is scheduled to continue until 6AM, according to transportation officials.
Drivers should plan for additional travel time and consider alternative routes when heading to DE 1 from the DE 16 area.
Drivers traveling on Interstate 95 should prepare for delays at two Delaware exit ramps where road maintenance is underway tonight.
DelDOT crews are conducting mobile street sweeping operations at the DE 273 and DE 141 exit ramps, causing slower-moving traffic in those areas. The maintenance work is scheduled to continue until midnight.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time when using these exits or consider alternate routes if possible during the ongoing operations.
Federal authorities have taken into custody a Washington state visitor who was filmed throwing a large stone at a protected Hawaiian monk seal near a beach in Maui last week.
Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, voluntarily turned himself in to authorities in the Seattle region on Wednesday after special agents from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration began pursuing his arrest, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Aislinn Affinito based in Honolulu.
The Covington, Washington resident faces charges of harassing and attempting to harass a protected animal.
During his Thursday court appearance at U.S. District Court in Seattle, a judge allowed Lytvynchuk’s release while requiring him to appear at a future hearing in Honolulu scheduled for May 27.
Federal public defender Greg Geist, who represented Lytvynchuk during the proceeding, indicated his client has retained legal counsel in Hawaii, though the attorney’s identity was not immediately available in court records. Following the hearing, Geist refused to respond to inquiries from an Associated Press reporter or reveal the Hawaiian attorney’s name.
Two individuals who came to support Lytvynchuk at the hearing refused to provide statements.
The recorded incident sparked significant public outrage and calls for legal action throughout Hawaii, including from the mayor of Maui.
An officer from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources responded to reports of monk seal harassment in Lahaina last week, the area devastated by fatal wildfires in 2023. A bystander presented video evidence showing the marine mammal swimming in shallow waters while a man observed from the shoreline.
According to prosecutors’ criminal complaint, the cellphone footage shows the individual gripping a substantial rock in one hand, taking aim, and launching it straight toward the monk seal. The stone, which a witness compared to coconut-sized, barely missed striking the seal’s head but forced the animal to suddenly change its movements, the complaint stated.
After being confronted by a witness, the man responded that he was unconcerned and possessed sufficient wealth to cover any penalties, the complaint indicated.
Maui Mayor Richard Bissen stated the criminal charges demonstrate that mistreatment of protected species will face consequences. He named the seal as “Lani,” a recognized and cherished presence around Lahaina’s waterfront, whose reappearance following the fires provided comfort and optimism during challenging times.
However, the state natural resources department clarified through email that the seal was likely not Lani, due to missing distinctive markings.
“Humanity and the instinct to protect what is vulnerable are still values people can unite around,” Bissen wrote in his emailed statement.
The mayor revealed he contacted the U.S. attorney in Honolulu to push for criminal prosecution.
Lytvynchuk faces violations under both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Hawaiian monk seals represent a critically threatened species, with only 1,600 individuals surviving in natural habitats.
Upon conviction, Lytvynchuk could receive up to one year imprisonment for each charge. He additionally faces potential fines reaching $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and up to $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
President Donald Trump is conducting high-stakes discussions in Beijing with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, though major breakthroughs on contentious topics like the Iran conflict, trade disputes, technology issues, and Taiwan remain unlikely.
During talks about Iran, Trump revealed that Xi expressed China’s willingness to help broker an end to the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Given that China purchases the most Iranian oil globally, Trump has been hoping Xi would leverage this relationship to pressure Iran into accepting a deal on American terms. Trump also mentioned that Xi provided assurances that China would not supply military equipment to Iran.
During private discussions, Xi cautioned Trump that disagreements over Taiwan — a self-governing island that Beijing considers its territory — could lead to confrontations or military conflict between the United States and China. Trump approved an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan in December but has not yet proceeded with the delivery. Secretary of State Marco Rubio subsequently cautioned that China attempting to seize Taiwan through military force would be “a terrible mistake.”
Trump is also emphasizing trade negotiations and agreements for China to purchase additional agricultural goods and commercial aircraft, establishing a framework to resolve disputes and prevent another trade conflict like the one sparked last year following Trump’s tariff increases.
In related developments, Adm. Brad Cooper, a senior U.S. military commander in the Middle East, is appearing before the Senate for his first testimony since the Iran conflict started.
Trump began his final day in Beijing by posting on social media, asserting that when Chinese leader Xi Jinping “very elegantly referred to the United States as perhaps being a declining nation,” he was not referring to Trump personally. The U.S. president, who did not clarify where these comments originated, claimed they were directed at former President Joe Biden. Trump stated that Xi has only praised his own accomplishments since returning to office last year. “In fact, President Xi congratulated me on so many tremendous successes in such a short period of time,” Trump posted.
Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s Thursday post on X, where he shared design blueprints for a historic Washington golf course, has prompted a court filing from lawyers in a civil lawsuit challenging those plans. Attorneys for the DC Preservation League submitted a notice to inform the court that Trump administration officials continue discussing design proposals for the popular and historic golf course while the legality of these plans remains under judicial review.
In other national developments, the Supreme Court on Thursday maintained access to mifepristone, a medication used in the most prevalent abortion method, rejecting lower court restrictions while litigation continues. The court’s decision allows women seeking abortions to keep obtaining mifepristone at pharmacies or by mail without requiring an in-person doctor visit.
The Cuban government announced that CIA Director John Ratcliffe held Thursday meetings with officials from the Caribbean nation’s Ministry of the Interior during a senior-level visit to the island. According to official reports, Cuba used the meeting to present evidence claiming the nation presents no danger to U.S. national security.
A Democratic initiative to pass legislation limiting Trump’s authority to launch additional attacks against Iran failed in the House with a tied vote. The war powers resolution was defeated 212-212, with three Republicans joining Democrats in support while one Democrat opposed it.
The Department of Justice is charging Yale University with illegally factoring race into medical school admissions decisions. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated in a Thursday letter that data indicate Black and Hispanic students receive higher admission rates than white or Asian students despite having somewhat lower grades and test scores.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday its intention to ease regulations requiring coal-fired power plants to prevent toxic heavy metals from entering waterways. The agency cited the rule’s excessive costs to the energy sector during a period of increasing energy demand.
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit challenging attempts to sanction attorneys from Trump administrations, claiming the District of Columbia Bar is inappropriately politicizing the legal disciplinary system. The head of U.S. Border Patrol, Michael Banks, announced his immediate resignation during a Fox News interview Thursday, stating “It’s just time.”
U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz announced an additional $1.8 billion in funding for UN humanitarian assistance at a Thursday press conference. The funding will support life-saving aid for disaster victims, famine relief, and “people who are truly in critical need.”
MIAMI (AP) — On Thursday, the Tampa Bay Rays and Florida local authorities revealed a preliminary $2.3 billion pact for a new stadium that would be financed through both public and private funding sources.
The preliminary memorandum of understanding between the Rays, Hillsborough County, and Tampa city officials details stadium expenses that would involve $967 million in public tax funding. City and county elected representatives are scheduled to consider the proposal during separate sessions next week.
“The Rays respectfully but resolutely encourage Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa to approve the MOU and make possible a Forever Home for our community’s Tampa Bay Rays, breathe new life into the Dale Mabry Campus of Hillsborough College, and create a new privately financed neighborhood that will be an inviting and inclusive destination to work, live, learn, and play,” Rays CEO Ken Babby said in a statement.
Earlier this year, the team’s ownership struck a deal with Hillsborough College to construct the ballpark and a mixed-use entertainment complex on the college grounds while also upgrading some college facilities. The site sits adjacent to the New York Yankees’ spring training complex and opposite a major roadway from Raymond James Stadium, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play.
Team officials have expressed hopes to complete the new ballpark construction within three years.
The Rays have called Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg home since beginning play in 1998, though they temporarily relocated home games to the Yankees’ Steinbrenner Field in 2025 after hurricane damage affected the Trop. Their current lease extends through the 2028 season at minimum. The team resumed playing at the Trop last month when this season began.
Last year, a proposed $1.3 billion renovation project for a new stadium near the Trop collapsed, creating uncertainty about the franchise’s future after Patrick Zalupski’s ownership group purchased the team in September.
