Asian financial markets experienced explosive growth Thursday as artificial intelligence fever swept through the region, pushing major stock indexes to unprecedented levels while crude oil maintained its position near the critical $100 threshold amid ongoing Middle East tensions.
Japan’s primary stock index, the Nikkei 225, skyrocketed almost 6% as trading resumed following a holiday break, propelling Asian markets to historic peaks. The surge was driven by strong financial results from technology companies that have embraced AI development.
This year’s performance numbers tell a remarkable story across Asian markets. While Japan’s Nikkei has climbed 25% in 2026, South Korea’s KOSPI has delivered a stunning 75% increase, making it the globe’s top-performing major exchange for the second consecutive year. Taiwan’s market has also posted impressive gains of 45%.
By comparison, American markets have shown more modest growth, with the technology-focused Nasdaq rising 11% this year and the broader S&P 500 advancing nearly 8%. The data suggests Asia has become the epicenter of this year’s artificial intelligence investment surge.
The trillion-dollar milestone became even more exclusive this week as Samsung Electronics joined Taiwan’s TSMC in reaching that valuation, while SK Hynix appears positioned to achieve similar status soon.
Currency markets showed the Japanese yen holding steady at 156.35 against the U.S. dollar during Asian trading, though investors remained vigilant following recent volatile swings that suggested possible government intervention. Market sources informed Reuters that Tokyo authorities intervened last Thursday, with financial data indicating approximately $35 billion was deployed to strengthen the yen.
Since that intervention, markets have witnessed three sharp yen rallies, including Wednesday’s surge that reached a 10-week peak of 155 per dollar. Japan’s senior currency official stated Thursday that the country maintains unlimited authority to intervene in foreign exchange markets and communicates daily with U.S. officials on currency matters.
Geopolitical developments in the Middle East continue influencing global markets as Iran reportedly weighs a U.S.-backed peace proposal. Sources indicate the plan would officially conclude the current conflict but would not address American demands for Iran to halt its nuclear activities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.
The strategic waterway has remained essentially closed since fighting began in late February, causing oil prices to surge and raising concerns about renewed inflation pressures. Although recent peace negotiations have somewhat reduced oil market tensions, crude prices persist around $100 per barrel, significantly above pre-conflict levels.
European political developments also captured investor attention as Britain prepared for local elections Thursday. Global bond market participants are monitoring results closely, concerned that poor performance by the governing Labour Party could trigger leadership instability and renewed fiscal policy uncertainties.
Market participants will be watching several key economic indicators Thursday, including April purchasing managers’ index data from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, which could provide insights into European economic momentum.
OAKLAND, Calif. — A bitter legal battle between tech billionaire Elon Musk and OpenAI’s leadership has brought urgent questions about artificial intelligence safety into a federal courtroom in Oakland, California.
The lawsuit stems from what Musk claims was a broken promise by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to maintain the company as a nonprofit organization. Altman counters that Musk is attempting to damage the ChatGPT creator to benefit his own artificial intelligence venture.
While the judge has cautioned attorneys against getting “sidetracked” by AI safety discussions, testimony has nonetheless addressed concerns ranging from job losses to Musk’s warning that advanced AI could eventually pose an existential threat to humanity.
Expert witness Stuart Russell, a computer science professor at UC Berkeley who was paid $5,000 per hour for his testimony, warned that the current “winner take all” competition in AI development itself poses dangers to humanity. Russell outlined various AI risks including bias in hiring and lending, widespread job elimination, spread of false information, and psychological harm to users who develop unhealthy relationships with chatbots.
“Whichever company develops AGI first would have a very big advantage” and an increasingly big lead over everyone else, Russell told the court, referring to artificial general intelligence that could outperform humans across multiple tasks.
The dispute traces back to OpenAI’s founding in 2015 as a nonprofit startup with Musk as its primary financial backer. Both Musk and Altman have stated their original intention was to develop advanced AI safely for humanity’s benefit rather than for individual profit or control. Each side now accuses the other of seeking to dominate the technology.
A nine-member jury from the San Francisco Bay Area will determine which party is being truthful.
Before proceedings began, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers specifically instructed lawyers, especially those representing Musk, to avoid broader AI safety topics unrelated to the core claim about OpenAI abandoning its charitable mission.
“This is not a trial on the safety risks of artificial intelligence. This is not a trial on whether or not AI has damaged humanity,” Gonzalez Rogers told attorneys.
Despite this guidance, Musk managed to discuss his AI concerns during testimony last week. When asked to explain artificial general intelligence, Musk described it as AI that becomes “as smart as any human,” adding that “we are getting close to that point,” with AI potentially surpassing human intelligence within the next year.
Musk testified about his “extreme concerns” regarding AI, explaining he wanted to create a “counterpoint” to Google, which at the time possessed “all the money, all the computers and all the talent” for AI development without any competing force.
“I was concerned AI would be a double-edged sword,” he stated.
Throughout his testimony, Musk emphasized that he deliberately chose the nonprofit structure “for the public good,” despite having the option to establish OpenAI as a for-profit entity like his other companies.
Judge Gonzalez Rogers expressed some doubt about Musk’s motivations, noting to lawyers that despite his stated concerns about AI risks, Musk “is creating a company that is in the exact same space.” She was referring to xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence company launched in 2023 and later merged with his space exploration firm SpaceX.
OpenAI’s representatives also claim their mission serves the public interest. Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s co-founder and president who is named as a defendant alongside Altman, described the technology his company develops as “transformative” — something bigger than individual corporations or people, concerning “humanity as a whole.”
Brockman testified this week that his primary focus has always been OpenAI’s “mission,” and that it was actually Musk who sought complete control over the organization. He recalled a meeting where Musk initially appeared receptive to Altman serving as CEO, but ultimately “said people needed to know he was in charge.”
Beyond seeking financial damages, Musk wants Altman removed from OpenAI’s board of directors. A victory for Musk could potentially disrupt OpenAI’s plans to go public through an initial stock offering.
Vladimir Osechkin requires police escorts for routine activities like dropping his children at school or grocery shopping.
The Russian dissident has remained under French government protection since 2022 due to credible threats on his life from Moscow, according to authorities.
Court records obtained by The Associated Press reveal that in April 2025, a group of Russian operatives conducted extensive surveillance of Osechkin’s residence and neighborhood in southwestern France, capturing photographs and video footage as apparent preparation for a murder attempt. Previously, Osechkin reported seeing what appeared to be a laser targeting device aimed at his home.
Similar threats have emerged throughout Europe. Lithuanian authorities thwarted assassination schemes last year targeting both a Lithuanian Ukraine advocate and a Russian dissident. German officials intercepted two separate plots: one aimed at a German defense contractor supplying weapons to Ukraine, and another targeting a Ukrainian military leader. Polish law enforcement arrested an individual in 2024 allegedly planning to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. That same year, a defected Russian helicopter pilot was murdered in Spain, with Russian agents considered the primary suspects.
Although Russian leadership has faced longstanding accusations of eliminating overseas opponents, three Western intelligence sources from separate nations informed AP that these targeted elimination efforts have intensified following President Vladimir Putin’s 2022 Ukrainian offensive.
These officials indicated that Russian intelligence agencies have become increasingly aggressive in target selection, pursuing Russian dissidents and international Ukraine supporters alongside traditional targets such as military defectors. All sources requested anonymity when discussing classified matters.
“This campaign is not by accident or chance,” stated a senior European intelligence official. “There is political authorization.”
Intelligence personnel, a former high-ranking British counterterrorism leader, and Lithuanian prosecutors view this assassination campaign as part of Russia’s broader strategy to destabilize European nations supporting Ukraine, including 191 documented acts of sabotage, arson and disruption attributed to Russia by Western officials that AP has tracked across Europe since the conflict began.
Many individuals implicated in these operations were recruited as low-cost operatives for Russian intelligence services. Moscow now employs this recruitment strategy to eliminate perceived enemies internationally, according to French judicial documents, officials and Lithuanian prosecutorial information.
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment when contacted by AP. Russian officials have consistently denied Moscow’s involvement in overseas assassination attempts.
AP interviewed three intended victims: Osechkin; Lithuanian activist Valdas Bartkevičius; and Ruslan Gabbasov, who campaigns for Bashkortostan regional independence from Russia.
French police detained four men in the Osechkin assassination plot, with three traveling to the coastal resort town of Biarritz, where Osechkin resides, in April 2025, court records indicate. They conducted surveillance of his residence “with a view to assassinating him and subsequently intimidating all political opponents of the Russian authorities living in France,” according to the documents.
All four suspects originated from Russia’s Dagestan region. One possessed multiple criminal records while another claimed arrest by Russian domestic security forces before fleeing to avoid Ukrainian military deployment.
Osechkin established a prisoner advocacy organization years ago and operates a project documenting Russian prison system violations, but he noted that threats intensified after investigating alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine and assisting Russian military defectors in escaping.
He relocated to France in 2015 and received police protection seven years later when French authorities learned of credible death threats.
“If it weren’t for them, I probably would have been killed,” he stated.
In Lithuania, Gabbasov, the Bashkortostan independence advocate, discovered an Apple AirTag tracking device concealed on his vehicle in February 2025. Police instructed him to leave the tracker in place while they monitored his pursuers, he explained.
Several weeks later, while attending Lithuanian independence celebrations with his wife and 5-year-old son, officers contacted Gabbasov and warned him against returning home.
The following day, officers informed him: “Yesterday, a killer was detained near your house; he was waiting for you with a gun. … He was ready to wait for you all night.”
Lithuanian officials offered Gabbasov the opportunity to completely “disappear” — assuming a new identity, relocating, and abandoning his activism.
He declined, explaining that many people from his predominantly Muslim homeland near Kazakhstan view him as a leader in the independence movement. The region holds strategic importance for the Kremlin due to its gold deposits and because many of its men have been deployed to fight in Ukraine, Gabbasov noted.
“I can’t betray them all by simply disappearing, especially out of fear,” Gabbasov said, adding that such action would serve Moscow’s interests.
“What difference does it make to them?” Gabbasov questioned, referring to Russian security services. “They could kill me … or I could hide from everyone and stop engaging in political activity. That’s exactly what they want.”
Lithuanian authorities extended the same offer to Bartkevičius after discovering a plot to murder him using an explosive device planted in his mailbox in March 2025.
However, disappearing was not viable for the activist who fundraises for Ukraine and gained recognition for anti-Russian demonstrations, including desecrating a Russian war memorial.
Such action would constitute “social death,” he declared.
Lithuanian prosecutors have charged 13 individuals from at least seven nations with involvement in both assassination schemes — representing at least 20 people that authorities have detained, charged or identified as participants in European assassination plots within the past year.
Those involved in the Lithuanian cases received direct orders from Russian military intelligence, prosecutors stated, and some maintained connections to Russian organized crime while being linked to additional arson and espionage operations throughout Europe.
Moscow’s shift toward proxy operatives can be traced to a previous assassination attempt, according to Cmdr. Dominic Murphy, who spoke to AP before retiring as head of Britain’s Metropolitan Police counterterrorism unit.
In 2018, former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal was poisoned with a nerve agent in Salisbury, England — an attack the British government attributed to Moscow using military intelligence personnel.
In retaliation, Britain and other Western nations expelled hundreds of Russian diplomats — and intelligence operatives — complicating Russian officer operations in Europe, explained Murphy, who led the investigation.
The fact that most assassination plots disclosed by Western officials since 2022 have been prevented could suggest that Moscow faces greater difficulty executing operations through proxies rather than its own personnel, one Western intelligence official noted.
Nevertheless, these assassination attempts may serve additional objectives, including intimidating Kremlin opponents into silence and depleting European law enforcement resources, they added.
Referencing the case of Maxim Kuzminov — the helicopter pilot who defected and was threatened with death by masked military personnel on Russian state television — the official emphasized that Russia’s security services can successfully eliminate targets in Europe when determined to do so.
For this reason, the European intelligence official concluded, targets will never achieve complete safety.
“Even if you thwart an operation once, you still need to be ready in case they strike again.”
BOULDER, Colo. — A defendant accused of launching a deadly firebomb assault during a pro-Israeli hostage demonstration in Boulder, Colorado last year is expected to enter a guilty plea Thursday on murder and additional charges.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman could receive a life sentence without parole for the June 1st attack in Boulder’s downtown area.
Court documents in a connected federal case show Soliman’s legal team disclosed his intention to admit guilt. He was scheduled to appear Thursday before state District Judge Nancy Salomone to enter his plea.
While facing hate crime allegations in federal court, Soliman has entered a not guilty plea there, and his attorneys report prosecutors are considering pursuing capital punishment in that case.
Originally, Soliman denied guilt in state court on murder charges along with numerous counts of attempted murder and assault for hurling two Molotov cocktails at protesters gathered at a pedestrian shopping area in Boulder, a community of 100,000 residents located northwest of Denver and home to the University of Colorado.
An elderly woman, age 82, who sustained injuries during the incident subsequently passed away. Twelve additional individuals were also hurt.
Federal authorities identify Soliman as an Egyptian citizen residing unlawfully in the United States. Law enforcement officials claim he spent a year preparing the assault, motivated by his goal “to kill all Zionist people.”
Boulder Mayor Pro Tem Tara Winer described the incident as horrific and noted that victims included close friends.
At the time of the assault, Soliman resided with his family in a two-bedroom residence in Colorado Springs, located approximately 97 miles away. He had relocated to America from Kuwait in 2022 alongside his wife and five children, supporting himself through various low-wage employment.
The couple’s marriage ended in divorce this past April.
Law enforcement alleges Soliman admitted his plan to kill approximately 20 people participating in the regular demonstration at Boulder’s Pearl Street pedestrian mall. He launched two of the more than 24 Molotov cocktails he carried while shouting “Free Palestine!”
Federal prosecutors claim the victims were chosen based on their perceived or real ties to Israel. Soliman’s federal defense team contends he shouldn’t face hate crime charges since his actions stemmed from opposition to Zionism, the political ideology supporting the establishment and maintenance of a Jewish homeland in Israel.
Under federal law, attacks driven by political motivations do not qualify as hate crimes.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Legal representatives for the Southern Poverty Law Center faced federal court proceedings Thursday, marking their initial appearance since the civil rights organization was hit with charges alleging they misled donors about how contributions would be used to pay informants within extremist organizations.
The federal grand jury charges, filed April 21 by the U.S. Justice Department, represent an unprecedented legal challenge against the Alabama-headquartered organization, which focuses on fighting discrimination and racism across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.
The SPLC maintains its innocence, and no individuals face personal charges in the case.
The organization has faced scrutiny from conservative critics, including FBI Director Kash Patel, particularly following a report that listed Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA among groups associated with “hate and extremism.” Kirk died during a college event in Utah in 2025.
Advocates argue the SPLC is being unjustly pursued by the Trump administration due to its successful civil rights work.
Federal court in Montgomery hosted Thursday’s arraignment on allegations including money laundering conspiracy, wire fraud and providing false information to financial institutions.
According to the Justice Department, the organization deceived contributors by channeling their donations toward funding the very extremism it claims to oppose. The indictment alleges approximately $3 million was directed to informants connected with the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, National Socialist Party of America and similar organizations from 2014 through 2023.
CEO Bryan Fair defended the payments, explaining they supported confidential sources who monitored potential violence from extremist factions. Fair stated the intelligence collected helped prevent harm and was regularly provided to the FBI.
“We are outraged by the false allegations levied against SPLC,” Fair declared following the filing of charges.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recently confirmed the organization’s established practice of cooperating with law enforcement after being questioned about contradictory statements.
“That’s well-documented, and there’s no dispute there. They aren’t charged with any of that conduct,” Blanche stated.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Silicon Valley leaders have found their champion in the California governor’s race, and they’re opening their wallets wide to support him.
Matt Mahan, the 43-year-old mayor of San Jose, has become the technology sector’s preferred choice to lead the Golden State. One tech investor described him as “the only sane” Democrat seeking to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, while others have contributed millions to his campaign, including funding for a Super Bowl commercial to introduce him to California voters.
The former technology executive entered the competitive gubernatorial contest in January, positioning himself as a practical leader focused on results. As a moderate Democrat, Mahan has gained statewide attention primarily through his criticism of Governor Newsom and state lawmakers’ handling of homelessness and criminal justice issues. His centrist approach has resonated with technology industry leaders seeking a business-oriented governor to follow Newsom, who cannot seek reelection due to term limits.
In an impressive fundraising sprint spanning just three months, Mahan has collected more campaign contributions than his competitors, most of whom began their campaigns over a year ago. (Billionaire Tom Steyer is primarily financing his own candidacy.)
During Tuesday evening’s CNN debate, Mahan portrayed his opponents as entrenched politicians while presenting himself as the candidate offering realistic answers to California’s problems.
“We don’t need MAGA values, but we also don’t need more of the same,” Mahan stated, referencing President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” philosophy embraced by Republican candidates Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, both of whom have received Trump’s endorsement.
However, Mahan appears to lack the political momentum he anticipated and the broad public recognition necessary to defeat his competitors — with limited time remaining to persuade voters before the June 2 primary election. His connections to the tech industry particularly concern labor organizations and some Democratic voters who doubt his willingness to challenge the sector.
“People do not want somebody who is a puppet of these big tech billionaires, of these AI billionaires — and that’s who he has always been,” stated Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, president of the California Labor Federation, which has endorsed Steyer, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Mahan argues he’s the sole candidate with genuine experience dealing with the massive technology industry, highlighting a collaborative effort he established in San Jose where over 900 public agencies cooperate to explore responsible artificial intelligence implementation in government operations. During Tuesday’s debate, he expressed support for taxing AI companies to fund worker training programs.
“Voters can see past the kind of, you know, shallow connection that because I’m the mayor of the largest city in Silicon Valley, that might mean that I’m not willing to regulate tech,” Mahan told The Associated Press. “It’s actually been quite the opposite.”
Political analysts point out that California has historically pioneered policies designed to both support and control its homegrown technology sector.
“If they can ensure that they get a governor in California who’s weak on tech accountability, then that can save them a lot of money across the states,” J.B. Branch of Public Citizen, a progressive consumer rights advocacy group, said regarding Silicon Valley executives supporting Mahan.
Throughout the political landscape, the technology industry is demonstrating its political influence as public doubt about social media and artificial intelligence grows. Independent organizations supported by tech companies and billionaires have already pledged at least $40 million to shape California legislative contests.
Political action committees supporting Mahan have collected over $25 million, including contributions from Google co-founder Sergey Brin, venture capitalist Michael Moritz and Reddit CEO Steve Huffman.
Several contributors, including Brin and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, are diversifying their investments — they have also donated to Hilton, the former Fox News personality.
Mahan is “focused on actually solving problems — building more housing, improving public safety and making it possible for people to live and work here again,” Garry Tan, who leads a startup accelerator that helped launch companies like Airbnb and DoorDash, said through a spokesperson.
A Harvard University alumnus, Mahan was a classmate of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who he has said convinced him to pursue technology instead of attending law school.
Mahan participated in developing an early Facebook application called Causes that enabled users to promote nonprofit organizations. He later co-founded Brigade, a nonpartisan digital voter network.
However, that background isn’t central to Mahan’s campaign messaging. Instead, he emphasizes his childhood as the son of a postal worker and a schoolteacher. He stands as the only prominent Democrat supporting a suspension of the state’s gasoline tax.
He won the mayoral election in 2022 against a labor-endorsed opponent after spending two years on the city council. As mayor, he persuaded council members to allocate additional city funds toward temporary housing to remove homeless individuals from streets and made them subject to arrest for refusing shelter. Both initiatives faced strong resistance, but San Jose experienced a reduction in the number of people without shelter access last year, according to county statistics.
He opposed Newsom in 2024 by supporting a strict crime prevention ballot measure. Mahan has subsequently moderated his criticism, acknowledging the governor has addressed appropriate issues.
Mahan has pledged not to increase taxes to address budget shortfalls — including rejecting a one-time billionaire tax that most of his competitors also oppose. He proposes linking future salary increases for elected state officials and appointees to progress on issues like unemployment and homelessness.
“Raising taxes isn’t always the answer, Tom,” he directly told Steyer on Tuesday when the billionaire proposed requiring corporations to pay higher property taxes.
Mahan collected over $13 million in 11 weeks, enabling him to launch television advertisements to reach voters in some of the nation’s most expensive media markets. Two independent expenditure organizations have spent more than $18 million promoting his candidacy.
As of last month, only approximately 730 contributions to Mahan’s campaign were under $250, suggesting limited grassroots backing. By comparison, nearly all of Porter’s 46,000 donations fell below that threshold, as did roughly 5,600 contributions to former state attorney general Xavier Becerra.
Nevertheless, voters’ support for other Democratic candidates “is very soft” Mahan said regarding his prospects. “Even if people are leaning a certain way, they’re still persuadable.”
Technology executives’ backing of Mahan’s campaign and his regulatory plans dominated discussion during a recent “Ask Me Anything” session Mahan conducted on Reddit, where participants can pose questions anonymously.
Multiple participants asked when Mahan would withdraw to prevent a disastrous outcome for Democrats where two Republicans could advance to the November general election. One inquired which Democrat he would support after leaving the race.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s Republican-controlled legislature is set to consider legislation Thursday that would break apart the state’s only majority-Black congressional district, a move backed by President Donald Trump as part of his broader effort to maintain Republican control of the U.S. House.
This redistricting push in Tennessee represents one of multiple fast-moving initiatives across the South, where GOP leaders are capitalizing on a recent Supreme Court decision that diminished protections under the federal Voting Rights Act.
The Supreme Court determined that Louisiana placed excessive emphasis on racial considerations when establishing a second district with a Black majority in an effort to comply with federal voting rights requirements. This ruling shifted longstanding interpretations of the law, providing Republicans with justification to target majority-Black districts that typically elect Democratic representatives.
Louisiana has delayed its congressional primary to allow state legislators time to develop a revised House map. Alabama lawmakers are also considering legislation that would disrupt their state’s congressional primaries if courts permit changes to House districts. In South Carolina, Republican legislators, encouraged by Trump, have begun preliminary steps to include congressional redistricting in their legislative agenda.
These states join what has become an intense nationwide redistricting fight. Following Trump’s encouragement of Texas to redraw its House districts last year, eight states have implemented new congressional maps. Republicans believe they could secure up to 13 additional seats from these changes, while Democrats estimate they might gain as many as 10. However, competitive races suggest neither party may achieve all their redistricting goals in November’s elections.
During Wednesday’s legislative hearings on the redistricting proposals, protesters repeatedly disrupted proceedings, though Republicans still moved the measures forward for potential final votes in both chambers.
The legislative package would eliminate a state law that prevents redistricting between census cycles and reopen candidate filing periods to allow new candidates to enter primaries and current candidates to change districts. The proposed House map would dismantle Tennessee’s single Democratic-held district, which centers on Memphis and its majority-Black population, triggering widespread changes to districts across western and central Tennessee.
Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton defended the proposed districts, stating they were created based on population and political considerations rather than racial demographics.
Civil rights advocates and Democratic officials strongly criticized the initiative.
“This proposal represents Black vote dilution at an industrial scale,” said Sekou Franklin, a political science professor at Middle Tennessee State University who works with the Tennessee NAACP chapter.
Democrats highlighted that the state Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the current congressional map in April 2022, determining it was too close to election day to implement changes. With even less time remaining before the August 6 primary this year, Democrats warned of potential confusion for both candidates and voters.
Alabama’s House approved legislation Wednesday establishing special congressional primaries as Republicans pursue the possibility of implementing a different congressional map before November’s elections. The Senate could vote on the measure by Friday.
Alabama seeks to overturn a federal court mandate that established a second House district with a near-majority Black population. That map resulted in the 2024 election of Rep. Shomari Figures, a Black Democrat. Republicans prefer to implement a 2023 map created by state lawmakers that would give the GOP a chance to regain Figures’ district.
The legislation passed along party lines following four hours of heated discussion during which Black lawmakers referenced the state’s historical struggles. Democratic state Rep. Juandalynn Givan compared the legislation to poll taxes and jelly bean counting exercises — nearly impossible tasks used to prevent Black voters from participating during the Jim Crow period.
“This represents a calculated political strategy driven by fear, specifically fear of Black people and Black political influence,” Givan stated.
Alabama’s primaries are scheduled for May 19. If a court approves the state’s request, the legislation would disregard congressional race results and direct the governor to organize new primaries under the modified districts.
South Carolina’s Senate may consider a resolution Thursday authorizing lawmakers to return after their regular session concludes to redraw congressional districts, potentially eliminating the state’s sole Democratic-held district. The proposal, which passed the House Wednesday, requires two-thirds approval in both chambers.
Republican House leaders announced plans to introduce a new map Thursday and conduct committee meetings Friday following the vote. During Wednesday’s debate, Republicans avoided specific questions from Democrats about their willingness to halt the June 9 House primary elections after candidates had already filed and the potential costs of rescheduled primaries.
Democratic Rep. Justin Bamberg expressed sympathy for Republicans who, he argued, were abandoning their principles to accommodate Trump’s demands.
“The president wields significant influence through Truth Social, X, Meta, and Instagram. Honestly, I don’t envy our Republican colleagues,” Bamberg said.
President Donald Trump expressed optimism Wednesday that the ongoing conflict with Iran could conclude rapidly as Iranian officials review a peace proposal from the United States, though significant disagreements persist over nuclear activities and control of crucial shipping lanes.
Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump indicated positive momentum in recent discussions. “They want to make a deal. We’ve had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll make a deal,” the president stated, adding that “it’ll be over quickly.”
Iranian officials offered a more cautious response to the diplomatic overtures. A spokesperson from Iran’s foreign ministry, quoted by the ISNA news agency, confirmed that Tehran would provide its official answer to the proposal. However, Iranian parliament member Ebrahim Rezaei, who speaks for the legislature’s foreign policy and national security committee, characterized the American offer as “more of an American wish-list than a reality.”
The current conflict began on February 28, and Trump has consistently promoted the possibility of a negotiated settlement, though previous efforts have not succeeded. Major obstacles continue to divide the nations, including Iran’s nuclear development activities and its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that previously carried twenty percent of global oil and gas shipments.
According to sources familiar with the mediation process, negotiators are approaching agreement on a brief memorandum that would officially conclude hostilities. Such an accord would then initiate broader talks addressing the reopening of strait shipping, removal of American economic sanctions against Iran, and establishment of restrictions on Iranian nuclear activities.
Iran’s parliamentary leader Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf dismissed suggestions that the parties were nearing agreement, posting on social media in English that “Operation Trust Me Bro failed.” Qalibaf characterized such reports as American propaganda following Washington’s inability to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Financial markets responded dramatically to speculation about a potential agreement. Global oil prices dropped to their lowest levels in two weeks Wednesday, with Brent crude futures declining approximately 11% to near $98 per barrel before recovering above $100. International stock markets also gained while bond yields decreased on hopes for an end to the conflict that has disrupted energy markets.
“The contents of the U.S.-Iran peace proposals are thin, but there is an expectation in the market that further military action will not take place,” explained Takamasa Ikeda, a senior portfolio manager at GCI Asset Management.
Trump halted a two-day naval operation aimed at reopening the blocked strait on Tuesday, citing advancement in peace discussions. NBC News reported, based on unnamed U.S. officials, that Trump’s sudden policy change occurred after Saudi Arabia withdrew permission for the U.S. military to utilize a Saudi facility for the mission.
Saudi leadership reportedly felt surprised and frustrated by Trump’s announcement regarding U.S. escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting them to deny American military aircraft access to Saudi bases and airspace, according to NBC’s reporting. The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding this account.
American military forces continue maintaining their own restrictions on Iranian vessels in the area. U.S. Central Command reported that forces engaged an empty Iranian-flagged tanker Wednesday, disabling the ship as it tried to reach an Iranian port in violation of the blockade.
Sources briefed on the negotiations indicated that Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are leading the American diplomatic effort. Should both nations accept the preliminary agreement, it would trigger a 30-day period for detailed negotiations toward a comprehensive settlement.
While sources suggested the initial memorandum would not demand immediate concessions from either party, they noted the absence of several key American requirements that Iran has previously rejected, including limitations on Iran’s missile capabilities and cessation of support for regional proxy forces. The sources also did not address Iran’s current stockpile of more than 400 kilograms of near-weapons-grade uranium.
A sprinter who once dreamed of playing rugby for New Zealand’s All Blacks and even took a shot at American football is now capturing Australia’s attention as their newest track star alongside rising teen sensation Gout Gout.
Eddie Nketia posted Australia’s quickest 100-meter time of 9.84 seconds at a U.S. collegiate competition last month, though strong tailwinds prevented the mark from becoming an official record.
Australian track fans who have been following 18-year-old Gout and 22-year-old Lachlan Kennedy now have another emerging sprinting star to watch.
The 24-year-old Nketia, who competes for the University of Southern California, says the reaction in Australia following his 9.84-second performance at the Mt SAC Relays has been almost as shocking as achieving the time itself.
“Honestly, it was genuinely a surprise, because I never expected I could run 9.84 in my life,” Nketia shared during a video interview from his California training base.
“And it’s like, ‘Look at where we’re at now’. My name is everywhere back in Australia. And it’s a lot to take in. It’s insane.”
Before this breakthrough performance, Nketia remained largely unknown to Australian athletics fans, despite the country’s renewed enthusiasm for track and field sparked by Gout’s achievements.
Born in Auckland, Nketia only changed his sporting allegiance from New Zealand to Australia this past December following a required waiting period that prevented him from competing in major international competitions.
Though he grew up primarily in Canberra, Nketia returned to New Zealand to complete his high school education.
His father, Gus Nketia from Ghana, was also a sprinter who maintained New Zealand’s fastest 100-meter record of 10.11 seconds for 28 years until his son broke it with a 10.08-second run at the 2022 world championships, with Gus serving as his coach.
While New Zealand media celebrated that emotional achievement, Nketia’s relationship with the country’s athletics federation had already become troubled.
New Zealand maintains demanding standards for Olympic team selection, only choosing athletes who can demonstrate potential to place in the top 16 of their events.
For Commonwealth Games competition, where the field is typically weaker, only athletes capable of finishing in the top six are considered.
This selection approach has frustrated numerous New Zealand athletes over the years, and Nketia openly criticized Olympic selectors after being excluded from the Tokyo 2020 Games.
When he was also passed over for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Nketia decided to make a change.
“Circumstances just kept ruining my chances of becoming a better athlete,” he explained.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL
Leaving his birth country behind was difficult for Nketia, who maintains pride in his New Zealand roots and had once been a talented junior rugby player aspiring to join the legendary All Blacks.
He completely abandoned track and field to join the University of Hawaii’s football program, explaining he needed a complete change of direction.
“It wasn’t essentially that I was tired of track. I was just tired of missing Games,” he said.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing approximately 215 pounds, the powerfully built Nketia played wide receiver before eventually returning to track with USC.
His USC coach Brenton Emanuel has nicknamed him the “Incredible Hulk” because he’s gentle away from competition but transforms into a force on the track. Emanuel believes Nketia has the potential to rank among sprinting’s all-time greats.
“He puts his superpower on and he just goes,” Emanuel said while joining Nketia on the video call.
Nketia has his sights set on winning championship medals and has marked the July 23 to August 2 Commonwealth Games on his calendar as a major target.
Before Glasgow, he wants to officially break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters during the NCAA season.
Only two Australians have achieved sub-10-second times: Patrick Johnson with 9.93 seconds and Kennedy with 9.96 seconds, while Gout’s personal best stands at exactly 10.00 seconds.
Although Gout won’t compete in Glasgow, Nketia envisions future showdowns in Australia next year against both the teenager and Kennedy.
The possibility of all three combining for relay teams also excites Nketia, as he believes they could establish Australia as a sprinting powerhouse capable of challenging the United States and Jamaica.
“When it comes to world championships next year … and Olympic Games as well, it’s like we’re going to go all the way, do what we can to get as many podium results as possible,” he said.
NEW DELHI – Law enforcement officials in an eastern Indian state have taken hundreds of people into custody following deadly political violence that claimed at least three lives this week, according to authorities.
The fatal clashes erupted in West Bengal state after election results showed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party had defeated the ruling Trinamool Congress party led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has maintained control of the region since 2011.
Among those killed was an assistant to a high-ranking BJP official, highlighting the severity of the post-election unrest.
Banerjee has declined to step down from her position, stating she has “not been defeated” while claiming the Election Commission worked alongside the BJP to manipulate the electoral outcome.
State police chief Siddh Nath Gupta informed media outlets Wednesday that law enforcement has documented over 200 criminal incidents related to the violence and placed 433 individuals under arrest.
The competing political parties have traded accusations over responsibility for the bloodshed. BJP representatives have characterized the attacks as “targeted assassinations” carried out by their opponents, while TMC officials have denounced what they describe as violence perpetrated by “BJP-backed miscreants.”
This latest outbreak of political violence continues a troubling pattern in West Bengal, where approximately twelve people lost their lives during comparable partisan conflicts following the 2021 election results.
Delaware Department of Transportation has implemented a temporary speed reduction on Interstate 495, lowering the limit to 55 miles per hour due to dangerous weather conditions affecting the roadway.
The speed restriction has been put in place as a precautionary measure to ensure motorist safety during the current weather event impacting driving conditions on the highway.
Drivers traveling on I-495 are advised to reduce their speed accordingly and exercise extra caution while navigating the affected stretch of roadway until conditions improve and normal speed limits are restored.
MANILA, Philippines — Officials from Southeast Asian nations are preparing to release a strategic response plan emphasizing respect for international law, national sovereignty, and maritime navigation rights in what appears to be an indirect criticism of the United States, Israel, and Iran regarding the ongoing Middle East conflict that has affected their region, according to a preliminary document obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.
The statement will be released when Association of Southeast Asian Nations officials convene for their yearly conference this Friday on the central Philippine island of Cebu.
The document also details emergency measures to address energy supply disruptions and other worldwide challenges stemming from the conflict.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., serving as this year’s host, has indicated the conference with 10 fellow national leaders plus a junior representative from Myanmar will concentrate on regional energy stability, food distribution, and safeguarding citizens, including over one million Southeast Asian employees and maritime workers stationed in the Middle East.
Marcos has directed that the meeting be conducted without its customary ceremonial elements due to global economic uncertainties.
Southeast Asia, a turbulent yet rapidly developing area home to approximately 680 million residents, faces numerous significant tension points, such as longstanding territorial conflicts with China, Myanmar’s five-year internal war, and recent boundary disputes between Thailand and Cambodia.
However, regional officials have voiced substantial worry about a conflict that has triggered worldwide economic consequences and put many of their nationals at risk.
Multiple workers in the Middle East, including two Philippine citizens, have lost their lives in the ongoing violence, while thousands of Southeast Asian workers have either returned home voluntarily or been removed by their governments from the unstable area.
The Asian Development Bank issued a warning in March, roughly one month following the start of Middle Eastern hostilities, that extended disruptions from the war might restrict economic growth and increase inflation across Asia and the Pacific, regions that rely heavily on Middle Eastern oil and natural gas.
“We emphasized the importance of upholding international law and ensuring that regional cooperation remains anchored in dialogue, trust and respect for sovereignty,” the draft statement says.
Southeast Asia will “maintain open, transparent and predictable markets as well as secure and open sea lanes, and ensure freedom of navigation, the safe, unimpeded and continuous transit passage of vessels and aircraft in straits used for international navigation,” it says.
That will “preserve the unimpeded flow of essential goods, including food, energy and key inputs, in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” it says.
The ASEAN officials will confirm their “shared resolve” to strengthen regional stability.
The emergency strategy includes measures such as potentially approving an agreement this year to enable coordinated emergency fuel distribution, developing a regional electrical network, expanding the area’s crude oil supply sources, encouraging electric vehicle adoption, and researching new technologies, including peaceful nuclear power.
They are also pursuing “a possible ASEAN crisis communication and coordination protocol to ensure a coherent, timely and coordinated regional response to crises.”
Beyond the Philippines, ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. East Timor gained full membership status in October of last year.
JAKARTA, Indonesia — A devastating highway crash on Indonesia’s Sumatra island claimed the lives of at least 16 people Wednesday when a passenger bus struck a fuel tanker head-on, sparking a deadly inferno.
The tragic accident unfolded around noon on the Trans-Sumatra Highway in North Musi Rawas regency, South Sumatra province, according to Mugono, an official with the local disaster management agency. The intercity bus was carrying approximately 20 passengers when it crashed into the oncoming tanker truck.
Initial investigations suggest the bus may have begun emitting sparks moments before impact, Mugono explained. The driver apparently attempted to maneuver toward the roadway’s right edge to prevent a catastrophe, but an approaching oil tanker traveling at high velocity left insufficient time to prevent the collision.
“The forceful impact triggered a fire that engulfed both vehicles, leaving many victims trapped inside,” Mugono said.
The fatalities included the bus operator and 13 passengers, along with both the tanker driver and his assistant — all perished in the flames that consumed their vehicles, according to Mugono’s account.
Four passengers from the bus managed to survive and were transported to a local medical facility. Three suffered serious burn wounds while one sustained less severe injuries, Mugono reported.
Officials continue gathering information about the total casualty count as they work to locate the passenger registry, Mugono noted.
Images and footage from the National Search and Rescue Agency depicted emergency responders fighting the massive blaze as dense black smoke and bright orange flames billowed skyward. The highway was littered with the burned-out shells of both vehicles and scattered debris.
Emergency teams, including disaster response personnel and traffic officers, worked to extract victims and remove wreckage. However, several people remained pinned within the vehicles, hampering rescue operations and causing significant traffic delays along the highway, Margono stated.
Transportation accidents occur frequently throughout Indonesia, largely attributed to inadequate safety protocols and poor infrastructure conditions.
Just one week prior, a fatal train collision near Jakarta killed at least 15 female passengers when a long-distance train crashed into a stopped commuter train after striking a disabled taxi on the tracks.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Pope Leo at the Vatican this Thursday, marking a significant diplomatic encounter amid ongoing tensions between President Donald Trump and the Catholic Church leader regarding the Iran conflict.
Rubio, who doubles as Trump’s national security adviser, is expected to arrive at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace at approximately 11:15 a.m. local time for what will be the first meeting between the pontiff and a Trump administration cabinet member in almost twelve months.
The private discussion is anticipated to run roughly thirty minutes, followed by a separate meeting between Rubio and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s chief diplomat from Italy.
Pope Leo, who became the first American to hold the papacy, has faced Trump’s criticism after voicing strong opposition to the U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran and condemning the administration’s strict immigration stance.
In recent weeks, Trump has launched an extraordinary series of public criticisms against the pope, prompting condemnation from Christian leaders spanning the political divide.
This past Monday, Trump made false claims suggesting the pope supported Iran’s nuclear weapons development and accused Leo of “endangering a lot of Catholics” through his war opposition.
Following Trump’s latest verbal assault, Leo spoke to reporters about his commitment to promoting Christian values of peace. The pope categorically denied any support for nuclear weapons, emphasizing the Catholic Church’s teaching that such weapons are morally wrong.
“The mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace,” the pope stated. “The Church has spoken out for years against all nuclear arms, on that there is no doubt.”
Pope Leo, who will commemorate his first anniversary leading the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics this Friday, has become increasingly vocal on international matters recently.
Last month during a diplomatic visit across four African nations, he strongly criticized current global leadership trends and declared the world was “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants,” though he later clarified these remarks weren’t specifically targeting Trump.
Both Rubio and Vice President JD Vance practice the Catholic faith and previously met with Pope Leo one year ago following his inaugural papal ceremony.
During Tuesday’s White House press briefing, Rubio indicated he planned to address Cuba-related issues and worldwide religious freedom concerns during his Vatican visit.
Unusually for a secretary of state’s international travel, Rubio is making the Rome trip without any accompanying press corps.
Brian Burch, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, informed reporters Tuesday that the papal meeting with the cabinet official would likely involve “frank” dialogue.
Rubio’s two-day Roman itinerary includes a Friday meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has publicly defended the pope against Trump’s criticisms. Meloni’s defense minister has also warned that the Iranian conflict jeopardizes American global leadership.
Chinese banking authorities have directed the nation’s major financial institutions to temporarily halt new lending to five oil refineries that were recently hit with U.S. sanctions due to their Iranian oil connections, according to a Bloomberg News report published Wednesday citing sources with knowledge of the situation.
Reuters was unable to independently confirm the Bloomberg report.
The National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA) issued verbal instructions to banks telling them to stop providing new yuan-based loans while allowing existing credit arrangements to remain in place, according to the report.
Banking institutions were instructed to examine their business relationships with several companies, including Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery, which ranks as China’s largest private oil refiner, sources told Bloomberg.
Neither the NFRA nor Hengli Petrochemical provided immediate responses to Reuters’ requests for comment.
The banking directive, issued prior to May 1, stands in direct opposition to guidance released May 2 by China’s Ministry of Commerce, which instructed Chinese companies to ignore American sanctions.
This represents the first instance of China implementing blocking measures, which were established in 2021 to shield Chinese businesses from what the government views as unjustified foreign interference.
Last month, the U.S. Treasury Department levied sanctions against Hengli Petrochemical, alleging the company purchased billions of dollars worth of Iranian oil as part of Washington’s ongoing campaign to reduce Tehran’s petroleum revenues.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed last month that the United States had warned two Chinese financial institutions they could face secondary sanctions if found to be handling transactions with Iran, though he did not name the specific banks.
The American sanctions have created operational challenges for the affected refineries, including complications in receiving crude oil shipments and forcing them to market refined products under alternative brand names.
BRUSSELS, May 7 – European Union member states and parliament negotiators reached a tentative compromise Thursday on groundbreaking artificial intelligence regulations that have been significantly weakened from their original form, with implementation timelines pushed back after lobbying from governments and industry groups.
Cyprus, currently serving as the rotating president of the EU Council, announced the development in an official statement. “The Cyprus Presidency, representing the Council, and the European Parliament negotiators have just reached a provisional agreement on the proposal aimed at streamlining and simplifying certain rules regarding artificial intelligence,” the statement read.
The compromise represents a scaled-back version of what was initially envisioned as comprehensive AI oversight legislation for the European bloc.
Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd will undergo surgery after damaging his left meniscus during what seemed like an ordinary moment playing with his kids at home Wednesday morning. The team has moved the 35-year-old southpaw to the 15-day injured list, with the placement backdated to Monday.
Manager Craig Counsell revealed that an MRI scan confirmed the knee damage, which will require surgical repair.
“It’s kind of unexplainable,” Counsell said. “Kind of an innocent, going down to the ground and getting back up.”
“He woke up this morning a healthy player,” the manager added. “He’s just trying to process it and get all the information from the doctors to figure out what’s next.”
While Counsell indicated that Boyd’s recovery timeline will depend on how the surgery goes, the organization anticipates having him back on the field before the season ends.
This marks Boyd’s second stint on the injured list this year, having missed time from April 2-21 due to a strained left biceps. Through five starts this season, he holds a 2-1 record with a 6.00 ERA, recording 31 strikeouts against six walks across 24 innings pitched.
The veteran pitcher earned All-Star recognition with Chicago in 2025 and carries a career record of 62-78 with a 4.61 ERA spanning 218 appearances (204 starts) across multiple teams including Toronto (2015), Detroit (2015-21, 2023), Seattle (2022), Cleveland (2024), and the Cubs.
To fill Boyd’s roster spot, Chicago promoted right-handed reliever Trent Thornton from Triple-A Iowa. The team also released left-hander Charlie Barnes to create space on the 40-man roster for Thornton, while sending right-hander Yacksel Rios outright to Iowa.
Thornton, 32, has posted a 3.18 ERA across 5 2/3 innings in four appearances (including one start) with Iowa this season. His major league career spans seven seasons with Toronto (2019-23) and Seattle (2023-25), compiling a 14-19 record with a 4.38 ERA.
Boyd’s injury adds to Chicago’s pitching concerns, as starters Justin Steele (left elbow) and Cade Horton (right elbow) are already sidelined on the injured list.
A federal court has set a January trial date for the high-stakes legal battle between Joe Gibbs Racing and Spire Motorsports involving former JGR employee Chris Gabehart, according to motorsport.com.
The scheduling decision came Wednesday after both sides requested different timelines. JGR had pushed for a November start while Spire and Gabehart sought to delay proceedings until May.
The racing powerhouse is seeking damages exceeding $8 million, claiming Gabehart engaged in wrongful conduct and interference when he departed JGR for a position with Spire.
JGR’s legal team had advocated for the earlier November timeline, expressing urgency about preserving evidence and beginning the discovery process quickly. Meanwhile, the defense argued that a May start would prevent depositions from disrupting the ongoing NASCAR season.
U.S. District Court Judge Susan C. Rodriguez from North Carolina’s Western District has ordered both parties to collaborate on pretrial scheduling. She directed them to “meet and confer and submit to the Court within 10 days a joint proposal as to pretrial deadlines as discussed,” requiring all sides to follow an agreed timeline for pre-trial activities.
The legal dispute has intensified following Spire’s remarkable performance improvement since bringing Gabehart aboard. Earlier this week, JGR filed an updated lawsuit addressing additional damages allegedly caused by the use of proprietary information.
Spire’s success this season has been notable, with driver Carson Hocevar currently ranked sixth in standings after claiming his inaugural NASCAR victory at Talladega on April 26 – marking Spire’s first Cup Series win since 2019. Fellow Spire driver Daniel Suarez, who joined the team this year, holds 14th place. Last season, none of Spire’s three drivers managed a top-20 finish in the final standings.
The updated legal filing directly connects Spire’s improved results to the alleged misconduct. “This sudden improvement in Spire’s Cup Series performance of course comes on the heels of Gabehart misappropriating JGR’s Confidential Information and Trade Secrets and providing Spire the same or similar services he provided JGR in the last year,” the amended document states.
Judge Rodriguez has also approved expedited discovery procedures for specific evidence, allowing quicker access to phone records that relate directly to Gabehart’s professional relationships with both racing organizations.
HERSHEY, Pa. — During a legal conference in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, Chief Justice John Roberts pushed back against perceptions that Supreme Court justices function as political figures, emphasizing that controversial decisions stem from legal interpretation rather than policy preferences.
Speaking to judges and attorneys from the 3rd U.S. Circuit, Roberts addressed public misconceptions about the court’s role. “I think, at a very basic level, people think we’re making policy decisions, we’re saying we think this is how things should be, as opposed to what the law provides,” he explained. “I think they view us as purely political actors, which I don’t think is an accurate understanding of what we do.”
Roberts’ defense comes during a period of diminished public trust in the nation’s highest court, occurring roughly one week after justices delivered a ruling that significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act.
The recent decision eliminated a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana, determining it constituted an illegal racial gerrymander. This ruling undermined the Civil Rights-era legislation that had boosted minority congressional representation and potentially enables additional redistricting efforts that could benefit Republican House control strategies.
The conservative-controlled court has issued several transformative decisions in recent years, including eliminating constitutional abortion protections, broadening Second Amendment rights, and prohibiting race-conscious college admissions practices.
While avoiding mention of particular cases, Roberts maintained the court operates outside political spheres. “One things we have to do is make decisions that are unpopular,” he acknowledged, while stressing that rulings reflect justices’ constitutional analysis rather than personal views.
Roberts also criticized personal attacks against judges based on their judicial decisions, a concern he has voiced repeatedly as threats against federal judges increase. “That’s not appropriate and it can lead to very serious problems,” he warned.
Former President Donald Trump has been among those launching personal criticisms of judges, including Roberts himself and other justices who ruled against Trump’s emergency tariff powers.
Stock markets throughout Asia experienced significant gains Thursday as traders expressed optimism about potential negotiations between the United States and Iran that could restore oil shipments through a crucial Persian Gulf waterway.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 soared 4.6% to reach 62,243.88, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 1.2% to 26,531.35. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 advanced 1.2% to 8,870.90.
South Korea’s Kospi declined 1.4% to 7,281.37 as investors took profits following the previous day’s nearly 7% surge that pushed the index above 7,000 for the first time. Taiwan’s Taiex rose 1.7%.
Global markets surged Wednesday after President Donald Trump announced the Strait of Hormuz could be “OPEN TO ALL” if Iran agrees to a proposed deal, though the president provided no specifics about the arrangement.
Oil prices dropped nearly 8% and the S&P 500 advanced 1.5% for its strongest performance in almost a month, reaching a new record. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.2%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 2%.
During early Asian trading Thursday, Brent crude increased $1.06 to $102.29 per barrel, and U.S. benchmark crude added $1.20 to $96.28 per barrel.
Wednesday’s market rally came amid speculation that Washington and Tehran are approaching an agreement to permit vessels to transport crude through the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude, the global benchmark, plummeted 7.8% to $101.27, down from over $115 earlier in the week.
The strait’s closure due to ongoing conflict has severely disrupted the world economy by preventing oil tankers from exiting the Persian Gulf. Reopening this vital passage could restore normal oil flow and ease inflationary pressures affecting product prices globally.
Brent crude initially dropped below $97 per barrel but recovered above $100 after Trump warned of bombing “at a much higher level and intensity” if Iran rejects the proposed agreement.
American stocks showed strength despite the conflict, supported by robust earnings from major corporations at the beginning of 2026.
Semiconductor company AMD led Wednesday’s gains with an 18.6% jump after exceeding profit and revenue expectations. CEO Lisa Su credited continued artificial intelligence growth, which requires massive computing power from data centers.
Super Micro Computer soared 24.5% following better-than-expected earnings results. Nvidia, the chip manufacturer synonymous with the AI revolution, increased 5.7% and provided the largest boost to the S&P 500 due to its massive market value.
CVS Health advanced 7.6% after reporting first-quarter results that beat analyst projections and raising full-year guidance. The Walt Disney Company gained 7.5% after stating that “Zootopia 2” helped attract customers to its streaming services, theme parks, and cruise operations while delivering stronger-than-anticipated profits. Uber Technologies climbed 8.5% after providing spring booking forecasts that exceeded analyst estimates.
Beyond earnings announcements, companies with substantial fuel costs rallied on expectations that oil prices would continue declining. United Airlines and Carnival each rose 6.8%, while Royal Caribbean jumped 8.8%.
Overall, the S&P 500 increased 105.90 points to 7,365.12. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 612.34 points to 49,910.59, and the Nasdaq composite gained 512.82 points to 25,838.94.
The University of Delaware softball team launched their way to victory in the opening round of the Conference USA Tournament, overpowering New Mexico State 11-7 behind a trio of home runs and several record-breaking performances.
Freshman standout Maddie Diamond etched her name in the Blue Hens record books by crushing her 16th and 17th home runs of the season, establishing a new program benchmark for first-year players. Diamond’s power display helped propel the fourth-seeded Blue Hens past their fifth-seeded opponents.
The record-setting didn’t stop there for Delaware. Teammate Allie Nankivell crossed home plate for the 38th time this season, creating another new program standard for freshman scoring. Additionally, the victory marked the Blue Hens’ 22nd home win of the campaign, surpassing the previous program record for home victories in a single season.
The offensive explosion showcased Delaware’s tournament readiness as they advance in the Conference USA championship bracket with momentum from their dominant first-round showing.
SEOUL – An appeals court in South Korea has reduced the prison term for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, lowering his sentence from 23 years to 15 years behind bars, according to Thursday’s ruling.
The conviction relates to Han Duck-soo’s participation in the temporary declaration of martial law that took place in 2024, among other charges. The appellate court’s decision represents a significant reduction from the original lengthy sentence handed down by a lower court.
The case has drawn attention as it involves one of South Korea’s highest-ranking former government officials and centers on the controversial brief period when martial law was implemented in the country.
Markets across Asia celebrated Thursday as stock indices climbed to unprecedented levels amid growing optimism about potential peace negotiations in the Middle East, though significant challenges remain unresolved.
Japan’s Nikkei index made a dramatic return from an extended holiday break, surpassing 62,000 points for the first time ever. The surge helped Japanese markets catch up with an artificial intelligence-driven boom that has already pushed South Korean and Taiwan exchanges to record territory following strong corporate earnings reports.
The broader MSCI Asia-Pacific index, excluding Japan, gained 1% to reach another milestone high. This week alone, the benchmark has climbed 7%.
Kyle Rodda, a senior financial analyst with Capital.com, acknowledged the market enthusiasm while urging caution about the developments.
“But we’ve seen this story before, and the rug could get pulled out of the market pretty quickly too. Ultimately, if we keep seeing progress in talks, Asian markets will keep rallying,” Rodda explained.
Iranian officials confirmed they are examining a peace framework that, according to sources familiar with the matter, would officially conclude the military conflict. However, the proposal reportedly leaves major American demands unaddressed, including Iran’s nuclear activities and the reopening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, whose blockade has contributed to soaring energy costs.
The war’s potential conclusion, which began in late February, triggered Wednesday’s dramatic 8% plunge in oil markets. By Thursday morning in Asia, Brent crude had recovered slightly to trade at $102.11 per barrel.
Despite recent declines, petroleum prices remain approximately 40% above pre-conflict levels, while 10-year Treasury bond yields have increased by roughly 40 basis points, highlighting the economic strain from elevated energy costs and inflationary pressures.
“Even if the strait reopens in coming weeks, oil is likely to stay elevated and slow to ease given damage to energy infrastructure and precautionary stockpiling,” OCBC analysts noted in their research.
Federal Reserve policymakers have expressed concern that the ongoing conflict increases risks of persistent inflation, citing sustained high oil prices and emerging global supply chain disruptions.
Currency markets reflected the shifting sentiment, with the euro maintaining overnight gains of about 0.5% to trade at $1.1747. The British pound reached $1.3591 following Wednesday’s 0.4% advance. The dollar index, tracking the American currency against six major counterparts, stood at 98.032.
Japan’s yen continued attracting attention after recent volatile sessions sparked speculation about possible government intervention to support the struggling currency. The yen traded at 156.29 against the dollar with minimal daily change, after reaching a 10-week peak of 155 in the previous session during a sudden rally.
OCBC analysts questioned whether Japan’s Ministry of Finance will maintain its currency defense efforts or consider its intervention sufficient.
“Intervention alone is unlikely to shift the broader trend unless backed by stronger policy support like a more assertive BOJ hiking cycle or better alignment with external drivers such as lower oil prices and U.S. yields,” the analysts wrote, maintaining their year-end projection of 155.
Soaring energy prices had battered global markets in March, but a tentative ceasefire and peace negotiations have fueled a risk-positive rally since April, further boosted by impressive technology sector earnings.
American markets joined the celebration Wednesday evening, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reaching record closing levels on strong corporate results. S&P 500 companies are positioned for their most robust profit expansion in over four years.
Market participants are now focused on Friday’s employment report, with economists surveyed by Reuters predicting 62,000 new jobs in April following March’s rebound of 178,000 positions.
Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway finds himself in an unusual position – training intensively for a bout that may never materialize.
“I mean, it’s just, it sucks,” Holloway told Paramount+ during a recent interview. “I would just like to get one back.”
The Hawaiian fighter is currently in training camp preparing for a possible July showdown with two-division champion Conor McGregor at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, despite the absence of any signed agreement.
The ambiguity stems largely from uncertainty surrounding McGregor’s return to competition. The Irish superstar has been absent from the octagon since July 2021, and speculation about his comeback continues to swirl. While rumors suggested McGregor might appear on a summer card at the White House, his rumored opponent Michael Chandler will instead face Mauricio Ruffy.
Despite the contractual limbo, Holloway remains determined to secure another opportunity against McGregor. Their initial encounter took place in 2013, resulting in a unanimous decision victory for McGregor, who suffered a torn ACL during the contest.
“My head space is good, it’s straight,” Holloway explained. “I kinda know when I fight. We kinda know where we want to fight, why we want to fight, so just getting in the gym, getting there, getting it done.”
“It’s a huge fight. Anything with Conor McGregor is huge, but having history with the dude, being able to get one back would be cool.”
The 34-year-old Honolulu native is motivated to bounce back from his most recent outing – a lopsided unanimous decision loss to Charles Oliveira on March 7 that stripped him of the symbolic BMF title, awarded to the UFC’s “baddest” fighter.
“You’re only as good as your last fight, they say, and we’re going to get everybody forgetting about that last fight as soon as possible,” Holloway stated.
For McGregor, who became the first UFC athlete to simultaneously hold championships in two weight divisions (featherweight and lightweight), this would represent his return following a severe broken tibia and subsequent drug suspension that have kept “Notorious” sidelined for nearly five years.
Given McGregor’s extended absence, oddsmakers would likely favor the 34-year-old Holloway over the 37-year-old former champion.
“I mean, we have history,” Holloway reflected. “We fought a very long time ago. I told you guys, if somebody’s got one over me, I want to get him back. I’d love to get him back.”
Economic disparities are growing wider as Americans with lower incomes face the heaviest burden from soaring gasoline prices, according to new research released Wednesday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Despite dramatically cutting back on fuel purchases after the Iran conflict began, families with modest incomes are still paying more money at gas stations due to price increases, the study revealed. Wealthy households have continued purchasing gas at similar levels while increasing their overall fuel spending. Those with moderate incomes experienced effects somewhere between the two groups.
The research indicates that rising fuel costs have intensified what economists describe as a “K-shaped economy,” where different income levels experience vastly different economic outcomes.
National gasoline prices have surged to an average of $4.54 per gallon for regular fuel as of Wednesday, representing a 31-cent increase over the past week alone, AAA data shows. Current prices stand 52% above levels seen before the Iran war commenced.
The primary driver behind escalating pump prices stems from oil tankers being trapped near the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing conflict. While crude oil dropped below $100 per barrel Wednesday amid renewed optimism about potential peace negotiations, energy analysts predict it will require several months for gasoline costs to return to pre-conflict levels.
Financial markets responded positively to diplomatic hopes, with Asian stock indices climbing sharply as crude oil maintained its position above $100 per barrel. Investors are betting on prospects for a U.S.-Iran agreement that would allow petroleum shipments to resume flowing from the Persian Gulf region.
Wednesday saw oil prices decline nearly 8% while the S&P 500 gained 1.5% in its strongest single-day performance in almost a month, establishing a new record high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.2%, and the Nasdaq composite increased 2%. Global markets rallied after President Donald Trump suggested the Strait of Hormuz could be “OPEN TO ALL” if Iran accepts an undisclosed agreement.
The media landscape mourned the passing of Ted Turner, whose revolutionary approach to television news transformed both the industry and society. Turner’s concept of continuous, worldwide news coverage arrived at a challenging period for cable news, which faces declining audiences amid numerous entertainment options and streaming platforms.
Industry professionals emphasized Turner’s profound influence, with some calling discussions about his impact impossible to overstate. The first Gulf War against Iraq served as a crucial moment demonstrating both the technical capabilities and public appetite for 24-hour news coverage.
Disney Corporation surpassed quarterly projections through robust streaming service performance and increased domestic theme park spending, which compensated for reduced international visitor numbers. The entertainment giant had previously warned that its parks division would likely see limited growth partly due to declining foreign tourism.
International travel to the United States has decreased for multiple reasons since President Trump returned to office, including trade tariffs, immigration enforcement measures, and diplomatic tensions with allied countries. While overall attendance at U.S. parks dropped 1% compared to the previous year due to fewer international guests, Disney reported strong domestic visitor spending.
A new investigation reveals European fishing companies have captured one-third of tropical tuna catches in the Indian Ocean by registering vessels under flags from nations like Seychelles and Oman to access larger fishing quotas. The Blue Marine Foundation and Kroll study found this legal but controversial practice makes ownership tracking difficult and complicates regulatory oversight.
The findings emerge ahead of an upcoming Indian Ocean Tuna Commission gathering. Environmental organizations are demanding increased ownership transparency to ensure fishing regulation compliance, while the European Union maintains that ship registration decisions are private business matters.
Meanwhile, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a discrimination lawsuit against the New York Times, alleging the newspaper overlooked a white male employee for promotion in favor of a less qualified female candidate to satisfy diversity objectives. The case involves a Times editor who sought the deputy real estate editor position in 2025 and subsequently filed gender and racial discrimination complaints. The newspaper dismissed the lawsuit as politically driven and vowed a strong legal defense.
Media mogul Ted Turner revolutionized professional sports through bold ownership and innovative broadcasting strategies
ATLANTA (AP) — As both an eccentric owner and shrewd entrepreneur, Ted Turner fundamentally changed how America experienced sports. The media pioneer purchased the financially troubled Atlanta Braves during the 1970s and used his broadcasting empire to beam their games across the country, eventually building them into a World Series contender throughout the 1990s. Beyond baseball, Turner’s sports portfolio included the Atlanta Hawks basketball franchise and the Atlanta Thrashers hockey team. His vision extended internationally when he established the Goodwill Games as a response to Olympic boycotts, creating a platform for global athletic competition. Turner’s bold personality and groundbreaking business methods established a blueprint that continues to influence modern sports ownership.
Philadelphia’s star center ruled out of crucial playoff matchup due to multiple injuries
NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid has been declared unavailable for Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup against the New York Knicks, suffering from a sprained right ankle and hip discomfort. Team officials placed the All-Star center on the injury list Wednesday morning, just hours before tip-off of the critical contest. Embiid endured a difficult outing in the series opener, managing only 14 points while shooting 3-of-11 from the field during 25 minutes of action in New York’s dominant 137-98 victory. The big man had recently returned from appendix surgery and played a key role in Philadelphia’s remarkable comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against Boston in the opening round.
Dallas star discusses recovery timeline and treatment for hamstring setback
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic revealed his frustration about missing playoff action while recovering from a hamstring injury that has kept him out since early April. Speaking to media Wednesday, Doncic explained he traveled to Spain for specialized platelet-rich plasma treatments designed to accelerate his eight-week recovery process. The procedure required four-day rest periods between each injection, according to the All-Star player. While Doncic has resumed running activities, he has not yet returned to contact drills. His absence continues as Dallas faces elimination following their 108-90 loss to Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals Tuesday night.
New England quarterback expresses confidence in head coach amid personal controversy
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Patriots quarterback Drake Maye voiced strong support for head coach Mike Vrabel Wednesday, describing him as “a great human being” while dismissing concerns about off-field distractions affecting the defending AFC champions. Maye shared his thoughts with reporters following his participation in the Truist Championship Pro-Am at Quail Hollow, where he partnered with PGA professional Gary Woodland. Vrabel has faced scrutiny after published photos showed him with NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort. The coach acknowledged responsibility for his actions on April 24 without providing specific details about the images. Vrabel missed the draft’s final day to attend counseling sessions.
Derby champion will bypass middle jewel of Triple Crown racing
Kentucky Derby champion Golden Tempo will not compete in next weekend’s Preakness Stakes, trainer Cherie DeVaux confirmed. Instead, the team plans to target the Belmont Stakes scheduled for June 6 at Saratoga Race Course in New York. This marks the third time in five years that a Derby winner has chosen to skip the Preakness. The decision ensures that for the sixth time in eight years, the Preakness will occur without any possibility of a Triple Crown sweep. Only American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018 have captured all three races in the past forty years.
Detroit pitcher receives penalty for deliberately hitting Boston batter
DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Tigers hurler Framber Valdez received a five-game suspension and fine following his ejection for intentionally striking Boston’s Trevor Story during Tuesday’s 10-2 defeat. Major League Baseball initially imposed a six-game ban but reduced the punishment through negotiations with the players’ union. The incident occurred during a disastrous outing where Valdez surrendered a career-worst 10 runs. He began serving the suspension during Wednesday’s series finale and should return for next Wednesday’s game against the New York Mets, weather permitting. The Tigers are already managing without injured starters Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize and Justin Verlander.
Houston infielder requires surgery for severe ankle injury
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa faces season-ending surgery after suffering a complete tear of a tendon in his left ankle. The All-Star provided the injury update Wednesday, explaining the damage occurred while taking batting practice swings before Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Correa appeared on crutches wearing a protective boot after consulting with a foot specialist Wednesday morning. He plans to seek additional medical opinions before scheduling the procedure, which carries a six-to-eight-month recovery timeline.
Coaches debate expanding video review system for playoff officiating
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour advocates for increased replay assistance to help NHL officials during playoff competition. The Eastern Conference’s top-seeded Hurricanes are currently battling Philadelphia in the second round. While Brind’Amour praised league officials as “the best,” he believes they could “use a little hand” from video technology when reviewing scrums and potential diving penalties. Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff acknowledged Brind’Amour’s perspective but expressed reservations, stating he’s “not a huge fan of another video review” system.
French club advances to Champions League title game with semifinal draw
MUNICH (AP) — Ousmane Dembélé’s early strike helped Paris Saint-Germain secure a Champions League final berth by drawing 1-1 with Bayern Munich in their semifinal second leg. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia created the opening goal with a quick passing combination with Fabián Ruiz before finding an unmarked Dembélé, who fired home under the crossbar in the third minute. Harry Kane’s stoppage-time equalizer came too late to prevent PSG’s advancement. The defending champions won 6-5 on aggregate after taking a 5-4 advantage in last week’s first leg in Paris. PSG will meet Arsenal in the final at Budapest, Hungary on May 30.
Buffalo’s power play comes alive in playoff series opener victory
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Bowen Byram and Ryan McLeod converted back-to-back power-play chances to spark Buffalo’s struggling special teams unit in a 4-2 Game 1 victory over Montreal in their second-round playoff series. Josh Doan and Jordan Greenway added goals for Buffalo, which reached the second round for the first time since 2007 and made its first playoff appearance in 15 years. Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach responded for Montreal, which appeared sluggish following their Game 7 victory over Tampa Bay three days earlier. Goaltender Jakub Dobes made 12 saves in the loss. Game 2 takes place Friday night in Buffalo.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — GOP lawmakers across multiple Southern states are accelerating efforts to redraw congressional boundaries following a recent Supreme Court decision that has opened the door to challenging existing district maps.
In Tennessee, demonstrators continuously disrupted legislative sessions focused on redistricting proposals. Despite the interruptions, Republican lawmakers moved the plans forward for a possible final decision on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Alabama’s Republican-controlled House voted to approve legislation that would allow new congressional primaries if courts permit them to implement different U.S. House boundaries.
Last week’s Supreme Court decision determined that Louisiana placed excessive emphasis on racial considerations when establishing a second district with a Black majority population while trying to follow Voting Rights Act requirements. This decision provides Republican officials in Louisiana and other states with justification to attempt removing districts where Black voters hold majorities and typically elect Democratic candidates.
The court’s decision has escalated what was already an intense nationwide battle over district boundaries before November’s midterm elections, which will decide control of the narrowly divided House of Representatives.
Since Texas became the first state to redraw its House districts last year, eight states have implemented new congressional maps. Republicans believe they could pick up as many as 13 seats, while Democrats estimate they might gain up to 10. However, several newly created districts may be contested in November, potentially preventing either party from achieving their full objectives.
Tennessee Proposal Divides Memphis Area
On Wednesday, Tennessee Republicans unveiled a new House map that would divide Shelby County, where Memphis is located, among three districts rather than the current two. This change would dismantle the state’s only Democratic-controlled district, which centers on the predominantly Black city, triggering widespread modifications to districts across western and central Tennessee.
“Tennessee is a conservative state, and our congressional delegation should reflect that. This bill ensures it does,” stated Republican state Sen. John Stevens.
Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton explained that the proposed boundaries were created using population data and political considerations rather than racial demographics.
Alabama House Supports New Primary Elections
Alabama’s Republican-majority House approved legislation on Wednesday that would authorize special congressional primary elections as GOP officials consider implementing a different congressional map for November’s elections. The measure now advances to the state Senate.
Alabama officials are working to overturn a federal court directive that established a second congressional district with nearly majority Black voter representation. This map resulted in the 2024 election of Rep. Shomari Figures, a Black Democratic candidate. Republicans prefer to implement a 2023 map created by state legislators that would provide the GOP with a chance to regain Figures’ southern Alabama district.
South Carolina Advances Redistricting Plans
South Carolina’s House approved a resolution on Wednesday that would authorize lawmakers to reconvene after their regular session concludes to redraw congressional districts, potentially eliminating the state’s sole Democratic-held district. The proposal must now receive Senate approval, requiring a two-thirds majority vote.
Following Wednesday’s vote, Republican House leadership announced plans to present a new map on Thursday and conduct committee discussions on Friday.
WASHINGTON — American military forces struck an Iranian oil vessel on Wednesday in the Gulf of Oman while President Donald Trump continues diplomatic efforts to pressure Tehran into accepting a peace agreement to conclude the current conflict, according to officials.
U.S. Central Command reported through social media that an American fighter aircraft disabled the tanker’s steering system as the vessel attempted to break through the naval blockade surrounding Iranian harbors.
The military action took place during an ongoing ceasefire between the two nations. Trump has warned Tehran of renewed aerial bombardments unless they agree to terms that would reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
In a social media message, Trump indicated the two-month conflict might conclude soon, potentially allowing disrupted petroleum and gas exports to resume. However, he emphasized this outcome hinges on Iran’s acceptance of a proposed settlement he did not elaborate on.
“If they don’t agree, the bombing starts,” Trump wrote.
In a separate development, Israeli forces launched their first attack on Beirut’s southern districts since the April 17 ceasefire agreement with the Iranian-supported Hezbollah organization. Combat operations have persisted in southern Lebanon despite the truce.
The most recent Beirut bombardments occurred April 8, when extensive Israeli military operations resulted in over 350 deaths. Lebanese casualties have exceeded 2,500 since hostilities commenced March 2, just two days following the joint Israeli-American military campaign against Iran.
Netanyahu’s administration stated Wednesday’s unannounced assault aimed at a Hezbollah Radwan Force leader. The militant group has not yet responded to the strike.
Trump maintained Wednesday that Iranian leadership desires to conclude the war.
“We’re dealing with people that want to make a deal very much, and we’ll see whether or not they can make a deal that’s satisfactory to us,” the president stated.
Speaking from the White House and through social media, Trump indicated America might ultimately impose a resolution.
“If they don’t agree, the bombing starts,” Trump posted online, “and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.”
According to Axios reporting, the White House believes it’s approaching an agreement with Iran involving a single-page document to terminate hostilities. While no final deal exists, potential terms reportedly include halting Iranian uranium processing, removing American economic sanctions, releasing frozen Iranian assets, and reopening the strait to maritime traffic.
White House officials have not responded to inquiries regarding the potential settlement.
Iranian Foreign Ministry representative Esmaeil Baghaei informed state television that Tehran had “strongly rejected” the American proposals mentioned by Axios, while continuing to review the most recent proposed framework.
The fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran has remained mostly intact since beginning April 8. Pakistan facilitated direct negotiations between both countries last month, though they failed to produce an agreement.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s diplomatic mission to China preceded Trump’s scheduled visit to Beijing.
Trump plans to participate in a significant summit May 14-15 with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Trump was the most recent American president to visit China in 2017.
“We believe that a comprehensive ceasefire is urgently needed, that a resumption of hostilities is not acceptable,” Wang stated in recorded remarks from the meeting.
China’s foreign minister described the conflict as having “not only caused serious losses to the Iranian people, but also had a severe impact on regional and global peace.”
Araghchi informed Iranian state media that his visit encompassed discussions about the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s atomic energy program, and economic penalties imposed on Tehran.
Trump has insisted on significant reductions to Tehran’s controversial nuclear activities.
An official statement from China’s Foreign Ministry website indicated China recognizes Iran’s commitment to avoid developing nuclear weapons while supporting its “legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.”
JUNEAU, Alaska — Wildlife officials in Alaska have received court approval to continue their controversial bear elimination program, which includes shooting bears from helicopters, as part of efforts to help a declining caribou population recover, a judge decided Wednesday.
Superior Court Judge Adolf Zeman denied a request from two environmental organizations — the Alaska Wildlife Alliance and Center for Biological Diversity — to temporarily suspend the program while their legal challenge proceeds. The judge determined that the conservation groups couldn’t demonstrate that state officials lacked reasonable justification for implementing the plan.
The court’s decision comes at a crucial time, as the Mulchatna caribou population in southwestern Alaska is approaching calving season. Newborn caribou are especially vulnerable to predation by bears and wolves during this period.
Alaska officials view the bear elimination effort as essential for restoring the caribou population, which historically supplied subsistence hunters from numerous communities with approximately 4,770 caribou annually. The herd reached its peak at roughly 190,000 animals.
However, the caribou numbers started dropping in the late 1990s and early 2000s, falling to about 13,000 by 2019. State Department of Fish and Game estimates put last year’s population at around 16,280. Hunting restrictions have been in place since 2021.
Between 2023 and 2024, state agents eliminated 180 bears, primarily brown bears, along with an additional 11 last year, according to court documents filed by the environmental groups. The organizations contend that the Alaska Board of Game reauthorized the program last year without crucial information about bear population data and long-term viability.
Cooper Freeman, Alaska director at the Center for Biological Diversity, expressed the groups’ position in a statement, saying they support caribou recovery efforts, “but the state simply hasn’t shown that the unrestrained killing of bears is going to help us get there.”
“We need to stop this disgraceful waste of the state’s limited resources and work based on science to protect all our wildlife,” Freeman said.
Government lawyers have maintained that officials conducted a thorough examination of bear population factors when implementing the plan.
“The herd has persisted at low numbers but started showing a positive response since 2023, when bear removal during calving seasons began,” they stated in legal filings.
The state Department of Law, representing both the board and Department of Fish and Game, didn’t respond immediately to requests for comment Wednesday. Legal representatives from Trustees for Alaska, who represent the conservation organizations, are examining the decision and “will consider all available options,” spokesperson Madison Grosvenor said via email.
This program has faced continuous legal challenges. Last year, a different judge found problems with the adoption process in a previous case brought by the Alaska Wildlife Alliance and determined the state lacked adequate bear sustainability data.
Emergency regulations put in place by the state were subsequently overturned. Officials later announced a new public review process for reauthorizing the program, which the board approved last July.
PHOENIX (AP) — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Wednesday that the Justice Department plans to remove immigration judges who process cases too slowly or fail to properly apply the law, as the Trump administration works to accelerate deportations and address a massive backlog of 3.7 million pending cases.
Speaking at the annual Border Security Expo in Phoenix, which brings together immigration officials, law enforcement, and government contractors, Blanche outlined the administration’s strategy to overhaul immigration courts. His presence at the event underscores how border security has become a top administration priority.
In an interview with The Associated Press following his conference remarks, Blanche provided the most comprehensive details yet about immigration court reforms since taking over after Pam Bondi’s departure last month.
“You take an oath and you’re not allowed to make decisions based upon what appear to be just sympathy or your whim,” Blanche stated.
“If there’s judges that are just not applying the law in the way that it needs to be applied, delaying inappropriately, have backlogs that are just unacceptable, they’re the folks that we’re going to try to find somebody different to fill that spot.”
The Trump administration has positioned mass deportations as a cornerstone policy, launching a comprehensive government-wide initiative to meet ambitious removal targets. The effort includes expanded enforcement operations in U.S. cities, increased detention capacity, and additional immigration officer recruitment.
Although the Department of Homeland Security primarily handles President Donald Trump’s deportation agenda, immigration courts operate under Justice Department authority, making them crucial to the overall strategy.
During Trump’s current term, dozens of immigration judges have lost their positions, with opponents claiming they were dismissed for approving too many asylum requests. The administration has also deployed masked officers to detain migrants at private asylum proceedings and issued directives requiring judicial compliance. Immigrant advocates report that routine court appearances have increasingly become arrest opportunities.
Immigration courts operate differently from federal courts, lacking strict procedural protections and lifetime tenure guarantees. The attorney general maintains broader authority to dismiss immigration judges compared to federal judicial positions.
However, legal advocates strongly oppose the administration’s court restructuring approach.
“Unfortunately, the Trump Administration is systematically dismantling due process protections in U.S. immigration courts, prioritizing speed and enforcement over fairness, accuracy, and fundamental justice,” the American Immigration Lawyers Association stated in a recent policy document.
Opposition groups also point to decisions by an internal court board that have restricted asylum pathways under the current administration. Blanche dismissed these concerns, maintaining that the rulings align with existing law.
Blanche identified ongoing issues with judges who continuously postpone cases and others who ignore legal requirements “because of sympathy towards individuals.”
With substantial congressional funding secured last summer for additional judicial hiring, the department is rapidly expanding its immigration judge workforce, though critics question whether new appointees meet qualification standards.
“We have a very rigorous process to get people interviewed, approved, and then trained up. And then we’ll watch them,” Blanche said, defending the hiring practices.
Blanche also revealed increased Justice Department focus on revoking citizenship from individuals accused of system fraud through “denaturalization” procedures. This process averaged only about twelve cases annually between 1990 and 2017.
“That’s one of the tools that we are using aggressively that hasn’t been used as aggressively in the past,” Blanche explained, though he declined to provide specific case numbers.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – University of Delaware men’s golf standout Arsit Areephun has earned second-place honors at the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship for back-to-back years.
The junior golfer posted an impressive three-round total of 205 strokes, finishing 8-under par in the individual competition among 15 collegiate teams. The championship took place over three days at The Park, a challenging par-71 layout measuring 5,806 yards located on Florida’s southwest coast. The venue was previously known as West Palm Beach Country Club.
Areephun’s consistent performance throughout the tournament helped cement his status as one of the top collegiate golfers in the region. His repeat runner-up finish demonstrates the continued strength of the Blue Hens golf program on the national stage.
PRESCOTT, Ariz. — A female participant died Tuesday during an extreme endurance race spanning 250 miles through Arizona’s rugged northern terrain after suffering a medical emergency, according to race officials and authorities.
Emergency responders rushed to help a woman in her 40s who had collapsed at a trailhead near the Groom Creek area south of Prescott while taking part in the demanding competition, according to Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Paul Wick, who spoke Wednesday.
Erika Snyder, who co-directs the Cocodona 250 ultramarathon, verified the participant’s death but said she would not release additional information out of respect for the runner’s family members.
While extreme endurance competitions push athletes to their physical limits, fatalities remain extremely uncommon considering the thousands who participate in the increasingly popular sport that now features events from Death Valley’s harsh desert to the towering Himalayas.
The Cocodona ranks among America’s most challenging ultramarathons, with a route that climbs more than 5,000 feet in elevation on two separate occasions while winding through Sedona after beginning in Black Canyon City.
This year’s competition began before sunrise Monday, with champion Rachel Entrekin crossing the finish line Wednesday afternoon in Flagstaff to cheering spectators while establishing a new course record.
Due to growing interest in the event, organizers announced they will implement a lottery system for registration starting next year.
Medical teams are positioned throughout the course, and aid stations offer food, water and gear adjustments for competitors who often sleep on the ground during the multi-day challenge that can extend up to five days, Snyder explained.
In 2021, harsh weather conditions including freezing rain and powerful winds contributed to 21 runner deaths during an ultramarathon in China’s northwestern mountains.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – University of Delaware women’s golf team sophomore Anushka Sawant earned a fifth-place finish at the prestigious PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship, completing the tournament with a three-round total of 226, which was 13 strokes over par.
The championship featured 15 competitors in the Women’s Individual division and took place over three days at The Park, a challenging par-71 course measuring 5,806 yards located on Florida’s southwest coast. The venue was previously known as the West Palm Beach Country Club.
Sawant’s strong performance at the national-level tournament highlights the continued success of the Blue Hens women’s golf program on the collegiate stage.
Federal immigration authorities have revived efforts to remove a Columbia University student from the country after he took part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus, according to legal documents filed by his attorneys.
The U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals reversed an earlier decision that had halted deportation proceedings against Mohsen Mahdawi, a student who was taken into custody last year following his involvement in campus protests supporting Palestinian causes.
In February, immigration judge Nina Froes from Chelmsford, Massachusetts had dismissed the Trump administration’s attempts to remove Mahdawi from the United States. However, Froes lost her position last month.
The immigration appeals board, operating under the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review, has now overruled Froes’ earlier determination. President Trump has characterized activists such as Mahdawi as promoting antisemitic views, backing extremist causes, and posing risks to American foreign policy interests.
Civil rights advocates and some Jewish organizations argue that federal officials are incorrectly equating legitimate criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and its control over Palestinian areas with antisemitic sentiment, while also treating Palestinian rights advocacy as extremist support.
“The government continues to weaponize the immigration system to silence dissent,” Mahdawi stated in a release distributed by his attorneys on Wednesday.
Mahdawi, who grew up in a refugee settlement in the West Bank under Israeli control, was detained in April 2025 when he appeared for an interview regarding his application for American citizenship. He spent two weeks in custody before a judge ordered his release, and authorities never filed criminal charges against him.
The American Civil Liberties Union, serving as Mahdawi’s legal representation, maintains that immigration officials cannot currently remove him from the country because his detention is being contested through federal court proceedings.
The Trump administration has intensified its response to pro-Palestinian activism by pursuing deportation of foreign demonstrators, threatening funding cuts to universities hosting protests, and examining immigrants’ social media activity. Civil liberties experts have raised concerns about the impact on constitutional rights, legal procedures, and academic independence.
American universities have experienced ongoing campus organizing against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza beginning in late 2023, with demonstration activity reaching its height during 2024. Though the movement’s intensity has decreased, sporadic incidents continue to occur.
During the past weekend, University of Michigan faculty member Derek Peterson expressed support for pro-Palestinian demonstrators during spring graduation ceremonies, leading the institution to issue a public apology.
On Wednesday, Rutgers University announced it had rescinded an invitation to pro-Palestinian business executive Rami Elghandour, known for his criticism of Israeli policies, to deliver a commencement address scheduled for next week.
The Los Angeles Angels secured an 8-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday in Anaheim, clinching the rubber match of their three-game series behind a powerful offensive display and strong pitching from Walbert Urena.
Travis d’Arnaud launched a three-run homer to cap a decisive five-run rally in the second inning, while Urena earned his first major league victory by surrendering just one run on two hits across six innings of work.
The victory represents a significant milestone for Los Angeles, as it marks their first consecutive wins since April 16-17. Additionally, this was only their third series victory of the season and first home series win since taking three games from Seattle on April 3-5.
Several Angels players contributed to the offensive outburst. Zach Neto recorded a triple while crossing home plate twice and driving in two runs. Bryce Teodosio collected two hits including a double, stole two bases, and scored twice. Jorge Soler reached base safely four times via a single, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch while adding one RBI. Urena (1-3) recorded five strikeouts and issued three walks.
For Chicago, Colson Montgomery doubled and came around to score, while Chase Meidroth tallied two hits plus a walk and scored once. Starting pitcher Noah Schultz (2-2) took the loss in his fifth big league start, giving up seven runs on seven hits in 3⅔ innings while walking four and striking out three.
The White Sox struck first in the second inning when Montgomery opened the frame with a double that bounced off the left-center field wall before coming home on Meidroth’s bloop single.
Los Angeles responded immediately in the bottom of the second with their big inning. After Soler and Oswald Peraza both reached on singles, d’Arnaud connected on his first home run of the year, sending the ball 396 feet to left field. Teodosio then dropped a double into right field and advanced home when Neto ripped a triple to the right field corner. Neto subsequently scored when Meidroth lost Mike Trout’s popup in the bright sun.
The Angels pushed their advantage to 7-1 in the fourth inning as Soler and Jo Adell were both plunked by reliever Osvaldo Bido with the bases full.
Chicago managed to cut the deficit to 7-2 in the seventh when Sam Antonacci was hit by a Drew Pomeranz pitch with runners occupying all three bases.
Los Angeles tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning on Neto’s sacrifice fly, which brought home Nolan Schanuel after his single.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye offered strong support for head coach Mike Vrabel on Wednesday, describing him as “a great human being” and dismissing concerns that the coach’s recent personal controversies will impact the team’s upcoming season.
Speaking to reporters after participating in the Truist Championship Pro-Am golf tournament in Charlotte, where he played alongside PGA Tour professional Gary Woodland at Quail Hollow, Maye expressed confidence in his coach’s leadership.
“No, I don’t,” Maye responded when asked if Vrabel’s off-field situation would create team distractions. “I mean, he’s our head coach. I think he’s done a great job of talking to us and talking us through it. I’m just looking forward to getting back to work and getting ready.”
The Patriots coach became embroiled in controversy following the publication of photographs by the New York Post showing him with veteran NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort. On April 24, Vrabel publicly acknowledged responsibility for his behavior without discussing the specific details of the published images.
The controversy led Vrabel to miss the draft’s third day while attending counseling sessions. During his public statement, he admitted to having difficult discussions with those closest to him, including family members, players, and Patriots organization personnel.
“My previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to. They don’t,” Vrabel stated at the time.
When questioned about whether the team needs to move past these issues before the season begins, Maye remained optimistic about the situation resolving naturally.
“I think that’ll take care of itself,” Maye said. “I know he’s got the right mindset and I know he’s a great human being. I think he’s … like I said, I love playing for him.”
The quarterback, who was selected third overall in the 2024 draft and hails from nearby Huntersville, North Carolina, guided the Patriots to Super Bowl 60 during his sophomore campaign. His outstanding performance earned him second place in the 2025 AP NFL MVP voting, finishing behind Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Maye also commented on the recent legal resolution involving former Patriots teammate Stefon Diggs, who was cleared of assault charges related to an incident with his live-in personal chef.
The charges originated from a December 2 altercation at Diggs’ Massachusetts residence, where Jamila Adams claimed the receiver struck and choked her during a dispute. Diggs had entered not guilty pleas to both felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery charges.
After less than two hours of deliberation, a jury found Diggs not guilty on all counts. While the acquittal removes legal obstacles to his return to football, the four-time Pro Bowl receiver could still face potential NFL disciplinary action.
“Well, you know, he’s always been a great teammate to me and I know he’ll do great things,” Maye commented about Diggs. “I was fortunate enough to have a year with him, and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens to him. He’s a great player.”
Regarding the shoulder problem that troubled him during the latter part of last season, Maye reported being in excellent health and confirmed he avoided surgical intervention.
“Nothing, nothing, no problems at all,” the quarterback said, indicating his shoulder has fully recovered.
The Patriots are scheduled to begin their three-day rookie minicamp on Friday at their Foxborough, Massachusetts facility.
European fishing operations have established themselves as dominant forces in tuna harvesting, operating enormous vessels called purse seiners capable of storing up to 4 million pounds of fish per trip. These massive ships patrol Indian Ocean waters, targeting skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye tuna that eventually reach supermarket shelves in canned form.
When Jess Rattle noticed purse seine vessels operating in the Indian Ocean under flags from Mauritius, Tanzania and Oman, she suspected European corporations might be behind the operations.
“We wanted to understand who really owned these vessels,” Rattle explained. As head of investigations for the London-based environmental charity Blue Marine Foundation, she questioned whether these ships “were owned by the coastal states whose quota they were now using, or in fact, were they owned by the EU?”
Research published Thursday by Blue Marine Foundation and global investigations firm Kroll, shared early with The Associated Press, exposes how extensively European fleets access Indian Ocean tuna resources. The investigation discovered European companies capture one-third of tropical tuna harvests during a period when yellowfin and bigeye species remain under stress while recovering from severe overfishing.
European companies achieve this by registering vessels under flags from Seychelles, Mauritius, Kenya, Tanzania and Oman to secure larger catch allowances, according to Rattle’s research team. This strategy has enabled European-controlled fleets to grow beyond 50 purse seine and support vessels while boosting tropical tuna harvests, contradicting European Union promises to reduce fishing activities.
These revelations surface before the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission’s annual conference in the Maldives, gathering the EU and 28 nations involved in tuna fishing operations.
Although reflagging vessels to foreign nations is standard industry practice and legal, it complicates efforts by observers and regulators to assess European companies’ fishery impact. Parent company ownership often remains hidden through multiple shell companies and foreign registrations, which Rattle and Kroll investigators traced over several months.
While European companies have historically operated under Seychelles flags, Rattle noted their registration under Oman and Kenya flags represents a recent development. Europeche Tuna Group, representing European tuna interests, stated in a release that industry relationships with coastal nations demonstrate long-term regional investment and solid local partnerships.
Spokesperson Anne-France Mattlet explained that European industry supports regional economies through tax payments and fishing license fees, local infrastructure investments, and unloading tuna and other catches at regional ports and processing facilities.
Mattlet confirmed the report’s conclusion that Europeche operates more than 50 purse seine and supply vessels across the Indian Ocean, including those flying non-EU flags.
Maciej Berestecki, European Commission spokesperson, stated that vessel reflagging represents private business decisions uninfluenced by government authorities, and the EU doesn’t advocate for vessels registered under other nations’ flags.
“The EU has done, and keeps doing, its utmost to promote and respect catch limits,” Berestecki stated.
Despite Europe’s geographic distance from the Indian Ocean, European fishing fleets have maintained dominant positions there for decades. Spanish and French tuna operations first brought purse seine technology to the Indian Ocean during the 1980s, enabling rapid increases in annual harvests. These vessels earn their name from enormous nets that surround tuna schools and close like drawstring bags.
However, the EU has occasionally clashed with coastal countries seeking influence over fishing activities in waters near their territories.
Five years ago, as yellowfin tuna populations declined dramatically, the Maldives criticized the EU for failing to present serious proposals for quota reductions during a heated tuna commission meeting. In 2023, the EU opposed Indonesia’s proposal for purse seine fishing gear restrictions, which gained approval from 15 other nations.
Recently, the tuna commission has implemented new management strategies to restore vulnerable yellowfin and bigeye populations, which are beginning to show recovery signs. For example, the EU agreed to cut yellowfin tuna catches for EU-flagged vessels by 21 percent.
These new restrictions may be driving European fishing companies to seek other nations’ quotas to maintain harvest levels, according to Glen Holmes, senior officer with Pew Charitable Trusts.
Holmes and colleagues from Pew, Global Fishing Watch, and other environmental organizations are pushing for increased ownership transparency among Indian Ocean fishing fleets.
Vessel owners have historically registered ships under foreign flags, frustrating transparency advocates who argue this practice limits oversight capabilities. Sanctioned oil tankers in the ‘ghost fleet,’ for instance, regularly change names and flags to hide ownership.
Certain flags have gained reputations as ‘flags of convenience,’ providing companies with low costs and relaxed approaches to fishing or trade regulations. Some countries may lack sufficient resources to enforce maritime laws.
A January report from environmental group Oceana revealed European companies regularly register fishing vessels under foreign nation flags, including some countries the EU has accused of “turning a blind eye to illegal fishing activities.”
Oceana is urging EU countries to start gathering and publishing ownership information for their fishing fleets.
This change would help the EU better implement its own regulations, which prohibit any European individual from financially benefiting from illegal fishing practices, explained Vanya Vulperhorst, Oceana’s illegal fishing campaign director for Europe. It would also reveal “the real EU fleet,” she added.
“What we found last year is that the real European fleet, if you add the non-EU flagged vessels, doubles,” Vulperhorst stated.
NEW YORK — Broadway’s popular musical ‘The Book of Mormon’ has suspended all shows until May 17 following fire damage at its Manhattan theater.
All performances have been called off through Sunday, May 17. Those who purchased tickets for affected shows will receive contact from their ticket vendor regarding refunds or rescheduling options.
In a joint statement released Wednesday, ATG Entertainment and ‘The Book of Mormon’ production said they are collaborating with construction specialists to complete necessary building restoration work. The organizations expressed gratitude to firefighters and first responders for their courage and rapid response.
The fire started May 4 in an electrical control room and caused significant harm to the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, New York Fire Department Assistant Chief David Simms reported. Investigators have not yet determined what sparked the blaze. According to the statement, fire crews were alerted immediately, arrived within minutes, and successfully put out the flames.
Simms explained that most damage occurred on the theater’s fourth level and in a back area housing lighting systems and hanging light fixtures. Water damage also occurred during firefighting efforts.
Since its 2011 debut at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, ‘The Book of Mormon’ has become one of Broadway’s most enduring productions, staging over 5,000 performances.
The historic theater, which first opened in 1925, has been home to notable productions including ‘Sweeney Todd,’ a revival of Tennessee Williams’ ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,’ and the rock musical ‘Spring Awakening.’
Civil rights advocates and Democratic protesters gathered in multiple Southern states to oppose Republican-controlled redistricting initiatives being advanced before upcoming midterm elections. The demonstrations targeted GOP lawmakers who are pushing forward with controversial mapping plans despite strong resistance from opposition groups.
Legislative sessions in Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina featured heated discussions over proposed district boundaries that activists warn could dilute the voting power of majority-Black congressional areas. These redistricting proposals come in the wake of a recent Supreme Court decision regarding congressional map drawing.
The protests highlight ongoing tensions over how electoral districts are configured, with civil rights organizations arguing that the proposed changes could undermine minority representation in Congress.
NEW YORK — A handwritten note that Jeffrey Epstein’s former cellmate says he discovered after the wealthy financier’s initial suicide attempt has been publicly released following nearly five years in a sealed court vault.
Federal Judge Kenneth Karas in White Plains, New York, authorized the document’s release this Wednesday after The New York Times filed a petition last week seeking to unseal it along with other materials from a legal case involving the cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione.
The existence of this note remained largely unknown until Tartaglione, a former law enforcement officer now serving life imprisonment for the murders of four individuals, discussed it during a podcast appearance last year. According to Tartaglione, he found the note inside a book within his cell following the July 23, 2019 incident when Epstein was discovered with bedsheet material wrapped around his neck.
The brief, somewhat illegible note reads: “They investigated me for month — found nothing!!!” It continues, “It is a treat to be able to choose” the “time to say goodbye,” and asks “Watcha want me to do — Bust out cryin!!”
The message concludes with “NO FUN” — those words are underlined — followed by “NOT WORTH IT!!”
Epstein died in his cell at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Center on August 10, 2019, while facing sex trafficking charges and awaiting trial.
Officials determined his death was suicide, and investigations revealed multiple failures by correctional staff — including internet browsing and sleeping during times when they were supposed to be monitoring Epstein — that enabled him to end his life.
The authorship of the note that Tartaglione claims to have found remains unknown. Government reports that extensively examined the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death made no reference to this document.
ATLANTA — A federal judge has denied Fulton County’s request to recover 2020 election ballots and materials that federal agents confiscated from an Atlanta-area storage facility, ruling Wednesday that the Justice Department may continue holding the seized items.
U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee issued the decision after county attorneys contended that the ballots and related election documents, along with any digital copies created by federal officials, should be given back due to an illegal and unconstitutional seizure.
Federal agents conducted the January 28 confiscation at the election operations center in Georgia’s largest county, a Democratic stronghold that encompasses most of Atlanta. Fulton County has faced repeated unsubstantiated allegations from President Donald Trump and supporters claiming massive voter fraud altered the 2020 election outcome.
According to the Justice Department, investigators are examining “irregularities that occurred during the 2020 presidential election in the County” and have identified potential violations of two federal statutes. One law mandates preserving election records for 22 months, while another criminalizes obtaining, casting or counting false or fraudulent ballots.
The 2020 presidential results in Georgia underwent three separate counts, including a complete hand recount, with each tally confirming Democrat Joe Biden’s victory.
Neither Fulton County representatives nor Justice Department officials immediately provided comments about Wednesday’s decision. The county maintains the option to challenge the ruling in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
“The seizure in this case was certainly not perfect,” Boulee stated in his 68-page decision. However, he determined that Fulton County failed to demonstrate that officials “callously disregarded” its constitutional protections “either through the lack of probable cause, omissions in the Affidavit or by the manner of the execution of the seizure.”
The county also could not prove it requires the materials or would suffer permanent damage without their return, the judge noted, especially since federal officials provided copies of the documents to the county.
Following the January confiscation, the Justice Department secured a grand jury subpoena in April requesting names and contact details for Fulton County workers and volunteers who participated in the 2020 election. County officials filed a motion Monday seeking to invalidate that subpoena, claiming it exceeds reasonable scope and aims to intimidate political adversaries.
The Trump administration has pursued similar efforts to access election records from other battleground states. Federal agents used a subpoena in March to obtain documents from a 2020 presidential election review in Arizona’s Maricopa County. In April, the Justice Department ordered Michigan’s Wayne County to surrender its 2024 election ballots.
Federal officials are simultaneously battling multiple states in court for voter information containing private personal details. Election administrators, including Republican officials, have stated that releasing such information would breach state and federal privacy protections.
Democratic leaders have expressed alarm that the Trump administration is misusing federal law enforcement to pursue the president’s personal vendettas and may be plotting interference in upcoming midterm elections. Administration officials maintain they are investigating past irregularities and working to safeguard future elections.
At a March 27 hearing regarding Fulton County’s demand for return of its ballots and materials, county lawyers contended the seizure was improper and unjustified, showing “callous disregard” for Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches. They suggested the Trump administration chose to use a criminal search warrant after becoming impatient with civil litigation the Justice Department initiated last year to obtain the same materials.
Federal prosecutors defended their warrant application process and document seizure as appropriate. They emphasized that simultaneous civil and criminal investigations on the same matter occur regularly.
Judge Boulee acknowledged the warrant affidavit contained “defective” elements and included some “troubling” statements. However, he observed that the FBI agent who prepared it also presented “facts that both hurt and helped him.” He determined the document’s flaws do not constitute callous disregard.
The judge further agreed that the government may pursue both civil and criminal cases on identical issues and concluded the investigation timeline contradicts the county’s claim that the Justice Department “created an ‘ongoing investigation’ to sidestep procedural hurdles” in civil proceedings.
Federal agents conducted a massive drug enforcement operation Wednesday, taking 18 suspects into custody on charges connected to distributing dangerous narcotics like fentanyl and methamphetamine near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles.
MacArthur Park sits in a heavily populated immigrant community located west of downtown Los Angeles, an area that previously saw federal immigration enforcement and National Guard presence during the summer months.
During this week’s enforcement actions, investigators confiscated 40 pounds of fentanyl from one residence, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Law enforcement officials believe a married couple from South Los Angeles served as primary suppliers for the narcotics being sold throughout the park area, hiding drugs in commercial buildings and supplying them to dealers on the street.
“We’re here today because California policy has failed,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated at a press conference announcing the arrests. “MacArthur Park should be for families, should be for residents of Los Angeles, not for drug dealers and gangsters.”
Essayli made the announcement with representatives from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Los Angeles Police Department at the park location. The area has become home to multiple homeless camps and has witnessed widespread public drug use in recent years.
Television news helicopters captured footage of agents working outside a row of businesses facing the park, with one agent apparently using a chainsaw to breach a business wall. Essayli shared video on X showing LAPD officers participating in the operation and footage of a residential neighborhood raid.
Essayli, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, attributed the area’s problems to unsuccessful California policies, including lenient penalties for drug users and programs providing clean syringes and Narcan, an emergency overdose reversal medication for fentanyl.
The Wednesday operation deployed more than 200 personnel from the DEA, according to Anthony Chrysanthis, the department’s special agent in charge for Los Angeles.
Essayli explained the operation started Tuesday evening, with three search warrants carried out Wednesday morning at homes in other Southern California locations. Law enforcement served six additional warrants at businesses found to be distributing drugs in the MacArthur Park area.
Investigators have identified the Sinaloa Cartel as the source supplying fentanyl and methamphetamine to the region, Chrysanthis reported.
The arrested individuals are scheduled for court appearances Thursday.
Seven additional suspects remain at large, according to Essayli’s office.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Over the last day, the Trump administration has delivered wildly inconsistent messages about the Iran conflict, oscillating between claims that a fragile ceasefire remained intact and military actions had ended, to fresh threats of bombing the Islamic Republic.
Tuesday began with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth describing how American forces were safeguarding trapped vessels so they could navigate through the Strait of Hormuz. He maintained this was a defensive mission and the truce remained valid despite Iran firing missiles and drones at American forces, which destroyed Tehran’s small naval vessels.
That same afternoon, Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed White House reporters that the military mission had “concluded” and America had accomplished its goals. However, in nearly the same statement, he indicated President Donald Trump was still pursuing a “path of peace” that demanded Iran accept a deal to reopen the crucial oil transport channel.
By Tuesday night, Trump declared the ship protection effort was suspended to allow time for potential negotiations. Then Wednesday morning brought another warning that bombing would continue if Tehran rejected American conditions.
The administration’s fluctuating and frequently conflicting communications during the Iran conflict has created additional confusion this week as the president and his team offered a bewildering account of American strategy to clear the Strait of Hormuz and conclude the war that changed dramatically within just hours.
Government officials have attempted to balance maintaining the ceasefire while reopening the strait, through which 20% of global oil typically passes. Economic consequences are mounting as fuel costs climb, with Republicans under growing pressure to address higher expenses before midterm congressional elections.
The Trump administration has faced messaging challenges because the conflict lacked proper planning, according to Elizabeth Dent, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
“Because it happened very quickly, it wasn’t sold to the American public in a way that I think was palatable,” said Dent, a former official in the State Department and Pentagon. “Now I think Trump is sort of doing everything he can to prevent a return of hostilities because he saw how unpopular the war was.”
During the entire conflict, the president has changed his priorities and views on success. He has offered an unclear definition of a ceasefire. And he has provided his own understanding of legislation requiring congressional approval for military actions after 60 days.
The confusion stems partly from Trump’s habit of making spontaneous statements that effectively create policy, Dent explained. Staff members like Rubio and Hegseth must then clarify Trump’s remarks.
The chaotic 24 hours of Trump administration decision-making also shows recognition that any alternative to an agreement “is going to range from unpalatable to outright ugly” during a politically crucial time for the Republican president, said Ali Vaez, Iran director at the International Crisis Group.
“This is not an administration that operates based on a policy process. It operates based on impulse. And the president seems now both tired of this war and reluctant to continue investing his political capital into it,” Vaez said.
Recent days have exemplified how the Trump administration’s communications can appear disconnected and difficult to understand.
The president announced Sunday that American forces would safely escort hundreds of stranded commercial ships from the strait, which Iran has essentially blocked by attacking vessels near its coastline.
On Tuesday, Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Dan Caine reported two American-flagged cargo ships passed through the waterway to begin the effort, but Iran attacked U.S. vessels and the military destroyed six Iranian small attack boats.
When questioned about exchanges of fire from both sides, Hegseth responded, “No, the ceasefire is not over.” Caine also stated Iranian attacks did not constitute “restarting major combat operations.”
Rubio later emphasized Trump’s preference for diplomacy.
“Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation,” he stated, using the code name for the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. “What the president would prefer is a deal.”
An agreement appeared more likely when Trump posted Tuesday evening on social media that he was stopping the strait operation to observe negotiation progress. But Wednesday morning brought another Iranian threat from Trump.
“If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before,” he posted on Truth Social.
The U.S. military reported Wednesday that it fired upon and disabled an Iranian oil tanker attempting to break through Iran’s shipping blockade.
Another puzzling aspect involves the administration’s attempts to convince allies to send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has criticized countries unwilling to contribute more, telling them to “go get your own oil” and stating America shouldn’t secure the strait alone. But administration officials have begun actively seeking assistance while moderating their rhetoric.
Rubio said the problem isn’t lack of interest, but that many cannot provide necessary resources.
“A lot of countries would love to do something about it. But they don’t have a navy, right? Or they can’t get there in time,” he explained.
Following Trump’s sudden initiative suspension, two U.S. officials said the administration was still determining whether and how to continue planning, after the State Department’s formal support request to countries last week.
The officials, speaking Wednesday anonymously to discuss internal discussions, said Trump’s announcement was unexpected and they received no detailed guidance about withdrawing support requests.
American allies including Britain and France have rejected Trump’s intermittent suggestions for military involvement, but they have formed a separate international maritime coalition to secure the strait — only after shipping threats end. France’s aircraft carrier group is moving south of the Suez Canal into the Red Sea preparing for a potential French-British strait mission.
The situation has been further complicated by Trump’s scheduled Beijing trip next week.
“Going to China while the strait remains closed is humiliating for President Trump and puts China in a position of strength vis-a-vis the United States, because President Trump would have to, as he has done recently, ask for China’s help to resolve a problem that didn’t exist before he launched a war,” Vaez said.
Officials organizing the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics have unveiled plans for an extensive Cultural Olympiad that will spotlight the city’s diverse neighborhoods, creative talent, and immigrant populations through programming that encompasses cinema, cuisine, fashion, music, live performances, and visual arts.
This multi-year cultural initiative represents a mandatory component for Olympic host cities, designed to blend athletic competition with local cultural expression.
According to Nora Halpern, who serves as executive director of LA28’s Cultural Olympiad, the initiative will be developed “from the community level up.” She noted that organizers have engaged with over 300 area arts organizations during the past two years of planning.
“The 2028 Cultural Olympiad will be a celebration of culture by and for Los Angeles, which we will share with the world,” Halpern announced to media representatives on Wednesday.
LA28 emphasized that the programming will prioritize accessibility for both residents and tourists, including individuals who don’t possess event tickets. Officials intend to minimize or waive entrance costs for select cultural activities while promoting existing complimentary events throughout the metropolitan area.
A comprehensive digital calendar and navigation system, set to debut in January 2028, will direct locals and visitors to cultural happenings across greater Los Angeles before, during, and following the Games. LA28 indicated this platform will continue serving as a lasting community resource.
Starting in 2027, organizations may request an official Cultural Olympiad designation without charge, enabling their programming to be featured in LA28’s promotional efforts, according to officials.
LA28 additionally intends to contract 16 official Cultural Olympiad posters from regional artists — with eight dedicated to the Olympic Games and eight for the Paralympic Games. These artistic works are anticipated to be revealed in July 2027.
Expected activities include open-air movie presentations, live entertainment, community performance areas, art displays, and gatherings in parks and additional public locations. Officials indicated the initiative will utilize Los Angeles landmarks and neighborhood establishments while celebrating local cuisine, artists, and cultural organizations.
BRUSSELS – European Union officials say negotiations with the United States on a crucial trade agreement are moving forward, though substantial challenges remain before reaching a final deal, according to statements made Thursday.
Bernd Lange, the European Parliament’s lead negotiator, acknowledged that while productive discussions are taking place, significant obstacles must still be overcome. The talks focus on eliminating tariffs on American imports to Europe.
“We have just concluded a constructive second trilogue during which we made good progress on the issue of the safeguard mechanism and the review and evaluation of the main regulation, but there is still some way to go,” Lange stated.
The negotiations have taken on new urgency following President Donald Trump’s announcement Friday that he plans to increase tariffs on European automobiles and trucks to 25% this week, up from the current 15% rate. Trump claims the EU has failed to meet obligations from an agreement reached in Scotland last July.
European officials are scrambling to finalize legislation that would eliminate import duties on American industrial products and provide enhanced access for U.S. agricultural and seafood exports, as outlined in the original trade framework.
Despite nine months passing since the initial agreement, the European Parliament and the Council representing EU member governments have yet to approve unified language needed to implement the tariff reductions.
Lange previously criticized Trump’s approach, saying the president’s “behavior is unacceptable” following the surprise tariff increase announcement.
The next negotiating session is scheduled for May 19.
European lawmakers are pushing for stronger protective measures in any final agreement, including provisions to suspend the deal if America fails to meet its commitments, making European tariff cuts dependent on U.S. actions, and terminating all EU trade concessions by March 31, 2028.
However, EU government representatives show little interest in incorporating such stringent conditions, according to diplomatic sources. One official indicated the two sides remain significantly divided, suggesting additional talks will likely extend into next month.
Manfred Weber, who leads the center-right European People’s Party – the largest faction in the European Parliament – expressed hope for a final vote in the EU assembly this May. That timeline appears optimistic given multiple political groups believe Trump’s latest threats make robust safeguards essential.
The automotive tariff dispute overshadowed Wednesday’s meeting of G7 trade ministers in Paris.
German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche, representing a country that would face severe impact from increased car tariffs, said she was engaged in intensive discussions with American officials and remained optimistic they would “solve this challenge.”
EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic announced plans to travel to Brussels to participate in the ongoing negotiations.
The chair of the European Union’s parliamentary trade committee announced Wednesday that while lawmakers are moving forward on legislation supporting a trade deal with the United States, significant negotiations remain ahead.
Bernd Lange reported that a second round of discussions with EU governments has helped reduce disagreements on several aspects of the proposed regulations, particularly regarding protective measures and procedures for reviewing and assessing the agreement.
According to a statement from the European Parliament, negotiating teams are scheduled to reconvene on May 19 in Strasbourg for their next session.
“We remain more committed than ever to advance and defend Parliament’s mandate so as to provide additional guarantees that will benefit citizens and companies in both the EU and the U.S.,” Lange stated.
New Zealand’s Defense Minister Chris Penk announced Thursday that his country has initiated talks with Australia and Britain regarding the modernization of its outdated naval frigates, with government recommendations expected by the close of 2027.
Officials are evaluating two potential vessels as replacements for HMNZS Te Kaha and HMNZS Te Mana, which entered service in 1997 and 1999. The options include Japan’s Mogami-class frigate, already selected by Australia, and Britain’s Type 31 frigate. According to Penk’s statement, collaborating with allied nations would enhance operational compatibility and create cost savings.
This initiative falls under New Zealand’s 2025 Defence Capability Plan, through which officials have pledged to substantially increase military funding and modernize outdated equipment following what they characterized as decades of insufficient investment.
The strategy encompasses naval fleet modernization as Wellington aims to enhance its capacity to safeguard shipping routes, bolster Pacific region security, and improve disaster response capabilities.
According to Penk, the majority of the navy’s vessels will reach their operational limits by the mid-2030s, including both Anzac frigates that currently serve as New Zealand’s primary naval combat assets.
The frigate replacement program is scheduled as a potential investment between 2029 and 2039.
A quantum computing technology company announced Wednesday it expects higher revenues this year as more customers seek access to its advanced computing platform.
IonQ’s stock price dropped approximately 6% during after-hours trading despite the improved financial outlook.
“IONQ had high expectations going into the print today, especially given the run the stock has had in the past month. Think we are also seeing some skepticism play out, which has lingered over the past few quarters as to the viability of the technology and the path that IONQ has taken with trapped ion qubits,” said D.A. Davidson analyst Alex Platt.
The company’s stock value has climbed roughly 17% since the beginning of this year.
The firm specializes in creating quantum computing systems using trapped-ion technology, along with related networking and security solutions. Customers can access their equipment through cloud-based services designed to tackle computational challenges that traditional computers cannot handle.
The trapped-ion approach involves using electrically charged atomic particles that are controlled through laser beams and electromagnetic fields in a vacuum environment.
“Profitability is not a key focus this year. We are focused on growing revenue and growing R&D investments to support that revenue growth,” CEO Niccolo de Masi told Reuters.
The quantum computing field still faces significant obstacles, particularly with qubits – the basic units similar to traditional computer bits. While qubits operate at extraordinary speeds, they remain challenging to manage and susceptible to computational errors.
IonQ has revised its yearly revenue projection upward to a range of $260 million to $270 million, surpassing previous estimates of $225 million to $245 million.
First-quarter earnings showed revenue of $64.7 million, exceeding Wall Street analysts’ predictions of $49.7 million based on LSEG data.
Chinese manufacturers say they’ve grown indifferent to former President Donald Trump’s trade threats as he prepares for a visit to Beijing this month, with many companies maintaining their American business relationships despite ongoing tensions.
Yu Yangxian, who sells electric lockers and vending machines largely to U.S. customers, dismisses Trump’s upcoming trip as irrelevant to her operations. “As long as the United States continues to trade, it will have to do business with us,” Yu explained, noting her company handles increased costs by shifting some expenses to American buyers. “China’s supply chains and the product quality are strong.”
Yu’s company weathered the challenging period of 2025, when trade penalties temporarily reached triple-digit levels, while keeping most of its American customers and securing new international clients. She credits China’s decades-long focus on building comprehensive domestic manufacturing networks for this resilience.
“Whether he comes to negotiate or to declare a fight, it does not pose a major threat to us,” Yu said regarding Trump’s visit.
GLOBAL MARKET EXPANSION
Yu’s business strategy mirrors China’s national approach: diversifying into Europe, South America, Southeast Asia and Africa to offset Trump’s trade policies and rising raw material costs from the Iran conflict.
China concluded 2025 with an unprecedented trade surplus of $1.2 trillion – equivalent to the Netherlands’ entire economy – by penetrating new markets with competitive pricing.
While Chinese shipments to America dropped 20%, exports surged 25.8% to Africa, 7.4% to Latin America, 13.4% to Southeast Asia and 8.4% to the European Union.
Beijing successfully pressured Washington to reduce tariffs by restricting exports of rare earth elements, which China produces almost exclusively and are essential for semiconductors and defense applications.
“The rare earth thing really is just the ultimate trump card,” explained Cameron Johnson, a senior partner at supply chain consultancy Tidalwave Solutions.
Johnson noted Beijing could also limit supplies of pharmaceuticals, industrial equipment, or electrical transformers needed for America’s power grid expansion. While the Iran war gives Trump short-term leverage through U.S. energy exports, China’s manufacturing diversity provides long-term advantages if tensions escalate.
“That’s why they’re playing nice,” Johnson said of Washington’s approach.
REDUCED PRESSURE TO RELOCATE
With tariffs becoming less central to U.S.-China relations, Chinese manufacturers feel less urgency to move production elsewhere.
Jonathan Chitayat, who heads Asian operations for contract manufacturer Genimex Group, developed supplier networks in Vietnam, Thailand, India and Indonesia during Trump’s first presidency. However, 75% of his 500 suppliers remain in China, with many canceling relocation plans after the U.S. reduced levies on Chinese goods while raising them elsewhere.
“We’ve all learned not to take drastic action,” Chitayat observed. “Everyone who waited feels pretty good about waiting now.”
Mike Sagan, sourcing vice-president at Pride Mobility Products, which manufactures wheelchairs and mobility scooters, said his company’s 100-supplier network remains 70% to 80% dependent on China.
“De-risking and diversification aren’t going to go away, but it doesn’t have to be as rushed,” Sagan noted. “The panic has worn off and people have grown a little tougher skin when it comes to Trump making statements.”
BUSINESSES SEEK STABILITY
Companies have stopped overreacting to Trump’s announcements, becoming “numb” to his threats, according to Ren Yanlin, an executive at a Chinese firm handling international factory projects.
“The mindset is that it doesn’t matter anymore,” Ren said.
Eric Zheng, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, said the organization’s nearly 3,000 members have modest expectations for Trump’s visit but welcome potential dialogue.
Members would appreciate an extended pause on tariffs and export restrictions, possibly combined with Chinese commitments to purchase Boeing aircraft, soybeans, or American energy, Zheng explained.
However, few expect permanent solutions. “A truce is great, better than a trade war, but a truce is temporary,” Zheng said. “We need some certainty. Companies need to plan for the long term, not the next 90 days, not even six months. It has to be several years.”
A federal judge in Atlanta has decided that the Justice Department may retain possession of 2020 election ballots that FBI agents collected during a search earlier this year, delivering a legal win for the Trump administration’s ongoing investigation into alleged voting irregularities.
U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee denied Fulton County’s motion to have the original documents returned. County attorneys had contended that the FBI’s operation at their election facility was based on unreliable and debunked information, and that it breached constitutional protections.
Fulton County representatives have not yet provided a statement regarding the decision.
This court decision represents an uncommon legal success for Trump’s Justice Department in investigations the president has called for. The ruling permits federal agents to maintain control of over 600 containers of 2020 ballots while they conduct a criminal probe examining whether election materials were improperly stored or if Fulton County voters were denied a legitimate election process. Fulton County encompasses the majority of Atlanta.
However, the investigation continues to encounter substantial challenges. Justice Department attorneys have not named any specific suspects in the case and have not challenged assertions that the time limit for prosecution may have already passed for both offenses under investigation.
Election administrators and specialists nationwide have been monitoring this case closely as Trump continues to suggest possible federal intervention in local elections and raises questions about voting procedures before the upcoming November elections.
Trump has persistently made unfounded allegations that his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden resulted from extensive fraud, and has directed federal law enforcement and intelligence services to reexamine vote collection and counting procedures.
Justice Department representatives maintained that Fulton County failed to satisfy the strict legal requirements needed to recover materials taken during a court-authorized search.
The search operation, which received approval from a federal magistrate judge, involved FBI agents taking original 2020 ballots and additional documents from the county’s election facility located in Union City, Georgia. Officials pointed to supposed problems with the 2020 vote, including allegations that certain digital ballot images were absent and some mail-in ballots appeared not to have been properly folded as mandated.
The probe originated from information provided by Kurt Olsen, an attorney who assisted Trump’s efforts to reverse the 2020 election results and has been assigned by the White House to review the vote. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s director of national intelligence, was present during the search in an uncommon action for an official typically focused on international threats.
Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold in a state that has become highly competitive in presidential races, became a focal point for conspiracy theories and fraud allegations promoted by Trump and his supporters after the 2020 election.
Biden’s substantial victory margin in Fulton County was crucial in turning Georgia to the Democrats. The state returned to Trump’s column in 2024.
County legal representatives argued that the FBI document used to justify the search excluded important background information demonstrating that many allegations had been previously examined and determined to be either baseless or errors that did not stem from deliberate wrongdoing.
At a March court session in Atlanta, an election specialist who consulted with the county during the 2020 election stated that much of the evidence referenced in the affidavit seemed to reflect a lack of understanding about election procedures.
Federal officials have launched a legal challenge against Colorado’s restrictions on high-capacity ammunition magazines, filing suit to eliminate a state law that has been in place for over a decade.
The Justice Department filed the lawsuit Wednesday targeting Colorado’s prohibition on magazines that can hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition. State lawmakers passed this restriction in 2013 following a devastating mass shooting at an Aurora movie theater that left 12 dead and 58 wounded.
Federal attorneys argue that Colorado’s magazine capacity limits violate Second Amendment constitutional protections for gun ownership. The 11-page legal filing from the Justice Department’s civil rights division references the Supreme Court’s 2008 District of Columbia v. Heller decision, which established that Americans have the right to possess commonly-used firearms for legal activities.
According to the federal complaint, magazines exceeding 15 rounds are standard equipment for many widely-owned firearms across the country, including AR-15 style rifles and certain semi-automatic handguns.
“The number of lawfully owned semi-automatic firearms in the United States that utilize a magazine like the ones banned by the state is in the tens of millions,” the lawsuit states. Federal officials contend that prohibiting these magazines effectively restricts ownership of weapons that are “in common use.”
The legal filing emphasizes that such firearms serve “multiple lawful purposes,” including target shooting for recreation, collecting, and personal protection. Justice Department lawyers are seeking a court injunction to stop Colorado from enforcing its magazine capacity restrictions.
Colorado’s top legal official has pledged to fight the federal challenge. Attorney General Phil Weiser released a statement defending his state’s gun safety regulations and criticizing the federal lawsuit.
“Large-capacity magazine laws are responsible policies that satisfy Second Amendment protections, decrease impacts of mass shootings and save lives,” Weiser stated. “The state has a duty to protect Colorado residents from gun violence.”
Weiser also accused federal officials of misusing the Justice Department’s civil rights division, saying the lawsuit “turns the mission of the DOJ’s civil rights division on its head.”
This marks the second gun-related legal action the Trump administration has taken against Colorado this week. On Tuesday, federal attorneys filed a separate challenge to Denver’s municipal ban on certain semi-automatic rifles classified as assault weapons.
Previous attempts to overturn Colorado’s magazine restrictions have failed in federal court. In 2016, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a similar lawsuit brought by county sheriffs, gun retailers, and shooting organizations. The appeals court ruled those plaintiffs could not prove they would suffer personal harm from the laws, meaning they lacked proper legal standing to file suit.
Energy markets saw crude oil futures climb approximately $1 per barrel during Thursday’s early trading session, as investors closely monitored developments in Middle East diplomatic negotiations.
West Texas Intermediate crude futures increased by 80 cents, representing a 0.8% gain to reach $95.88 per barrel by 2223 GMT, after touching a session high of $96.33 earlier in the day.
This upward movement came after the benchmark contract experienced a sharp 7% decline on Wednesday, driven by market optimism surrounding potential resolution to Middle East conflicts following reports that the United States and Iran were approaching preliminary peace negotiations.
According to sources familiar with the mediation process, including one from mediator Pakistan and another briefed on the discussions, negotiators are close to reaching agreement on a single-page memorandum that would officially conclude the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Iran announced it was examining a peace proposal from the United States that, according to sources, would officially terminate the war but would not address key American demands for Iran to halt its nuclear activities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s ISNA news agency quoted an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson stating that Tehran would provide its official response to the proposal. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his belief that Iran was interested in reaching an agreement.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks athletics department has launched a comprehensive nationwide recruitment effort to identify their next head coach for the men’s volleyball program.
The Eastern Shore institution is actively seeking qualified candidates to take the helm of their men’s volleyball team as they move into the future. The search represents a significant step for the Hawks’ athletics program as they look to build upon their volleyball tradition.
Details regarding the timeline for the selection process and specific qualifications being sought have not yet been released by the university. The Hawks will be evaluating candidates from across the country as part of this comprehensive search effort.
Motorists traveling through Newark should expect delays on South Chapel Street tonight due to ongoing construction work.
The Delaware Department of Transportation has temporarily shut down the right lane of South Chapel Street in the northbound direction between Brookhill Drive and Bellevue Road. The lane restriction is scheduled to remain in effect until 6 AM.
Drivers are advised to use caution when traveling through the work zone and allow extra time for their commute. Traffic may be reduced to a single lane during the construction period.
Wall Street celebrated Wednesday as rumors of a potential U.S.-Iran peace agreement sparked a massive rally that pushed global stock markets to record heights while sending oil prices into a steep decline.
The speculation about diplomatic progress between the United States and Iran created a wave of optimism that lifted benchmark indexes worldwide. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence companies continued their remarkable run following strong earnings reports and news of massive spending commitments in the tech sector.
Market analyst Jamie McGeever noted the extraordinary strength of emerging markets despite ongoing global energy disruptions. Emerging market stocks reached all-time highs, with bond spreads hitting their narrowest levels in more than ten years. However, questions remain about sustainability if Middle East peace talks fail to materialize.
The day’s winners included major stock indexes across the globe. The MSCI world index, emerging market benchmark, and Asia ex-Japan measures all posted new records. South Korea’s market joined the S&P 500 and Nasdaq in reaching fresh peaks, while European markets and Britain’s FTSE 100 both climbed 2%.
Technology led the charge among individual stocks. Nine out of eleven S&P 500 sectors posted gains, with technology, communications services, and industrial companies rising 2% or more. Energy stocks bucked the trend, falling 4% as oil prices tumbled. AMD skyrocketed 19%, Super Micro Computer jumped 25%, Dell gained 10%, Uber rose 9%, and Nvidia added 6%. Chevron declined 4%.
The dollar weakened 0.5% against major currencies, while the Japanese yen spiked to 155 per dollar for the first time since the Iran conflict began. South African rand and Chilean peso posted significant gains, with South Korea’s won having its strongest day of the year.
Bond markets reflected the risk-on sentiment, with yields declining across the board. British yields dropped 10 basis points or more, while U.S. yields fell 8 basis points on the short end, flattening the yield curve.
Oil markets experienced dramatic moves, with crude prices plunging 8% and Brent briefly falling below $100 per barrel. Precious metals rallied, with gold up 3% and silver surging 6%. Despite falling oil prices, average U.S. gasoline costs remained above $4.50 per gallon.
The VIX volatility index, often called Wall Street’s “fear gauge,” dropped to its lowest level in over three months. The measure fell below levels seen when the Iran conflict started in late February, marking a significant decline from war-time peaks.
Samsung made headlines by joining the exclusive trillion-dollar market capitalization club, with shares soaring 14% as part of a global AI chip surge. The South Korean giant became the second Asian company after TSMC to achieve the milestone valuation.
The latest semiconductor rally followed reports that Anthropic plans to spend $200 billion on Google’s cloud services and chips. Industry estimates suggest approximately half of the $2 trillion cloud order book at Google, Microsoft, Oracle, and Amazon comes from just two companies: Anthropic and OpenAI.
Airlines faced continued pressure from elevated fuel costs. U.S. carriers spent over $5 billion on jet fuel in March alone, representing a $1.8 billion or 56% increase from the previous month. The surge in fuel expenses raises concerns about potential bankruptcies among low-cost carriers, following Spirit Airlines’ collapse last month.
The collective impact on global airlines reaches into billions of dollars, with thousands of flights already canceled. Beyond higher prices, physical fuel shortages could emerge if key supply routes remain disrupted.
Looking ahead, several factors could influence Thursday’s trading. Middle East developments and energy market movements top the watch list. Economic data includes Australia’s March trade figures, Taiwan’s April inflation, and eurozone March retail sales.
Central bank officials scheduled to speak include European Central Bank Vice President Luis de Guindos and board members Isabel Schnabel and Philip Lane. Norway and Sweden will announce interest rate decisions.
U.S. economic releases feature weekly jobless claims, preliminary first-quarter productivity data, and March consumer credit figures. Federal Reserve officials speaking include New York Fed President John Williams, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, and Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack.
Corporate earnings continue with reports from McDonald’s, Gilead Sciences, CoreWeave, and Airbnb.
RALEIGH, N.C. — The head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes believes NHL referees are the finest in the world, but Rod Brind’Amour thinks they need additional support to handle the mayhem that unfolds during playoff hockey.
Brind’Amour has endorsed expanding video replay beyond its current scope to examine not only penalty infractions but all activities during the increasingly intense post-whistle confrontations. While opinions vary on reviewing penalty decisions, his fundamental argument about ensuring accurate calls during Stanley Cup competition resonates.
“You can’t get better officials. We have the best — I want to make sure everybody understands that — I know no one else could do a better job,” Brind’Amour said with his team up 2-0 in a second-round series against Philadelphia. “But man, it’s just hard to see some of the penalties that are getting called, that if you just took a quick peek, you’d go, ‘Oh wait a minute, that’s not what happened.’”
“We’ll get to it at some point, but I think they could use a little hand.”
This year’s playoff contests are seeing 10.6 penalties and 25.1 penalty minutes per game through Tuesday, based on SportRadar data. This marks the highest penalty average since 2009’s 10.9 per game, and only the second instance since 2012 where penalty minutes have surpassed 25 per contest (2023 saw 28 penalty minutes per game).
Currently, NHL officials can examine major and match penalties that don’t involve fighting, either upholding them or reducing them to two-minute minors. They may also review double-minor high-sticking calls to verify the correct player is being penalized.
“I don’t think there’s a harder job to officiate, and our guys don’t get the credit they deserve,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“I mean, they are moving with the flow of the game. They’ve got to skate like the players, it’s physical, they’ve got to stay out of the way. There’s a lot going on really fast. And it is remarkable how good a job they do and how much they get right. And video replay for us has really vindicated their performance even more.”
The Eastern Conference’s top-seeded Hurricanes coach initially brought up this subject following a first-round sweep of Ottawa. His frustration stemmed from an incident where Senators forward Ridly Greig threw two unprovoked punches at Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker — including an uppercut to the face — while Walker was tied up with Senators forward Warren Foegele.
Despite the obvious infractions in that 4-2 series-ending defeat, Greig escaped penalty, though the NHL subsequently suspended him for two regular-season games. Making matters worse, Brind’Amour noted, was that Carolina ended up playing shorthanded after the sequence. He proposed having a dedicated official monitor replays to assist on-ice referees.
“The only reason (Greig) did that was because he looked, no one’s watching, doesn’t get called for it, and we somehow ended up short on that,” Brind’Amour said. “That’s wrong. That’s not right. Just get it right.”
The challenge lies in determining the best approach if the league eventually adopts broader replay usage.
“That’s a good question because like a lot of times guys get away with stuff in there,” Buffalo Sabres forward Josh Dunne said about more replay reviews of scrums in particular.
“Some guy starts, another guy gets the penalty for it,” he said. “It’s hard, it’s a hard line. It’s why it’s so much on the judgment of the refs where it’s like they can only see what they see, where it’s like you never really know how these things get going.”
His coach, meanwhile, chuckled that he’s “not a huge fan of another video review.”
“I don’t mind Rod’s thinking at all,” said Lindy Ruff, whose Sabres are facing Montreal in Round 2. “I just think, boy, if now we’re going to review something, we start reviewing scrums, I just think players will start taking acting lessons.”
However, some theatrical elements already exist in the sport. Brind’Amour’s foresight proved accurate when he mentioned this before Game 1 against the Flyers.
“It is impossible to referee our sport live, it really is — it’s just everything’s happpening so fast, now you’re getting embellishment everywhere,” Brind’Amour said then. “Sticks aren’t even coming close to you, they’re doing this (leans his head back) because why? Because if this goes like this (raises arm), you’re getting a call. But if you’ve got a guy on the review that said, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, that’s embellishment,’ it would be out of the game.”
Several days later, Hurricanes forward Jordan Martinook received a high-sticking penalty despite video evidence showing Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler grabbing Martinook’s stick and essentially striking himself in the face to draw the call.
Dunne expressed concern about slowing down gameplay with additional replay reviews, while Colorado Avalanche forward Brock Nelson said he generally “liked where the game is at.”
“I don’t want to make too many adjustments or critiques to the game,” Nelson said before the Avalanche opened its series against Minnesota.
“I’m a traditionalist. The more rules you make, the more you have,” said Anaheim Ducks coach Joel Quenneville, whose team is battling the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 2. “There’s always some extenuating consequences off of things like that. We got a lot of rules, so either way, I like to just get it right and move on. Either way it is, we’ll move on.”
DETROIT — Major League Baseball handed down a five-game suspension and fine to Detroit Tigers hurler Framber Valdez on Wednesday, following his ejection the previous night for striking Boston Red Sox infielder Trevor Story with a pitch during Detroit’s crushing 10-2 defeat.
The league initially imposed a six-game ban on Valdez for deliberately targeting Story with a pitch, but negotiations between MLB and the players’ union resulted in the reduced punishment. Valdez began serving his suspension during Wednesday evening’s series conclusion and should return to action next Wednesday when Detroit faces the New York Mets, assuming no weather delays.
The Tigers are already dealing with a depleted starting rotation, missing Tarik Skubal due to elbow troubles, Casey Mize with a hamstring injury, and Justin Verlander because of hip issues.
“Generally when you have an event like last night where there’s a disruption of play and there’s a guy kicked out of the game for what is deemed throwing at somebody, that doesn’t come for free,” Detroit skipper A.J. Hinch explained.
Hinch also received a one-game suspension from MLB for Valdez’s deliberate actions and served his penalty Wednesday night.
The incident unfolded after Valdez had already surrendered eight runs through three innings. Willson Contreras launched a massive 449-foot home run on the opening pitch of the fourth inning, pausing to admire the ball’s flight before tossing his bat aside.
Just two pitches afterward, Wilyer Abreu extended the lead to 10-2 with his own blast into the right-field stands, a scorching 109.1 mph rocket. Valdez’s subsequent offering was a 94.4 mph fastball that drilled Story squarely in the back between his jersey numbers. Notably, Valdez hadn’t thrown a four-seam fastball since August 3rd of the previous season, when he plunked Boston’s Ceddanne Rafaela under the left arm with a 95.5 mph pitch during a 6-1 deficit to the Red Sox while playing for Houston.
When home plate umpire Adam Beck and Tigers backstop Dillon Dingler stepped between Story and the pitcher’s mound Tuesday night, both dugouts cleared along with the bullpens. The confrontation remained verbal with no physical altercations.
Valdez maintained his innocence regarding the beaning, claiming the unusual four-seam fastball simply escaped his control.
During his tenure with Houston last year, Valdez faced similar accusations when he accidentally struck his own catcher César Salazar in the chest shortly after surrendering a grand slam to the New York Yankees. Two pitches following Trent Grisham’s slam in New York’s 7-1 triumph on September 2nd, Valdez crossed up Salazar by delivering a 92.8 mph sinker to Anthony Volpe. Both Valdez and Salazar insisted afterward that hitting the catcher was unintentional.
Previously that season, Valdez had shown visible frustration with defensive positioning during a sixth-inning play that resulted in the lone run he allowed in Houston’s 2-1 setback to the Washington Nationals on July 28th.
KINSHASA, Congo — The Democratic Republic of Congo’s leader declared Wednesday that his nation cannot conduct scheduled elections following his presidency unless devastating warfare plaguing the country’s eastern regions comes to an end and peace is restored.
President Félix Tshisekedi made these statements during a nationally broadcast speech where he addressed multiple issues, including migrant deportation agreements with the Trump administration. Tshisekedi’s current presidential term concludes in December 2028.
Violence that has persisted for decades in Congo intensified dramatically in January 2025 when M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda, launched an offensive capturing the crucial city of Goma. The militant group subsequently seized Bukavu in February as part of their territorial expansion campaign. This recent surge in combat has claimed approximately 3,000 lives and has deepened an already catastrophic humanitarian emergency affecting roughly 7 million displaced individuals.
Attempts at peace negotiations facilitated by the United States and other diplomatic initiatives have failed to achieve lasting results.
“If we cannot end this war, unfortunately we will not be able to organize elections in 2028,” said Tshisekedi.
“But it will not be because I refused to organize them, the resources are there we can do it, but we cannot organize them without North Kivu and South Kivu,” he added, referring to two eastern provinces.
Prior to this year’s military escalation, eastern Congo had endured prolonged instability, with national armed forces battling over 100 different militant organizations — with M23 representing the most significant threat — frequently competing for control over the region’s valuable mineral deposits.
Tshisekedi, currently serving his second presidential term which represents the constitutional maximum, hinted at potentially seeking additional time in office.
“I have not sought a third term, but I tell you: If the people want me to have a third term, I will accept,” he said, adding that a referendum on the constitution would have to take place first to approve an amendment allowing a president to seek more than two terms.
Political opposition figures immediately condemned Tshisekedi’s televised remarks. Congolese politician André Claudel Lubaya accused Tshisekedi of invoking supposed popular support “to justify a fraudulent intention.”
Seth Kikuni, who has run for president twice previously, posted on social media platform X that if Tshisekedi “threatens to seize power” in 2028, opposition forces would have only one remaining choice — “to cross the Rubicon and throw the dice.”
A groundbreaking experimental treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer has shown remarkable results in extending patient survival, though it comes with a significant rate of side effects that doctors say are largely treatable, according to new research published Wednesday.
The medication, called daraxonrasib and developed by Revolution Medicines, represents what medical experts believe could establish a new treatment standard for patients battling metastatic pancreatic cancer who have already undergone previous therapies.
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal cancer diagnoses worldwide, with approximately only 13% of patients surviving five years after diagnosis, making it among the deadliest cancer types.
The latest research findings provide support for an ongoing advanced clinical trial that compares daraxonrasib against conventional second-round chemotherapy treatments for patients whose pancreatic cancer has metastasized throughout their bodies.
During the initial human trial involving 168 patients with previously treated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who took daraxonrasib, 96% experienced treatment-related adverse reactions of varying severity, while 30% faced serious or life-threatening complications.
Patients most frequently reported experiencing skin rashes, mouth inflammation, nausea, and diarrhea as side effects from the treatment.
“Almost all patients do experience some adverse effects, with the most common being a rash that occurs in the majority of patients,” said senior researcher Dr. David Hong of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. “But those effects are manageable in most patients, and the benefits significantly outweigh those adverse effects.”
Current results from the larger ongoing trial with 500 participants show patients taking daraxonrasib lived a median of 13.2 months compared to 6.7 months for those receiving standard chemotherapy, Revolution announced in April.
Traditional treatment approaches for previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer typically result in serious or life-threatening complications and provide median survival periods of just 5 to 7 months, researchers noted in their report published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Both clinical trials focused on patients carrying specific mutations in KRAS tumor genes, which enable cancer cells to reproduce and spread. While medications targeting these genes already exist for lung and colorectal cancer treatment, they work against a different RAS mutation that rarely appears in pancreatic cancer cases.
Daraxonrasib, administered as a daily oral medication, specifically targets the RAS mutations present in 90% of pancreatic cancer diagnoses.
“Although much work remains to be done, it genuinely feels like a new day is dawning for pancreatic cancer treatment, with daraxonrasib potentially serving as the first of a set of new medicines that broadly target mutant RAS and allow us to help patients with pancreatic cancers in new ways,” study leader Dr. Brian Wolpin of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston said in a statement.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted early access authorization for daraxonrasib, enabling patients to receive the experimental therapy outside of clinical trials before official approval.
A groundbreaking flu vaccine using mRNA technology has shown significantly better results than traditional shots in a comprehensive clinical trial involving more than 40,000 participants aged 50 and above, according to research published Wednesday.
The experimental vaccine from Moderna demonstrated 26.6% greater effectiveness compared to GSK’s conventional standard-dose flu vaccine, surpassing the study’s primary objective of proving non-inferiority to existing immunizations.
Federal regulators are currently evaluating the vaccine application, with a final determination anticipated by August 5th. If given the green light, this would mark the first seasonal influenza vaccine in America utilizing mRNA technology, which offers faster development capabilities than traditional manufacturing approaches.
However, the approval process faces additional challenges under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has expressed strong opposition to mRNA platforms. Kennedy, known for his anti-vaccine stance, has eliminated hundreds of millions in research funding and made unsubstantiated claims about the technology.
“These findings support the role of mRNA-1010 in improving influenza prevention,” stated Dr. Isabel Leroux-Roels from Ghent University and her research team in their publication in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The study revealed that participants receiving the mRNA vaccine experienced more frequent side effects, including pain at the injection site, tiredness, headaches, and muscle soreness, compared to those getting standard shots. However, most reactions were classified as mild to moderate and resolved quickly.
Serious adverse events occurred at similar rates between both groups, affecting 2.2% of mRNA vaccine recipients versus 1.9% of those receiving the conventional vaccine. Researchers noted that overall safety profiles aligned with previous large-scale trial results.
The FDA initially declined Moderna’s application in February, questioning the company’s choice to compare against a standard-dose vaccine rather than the high-dose formulation typically recommended for Americans 65 and older due to its superior effectiveness.
Following discussions between the company and regulators, the agency accepted a revised application with Moderna’s commitment to conduct additional studies in elderly populations after approval.
International regulatory authorities in the European Union, Canada, and Australia are also reviewing the vaccine. Meanwhile, European officials approved Moderna’s combination mRNA vaccine targeting both influenza and COVID-19 in April.
Delaware State Police are working to determine what caused a deadly early-morning collision in Lewes that claimed the life of a young Sussex County woman.
The fatal accident happened around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, when a Kia Forte heading north on Coastal Highway near Nassau Road failed to navigate a gentle bend in the roadway. Investigators say the vehicle veered off the eastern side of the highway and collided with a pole supporting a traffic signal.
The 23-year-old driver from Millsboro was not wearing a seatbelt and died at the crash site, according to police. Authorities are holding her identity while they notify her relatives.
Emergency crews shut down the highway for about three hours to examine the scene and remove the wreckage.
The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continues examining the circumstances that led to the crash. Corporal Grade One K. Marvel is asking anyone who saw the accident or has relevant information to call (302) 703-3267. Tips can also be submitted through the Delaware State Police Facebook page or Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.
Families affected by sudden deaths or traumatic incidents can access support through the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit and Delaware Victim Center, which provides round-the-clock assistance at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461) or via email at [email protected].
NEW YORK (AP) — In 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster unfolded, Beth Knobel was attending graduate school and discovered something remarkable after leaving class. Television screens had been positioned throughout the building’s entrance area, all broadcasting CNN — the round-the-clock news network Ted Turner had established approximately five years prior, which was providing live coverage of the launch.
“Space shuttle missions had become routine by then, and the major broadcast networks had stopped providing coverage,” explains Knobel, who later worked as a CBS News correspondent during the 1990s and currently serves as a journalism instructor at Fordham University. “CNN continued broadcasting them. When the tragedy occurred, they were positioned to cover the story better than anyone else.”
According to Knobel, who now conducts courses on television’s most significant innovators, this incident exemplifies why Turner stands above all others — demonstrating an extraordinary understanding of news delivery that surpassed his contemporaries.
Turner’s passing occurs during challenging times for cable news, which faces declining audiences amid numerous media alternatives and widespread streaming options. CNN has experienced similar difficulties; shifts in the media landscape, financial pressures, and repeated editorial restructuring have transformed it significantly from Turner’s original creation.
However, this overlooks a crucial fact: Turner established the foundation.
“The term giant gets applied to individuals who don’t truly deserve it,” Knobel observes. “Ted Turner genuinely qualifies as a giant. He created continuous news broadcasting.”
Industry professionals struggled Wednesday to find adequate language describing Turner’s influence on news consumption habits. Veteran television analyst Robert Thompson characterized the situation as beyond exaggeration.
“Obituaries and overstatement frequently coincide,” stated Thompson, who directs Syracuse University’s Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture. “However, no exaggeration applies here. Few developments in the 20th century transformed American politics, journalism, and civic participation as dramatically as establishing 24-hour cable news.”
Thompson includes one qualification: The genuine impact wouldn’t emerge until competitors adopted similar approaches. They eventually did. For an extended period, particularly throughout the 1990s, “CNN became synonymous with breaking news,” Thompson explains, “similar to how Kleenex represents facial tissues and Xerox means photocopying.”
Turner’s news legacy extends beyond the 24-hour format. Multiple experts emphasized his conceptualization of news as an international product.
Knobel remembers serving as CBS’s Moscow bureau chief in the early 1990s and observing CNN broadcasts on Kremlin television screens.
“This became their method for understanding global perspectives on Russia,” Knobel explains. Similar situations existed in other power centers worldwide. “International programming didn’t exist until Ted Turner declared, ‘I’m not only creating a new American channel, but many people globally will likely want to watch this news service.’”
These concepts have become so embedded that explaining their previous absence to younger generations proves difficult. During the 1970s, when Turner — an insomniac — first envisioned 24/7 news, late-night television viewing in many areas meant encountering static, test patterns, or American flag displays until approximately 6 a.m.
Frank Sesno, CNN’s former White House bureau chief and current George Washington University media professor, describes the “Walter Cronkite era” to students — when news arrived at scheduled times, delivered authoritatively during 30-minute programs (which had actually expanded from earlier 15-minute formats).
“My students have no knowledge of Ted Turner,” Sesno noted. “I explain this represented Walter Cronkite’s world. Ted Turner entered as an outsider, with CNN viewed as an upstart destined for failure.” This attitude produced the mocking nickname “Chicken Noodle News,” which circulated throughout the industry when Sesno joined the network in 1984.
“I possessed zero television experience when they hired me,” he recalls.
CNN wasn’t seeking celebrity anchors initially. The news itself was intended as the main attraction. Star personalities developed later.
CNN achieved notable success in October 1987, following the Challenger incident, during 18-month-old Jessica McClure’s rescue from a Texas well after a two-day ordeal. CNN provided coverage not only of the resolution but of gradual developments — commonplace today but unprecedented for television then.
Cornell University communication professor Brooke Erin Duffy identifies public interest in that story as pivotal for CNN, which broadcast the “extended waiting periods” and enabled viewers to check for regular updates.
The first Gulf War with Iraq marked when news fundamentals completely shifted. While other journalists departed Baghdad, CNN remained. With correspondents Bernard Shaw, John Holliman, and Peter Arnett reporting under siege from Baghdad’s al-Rashid Hotel, the network permanently altered war journalism.
Technology played a crucial role. CNN’s news leadership “approached Turner about an approaching war, requesting funding for coverage, and Ted Turner asked what they needed,” Knobel explained. “They used that funding to acquire satellite phone technology unavailable to competitors.” This enabled CNN to maintain broadcasts when communications infrastructure failed.
“As someone who competed against CNN for years at CBS, I can confirm CNN consistently maintained technological superiority over everyone else,” she stated, crediting Turner for providing his network that advantage.
The continuous broadcasting schedule also dramatically changed television news industry working conditions. Journalists increasingly faced expectations to “remain available constantly to satisfy public news appetite,” Duffy explained.
Following CNN’s success, numerous outlets adopted similar approaches. Increased competition for continuous content made timing even more valuable for breaking news.
“One consequence involves the competition for attention within the oversaturated media environment,” Duffy observed. “Time represents the primary currency in news media.”
ATLANTA (AP) — Media mogul Ted Turner, who passed away Wednesday, left an indelible mark on professional sports as both an accomplished sailor and groundbreaking baseball team owner.
Turner gained widespread recognition for his ownership of the Atlanta Braves, using his TBS superstation to beam their games nationwide while displaying his colorful personality during an era when most franchise owners preferred to remain out of the spotlight.
After purchasing the financially troubled Braves during the 1970s, Turner placed the team on his small television station and distributed the programming to cable providers throughout the nation.
“He effectively transformed the Braves into a team with a national reach and set the table for ways that local teams have now gained more of a national footprint,” said Travis Vogan, a sports media professor at the University of Iowa.
The strategy created a massive fan following that extended well beyond the southeastern United States, helping the Braves become perennial World Series contenders throughout the 1990s. Turner celebrated a championship victory in 1995 before divesting the team the following year.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred released a statement Wednesday describing Turner as a “visionary whose impact on the media landscape transformed how fans experience sports.”
Turner’s sports portfolio also included ownership of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers, along with diverse interests spanning professional wrestling, sailing competitions, and Olympic events.
His sailing accomplishments included an unsuccessful bid for the 1964 Olympic team, capturing a world championship in 1971 near Long Island, and commanding the victorious vessel in the prestigious 1977 America’s Cup competition.
“There will never be a time in my life as good as this time,” he said when told he would skipper in the America’s Cup that year. “I can’t believe all this is really happening to me.”
Turner’s desire for hands-on involvement reached its peak in 1977 when he appointed himself as the Braves’ manager. Following 16 consecutive losses, Turner gave manager Dave Bristol time off and took control of the team. The Braves fell 2-1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates under Turner’s leadership, extending their losing streak.
“I wanted to see what it’s like down in the trenches,” Turner said that night.
Baseball officials quickly ended Turner’s brief managerial stint after just one game, similar to how they had previously stopped him from placing “Channel” on pitcher Andy Messersmith’s jersey, who wore number 17.
Despite these setbacks, Turner embraced his “Captain Outrageous” persona, establishing a blueprint for today’s high-profile “swashbuckling” owners who leverage their franchises to enhance their public personas, according to Professor Vogan.
Contemporary sports figures like Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, and Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer “have all emulated Turner by being these kinds of celebrity entrepreneurs that use sports to build their own identities and to build their own kind of brands in the popular imagination,” Vogan said.
“Our good friend and former owner, Ted Turner, was one of a kind,” read a statement from the Braves on Wednesday.
Turner’s competitive nature extended beyond team ownership to creating new sporting events.
He established the Goodwill Games, primarily motivated by his disappointment with the United States boycotting the 1980 Moscow Olympics and the Soviet Union’s retaliatory boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Games. The first Goodwill Games took place in Moscow in 1986, featuring approximately 3,000 athletes from 79 nations.
The competition was held five times total before concluding in 2001. A Winter Goodwill Games was also organized once, taking place in Lake Placid, New York, during 2000.
“There’s nothing better for kids than sport,” Turner said at the opening ceremony of those Lake Placid Games.
Professor Vogan noted that the Goodwill Games demonstrated Turner’s “audacity,” despite the event’s ultimate lack of long-term success.
“The fact that he was involved in an initiative like that says a lot about his ambitions and his role as a disruptive force in media,” Vogan said.
Maryland’s Natural Resources Police unveiled their latest patrol vessel Wednesday, christening it the Harry L. George to commemorate a former deputy commander who lost his life while serving in 1978.
The ceremonial unveiling took place at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, where Lieutenant Colonel George’s children joined Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz and NRP Superintendent Col. Orlando Lilly for the dedication. The naming represents a return to the agency’s historical practice of honoring fallen officers through vessel designations.
“The dedication of our newest patrol boat not only honors the sacrifice and service of Lieutenant Colonel Harry L. George, but also ensures his legacy will never be forgotten,” said Col. Lilly. “We are proud to continue this esteemed tradition of commemorating the fallen heroes who gave their lives in service to Maryland’s parks, waterways, and communities. The George family has been deeply supportive of this effort, and it is a privilege to resume this practice in his honor.”
This marks the first time since 1951 that the Natural Resources Police have named a patrol boat after a deceased officer. The previous vessel honored Gordon G. Barnes, who died on duty in 1945.
Known by its designation NRP 130, the Harry L. George is a 31-foot LifeProof rigid-hull inflatable vessel manufactured in Bremerton, Washington and delivered to Maryland this spring. The craft accommodates six to nine passengers while requiring a minimal operating crew.
The new addition joins NRP’s existing fleet of 21- and 25-foot LifeProof boats currently deployed on the Choptank, South, Potomac, and Wicomico rivers.
Equipped with three 300-horsepower Yamaha four-stroke outboard motors, the vessel provides the speed and capability needed to patrol Chesapeake Bay’s open waters amid growing numbers of high-performance recreational boats. Its 260-gallon fuel tank allows for extended operations without refueling stops, crucial during lengthy search-and-rescue missions.
The boat features cutting-edge technology and law enforcement equipment, including shock-absorbing seats, an enclosed climate-controlled cabin, radar and thermal imaging systems, and sophisticated electronics.
Officials will base the Harry L. George in Rock Hall, where it will handle multiple response duties, supporting routine patrols and dramatically improving search and rescue capabilities, especially during rough weather when smaller vessels could endanger officer safety or hamper emergency responses.
Boaters throughout the Chesapeake Bay and waters around Kent and Queen Anne’s counties will benefit from enhanced police response to maritime emergencies and service calls, as the modern vessel replaces NRP 109, a diesel-powered 36-foot aluminum boat from 1990 that has been decommissioned as part of the agency’s fleet modernization initiative.
Lieutenant Colonel George perished following an aircraft accident on August 8, 1978. That day, George, Sergeant Joseph Robey, and DNR personnel deputy director William Jones took off from Lee Airport in Edgewater for a surveillance flight over the lower Chesapeake Bay. Their aircraft crashed in woods near Maryland Route 214 shortly after departure. While Robey and Jones survived with injuries requiring treatment, George died from his injuries on October 24, 1978. George began his career with the Tidewater Fisheries Commission in 1953 and became head of the Natural Resources Police Marine Division in 1975.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic revealed Wednesday that he traveled to Spain for specialized platelet-rich plasma treatments to accelerate his recovery from a hamstring injury that has kept him out of action since April 2.
The treatment involved multiple sessions with mandatory rest periods between each procedure, requiring Doncic to remain in Spain for an extended period.
“I went to Spain to do PRP,” Doncic explained to media members. “Everybody knows that its one of the best countries to do that. Obviously, you know, we talked with the Lakers doctors, so everybody agreed for me to go there.”
The recovery process demanded patience, as each treatment session required a four-day waiting period before the next injection could be administered.
“I know and trust lots of people in Spain that I used to work with before,” he explained. “I needed four days in between every shot. I did it four times, so that’s why I stayed longer.”
Currently, Doncic has progressed to running exercises but has not yet been cleared for any contact activities. His timeline for return remains at eight weeks from the initial injury date.
The Mavericks are facing playoff challenges without their star player, as evidenced by their 108-90 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Tuesday.
Watching his teammates compete without him has taken an emotional toll on the All-Star guard.
“It’s very frustrating. I don’t think people understand how frustrating it is,” Doncic expressed. “All I want to do is play basketball, especially this time. It’s the best time to play basketball. It’s very frustrating to see what my team is doing, I’m very proud of them, but it’s been very tough to watch.”
Despite his eagerness to return, the six-time NBA All-Star acknowledges the importance of proper healing, having learned from previous experiences with premature returns from injury.
“It’s a tough one for me. I’ve come back from injuries too soon before, and it wasn’t the best result,” he admitted. “This is the first time I have a hamstring injury. It’s not the same like other injuries. You have to be very careful. I’m doing everything to come back.”
The Thunder will host the Lakers for Game 2 of their playoff series Thursday evening.
Food delivery giant DoorDash announced Wednesday that it anticipates allocating over $50 million during the spring quarter to assist its drivers with escalating fuel expenses.
The California-based company launched a temporary compensation program last month for drivers across the United States and Canada to help counter the dramatic surge in fuel costs linked to the conflict in Iran. Current gas prices average $4.53 nationally, representing a 44% jump from the previous year, based on AAA data.
Despite elevated fuel costs, DoorDash reported that customer appetite for delivery services stayed robust during the first quarter. Order volume climbed 27% to reach 933 million transactions, though this figure came in below Wall Street projections of 954 million orders tracked by FactSet research.
Financial performance also missed analyst targets. The company reported quarterly revenue growth of 33% to $4.0 billion, falling short of the anticipated $4.15 billion that market experts had predicted.
DoorDash indicated it will finance the fuel assistance program by reallocating funds from other planned initiatives. Last fall, the company outlined ambitious expansion plans for this year, including integrating restaurant booking capabilities into its platform and launching automated delivery services.
Quarterly profits decreased 5% to $184 million, equivalent to 42 cents per share, during the three-month period ending in March. This decline was partially attributed to research and development expenses that increased 30% compared to the same timeframe last year.
However, earnings performance exceeded analyst predictions of 36 cents per share, according to FactSet data.
Following the earnings announcement, DoorDash stock prices jumped more than 11% during after-hours trading Wednesday.
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Fresh members have been inducted into the Vatican’s Pontifical Swiss Guard during a ceremonial oath-taking overseen by Pope Leo XIV. The historic military unit, recognized as the globe’s most ancient continuously operating army, welcomed its newest members in traditional fashion.
The newly sworn guardsmen donned their iconic tri-colored uniforms featuring yellow, blue and red stripes before taking their solemn vows to protect and serve the pontiff.
The ceremony featured a curated collection of photographs assembled by Associated Press photo editors.
Delaware State Police are working to piece together the details of a deadly motorcycle accident that happened Sunday evening in Newark.
The crash took place around 7:20 p.m. on May 5, 2026, at the busy intersection where Center Point Plaza meets Churchmans Road (Route 58). According to investigators, a woman driving a Nissan Rogue was making a legal left turn from the southbound plaza entrance onto eastbound Churchmans Road when tragedy struck. At that same moment, a Harley-Davidson Sportster was speeding westbound on Churchmans Road approaching the intersection.
Police say their initial findings show the motorcycle rider ran through a red light and slammed into the front of the turning Nissan. The impact threw the motorcyclist from his bike, and he then collided with a Chevrolet Equinox that was waiting at the red light in the eastbound left turn lane.
The motorcyclist, identified as a 29-year-old Wilmington resident, was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries. Authorities are holding off on releasing his identity while they notify his family members.
The 55-year-old New Castle woman behind the wheel of the Nissan escaped without injuries.
A 43-year-old man and his 11-year-old passenger, both from Bear, were in the Chevrolet but were also unharmed in the incident.
The busy roadway remained shut down for several hours as investigators documented the scene and crews worked to clear the wreckage.
The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident. Authorities are asking anyone who saw what happened or has relevant information to reach out to Master Corporal R. Kunicki at (302) 365-8417. Tips can also be submitted through a private message to the Delaware State Police Facebook page or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.
Anyone affected by this tragedy can find support through the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit and Delaware Victim Center, which provides round-the-clock assistance at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). The unit can also be reached via email at [email protected].
Armed fighters attacked a convoy of fruit-laden trucks traveling to Mali’s besieged capital city on Wednesday, according to a transportation workers’ union, marking the latest incident in a crisis that erupted following widespread coordinated strikes by separatist and extremist forces throughout the West African country last month.
The assailants fired upon the convoy of Moroccan trucks transporting fruit, said Mounir Benazouz, who represents the road transport division of the Democratic Confederation of Labor union.
What happened to the truck drivers remains unclear, Benazouz stated. “We have no details.”
Mali’s government has yet to verify the attack, and no organization has stepped forward to take credit for the assault.
An unnamed security official, who requested anonymity due to restrictions on speaking with media, reported the incident occurred on the route connecting Bamako to Bougouni, located approximately 175 kilometers (109 miles) from the capital.
In recent weeks, extremists affiliated with al-Qaida from the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin organization, known as JNIM, partnered with the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) to launch synchronized strikes. These assaults represent the most severe violence Mali has experienced since 2012, with fighters and rebels capturing multiple cities, towns, and military installations from Mali’s armed forces and their Russian-backed Africa Corps allies.
Mali’s former defense minister, Sadio Camara, lost his life during these attacks. Following his death, Mali’s military commander Assimi Goita assumed the defense minister’s responsibilities.
JNIM has also declared a siege of Bamako, established checkpoints, and prohibited all entry into the city. Previously in September 2025, the organization implemented a restrictive blockade preventing oil shipments into landlocked Mali.
For more than a week since the blockade announcement, residents have faced difficulties reaching Bamako, particularly along two critical routes — one linking the capital to Kayes, situated 583 kilometers (364 miles) northwest, and another to Kita, located 189 kilometers (118 miles) west.
A Kita municipal official reported that “several hundred travelers” and over 100 buses remain trapped due to “insecurity on the Bamako-Kita route over the past two weeks,” according to the official who spoke anonymously fearing retaliation.
“We need humanitarian aid, especially food and water for the travelers,” he said.
As tensions have intensified, Mali’s ruling military government has alleged that certain officers collaborated in the attacks by working alongside militants and separatists, leading to multiple detentions in Bamako.
NEW YORK — Legal representatives for former President Donald Trump have filed a motion with a federal appeals court in New York requesting a temporary halt to an $83 million defamation judgment awarded to longtime columnist E. Jean Carroll.
Attorney Justin D. Smith submitted the request to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday, asking the court to pause its ruling that upheld the massive award. This would prevent Trump from having to make the payment while pursuing an appeal to the Supreme Court.
Carroll received the $83 million judgment from a Manhattan jury in January 2024. Previously, in May 2023, a separate jury had awarded her $5 million after determining that Trump had sexually assaulted her in a dressing room at a high-end Manhattan department store in 1996, then defamed her following her public account of the incident in 2019.
The former president has consistently and forcefully rejected any claims of sexual assault against Carroll, stating he never knew her. He has also repeatedly alleged that her accusations are politically motivated or intended to boost sales of her book.
According to court documents submitted to the 2nd Circuit, Smith indicated that Carroll’s legal representation would not object to delaying the payment, provided Trump increases his posted bond by $7.4 million to account for potential interest that might accumulate during a Supreme Court review process.
Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s attorney, has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.
Smith argued to the appeals court that Trump would face “irreparable harm” if required to pay immediately, citing Carroll’s public statements about her intention to donate the award money. This would make it impossible for the former president to recover the funds should the Supreme Court overturn the decision.
The attorney stated there was a “reasonable probability” the nation’s highest court would agree to hear the appeal, particularly given Trump’s claims of absolute immunity regarding statements made during his presidency.
To bolster his argument, Smith referenced dissenting opinions from three 2nd Circuit judges who opposed a recent decision to reject a full court review of the case. This left intact a three-judge panel’s September ruling that supported the verdict.
Smith expressed confidence that there was “at least a fair prospect that the Supreme Court will reverse the Panel.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House to address joint efforts against organized crime and trade tariff issues, according to Brazil’s Finance Minister Dario Durigan, who spoke Wednesday ahead of the scheduled talks.
“The goal is to protect Brazil’s population, prioritize the country and maintain constructive dialogue,” Durigan told state broadcaster EBC. “Expectations for the trip are very positive.”
The White House meeting comes after a diplomatic crisis between the nations last year when Trump’s administration levied a 50% tariff on Brazilian products, linking the trade measure to demands for prosecuting former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro over alleged coup plotting.
Lula vigorously defended his nation’s independence in response, prompting Trump to eventually reduce the tariffs as part of efforts to lower prices for American consumers.
The two leaders began repairing their relationship during the United Nations General Assembly in September, followed by their initial private discussion in Malaysia during October and additional telephone communications.
Brazil’s response to the 50% tariff situation likely strengthened the country’s negotiating position with Trump’s administration, according to Ana Garcia, who teaches international relations at the Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
“The Trump administration likely sees Brazil as a partner that must be taken somewhat seriously, but will continue to pressure it to make concessions,” Garcia said.
A major source of tension involves the Trump administration’s reported plans to classify Brazil’s two largest criminal organizations — Red Command (CV) and the First Capital Command (PCC) — as foreign terrorist groups.
Such classifications would expand U.S. authority “to act as a political or economic actor in Brazil,” explained Leonardo Paz Neves, who teaches international relations at the Getulio Vargas Foundation think tank. “It’s a defensive issue for Brazil that doesn’t serve Brazil’s interests at all.”
A Brazilian government source, speaking anonymously due to restrictions on public discussion of the matter, indicated both nations seem committed to expanding collaborative efforts against organized crime instead of pursuing individual actions.
Access to Brazil’s rare earth mineral deposits represents another significant topic expected during the discussions. Brazil holds the world’s second-largest reserves of these minerals, which are essential for manufacturing smartphones, electric vehicles, solar panels and aircraft engines.
Durigan emphasized Wednesday that Brazil maintains its stance against serving merely as a supplier of unprocessed materials.
“Countries in the global north … are thirsty for this raw material,” Durigan said. But “while foreign investment is welcome, we want industrial development within Brazil: creating jobs in partnership with our universities.”
The Washington visit occurs during challenging domestic circumstances for Lula, who recently faced two congressional setbacks. The lower house overturned his veto of legislation aimed at reducing Bolsonaro’s potential prison sentence, while the Senate rejected his Supreme Court nominee — marking the first such rejection in over a century.
The 80-year-old president plans to seek a fourth non-consecutive term in October’s elections. Current polling shows him in a tight race with Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president’s senator son.
Lula departed for Washington D.C. Wednesday afternoon local time and was expected to arrive in the evening.
Authorities in Oklahoma have taken an 18-year-old man into custody following a devastating mass shooting at a lakeside party that resulted in one death and left 22 others wounded.
Edmond law enforcement officials announced Wednesday that Jaylan A. Davis faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon stemming from the violence that broke out Sunday evening at Arcadia Lake in the Oklahoma City suburb.
During a press briefing, Edmond Police Chief J.D. Younger revealed that prosecutors plan to elevate the charges against Davis to felony murder after 18-year-old Avianna Smith-Gray succumbed to her gunshot wounds.
Davis, an Oklahoma City resident, remains detained at the Edmond jail with bail set at $1 million. Court records show no attorney has been assigned to represent him yet, as the Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office stated they will wait until formal upgraded charges are submitted.
According to Chief Younger, investigators determined the violence began when two women at the event got into a dispute, which then spiraled into a confrontation involving opposing gang factions. The police chief indicated authorities believe additional suspects remain at large.
Beyond the fatal victim, the chaos left others suffering from bullet and shrapnel injuries as numerous gunshots rang out at the recreational area located roughly 20 miles north of central Oklahoma City. Six minors were among the wounded, with some victims as young as 15 years old, Younger noted.
The suspect voluntarily surrendered Wednesday morning after investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest, the chief explained.
“We’re trying to find justice for 23 people that were shot, one that’s deceased and even the people that were involved. I think it’s important not to demonize or separate the parties here,” Younger said.
The chief also disclosed that several individuals fired weapons during the incident, with investigators recovering evidence of more than 80 rounds discharged.
Smith-Gray’s relatives described her as a high school senior eagerly anticipating graduation on a memorial fundraising page. Her family remembered her passion for dancing, singing, and styling hair, while her sisters praised her as an intelligent, caring person who was wonderful with children and “so full of life.”
The gathering had been widely advertised on social media platforms, drawing a substantial crowd of primarily young adults from throughout the Oklahoma City region to a pavilion area near the water. The gunfire broke out while officers were already en route to address noise complaints about the event.
Officials emphasized that event organizers had failed to obtain proper permits required for such a large gathering.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — An 18-year-old gunman killed a teenage boy and a woman Tuesday evening after being rejected from joining a pickup soccer game, with multiple children witnessing the tragic violence unfold near a local elementary school.
The deadly incident occurred when the suspect approached a group of young people playing soccer and requested to join their game. When the players declined his participation, the situation escalated into a fatal confrontation.
“For whatever reason, he was turned away,” said Joe Trigg, Grand Rapids interim police chief. “Did not like the fact that he was turned away so a verbal altercation started, which led to the suspect pulling out a firearm and shooting that juvenile. The adult female had came to the aid, verbally, of the juvenile victim so then she was targeted.”
The violence claimed the life of a 15-year-old boy, while a woman who attempted to intervene verbally on behalf of the teen was also fatally shot. Between seven and eight young people watched the horrific events unfold.
“There was at least seven or eight kids that are out here, juveniles, older juveniles that witnessed this, which is just horrific for anybody to witness, let alone juveniles,” Trigg explained.
The shooting took place Tuesday evening in the vicinity of Southwest Elementary School. Authorities apprehended the gunman after he initially escaped the scene.
In response to the tragedy, the Grand Rapids school district shuttered Southwest Elementary and another nearby school Wednesday, allowing the community time to “process what has happened in our neighborhood.”
Local resident Donny Irving expressed the community’s grief while visiting the shooting location. “It’s just hard,” Irving told WOOD-TV. “Everyone knows a youth and people who go to playgrounds who play, school students, and I think the whole community feels the loss that’s there.”
Boston-based technology firm PTC Inc announced Wednesday it has increased its annual revenue projections, driven by strong ongoing demand from manufacturing companies adopting its digital design and production software solutions.
The company’s stock price climbed almost 4% during after-hours trading following the announcement.
Manufacturing and industrial companies have increasingly turned to PTC’s digital transformation solutions as they seek to boost operational efficiency, cut expenses, and accelerate product development timelines.
“Customer interest in AI is growing, and our discussions reinforce how AI is driving momentum in PTC’s business,” CEO Neil Barua said in a statement.
The software company specializes in helping businesses design, manufacture, operate and maintain physical products through what it calls a “digital thread” approach, which creates continuous information flow from initial product concepts through real-world operation and servicing.
PTC has revised its annual revenue expectations upward to a range of $2.58 billion to $2.82 billion, compared to its previous projection of $2.54 billion to $2.81 billion.
For the upcoming third quarter, the company anticipates revenue between $580 million and $640 million, while Wall Street analysts had forecast $623.2 million.
During the second quarter that concluded March 31, PTC reported $774 million in revenue, surpassing analyst predictions of $715.4 million.
The company also delivered adjusted earnings of $2.69 per share, exceeding analyst expectations of $2.11.
The company behind TASER devices has boosted its annual revenue projections following robust sales of law enforcement technology and software solutions, Axon Enterprise announced Wednesday.
Stock prices for the police technology manufacturer climbed 1.4% during after-hours trading following the announcement.
The firm’s software division experienced significant growth throughout the recent quarter, fueled by an expanding user base and existing clients upgrading to higher-tier software packages.
Axon now projects its 2026 revenue will increase between 30% and 32%, marking an upward revision from the previously estimated range of 27% to 30%.
The company serves as a major supplier of police body cameras throughout the United States and provides unmanned aerial systems to law enforcement agencies spanning North America, Europe, and Australia.
For the quarter ending March 31, Axon reported adjusted earnings of $1.61 per share, slightly exceeding analyst predictions of $1.60 per share based on LSEG data.
The company’s quarterly revenue reached $807.3 million, surpassing Wall Street expectations of $778.5 million.
The chief executive of insurance company Kuvare told attendees at a California investment conference that his firm has been collaborating with regulatory officials and rating agencies regarding its private credit investment portfolio.
During Wednesday’s panel discussion at the 2026 Milken Institute Conference in Beverly Hills, CEO Dhiren Jhaveri addressed current market conditions alongside other industry executives. The conversation covered both opportunities and obstacles in private lending, particularly amid ongoing Middle East tensions and investor worries about direct lenders’ ties to software firms facing artificial intelligence disruption.
Jhaveri expressed support for the increased regulatory attention his company has received concerning its financial position and investment strategy for policyholder funds in private credit markets.
“This is the power of having a strong, long-duration, long-term balance sheet,” Jhaveri stated. “We have the benefit and curse of trying to figure out how to invest $6 billion of policyholder premiums every year.”
The insurance giant participated in a February transaction where multiple firms acquired a $1.4 billion loan collection from private credit company Blue Owl to help address fund redemption demands. Jhaveri emphasized the positive returns Kuvare achieved from this acquisition.
During a separate conference panel focusing on recent private credit market pressures, DoubleLine CEO Jeffrey Gundlach warned about risks associated with increased payment-in-kind arrangements, where borrowers add unpaid interest to their loan principal. He also criticized lenders for inflating loan valuations.
“They’re not performing, but they’re on the books as performing,” Gundlach explained. “You should be marking that loan down very significantly,” he added.
PIMCO’s global co-head of asset-based finance, Kristofer Kraus, identified another concern: a significant volume of private credit loans to software and technology companies approaching maturity dates.
“I think in ’28 and ’29 is when you really begin to have some pretty material sizes that need to work their way through the system,” Kraus explained. “So I think that that’s going to be part of that opportunity set that, I think, has become a lot more interesting as we look at direct lending and how some of these names are, frankly, going to have to be refinanced.”
Representatives from DoubleLine and PIMCO did not provide immediate responses to requests for additional comment.
Agricultural markets showed stability Wednesday as wheat pricing held firm across the southern Plains region, even as commodity traders kept close watch on dangerous weather patterns that could damage already drought-stressed crops.
Weather forecasters predict frost and freezing conditions will sweep across Plains states Thursday morning, with the cold front potentially reaching into the northern sections of the Texas panhandle, according to federal agricultural weather monitoring reports.
The incoming cold weather poses serious risks to winter wheat crops currently in their heading development phase, particularly after plants have endured months of severe drought conditions, according to a commodity trader.
Kansas City hard red winter wheat futures reached their highest levels in multiple years last week due to concerns about crop losses from the ongoing drought.
Wednesday’s trading saw Kansas City July wheat futures close 3 cents lower at $6.87 per bushel.
Market participants will examine weekly export sales figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday to determine whether recent price increases have reduced international demand for American wheat.
Regional wheat pricing data showed no changes from previous levels across major markets. In Kansas, Wichita wheat traded at $6.47 per bushel, Newton at $6.22, and Goodland at $6.00. Texas Gulf track wheat commanded premium pricing at $8.10 per bushel, while Galveston wheat sold for $7.90. Oklahoma markets showed Enid wheat at $6.60 per bushel and Catoosa at $6.75.
JPMorgan Chase attempted to negotiate a settlement with a former investment banker before he proceeded with a lawsuit alleging sexual assault and harassment, according to a bank representative who spoke Wednesday.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the nation’s largest bank proposed a $1 million settlement to resolve the allegations, citing sources with knowledge of the discussions. The report indicated the former banker turned down the offer and sought additional compensation.
The former employee, identified in court documents as John Doe, filed suit against JPMorgan and leveraged finance executive Lorna Hajdini last week. His lawsuit claims he experienced sexual assault and racial harassment during his employment at the financial institution.
After being previously withdrawn, the legal action was refiled Monday in New York state court.
“While we cannot comment on confidential discussions, we did try to reach an agreement to avoid the time and expense of litigation and to support an employee who was being threatened with the very reputational harm now unfolding,” a JPMorgan representative stated.
The spokesperson added: “We continue to believe these allegations have no merit and new information raised as a result of the public filing only reinforces that conclusion.”
Daniel Kaiser, the attorney representing Doe, confirmed to Reuters via email that he was not part of the settlement negotiations, which occurred before he took on the case.
“However, I will note that in my 30-plus year career as an employment litigator I have never had an employer defendant make such a substantial offer if they truly believed the allegations to be a ‘complete fabrication,’” Kaiser stated.
According to the lawsuit, Doe alleges that Hajdini exploited her position of authority to force him into unwanted sexual encounters. The complaint also claims members of the leveraged finance team used racist language against him.
The plaintiff, described as a New York resident of Asian heritage, began working in JPMorgan’s leveraged finance division in March 2024 as a senior vice president, court documents show.
In May 2025, the employee filed an internal grievance with JPMorgan, claiming he faced discrimination based on race and gender, as well as sexual abuse. Following his complaint, John Doe was put on administrative leave, the lawsuit states.
JPMorgan reported finding no validity to the accusations following an internal review that involved multiple staff members. The bank stated the complainant declined to cooperate with their investigation.
Legal representatives for Hajdini have rejected the accusations and stated the two individuals never engaged in any intimate or romantic relationship.
“She maintains that his false claims are entirely fabricated and tarnishing her reputation,” Hajdini’s legal team said.
A major snack food manufacturer has pulled several of its products from store shelves following concerns about potentially contaminated ingredients.
John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc., an Illinois-based company traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol JBSS, announced the voluntary recall of various snack mix items on May 5, 2026. The decision comes after California Dairies, Inc. previously recalled dry milk powder that was used in seasonings for the affected products.
The Elgin, Illinois company’s recall specifically targets snack mix varieties that contain seasonings made with the questionable milk powder ingredient. The move represents a precautionary measure to protect consumer safety following the earlier dairy ingredient recall.
Company officials have not yet provided details about the specific health risks associated with the recalled products or the extent of potential contamination in the milk powder supply.
A six-story glass building nestled among hotels, spas and cafes in Manhattan’s Chinatown has become the center of a federal espionage case that began in Brooklyn court this week.
Federal prosecutors allege the unremarkable structure housed a covert Chinese police station designed to target and intimidate democracy advocates living in America, complete with signage reading “Fuzhou Police Overseas Service Station, New York USA.”
Defense attorneys for the accused operator, 64-year-old Lu Jianwang, argue the facility served as nothing more than a gathering place for Chinese-Americans to handle administrative tasks like driver’s license renewals during pandemic travel restrictions while enjoying recreational activities like ping-pong and mahjong.
Lu’s federal trial commenced Wednesday in Brooklyn, over three years since his arrest at his Bronx residence on allegations of conspiring to operate as an unregistered foreign agent and destroying evidence, including WeChat communications with an alleged Chinese government contact.
“Lu was living in New York City but he was working for the Chinese government,” prosecutor Lindsey Oken declared during opening arguments.
According to Oken’s statements, Lu and co-defendant Chen Jinping created the Chinatown facility in 2022 following Lu’s attendance at a Fujian province event where China’s Ministry of Public Security revealed plans for 30 clandestine police stations worldwide.
Oken explained to jurors that China’s communist leadership employs these stations to surveil individuals it “views as enemies of its interests.” She indicated that testimony will include a dissident who allegedly became a target of Lu’s operation.
The disputed Manhattan location operated within the same premises as the America ChangLe Association, a community group managed by Lu and his brother Jimmy that identified itself in tax documentation as a “social gathering place for Fujianese people.” Defense counsel noted that ChangLe translates to “eternal joy.”
While Oken conceded the organization openly provided driver’s license services, she emphasized such activities violated U.S. law without proper registration.
The prosecution contends Lu served Chinese interests “without asking or telling the U.S. government,” breaching the Foreign Agents Registration Act that mandates individuals representing foreign governments register with the Justice Department.
Defense lawyer John Carman characterized the proceedings as a routine administrative oversight rather than international espionage drama.
“Lu was arrested for essentially failing to file a form,” Carman informed the jury.
Carman’s opening statement emphasized that evidence will demonstrate Lu is “not a spy, not a part of Chinese intelligence services, not a part of the Chinese Communist Party, the CCP, and he’s not an agent of the Chinese government.” He referenced two concepts: “No good deed goes unpunished” and “Guilt by association.”
Following a tip from an organization tracking Chinese international suppression efforts, FBI agents conducted a comprehensive search of the alleged New York outpost on October 3, 2022, examining documents, forcing open secured storage areas and confiscating electronic devices, according to Carman.
“They turned the place upside down,” Carman described to jurors.
The following day, Oken stated, Lu acknowledged to federal agents that he created the Manhattan operation, maintained contact with his handler through WeChat and had erased those conversations. Carman noted that neither of Lu’s two-hour FBI questioning sessions were recorded. Authorities arrested Lu in April 2023.
Chen, Lu’s co-defendant, entered a guilty plea in December 2024 to conspiracy charges for acting as an unregistered foreign agent. He awaits sentencing following Lu’s trial while remaining free on bond.
Lu, also known as Harry Lu, sat Wednesday beside Baimadajie Angwang, a former NYPD officer who was exonerated three years ago of accusations that he served as a Chinese government “intelligence asset.” Angwang, currently pursuing legal action to return to police work, now assists Lu’s defense team as an investigator.
Dressed in a dark suit with a light blue tie and glasses, Lu relied on an interpreter who translated the proceedings into Fujianese through an earpiece due to his limited English proficiency. Both Lu and Angwang wore American flag pins on their clothing.
Dozens of supporters, including Lu’s fellow church members, demonstrated outside the courthouse with signs declaring “Justice for Harry Lu” and “Chinese Americans Are Americans!” while waving small American flags as Lu and his legal team arrived.
“No one controls him,” Carman told jurors. “If Harry Lu is an agent of anyone, he is an agent for his community — the local people in his community.”
“You have the life of an innocent man in your hands,” the attorney concluded.
Federal investigators announced Wednesday they determined UCLA’s medical school violated federal law by factoring race into student admissions decisions, as the Trump administration increases oversight of how universities select their incoming classes.
This determination intensifies the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and UCLA, which has primarily centered on how the main campus handled complaints about antisemitic harassment. The medical school at UCLA did not immediately provide a response when contacted for comment.
College admissions programs that consider race have been prohibited since the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision that banned such practices. While that ruling allowed schools to continue evaluating how students’ personal experiences might reflect broader qualities, Trump has alleged that universities are circumventing the law by using personal essays and other indirect methods to factor in race during admissions, which conservatives consider unlawful discrimination.
The Justice Department launched investigations in March into potential race-based discrimination at medical schools including Stanford, Ohio State, and UC San Diego. The current administration has also focused on undergraduate admissions at competitive universities, requiring them to provide documentation proving compliance with the Supreme Court’s decision.
Following a year-long investigation into UCLA, federal officials concluded the medical school engaged in discrimination against white and Asian American applicants while giving advantages to Black and Hispanic candidates.
The department pointed to statistics revealing that admitted Black and Hispanic students had lower average GPAs and test scores during 2023 and 2024. For instance, Black students admitted in 2024 had an average GPA of 3.72, while Asian Americans averaged 3.84 and white students averaged 3.83.
Federal officials argue this data demonstrates the medical school relied on non-academic criteria to meet diversity objectives.
“As a result of these practices, highly qualified White, Asian, and other students were denied admission on the basis of their race,” said Harmeet Dhillon, head of the department’s Civil Rights Division, in a letter of findings.
Investigators also criticized an application section that asked students to voluntarily identify if they belonged to a marginalized group and describe how that affected them. This question appeared on applications for 2024 and 2025, according to the department.
California voters prohibited affirmative action in college admissions through a 1997 ballot initiative. In court documents filed during the Supreme Court case, the UC system reported this change caused a dramatic decline in underrepresented minorities, particularly at the most competitive campuses.
The filing stated UC subsequently adopted “numerous and wideranging race-neutral measures designed to increase diversity of all sorts, including racial diversity.” Despite these efforts, the system acknowledged continued difficulties in boosting campus diversity.
The Trump administration’s findings create an opportunity for UCLA to voluntarily address the Justice Department’s concerns or potentially face legal consequences. Possible sanctions include the loss of federal funding.
In March, a group of 17 Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit opposing a Trump administration requirement that higher education institutions provide data proving they don’t factor race into admissions decisions.
Delaware State Police are working to determine what led to a deadly motorcycle accident that claimed the life of a Newark man Tuesday evening.
The fatal collision happened around 6:00 p.m. on May 5, 2026, along Christiana Road close to Harmony Road. According to investigators, a Honda CBR motorcycle was heading east in the left lane when an Audi Q5 began making a left turn from the opposite direction into McIntosh Plaza. The motorcycle’s front end collided with the SUV’s passenger side, throwing the rider from his bike.
Emergency responders transported the motorcyclist, a 34-year-old Newark resident, to a nearby hospital where he died from his injuries. Police are not releasing his identity while they notify his family members.
The 37-year-old Bear man driving the Audi was not hurt in the crash.
Traffic along the busy roadway came to a standstill for about two and a half hours as investigators documented the scene and crews cleared the wreckage.
The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into the deadly accident. Authorities are asking anyone who saw what happened or has video footage to reach out to Corporal K. Oakes at (302) 365-8483. Tips can also be submitted through private message to the Delaware State Police Facebook page or by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Families affected by sudden death or crime can access support services 24/7 through the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit and Delaware Victim Center by calling 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461) or emailing [email protected].
A senior Federal Reserve official warned Wednesday that the ongoing U.S.-supported conflict with Iran is primarily driving up prices across the American economy rather than damaging employment markets.
Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee expressed mounting anxiety about supply chain disruptions and sustained price increases during a video conference with reporters following his appearance at a Milken Institute conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
According to Goolsbee, the economic effects have not yet reached the level of stagflation, which would simultaneously harm both employment and price stability, forcing the central bank to choose which priority to address first.
“It has not yet been a stagflationary-direction shock,” Goolsbee explained during the call. “It has just been an inflationary shock. And the longer that continues, the more nervous that makes me.”
The Fed official noted that while job markets and economic growth have remained relatively stable so far, concerns are mounting about increasingly complex supply chain issues and price pressures that could prove more lasting than initially anticipated.
What was supposed to be an adventure cruise to some of the world’s most isolated islands has turned into a nightmare for passengers aboard the MV Hondius, as a deadly hantavirus outbreak has claimed three lives and left the Dutch-flagged vessel searching for a safe harbor.
The expedition ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, has been dealing with three deaths and eight confirmed or suspected hantavirus cases. Passengers, some of whom boarded the vessel on March 20, describe their experience as alternating between anxiety and tedium as they remain confined to their quarters.
After spending four days anchored off the West African nation of Cape Verde, the ship departed Wednesday evening for Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands. Specialist medical teams evacuated three individuals before the vessel’s departure, with local authorities granting permission for the journey to continue.
Approximately 150 passengers and crew members remain on board and are expected to disembark under medical supervision once they reach their destination, though quarantine requirements remain unclear.
The cruise line has instructed all passengers to adhere to “isolation measures, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring,” according to company statements. Martin Kriz, a Swedish physician who has worked aboard the Hondius, explained this means passengers must eat their meals while confined to small four-person cabins.
“It’s quite a small space,” Kriz explained to reporters.
Despite the cramped conditions, passengers report that spirits remain relatively high. Kasem Hato, one of those on board, described the atmosphere as composed and cooperative.
“People are taking the situation seriously but without any panic, trying to keep social distancing and wearing masks to be safe,” Hato said. “Our days have been close to normal, just waiting for authorities to find a solution, but morale on the ship is high and we’re keeping ourselves busy with reading, watching movies, having hot drinks, and that kind of things.”
Social media footage reveals the ship’s elegant wood-paneled common areas sitting completely vacant, with upholstered furniture arranged on vibrant carpeting and ocean views visible through large windows. Photos show medical workers in protective gear delivering supply bags to the vessel’s deck – a sharp contrast to the breathtaking Antarctic scenery passengers had shared from earlier portions of their journey.
American passenger Jake Rosmarin gained attention after sharing a worried video message from his cabin on Instagram, expressing concern about the uncertain situation facing travelers. He later posted a more optimistic update.
“I’m feeling well, getting some fresh air, and continuing to be well fed and taken care of by the crew,” Rosmarin wrote in his follow-up message.
Turkish content creator Ruhi Cenet, who left the ship at Saint Helena on April 24, offered criticism of the initial response. He said that after the first passenger died on April 11, travelers were informed the deceased was not contagious, so normal dining and social activities continued.
“I think this problem could have been small before spreading too much,” Cenet told reporters from Istanbul, suggesting faster isolation protocols might have contained the outbreak.
Oceanwide Expeditions defended their actions in a Wednesday statement, saying information provided by the ship’s captain was accurate when given, and that proper health and safety procedures were followed after the death occurred at sea.
Belgian traveler Helene Goessaert told VRT broadcaster that conditions aboard remain “relatively good,” with fresh produce still being delivered to the vessel. She commended the crew’s efforts during the crisis.
“We are all in the same boat, literally,” Goessaert remarked.
She noted that passengers who weathered rough seas earlier in the voyage are proving resilient during this health emergency as well.
“I think the people on board can take a few lumps,” she observed.
Military officials are pushing to complete work on a luxury aircraft donated by Qatar’s royal family in time for Fourth of July festivities, according to a government source and someone close to the project.
The White House received the Boeing 747 from Qatar earlier this year and directed the Air Force to quickly bring the plane up to presidential flight standards. L3Harris has been chosen to handle the extensive modifications needed for the aircraft.
Should the company meet its target date, President Donald Trump would have access to a new presidential aircraft for the nation’s 250th birthday celebration. Sources indicate there have been discussions about potentially finishing the work by June 14th to coincide with Trump’s birthday, rather than waiting until the July deadline.
The acceptance of this gift has sparked controversy among Democratic lawmakers and government ethics watchdogs, who argue it creates potential conflicts of interest that might sway presidential policy decisions. Trump has rejected these concerns about taking the 13-year-old aircraft valued at $400 million, calling it “stupid” to refuse such an offer. The current presidential fleet consists of two specially modified 747-200B planes, though any Air Force aircraft carrying the president receives the Air Force One designation.
Converting the luxury jet provided by Qatar’s monarchy involves extensive security enhancements, upgraded communication systems to prevent electronic surveillance, and defensive capabilities against missile attacks, according to aviation specialists.
A military spokesperson confirmed, “The aircraft is on schedule to deliver this summer.” Officials announced Friday that modification work and test flights have been completed, with painting currently underway.
OFFICIAL REPLACEMENT PROGRAM FACES SETBACKS
Meanwhile, Boeing’s official Air Force One replacement initiative – converting two 747-8 aircraft into modern presidential jets – continues to face significant delays, running four years past the original timeline. Current projections show delivery won’t occur until summer 2028, potentially leaving Trump without his new aircraft before his presidency concludes in January 2029.
Boeing remains bound by a fixed-price agreement valued at $3.9 billion from 2018, though actual expenses have grown beyond $5 billion, forcing the company to absorb $2.4 billion in project losses. To address ongoing challenges, Boeing brought in Steve Sullivan in 2025, a former Northrop Grumman leader with experience on the B-21 bomber project.
Military officials recently revealed updated paint colors featuring red, white, dark blue and gold for the executive aircraft fleet – bringing back a design scheme Trump had long advocated for. A similar color scheme had been abandoned in 2022.
This new appearance will be used on the VC-25B – the military’s term for the Boeing 747-8 – replacing the white and blue design that has been standard since President Kennedy’s administration. Four Boeing 757-200 aircraft used by the vice president, cabinet officials and other senior leaders will also receive the updated paint scheme.
Last December, the Air Force acquired two former Lufthansa 747-8i planes for $400 million – designating one for crew training and maintenance practice, while the other will provide replacement parts as officials prepare to eventually phase out the existing fleet that entered service in 1990.
Health authorities in Argentina announced Wednesday they will begin capturing and testing rodents in the southern port city of Ushuaia following a fatal hantavirus outbreak on a cruise vessel that departed from there.
According to a Wednesday statement from Argentina’s health ministry, officials are also working to piece together the complete travel history of Dutch passengers who visited both Argentina and Chile before developing hantavirus symptoms while aboard the cruise ship.
The investigation focuses on Ushuaia, which served as the departure point for the affected cruise vessel where the deadly virus outbreak occurred.
Fishing enthusiasts across Maryland have numerous species to pursue this week as spring conditions continue to improve. Striped bass fishing has commenced for the 2026 season throughout much of the Chesapeake Bay region, while black sea bass season has begun in Ocean City’s offshore waters. Freshwater anglers can still find recently stocked trout in waterways statewide, plus a diverse selection of other species including the invasive Chesapeake Channa, also known as northern snakehead.
Water Conditions Forecast: May 6-12
Monitoring station data shows main Bay surface temperatures and river mouth readings are maintaining levels near 60 degrees. Smaller waterways and tributaries are also registering temperatures in the 60s, though protected coves and sun-exposed areas on clear days will experience faster warming, often reaching the upper 60s.
Most Maryland rivers and streams are experiencing below-normal flow rates. Water clarity should remain typical throughout most Maryland sections of the Bay and its tributaries, except for reduced visibility in tidal portions of the Bush and Gunpowder rivers due to algae blooms. Tidal movements will be stronger than usual on Wednesday and Thursday following the May 1 full moon.
Upper Chesapeake Bay
Anglers working the lower Susquehanna River and Susquehanna Flats are concentrating on white perch and blue catfish. White perch are responding well to small jig heads baited with grass shrimp, small minnows, or bloodworm pieces. These same baits perform effectively on bottom rigs. Blue catfish in the river are taking various cut baits and scented offerings. Largemouth bass are providing catch-and-release action on the flats, with Chesapeake Channa also being caught in weedy areas.
Striped bass restrictions remain in effect above the Abbey Point to Worton Point boundary line until June 1, with catch-and-release only between that line and the Brewerton Channel until the same date.
Waters below the Brewerton Channel are producing solid striped bass fishing within the 19- to 24-inch slot limit. Weekend anglers experienced good success trolling umbrella rigs and tandem-rigged medium bucktails with sassy shads or twister tails. Light tackle enthusiasts are finding success casting paddle tails along shoreline structure and jigging. Love Point rocks remains a favored location this week.
White perch are transitioning to summer habitat near structure including submerged rocks, old piers, docks, bulkheads, and oyster bars around tidal river mouths. Small jigs, spinners, and spin jigs work well when cast to shoreline structure. These fish will soon be found on various underwater humps and ridges in the upper Bay. Grass shrimp and bloodworms remain the top bait choices for bottom rigs.
Large blue catfish are roaming open Bay waters this time of year, typically on flats adjacent to channel edges down to the Bay Bridge area. Despite elevated salinity levels from limited rainfall, large blue cats seem unaffected. Smaller to medium blue catfish are more commonly found in tidal rivers, with the Chester River being among the most productive upper Bay locations.
Middle Bay
Bay Bridge piers continue attracting anglers casting soft plastic jigs near pier foundations. Some fishermen are also drifting small white perch or cut bait toward the pier bases, using required circle hooks while avoiding prohibited eel baits.
Striped bass fishing within slot parameters has anglers trolling umbrella rigs with medium lures or jigging and casting medium baits. Medium bucktails fitted with sassy shads or twister tails are favored trailer choices for umbrella rigs. Jigging with 3/4-ounce soft plastic jigs along channel edges when fish appear suspended off bottom is proving effective. Casting paddle tails near shoreline structure also produces slot-sized striped bass. Popular areas include Poplar Island rocks, Thomas Point Light, and rocks fronting the Naval Academy. The Choptank River remains closed to striped bass targeting.
White perch are appearing in lower sections of tidal rivers and beginning to provide quality fishing at traditional spots. Prominent points, deepwater docks and piers, and shoreline structure offer good targeting opportunities. Shallow shoreline waters fish best during morning and evening hours using small paddle tails, jigs, spin jigs, and spinners. Deeper areas can be worked with grass shrimp or bloodworm pieces on simple bottom rigs.
Blue catfish inhabit all regional tidal rivers, with the Choptank holding the highest concentrations. The Cambridge to Denton area contains large blue catfish populations. High salinity levels from limited rainfall mean the area above Dover Bridge holds many medium-sized blues, while larger specimens tend to be farther downriver.
Lower Bay
Lower Bay striped bass anglers enjoyed their first weekend opportunity to harvest fish within the 19- to 24-inch slot. Many trolled umbrella rigs while others jigged with soft plastic lures or worked shallow lower Bay shorelines. Casting paddle tails and poppers during morning and evening hours proved successful.
The Potomac River won’t open for striped bass fishing until May 16, and Maryland tidal rivers remain closed to striped bass targeting.
Channel edges off Cove Point and from the 76 Buoy south to the 72B and 72A buoys provided good trolling. Jigging along these same channel edges where suspended fish can be located with electronics also worked well. Soft plastic 3/4-ounce jigs in 5- to 6-inch sizes and bright colors are popular choices. Hoopers Island cuts, Tangier Sound sedge banks, and Cedar Point rocks rewarded anglers casting paddle tails, jigs, and poppers this past weekend.
Black drum are being reported in the Tangier Sound area and near the Target Ship at Mud Leads. Anglers are spotting them on fish finders and using soft crab baits, with large red drum expected to follow soon.
White perch are moving into summer habitat in lower sections of tidal rivers and creeks, as well as Bay areas. Casting small jig heads tipped with grass shrimp or bloodworm pieces works well in moderate depths. Evening hours are productive for casting small jigs, spin jigs, and spinners near shoreline structure for light-tackle fun.
May provides excellent blue catfish opportunities as cooler temperatures allow these fish to move freely across various depths near channels. Larger blue catfish are in pre-spawn aggressive feeding mode. Most cut baits and scented offerings prove effective. The Potomac, Patuxent, and Nanticoke all support large blue catfish populations.
Freshwater Fishing
Trout anglers in put-and-take areas continue benefiting from ongoing stockings in central and western regions. As May progresses and temperatures rise, stockings will decrease in central areas and increase in western regions where cooler water persists. March stockings provided over 91,000 trout at more than 100 locations.
Smallmouth bass and walleye have finished spawning and are active in the upper Potomac River and Deep Creek Lake. Very low water flows and clear conditions in the upper Potomac favor long casts with light lines near current breaks and underwater ledges. Emerging grass beds offer exciting topwater action when casting poppers during early morning hours near bed edges. The Monocacy River and Prettyboy and Liberty reservoirs also support smallmouth bass populations.
Largemouth bass have completed or are nearly finished with spawning activities everywhere except western regions. Male largemouth remain at nest sites protecting larvae, while females can be found in waters away from shallow spawning areas.
May offers excellent opportunities for various sunfish species found abundantly in most state waters. These fish often provide first catches for young anglers while offering entertainment for adults using appropriate tackle. Lightweight fly rods with small poppers or ants, or ultra-light spinning gear with small lures can enhance any fishing trip.
Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays
Surf anglers are experiencing consistent action with striped bass, black drum, and large bluefish along Assateague and Ocean City beaches. Striped bass typically measure well beyond legal slot limits but provide exciting catch-and-release opportunities. Black drum are medium-sized, while bluefish are large but thin. Striped bass and bluefish are taking cut bait, black drum prefer sand fleas and clams. Dogfish and clearnose skates are unfortunately also present.
At the inlet and Route 50 Bridge area, anglers are catching tautog, flounder, and large catch-and-release striped bass. Tautog are responding to sand fleas, flounder to Gulp baits and squid strips, and striped bass to drifted cut bait. Small striped bass often falling short of the 28-inch minimum are being caught by casting soft plastic jigs near dock and bridge piers, bulkheads, and jetty rocks.
Flounder continue migrating through the inlet into back bay areas, with channels leading from the inlet being prime drifting locations. Striped bass provide excellent catch-and-release fishing at Route 611 and Route 90 bridge piers. Casting paddle tails and soft plastic jigs are the most popular techniques, though most striped bass fall short of the 28-inch minimum.
Offshore and nearshore wreck and reef site anglers are enjoying quality fishing for tautog, black sea bass, and mixed flounder. The 2026 black sea bass regulations for federal waters include a 15-fish daily limit per angler and 12.5-inch size limit. The 2026 black sea bass season runs from May 1 through December 31. Tautog season remains open until May 16, then closes until July 1.
SALISBURY, MD — Drivers should prepare for major traffic delays and road closures this week as Salisbury University hosts its Spring Commencement ceremonies across two days in May.
The university’s graduate ceremony kicks off Wednesday, May 20 at 6 p.m. inside the Maggs Physical Activities Center. Campus parking lots near Chesapeake Hall and the Patricia R. Guerrieri Academic Commons will be designated exclusively for graduating students and their families. Special accessible parking will be set up at Perdue Hall for those who received advance permits from the university.
Additional parking for the graduate event will be open at the Guerrieri University Center, Commons area, and the Wayne Street Garage. Motorists can expect minor backups on Route 13 near the campus starting around 4 p.m. as families begin arriving.
Thursday’s undergraduate ceremony at Sea Gull Stadium at 9 a.m. will create much more significant disruptions. Wayne Street between Bateman and Power streets will be completely shut down from 6 p.m. Sunday, May 17 through 6 p.m. Thursday, May 21 for event setup and cleanup.
The most severe congestion is anticipated Thursday morning from 6-9 a.m. and again from noon-2 p.m. on all major campus approaches, including Route 13, Milford Street, Beaglin Park Drive and College Avenue. Several campus-area streets including Avery, Bateman, Wayne and Power will be off-limits to regular traffic from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Families driving from Route 13 via Bateman Street will be routed to the Wayne Street Garage, while those coming from South Division Street should head to the Avery Street lot. A special drop-off zone for guests needing mobility assistance will operate on Power Street near the stadium, with designated accessible parking available at the East Campus Complex.
Additional parking spaces will be available in campus lots near the Guerrieri Student Union for overflow crowds and those planning to watch the ceremony from remote viewing locations at the Academic Commons and Physical Activities Center.
Regular shuttle service will connect multiple parking areas to the graduation venue, including stops at the Commons, Student Union, and College Avenue solar installation lot.
University officials warn that street parking near campus and athletic facilities will be prohibited. Graduates and guests are also reminded that unauthorized parking at nearby businesses or schools could result in tickets or towing. The university encourages carpooling when possible to reduce congestion.
Detailed parking maps and additional ceremony information can be found on the university’s commencement website at www.salisbury.edu/administration/academic-affairs/commencement.
Delaware transportation crews will begin storm drain inspection work along Route 1 in Dover next week, creating temporary lane restrictions for nearly two months.
The Delaware Department of Transportation announced the inspection project will run from May 11, 2026, through June 30, 2026, affecting both northbound and southbound traffic on the busy highway.
Drivers can expect rolling single-lane closures between the Dover Toll Plaza and Dover Air Force Base while crews conduct their inspection work.
State transportation officials are reminding drivers to follow the “move over” law when approaching work zones. Motorists should change lanes when safely possible or reduce their speed by at least 20 mph when the posted limit is 50 mph or higher if they see vehicles with flashing emergency lights stopped along the roadside.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Seven contenders seeking California’s top executive office engaged in a spirited televised debate Tuesday evening, sparring over contentious issues including a proposed wealth tax and government healthcare for undocumented residents.
The CNN-broadcast forum represented one of the final opportunities for candidates to make their case to voters before the June 2nd primary to replace term-limited Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. With mail-in ballots already circulating, the top two vote-getters will move forward to November’s general election regardless of political affiliation.
While no Republican has occupied the governor’s mansion for over ten years, the crowded field suggests uncertainty with less than four weeks remaining until election day.
Tuesday’s debate featured Democrats Xavier Becerra, former Biden administration health secretary; Katie Porter, ex-congresswoman; billionaire environmental advocate Tom Steyer; San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan; and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Republicans Steve Hilton, a conservative media personality, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco also participated.
Healthcare policy sparked intense exchanges among the candidates.
The contenders battled over eliminating private insurance for a government-controlled system, a concept that has repeatedly stalled in the state legislature.
Porter, an advocate for government-managed healthcare, challenged Becerra directly about his shifting position on the matter.
“Do you support CalCare — California having its own state-run, single-payer system, yes or no?” Porter asked.
Becerra provided an ambiguous response.
“The most important thing about having a Medicare for All plan is that it includes everyone,” he said. “What we have to do is get to the point where we are covering everyone with something like Medicare for All.”
Mahan, opposing a state-controlled system, later interjected that Becerra “was unable to clearly answer the most important question on healthcare.”
Becerra pushed back: “I did answer that question.”
Steyer aligned with Porter in supporting the proposal, while Bianco, Hilton, and Villaraigosa dismissed it as impractical or financially unrealistic.
Immigration discussions revealed stark partisan divisions.
Steyer, Porter and Becerra endorsed state-funded medical coverage for low-income undocumented immigrants, a program Newsom initially expanded but later reduced. Bianco labeled the approach “ridiculous.”
Steyer argued the state should pursue legal action against federal agents and immigration officials who engage in racial profiling or violence against Californians. Mahan noted that San Jose business owners have seen customers disappear because many immigrants fear leaving their homes.
Bianco defended Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities, stating agents were upholding federal law and working to remove individuals he described as “criminals” without legal status.
Hilton, who emigrated from England, emphasized he was the debate’s only immigrant participant. He cautioned against mixing legal and unauthorized immigration issues.
“Although it is the federal government’s responsibility to determine and implement immigration policy, I think it’s important that all the laws are peacefully enforced,” Hilton said. “As governor, I would make sure that we work with the federal government to enforce our laws.”
Democratic candidates repeatedly stressed their opposition to Trump’s immigration agenda.
Neither Hilton, who has Trump’s backing, nor Bianco frequently mentioned the former president, except to argue that Democrats wrongly hold him responsible for state problems.
Becerra referenced Trump most frequently, highlighting his numerous lawsuits against the administration during his tenure as state attorney general from 2017 to 2021, before Biden appointed him health secretary.
“I’m going to repeat Donald Trump as often as I have because he’s the menace,” Becerra declared.
When Villaraigosa pressed Hilton to confirm Trump’s 2020 election defeat, Hilton declined to respond.
“Endlessly going on about Donald Trump doesn’t serve the needs of the struggling families and small businesses,” Hilton said.
Mahan attempted to stake out centrist ground. He criticized Becerra for attributing high fuel costs entirely to Trump, while noting San Jose has challenged the Trump administration’s immigration policies in court. He called Republican support for Trump’s “cruel and ineffective policies” disqualifying.
Porter offered a blunt assessment: “Donald Trump sucks.”
Tax policy discussions centered on wealth inequality measures.
Steyer stood alone in endorsing a proposed billionaire tax likely appearing on November ballots. The one-time levy would restore funding eliminated by Trump-era cuts that reduced healthcare access for low-income residents.
Porter supports higher taxes on California’s wealthiest residents but characterized the proposed tax as a short-term solution to systemic problems.
Mahan proposed suspending gasoline taxes to ease burdens on working families.
Hilton suggested eliminating income taxes on the first $100,000 of earnings.
Both Mahan and Steyer advocated taxing artificial intelligence companies and directing revenue toward worker support programs, including job training initiatives.
“The answer is to tax these companies, not to regulate them to the point that they simply go to other places,” Mahan said.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (AP) — Law enforcement officials executed a search warrant Wednesday at a residence linked to the individual found guilty of murdering 19-year-old California Polytechnic State University student Kristin Smart nearly three decades ago.
Smart’s body has never been recovered, leading to her being legally declared deceased in 2002. Paul Flores received a conviction for her murder and was handed a sentence of 25 years to life behind bars.
According to a statement from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, the search conducted in Arroyo Grande on California’s central coast is part of the continuing investigation into Smart’s vanishing. Public records and podcast reporting indicate the residence belongs to Susan Flores, Paul Flores’ mother.
“The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to bringing Kristin home to her family,” officials stated. “No further information is available.”
The “Your Own Backyard” podcast, which played a crucial role in helping investigators solve the case by encouraging additional witnesses to come forward, broke the news of Wednesday’s search and confirmed the home’s ownership. Efforts to contact Susan Flores for a response were unsuccessful.
Smart vanished from California Polytechnic State University in May 1996. Legal authorities contended she died during an attempted sexual assault and that Flores, a fellow student, was the final person observed with her.
Both Flores and his father, Ruben Flores, faced arrest in 2021.
Prosecutors claimed Smart’s body was initially interred on Ruben Flores’ land before being relocated elsewhere. He was cleared of accessory charges. The property searched Wednesday differs from that location.
Paul Flores received his prison sentence in March 2023, where he has suffered physical assaults on multiple occasions.
A court ruling in 2024 ordered Paul Flores to compensate Smart’s family with more than $350,000 for expenses related to her death.
The family has indicated they would waive financial compensation if Flores revealed the location of Kristin’s remains. Defense attorney Harold Mesick stated in 2024 that the legal team has no knowledge of where her body lies. Flores continues to deny guilt.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jurors in Columbus started weighing evidence Wednesday in the second murder trial of a former law enforcement officer accused of killing a young Black man in 2020.
Jason Meade, a white former Franklin County sheriff’s deputy and Baptist minister, faces murder and reckless homicide charges for the December 2020 death of Casey Goodson Jr., 23. Prosecutors say Meade shot Goodson five times in the back while Goodson attempted to enter his grandmother’s home. The initial trial concluded in a mistrial over two years ago.
The fatal encounter occurred during a period of nationwide demonstrations following George Floyd’s death, adding to a series of incidents involving white Ohio police officers killing Black residents throughout the prior decade.
Earlier this year, Goodson’s relatives secured a $7 million settlement in their federal civil rights lawsuit against the county.
Unlike the previous trial where he took the stand, Meade’s legal team chose not to have him testify this time. In his earlier testimony, Meade claimed he followed Goodson after witnessing him display a weapon while their vehicles passed each other. He stated he feared for his safety and others’ wellbeing, ultimately firing when Goodson allegedly turned toward him while armed.
Defense lawyer Mark Collins addressed jurors during Wednesday’s closing statements: “Jason had to decide, ladies and gentlemen, whether the gun he had already seen twice was going to be the gun that killed him. He had no pause button. He had no crystal ball. And he had no duty to wait for the first shot. The law does not require perfection from our law enforcement officers. It requires reasonableness.”
Collins urged the panel to find his client not guilty.
State prosecutor Howard Tim Merkle challenged the jury, asking “Who’s got a motive here to deceive?” He contended the defense failed to prove Meade acted in self-defense when he killed Goodson.
“So what evidence is there against the idea, the suggestion that Casey turned and pointed the gun?” Merkle questioned. “We can start with he’s got six shots in his back. They’re not in his front.” Medical evidence showed one of the six gunshot wounds was to Goodson’s side.
No body camera footage captured the incident, and prosecutors maintain Meade stands alone in claiming Goodson held a weapon. Goodson’s relatives and attorneys assert he carried a Subway sandwich bag in one hand and keys in the other when shot. While they acknowledge Goodson may have possessed a firearm, they emphasize he held a valid concealed carry permit.
Investigators discovered Goodson’s gun beneath his body on his grandmother’s kitchen floor with the safety engaged.
SALISBURY, Md. — Officials in Salisbury have called off the Maryland Folk Festival for 2026 after facing significant financial obstacles during their latest round of seeking sponsors and grant money.
City leaders concluded they could not deliver the high-quality event that residents and visitors have grown accustomed to experiencing over the years.
“This was not an easy decision,” said Caroline O’Hare, Events & Culture Manager for the City of Salisbury. “The folk festival has become a meaningful tradition for our community—bringing people together through music, dance, food, and shared experiences. We are incredibly proud of what has been built over the years.”
Following its evolution from the National Folk Festival, this annual celebration has drawn tens of thousands of people to Salisbury’s downtown area, showcasing performers from across the nation and around the world alongside local artists and cultural heritage displays. The festival has served as a central piece of the city’s cultural offerings and a major economic boost for the downtown district.
Salisbury officials extended their gratitude to the numerous sponsors, volunteers, performers, area businesses, and municipal staff members who helped make the festival successful throughout the past ten years. Their contributions helped establish a welcoming, family-oriented celebration that highlighted cultural diversity and brought the community together.
Although the festival won’t happen this year, Salisbury’s Arts, Business, and Culture Department continues working to provide opportunities for both locals and tourists to enjoy artistic performances, experience different cultural traditions, and build community connections.
“We’re taking this time to reflect and look ahead,” said O’Hare. “Our goal is to continue building meaningful experiences for our community in new and thoughtful ways. We’re already beginning conversations around future community-centered programming and exploring what a new event in Fall 2027 could look like for Salisbury.”
The City of Salisbury Arts, Business, and Culture Department plans to announce more information about upcoming programming as plans develop.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A prominent Virginia state senator who has championed cannabis reform throughout her political career now finds herself at the center of a federal investigation after law enforcement raided her marijuana business this week.
Senator L. Louise Lucas, known for her passionate advocacy on cannabis legalization, has built much of her legislative agenda around reforming drug laws that she believes unfairly target African American communities. Her commitment to the cause led her not only to author legalization legislation but also to establish her own cannabis retail operation.
Federal agents conducted a court-authorized search at Lucas’s business on Wednesday, though the FBI has not disclosed the specific focus of their investigation. The raid has thrust the longtime politician’s three-decade career back into the spotlight.
Lucas made history in 2019 when she became Virginia’s first Black woman to serve as Senate president pro tempore following the Democratic takeover of the chamber.
Her political journey has not been without controversy. In 2020, she faced felony accusations related to her participation in a demonstration against a Confederate memorial, though a judge ultimately threw out those charges.
A Portsmouth native, Lucas broke barriers early in her career as the first woman to work as a ship fitter at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, according to state library records. She currently leads a Portsmouth company that provides housing, daily programming, and transportation services for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Lucas launched The Cannabis Outlet in her hometown of Portsmouth in 2021, selling legally permitted hemp and CBD merchandise.
“Let’s talk about pot,” Lucas wrote on social media platform X in 2022. “Yes, we legalized it and I even opened the Cannabis Outlet after we did! But the job isn’t done. People are still in jail for something that is legal today.”
Witnesses reported seeing an armored FBI vehicle and multiple federal agents at Lucas’s cannabis shop on Wednesday. The FBI confirmed only that agents were executing a court-approved search warrant in Portsmouth.
The nation’s chicken industry is showing signs of growth, with new federal statistics revealing a 3 percent increase in broiler-type egg production across the United States.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, the placement of broiler-type chicks also climbed by 3 percent during the same period.
This upward trend in both egg setting and chick placement suggests strengthening demand in the poultry sector, which represents a significant portion of American agriculture.
The statistics reflect the ongoing activity in commercial chicken operations nationwide, where broiler chickens are raised specifically for meat production rather than egg laying.
Cheese manufacturing across the United States showed strong growth in recent months, according to new federal agriculture data released this week.
Production figures reveal that cheese makers produced 1.26 billion pounds of cheese products during the reporting period, not including cottage cheese varieties. This represents a 1.2 percent increase compared to March 2025 figures and a substantial 8.1 percent jump from February 2026 levels.
The statistics come from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, which tracks dairy production trends nationwide as part of its regular industry monitoring efforts.
The production increases suggest continued strength in America’s dairy sector, with cheese manufacturing showing particular resilience and growth during the measured timeframe.
More than 500 religious leaders from over 35 states descended on the nation’s capital this week for a coordinated advocacy effort supporting Israel and addressing growing concerns about antisemitism.
The interfaith delegation, comprised of rabbis, pastors, and other faith community leaders, conducted 115 separate meetings with lawmakers and senior congressional staff from both sides of the political aisle during Israel Advocacy Day.
Four organizations collaborated to coordinate the effort: Eagles’ Wings, American Christian Leaders for Israel, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA, and the Israel Allies Foundation. Event organizers emphasized the unique approach of pairing Jewish and Christian leaders together for their Capitol Hill visits.
The religious coalition concentrated their advocacy efforts around three main priorities: bolstering bipartisan congressional support for Israel, tackling the rise of antisemitic incidents both domestically and internationally, and securing enhanced safety measures for houses of worship and religious institutions facing security concerns.
The day’s activities wrapped up with addresses from Rep. Don Bacon, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, and senior staff representatives from both House Republican and Democratic offices.
Robert Stearns, who founded and leads Eagles’ Wings, emphasized the importance of moving beyond symbolic gestures. “This moment calls on faith leaders and elected officials to transform words into meaningful action,” Stearns stated. “For years, many have stood with Israel in sentiment. This initiative is about translating that support into tangible engagement- meeting with policymakers, building relationships, and advancing solutions that can be seen, measured, and felt.”
The advocacy day also featured an evening gala that brought together Jewish and Christian leaders from across the United States. The event included presentations by Eric Fingerhut, who serves as president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, and Rabbi Pini Dunner from the Beverly Hills Synagogue.
During the gala ceremony, Dr. Susan Michael and Bishop Robert Stearns were honored with the White Rose Society Award, a recognition given to non-Jewish individuals who have demonstrated exceptional support for Jewish communities during times of increasing antisemitism.
Dr. Susan Michael, who leads ICEJ USA, highlighted the power of interfaith cooperation in their advocacy efforts. “Our advocacy has much greater impact when we speak with one voice and stand in unity for truth, justice, and goodness,” Michael explained. “We demonstrate that support for Israel is not just a Jewish issue – it is important to Christians and to tens of millions of Americans.”
A Pakistani journalist and content creator has been placed behind bars in Lahore following counterterrorism charges that accuse him of supporting al-Qaida and holding forbidden materials – claims that his family, coworkers, and several experts are vigorously challenging.
Muhammad Saad bin Riaz, who works as both a journalist and YouTuber, was ordered to remain in custody by judicial authorities after the terrorism-related accusations were filed against him.
Those defending Riaz argue that the charges are inconsistent with his professional background as a researcher and journalist who specializes in covering regional warfare and information campaigns.
This detention has sparked broader discussions throughout Pakistan about whether government officials are addressing a legitimate extremist danger or are misusing extensive counterterrorism authority in ways that could damage public confidence, media freedoms, and the trustworthiness of intelligence-based law enforcement.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between national security concerns and journalistic independence in Pakistan’s media landscape.
Media visionary Ted Turner, the audacious entrepreneur who established CNN and revolutionized television journalism with continuous news coverage, passed away Wednesday at age 87, marking the end of an era for a man whose bold ventures transformed broadcasting, athletics, charitable giving, and how global audiences witnessed history as it happened. In 2018, Turner revealed he was battling Lewy body dementia.
Robert Edward Turner III was born November 19, 1938, in Cincinnati and constructed one of the most influential media legacies of the late 1900s after inheriting his family’s advertising billboard company. Following his father’s passing, Turner assumed leadership of the business, ventured into television broadcasting, and pioneered the “superstation” concept by beaming an Atlanta television station via satellite to cable providers nationwide. This strategic decision transformed a regional broadcaster into a nationwide media powerhouse.
Turner’s most significant risk occurred in 1980 when he established the Cable News Network. During that period, the concept of a television station delivering news around the clock was broadly rejected as costly, unrealistic, and somewhat crazy. Turner, who appeared to use doubt as motivation, forged ahead regardless. CNN emerged as the inaugural 24-hour cable news service and eventually became one of the globe’s most identifiable news organizations.
For Middle Eastern viewers, CNN’s defining achievement occurred during the 1991 Gulf War, when the channel’s live broadcasts from Baghdad transformed warfare into an ongoing worldwide transmission. CNN’s Iraq coverage demonstrated the strength of satellite journalism and altered how political leaders, armed forces, and audiences comprehended immediate conflict reporting. The conflict also elevated CNN to international recognition beyond America and stimulated satellite news expansion throughout the Arab region.
While Middle Eastern affairs weren’t central to Turner’s professional focus, he became involved in a significant Israel-related dispute in 2002. During a Guardian newspaper interview, he implied that both Israelis and Palestinians participated in terrorist activities, prompting harsh criticism from Israeli authorities and Jewish groups. Turner subsequently retracted his statements, expressing regret for any suggestion that Israel’s protective measures equaled terrorism and acknowledging a “fundamental distinction” between Israeli government actions and Palestinian violence.
Outside CNN, Turner developed an extensive media conglomerate encompassing Turner Broadcasting System, TNT, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies, and additional channels. He also possessed the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks, captured the 1977 America’s Cup sailing championship, and established the Goodwill Games, a Cold War-period athletic competition designed to promote international rivalry beyond Olympic boycotts of that time.
Turner ranked among America’s most prominent billionaire charitable donors. In 1997, he committed $1 billion toward United Nations initiatives, a contribution that resulted in establishing the United Nations Foundation. He subsequently helped launch the Nuclear Threat Initiative alongside former US Senator Sam Nunn, concentrating on diminishing nuclear, chemical, and biological dangers. His environmental activities encompassed significant land preservation projects, bison recovery efforts, and backing climate-focused causes.
He gained recognition for his confidence, outspoken nature, bold personality, and readiness to express thoughts that more reserved executives would never voice publicly. Known as the “Mouth of the South,” Turner could display brilliance one moment and volatility the next. He wed three times, notably to actress Jane Fonda, and fathered five children.
Turner’s influence remains complex, much like the individual himself. He contributed to establishing global television news infrastructure while simultaneously creating the continuous news environment that later faced criticism for haste, drama, and perpetual emergency atmosphere. He promoted worldwide cooperation, yet his own statements occasionally sparked the exact disputes he claimed communication could resolve.
Nevertheless, the essential truth persists: before Turner, television news appeared at scheduled times. Following Turner, news broadcasting became constant. For positive and negative outcomes—and throughout the Middle East, frequently during periods of conflict, uprising, terrorism, negotiations, and catastrophe—the world adapted to observing history unfold in real time.
Tensions erupted Tuesday evening outside a Manhattan synagogue when approximately 100 protesters confronted New York City police during a demonstration against an Israeli real estate event taking place inside Park East Synagogue on the Upper East Side.
Video footage captured demonstrators waving Palestinian flags and using drums while positioned about half a block from the synagogue. The crowd voiced chants including “Palestine will never die” and “Stop the sale of stolen land.”
Other slogans heard throughout the evening included: “We don’t want no two states, we want all of it,” “End the settler Zionist state,” “Death to the IDF,” and “There is only one solution, intifada revolution.” Participants also called out in Arabic “From the water to the water, Palestine is Arab” as they marched to drum rhythms.
Recorded footage revealed physical altercations between demonstrators and NYPD officers when protesters tried to break through police barriers that had been set up around the area.
During the demonstration, one participant was observed hitting a photograph of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the deceased spiritual leader of the Chabad Hasidic movement, while other protesters made triangle hand gestures linked to Hamas imagery.
A smaller opposing group assembled in the vicinity, displaying placards that read “Antizionism is a hate movement” and “Antizionism gets Jews killed.” Several counter-demonstrators performed “Hatikva,” Israel’s national anthem.
The anti-Zionist protesters directed hostile language toward the counter-demonstrators, calling them “Nazis,” “pedophiles,” and “baby killers,” and telling them “Go kill yourself.”
The activist organization Pal-Awda NY/NJ coordinated Tuesday’s demonstration. This same group previously organized a protest at the identical synagogue location in November during an event sponsored by Nefesh B’Nefesh, which helps facilitate Jewish relocation from America to Israel.
Reports indicate that the November demonstration drew approximately 200 participants who harassed attendees as they entered the synagogue for that event.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has been characterized as critical of Israel, had not issued any public statements regarding Tuesday evening’s protest.
