The White House has defended President Donald Trump’s receipt of FIFA’s first-ever Peace Prize amid mounting international criticism from soccer officials and human rights organizations.
FIFA presented Trump with the inaugural honor during December’s World Cup draw ceremony, citing his efforts in “promoting peace and unity around the world.” The decision sparked immediate backlash from human rights advocates and soccer organizations leading up to the World Cup.
This week, Australian soccer star Jackson Irvine criticized the award, stating it undermines FIFA’s Human Rights Policy. Meanwhile, Norway’s soccer federation has called for FIFA to eliminate the prize altogether.
In response to the criticism, White House officials pointed to Trump’s “Peace through Strength foreign policy” approach, claiming it successfully concluded eight conflicts within a year.
“There is no one else in the world more deserving of FIFA’s first ever Peace Prize than President Trump. Anyone who thinks otherwise clearly suffers from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome,” stated White House spokesman Davis Ingle.
The controversy comes as the United States prepares to co-host the World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico from June 11 through July 19. However, military actions have continued since the award ceremony, including a strike on Venezuela one month after the tournament draw and coordinated airstrikes with Israel targeting Iran beginning February 28.
President Trump has repeatedly highlighted his role in resolving global disputes and has publicly suggested he deserves recognition with the Nobel Peace Prize on multiple occasions.
The University of Delaware’s men’s basketball team has welcomed a new addition to their lineup for the 2026-27 season with the signing of transfer player Eugene Alvin, according to an announcement made Tuesday by head coach Martin Ingelsby.
Alvin comes to the Blue Hens program after completing his previous season playing for Morgan State University. The Newark-based team continues to build their roster as they prepare for the upcoming basketball season.
Coach Ingelsby confirmed the signing as part of the program’s ongoing efforts to strengthen their competitive position for the 2026-27 campaign.
Investment banking giant Goldman Sachs has prohibited its Hong Kong-based employees from accessing artificial intelligence tools developed by Anthropic, according to a Financial Times report published Tuesday.
Banking staff in the region lost access to Anthropic’s Claude AI models several weeks ago, according to four sources familiar with the situation cited by the newspaper.
The restriction represents an unusual move in Hong Kong, where American-developed AI technologies like ChatGPT and Claude typically remain accessible. While mainland China blocks these AI platforms, Hong Kong generally stays outside such restrictions, with access limitations usually determined by the U.S. companies themselves.
An Anthropic representative informed the Financial Times that Claude models were never officially “supported” in Hong Kong, though the company refused to provide additional details.
According to the report, Goldman Sachs implemented the ban after conducting a thorough review of its agreement with Anthropic in consultation with the AI company. This analysis led the bank to conclude that Hong Kong-based staff should be completely barred from using any Anthropic services.
The prohibition does not affect Goldman Sachs’ relationships with other artificial intelligence providers, including OpenAI, the Financial Times noted.
Neither Goldman Sachs nor Anthropic provided immediate responses to requests for comment from Reuters.
The development comes months after Goldman Sachs’ chief information officer Marco Argenti announced in February that the financial institution was collaborating with Anthropic to create AI-powered systems designed to automate various internal operations.
WASHINGTON – During Tuesday’s formal White House reception for King Charles and Queen Camilla, President Donald Trump reflected on how the forebears of both leaders would be amazed to witness “the Anglo-American revolution in human freedom” enduring into modern times.
Following his remarks, Trump moved away from the podium to greet Charles with a handshake, and the two leaders shared a moment of laughter. The White House later shared a photograph of their interaction with the caption “TWO KINGS.”
This marks another instance of Trump embracing royal symbolism during his current presidency. Last October, he shared an artificial intelligence-created video showing himself crowned and flying a military aircraft over protesters displaying “No Kings” signs – demonstrations that Republican congressional leaders have labeled “Hate America” gatherings.
In the video, Trump’s depicted character releases waste material onto the crowd below. That same day, he posted additional AI content portraying himself in royal regalia including a crown, ceremonial cape, and sword while Democratic lawmakers bowed before him.
The historical context adds irony to the “Two Kings” reference, as American colonists fought an eight-year independence struggle against Charles’ ancestor King George III starting in 1775. The Declaration of Independence in 1776 accused the British crown of “repeated injuries and usurpations” aimed at establishing “absolute Tyranny over these States.”
“One interesting difference between America and the UK is the people are the sovereign. We don’t have one person that’s sovereign,” said Representative Joe Morelle, a New York Democrat, speaking to Reuters. “I don’t think the president, respectfully, understands that difference.”
White House representatives did not provide immediate responses to requests for comment. The presidential couple is hosting Charles and Camilla for an official state dinner Tuesday night.
During his address to Congress earlier Tuesday, King Charles highlighted the nations’ common heritage and democratic values, referencing the Magna Carta, Britain’s 1689 Declaration of Rights, and America’s 1791 Bill of Rights to emphasize that “executive power is subject to checks and balances.”
When questioned about accusations of monarchical behavior during a CBS “60 Minutes” interview following Saturday’s thwarted assassination attempt, Trump dismissed the claims.
“I’m not a king,” Trump told correspondent Norah O’Donnell. “If I was a king, I wouldn’t be dealing with you.”
Federal health officials are actively recruiting new members for a critical medical advisory group that determines which preventive healthcare services Americans receive without charge.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday it is accepting nominations for the Preventive Services Task Force, which has remained largely dormant for more than twelve months. The panel, normally composed of 16 healthcare professionals, has been operating with significant gaps after five volunteer positions became vacant in December.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently criticized the group’s performance during congressional testimony earlier this month, stating: “That task force has been lackadaisical. It’s not been doing its job.”
Federal officials are specifically looking for medical professionals and researchers from various fields including heart specialists, cancer doctors, women’s health physicians, children’s doctors, family practitioners, and health economics experts. Those interested in submitting nominations have until May 23 to apply.
Healthcare professionals have expressed concern that the panel’s inactivity has created significant delays in updating important medical screening recommendations for cancer detection, cardiovascular disease prevention, and other vital health conditions.
The task force’s recommendations directly impact insurance coverage decisions, determining which preventive services must be offered to patients at no additional cost under current healthcare laws.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — A Mexican national has entered a guilty plea for masquerading as a Border Patrol officer and interfering with federal immigration enforcement operations in Southern California.
Jamie Ernesto Alvarez-Gonzalez confessed to tailing a Border Patrol officer on January 8th while the agent conducted operations in a San Diego neighborhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California announced.
Federal prosecutors revealed that Alvarez-Gonzalez operated a black Ford F-150 pickup truck — the same model commonly used by undercover federal agents — equipped with deceptive government markings. The vehicle featured a license plate frame displaying “federal truck” in small print, though the word “federal” was incorrectly spelled. Additional modifications included a Border Patrol decal on the windshield, non-functional radio antennas mounted on the roof, and handcuffs dangling from the rearview mirror, court documents stated.
The legitimate Border Patrol agent abandoned his assignment after noticing Alvarez-Gonzalez’s surveillance, mistakenly assuming backup agents were responding to assist, federal prosecutors explained.
During a confrontation with authentic agents, Alvarez-Gonzalez “shouted obscenities and demanded agents leave the community of Linda Vista,” according to prosecutors. The situation escalated when three additional vehicles arrived and began intimidating the departing federal officers, pursuing them onto the highway.
Evidence presented by prosecutors included a recording in which Alvarez-Gonzalez stated he was actively searching for federal immigration enforcement personnel and had summoned his “reinforcements.” Authorities also discovered he possessed a counterfeit FBI badge.
The defendant entered guilty pleas to one charge of impersonating a federal agent and three charges of unlawful firearm possession. His federal public defender has not responded to requests for comment.
Court records indicate Alvarez-Gonzalez remained in the United States beyond the expiration of a tourist visa he had used to enter the country decades earlier, the U.S. Attorney’s Office disclosed.
FREDERICK, Md. – The Salisbury University Sea Gulls baseball squad continued their impressive winning streak with a commanding 11-1 victory over Hood College on Tuesday, marking their eighth consecutive triumph this season.
Playing at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium, home to the minor league Frederick Keys, the seventh-ranked Sea Gulls dominated through aggressive base running and strategic offensive play. The team recorded a season-best 11 stolen bases while executing five sacrifice bunts during the eight-inning contest.
The Sea Gulls’ running game proved unstoppable as they consistently pressured the Hood Blazers’ defense throughout the afternoon. Their combination of speed on the basepaths and timely hitting resulted in a lopsided victory that ended after eight innings due to the mercy rule.
This latest win extends Salisbury’s hot streak and solidifies their position as one of the top-ranked teams in college baseball. The Sea Gulls will look to continue their winning ways as they advance deeper into the season.
Negotiators from European Union member countries and the European Parliament were unable to strike an agreement on proposed modifications to artificial intelligence regulations following an exhausting 12-hour bargaining session that concluded Tuesday without resolution.
The proposed modifications target the AI Act, legislation that took effect in August 2024 with implementation scheduled to roll out in phases beginning this year. These changes form part of the European Commission’s Digital Omnibus initiative, designed to streamline multiple digital sector regulations and help European businesses compete more effectively against American and Asian competitors.
The continent’s artificial intelligence regulations are widely regarded as the most stringent globally, developed in response to growing worries about the technology’s effects on young people, the workforce, businesses, and digital security.
A representative from Cyprus, which currently leads the rotating EU Council presidency, confirmed the breakdown in negotiations. “It was not possible to reach an agreement with the European Parliament,” the Cypriot official stated.
Kim van Sparrentak, a Dutch member of parliament, expressed sharp criticism over the failed negotiations. “Big Tech is probably popping champagne. While European companies that care about safety and did their homework now face regulatory chaos,” she declared in a public statement.
Sources with firsthand knowledge of the discussions indicated that the next negotiation session will likely occur within two weeks.
These same sources revealed that Tuesday’s talks, which began at 1100 GMT, hit roadblocks due to demands from certain countries and legislators. They insisted that industries already operating under specific sector regulations, including product safety requirements, should receive exemptions from the artificial intelligence legislation.
The AI regulation establishes more demanding standards for technology use in “high-risk” sectors including biometric identification systems, utility services, healthcare, credit assessment, and law enforcement operations.
The broader Omnibus package encompasses additional regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the e-Privacy Directive, and the Data Act, among other measures.
Privacy advocates and civil rights organizations have voiced strong opposition to the suggested modifications to both these regulations and the AI Act, arguing that officials are yielding to pressure from major technology corporations.
The Trump administration has implemented stricter background check requirements for individuals seeking immigration benefits, according to internal documents from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services obtained by news outlets.
USCIS staff received direction to halt approval of any pending immigration cases until applicants complete the expanded security screenings. The new protocol took effect April 27, 2026.
“Effective April 27, 2026, USCIS will begin receiving enhanced criminal history record information (CHRI) for all fingerprint-based background checks submitted to the FBI’s Next Generation Identification system,” stated an internal email sent to USCIS personnel in the Refugee, Asylum and International Operations division last week.
The immigration enforcement measures represent part of President Trump’s broader initiative to tighten border security and reduce unauthorized immigration since returning to office in early 2025.
Critics including human rights organizations, civil liberties advocates and faith leaders have denounced the administration’s approach, arguing it undermines constitutional protections and creates a hostile atmosphere for minority communities.
The heightened screening requirements stem from a February executive order that instructed the Department of Homeland Security to “access criminal history record information (CHRI) in the custody of federal criminal justice agencies to the maximum extent permitted by law.”
Applications requiring fingerprint submission will face delays under the new policy, including requests for permanent residency status and citizenship processing.
Immigration officers must resubmit fingerprint data for cases where FBI records were obtained before the April 27 deadline, internal guidance specified.
A USCIS representative told media outlets that the agency “has implemented new security checks to strengthen the vetting and screening of applicants through expanded access to federal criminal databases.”
Officials indicated that “any delay in decision issuance should be brief and resolved shortly.”
World-ranked golfer Patrick Cantlay has pulled out of this week’s Cadillac Championship in Miami after becoming ill, tournament officials announced Tuesday.
Michael Thorbjornsen will step in to fill Cantlay’s spot in the tournament field.
The 34-year-old Cantlay, currently sitting at 32nd in world rankings, has been playing strong golf recently with a seventh-place finish at the Valspar Championship, followed by a 12th-place showing at the Masters and an eighth-place result at the RBC Heritage.
Cantlay’s absence adds to a growing list of high-profile players skipping this week’s event at Trump National Doral, including second-ranked Rory McIlroy, third-ranked Matt Fitzpatrick, ninth-ranked Xander Schauffele, 12th-ranked Robert MacIntyre, and 14th-ranked Ludvig Aberg.
The unexpected opening creates a valuable chance for Thorbjornsen, the former Stanford standout who continues pursuing his first PGA Tour victory. The young golfer showed promise with strong performances at The Players Championship and Texas Children’s Houston Open, finishing tied for 22nd and 14th respectively, before missing the cut at the Valero Texas Open and placing tied for 33rd at the RBC Heritage.
This week’s Cadillac Championship marks the season’s fifth signature tournament, offering players a chance at a $20 million prize fund and enhanced FedExCup points. Another signature event, the Truist Championship, follows next week before the PGA Championship begins.
The PGA Tour returns to Trump National Doral for the first time since 2016, when Adam Scott claimed victory at the Miami venue.
Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman achieved a significant milestone Tuesday when his investment firm Pershing Square successfully secured $5 billion through a new publicly-traded fund launch on Wall Street.
The public offering represents the fulfillment of Ackman’s longtime ambition to establish a flagship investment vehicle trading on the New York Stock Exchange. This new fund, called Pershing Square USA, differs from his previous offerings by eliminating performance fees and targeting both institutional and individual investors.
Ackman had previously attempted to launch this same fund in 2024, but withdrew the public offering just days before its scheduled debut when investor interest fell short of expectations.
Trading for both Pershing Square USA and Pershing Square commenced Wednesday on the NYSE, with the ticker symbols “PSUS” and “PS” respectively.
Major investors including family investment offices, pension funds, insurance companies, and wealthy individuals competed for access to Ackman’s investment expertise, more than two decades after he established Pershing Square Capital Management in New York.
Reuters previously reported Monday that the offering attracted more demand than available shares, with institutional investors accounting for over 85% of purchase orders.
The timing coincides with SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, preparing what could become the largest initial public offering ever, with the space company expected to begin investor presentations in early June.
The newly launched fund will follow Ackman’s established investment approach, focusing on 12 to 15 large-capitalization companies listed in North America.
Ackman built his reputation as a skilled Wall Street investor through activist campaigns that pushed major corporations including Canadian Pacific Railway and Chipotle Mexican Grill to implement strategic changes.
The market for closed-end fund public offerings has remained quiet in recent years, as these investment vehicles typically trade below the value of their underlying holdings, making them less attractive to investors.
To enhance the appeal of this offering, Ackman provided additional incentives by including bonus shares in his management company, giving investors one Pershing Square share for every five PSUS shares they purchased.
Ackman has indicated that a successful launch of PSUS could lead to additional closed-end investment funds from Pershing Square in the future.
The combined public offering was managed by several major financial institutions serving as global coordinators and bookrunners: Citigroup, UBS Investment Bank, BofA Securities, Jefferies, and Wells Fargo Securities.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize was forced to exit Tuesday’s matchup against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning after experiencing tightness in his right groin, according to team officials.
The injury occurred when Mize, who was selected first overall in the 2018 MLB Draft, appeared to show signs of discomfort while fielding a ground ball hit by Atlanta’s Drake Baldwin. After making an underhand toss to first base for the out, Mize visibly winced.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch and the team’s medical staff quickly came out to evaluate the right-handed pitcher before pulling him from the contest.
Mize, who earned his first All-Star selection last year, has been performing well this season with a 2-1 record and a 2.66 earned run average through six outings. During his abbreviated appearance against the Braves, he gave up two runs on three hits while recording three strikeouts and issuing one walk.
Drivers traveling northbound on Route 896 will need to merge into the left lane due to ongoing construction work affecting traffic flow between Cobble Creek Curve and South Old Baltimore Pike.
The Delaware Department of Transportation has implemented a right lane closure that will remain active until 6 a.m. as crews complete necessary roadwork in the area.
Motorists should expect potential delays and are advised to allow extra travel time when using this corridor during the construction period.
PHOENIX — A federal court on Tuesday threw out a Justice Department legal action against Arizona that sought to compel the state to hand over comprehensive voter registration records, marking another courtroom defeat for federal officials in their nationwide push to access voter information.
U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich, who was appointed during the Trump presidency, determined that Arizona’s comprehensive voter registration database does not fall under materials that federal law allows the Attorney General to demand. The judge ruled against the lawsuit permanently, stating that any modifications to the case would serve no legal purpose.
This Arizona decision continues a pattern of judicial rejections facing the Justice Department in comparable litigation across multiple states. Federal prosecutors have initiated legal action against no fewer than 30 states plus Washington D.C., attempting to compel the release of comprehensive voter information that encompasses birth dates, home addresses, driver’s license identification numbers, and portions of Social Security numbers.
Beyond Arizona, courts have turned down these federal efforts in Rhode Island, California, Massachusetts, Michigan and Oregon. In Georgia, a judge threw out a Justice Department case due to improper venue selection, forcing federal attorneys to restart their case in a different jurisdiction.
The Justice Department initiated legal proceedings against Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes in January after he refused to comply with federal demands for the comprehensive voter data.
“This moment is a win for voter privacy,” Fontes said in a statement. “I will never comply with illegal requests that put Arizona voters in harms way.”
The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to research by the Brennan Center and Associated Press coverage, no fewer than 13 states have either delivered or agreed to deliver their comprehensive voter registration databases to federal authorities: Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming.
Federal authorities claim they require the voter information to verify that states are following federal election regulations concerning voter registration list maintenance. During the Rhode Island litigation, a Justice Department lawyer admitted the department wanted complete voter roll data to share with the Department of Homeland Security for citizenship verification purposes.
Officials from both major political parties have opposed these federal demands, arguing such requests breach state and federal privacy protections.
Economic experts worldwide are raising inflation projections for this year as energy market disruptions continue to push oil prices higher, according to a comprehensive survey of approximately 500 economists released Tuesday.
The research, conducted between March 27 and April 27, examined the top 50 global economies and found that 44 nations are now expected to experience higher inflation in 2026 than previously anticipated. This shift comes as ongoing Middle East tensions have significantly impacted global oil supplies.
Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz has created uncertainty around one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, with crude prices climbing back above $110 per barrel this week. Despite these pressures, most countries outside of Turkey and Argentina – which already face double-digit inflation – saw only moderate forecast adjustments.
Seth Carpenter, Morgan Stanley’s global chief economist, noted the unprecedented nature of current conditions. “The outright closure of the Strait of Hormuz is essentially ahistorical, and so we don’t have a great model for this in the past,” Carpenter explained.
“People need to entertain the idea we just have higher oil prices for the foreseeable future because of the extra risk premium built in,” he added.
Central banking officials remain cautious about immediate policy responses, still mindful of their earlier miscalculations during the COVID-19 pandemic when they initially dismissed rising prices as temporary. The Bank of Japan maintained steady interest rates Tuesday, following predictions from financial analysts.
Most major central banks are expected to take similar wait-and-see approaches while monitoring how Middle Eastern conflicts develop. The focus centers on whether current price increases will trigger broader economic effects requiring immediate interest rate adjustments.
Current projections suggest the Federal Reserve will reduce rates only once this year, likely in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Bank of England and Bank of Canada are anticipated to maintain current rates through 2026, while the European Central Bank may implement a single rate increase, possibly in June.
Douglas Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital Markets, expressed concerns about market reactions to ongoing developments. “There is a tendency in financial markets, which we think will be super rational, to ignore bad news until it’s right on their doorstep,” Porter observed.
“While I do take some comfort in how strong financial markets have been, I don’t think that gives us an all-clear signal by any means,” he continued.
Despite energy sector challenges, global economic growth projections remain remarkably stable at 2.9% for this year – virtually unchanged from previous forecasts over the past twelve months. This consistency comes even amid significant trade disruptions from tariffs and what the International Energy Agency has called the worst energy crisis on record.
The International Monetary Fund recently projected slightly stronger global growth at 3.1% for this year, though some economists maintain more conservative outlooks.
Porter described his forecasts as “probably a little bit more cautious,” citing particular concerns about Gulf region activity. “A lot of that is just due to a much weaker outlook for activity in the Gulf region. But we’ve also shaved our view on Europe and North America as well as parts of Asia,” he explained.
Gulf economies face the most significant downward revisions due to their proximity to ongoing conflicts, with three of six regional economies expected to contract this year before recovering in 2027. These projections assume the current war will end soon and energy market disruptions will stabilize.
Other regions show more stable economic outlooks. Taiwan’s growth estimates received boosts from artificial intelligence technology demand, even as the broader Asian region faces mild impacts from energy market shocks.
The National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety has scheduled a disciplinary hearing for May 4 to review an incident involving Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig, who threw a punch at an opposing player during playoff action.
Officials announced the hearing on Tuesday but did not indicate it would take place in person, suggesting any potential suspension would not exceed five games. According to The Ottawa Citizen, the proceedings will be handled via telephone.
The 23-year-old player received a roughing penalty after striking Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker during Saturday’s Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round matchup. Carolina captured that contest to complete a sweep of the series, eliminating Ottawa from postseason contention, meaning any disciplinary action would carry over to the upcoming season.
The confrontation happened during a play stoppage in the middle portion of the second period in Game 4. Walker had been engaged in a physical altercation with Warren Foegele when Greig joined the fray and delivered what appeared to be a high punch that sent Walker tumbling to the ice surface.
Greig wrapped up his fourth NHL campaign with 13 goals and 22 assists, totaling 35 points across 77 regular season contests. His assist and point numbers represented personal bests, while his goal total matched his output from the previous two seasons. He also accumulated 83 minutes in penalties during the regular season.
Throughout the first-round playoff series against Carolina, he contributed one assist while serving two penalty minutes.
Brazil’s competition authority has launched a formal investigation into two major airlines over allegations they may have been coordinating their ticket prices on domestic flights.
The Administrative Council for Economic Defense, known as CADE, announced Tuesday it has opened administrative proceedings against LATAM and Gol airlines following concerns about potential price coordination in Brazil’s domestic passenger aviation market.
The formal investigation stems from an initial inquiry that CADE’s general superintendence launched in 2023. Regulators used sophisticated data analysis techniques and discovered what they describe as a consistent pattern showing the two airlines’ pricing decisions appeared to be linked on major flight routes.
Both airlines will receive official notification and have the opportunity to mount their legal defense. CADE emphasized that launching this investigation does not constitute a final ruling on the matter.
Gol, which is owned by Abra Group, issued a statement denying any wrongdoing. The airline said it has “always championed free competition and pricing freedom.”
Chile-based LATAM similarly disputed CADE’s allegations, stating that competitive markets represent a “non-negotiable value” for their operations.
Motorists traveling on northbound Interstate 95 should expect delays as construction crews continue work that has shut down the two right travel lanes between exits 4 and 5.
According to the Delaware Department of Transportation, the lane restrictions will remain in place until 5 a.m. Drivers are advised to use caution in the work zone and allow extra travel time during the closure period.
Traffic is being directed into the remaining open lanes while the construction activity continues overnight.
DOVER, Del. – Delaware’s baseball squad secured a victory on the road Tuesday evening, defeating Delaware State University 7-5 in their annual Route One Rivalry showdown.
The Blue Hens traveled to Dover to face their in-state competitors, coming away with the win in what has become a highly anticipated matchup between the two Delaware universities.
The Route One Rivalry represents the ongoing athletic competition between the University of Delaware and Delaware State, named after the major highway that connects both institutions.
Tuesday’s contest saw Delaware emerge victorious by two runs in a competitive game that showcased both teams’ abilities on the diamond.
An Ethiopian distance runner accomplished something extraordinary at the London Marathon, yet it wasn’t enough to secure first place. Yomif Kejelcha managed to complete the 26.2-mile course in less than two hours during the April 26th race in London, England, but crossed the finish line as the runner-up.
Despite the second-place finish, Kejelcha maintains a positive outlook about his historic performance. In an interview with NPR, the Ethiopian athlete expressed his determination to improve even further, stating his goal is to complete his next marathon one minute faster than his sub-two-hour time.
The achievement represents a significant milestone in marathon running, as breaking the two-hour barrier has long been considered one of the sport’s ultimate challenges. While Kejelcha’s time was groundbreaking, another runner managed to finish ahead of him in what must have been an exceptionally competitive race.
EDMONTON, Alberta — The Edmonton Oilers face uncertainty about their star captain Connor McDavid’s availability as they prepare for a critical Tuesday night matchup against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 of their opening playoff round.
The NHL’s leading scorer this season was absent from Tuesday morning’s practice session before what becomes a do-or-die contest for Edmonton.
Edmonton finds itself in a challenging position, needing to overcome a 3-1 series disadvantage in the best-of-seven format to keep their season alive. The franchise made consecutive Stanley Cup final appearances over the past two years, ultimately falling to the back-to-back champion Florida Panthers.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch indicated that both McDavid and forward Jason Dickinson’s participation would be determined closer to game time, while confirming Connor Ingram will handle goaltending duties.
The 29-year-old superstar has appeared to struggle with mobility issues following an ankle injury sustained during Game 2’s second period after a collision with teammate Mattias Ekholm.
Despite the injury concerns, McDavid, who topped the league with 138 points this season, found the net for his initial goal in Game 3 and recorded multiple-point performances in both the third and fourth contests played in Anaheim. He also missed Saturday’s optional practice session while in Anaheim.
On Tuesday, McDavid received recognition as a nominee for the Ted Lindsay Award alongside San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini and Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov. This honor recognizes the league’s top performer as chosen by fellow NHL players, with McDavid having claimed the award four times previously.
Ingram will return between the pipes for Edmonton after Tristan Jarry recorded 34 stops in Game 4’s 4-3 overtime defeat. Ingram handled the first three games of the series, capturing a 4-3 victory in the opener before surrendering 11 goals across two straight losses behind Edmonton’s struggling defensive play.
“Nothing against Jarry,” Knoblauch said. “I thought he had a solid game the other night, but going down this last few weeks or months, Ingram’s been our starter. He’s been our guy. Now that our season’s on the line, we felt that we would go with our guy.”
Dickinson missed the second and third contests due to injury after scoring twice in Edmonton’s series-opening victory and contributing an assist on the Oilers’ initial goal in the Game 4 setback.
WASHINGTON — Republican senators voted down Democratic-sponsored legislation Tuesday that would have forced President Donald Trump to obtain congressional authorization before continuing America’s energy embargo against Cuba.
The war powers resolution vote demonstrated continued GOP support for Trump’s unilateral approach to international conflicts across multiple regions, including Venezuela, Iran, and Cuba — a nearby Caribbean nation that has remained a long-standing U.S. opponent.
Democratic lawmakers have repeatedly attempted to pass measures limiting the president’s military authority in these conflicts, though all previous efforts have failed. Tuesday marked the first Cuba-focused vote, which would have mandated congressional approval before any military strikes against the island.
GOP senators successfully dismissed the measure by claiming it was procedurally improper since America isn’t directly fighting Cuba. The dismissal motion passed 51-47, with Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman as the sole Democratic supporter, while Maine’s Susan Collins and Kentucky’s Rand Paul were the only Republicans opposing dismissal.
Cuba currently faces severe water and electricity shortages as U.S. sanctions continue and oil deliveries from Venezuela remain blocked. The Trump administration maintains pressure on Cuban leaders to stop political oppression, free political detainees, and reform the struggling economy.
Virginia Democrat Tim Kaine, who sponsored the resolution, described the embargo as creating “humanitarian crises across Cuba,” disrupting healthcare services, leaving millions without potable water, and driving up food costs.
“My argument is that under the terms of the resolution we are already engaged in hostilities with Cuba because we are using American force, primarily the Coast Guard, but other assets as well, to engage in a very devastating economic blockade of the nation,” Kaine said.
During a recent Turning Points USA gathering, Trump promised “a new dawn for Cuba” and indicated the island would receive his focus following the Iran conflict.
Democratic senators emphasized the resolution’s importance in preventing potential military action against Cuba.
“The United States and Cuba need to find a way to peacefully coexist,” said Vermont Democrat Peter Welch.
Democrats have consistently used the 1973 War Powers Act to challenge Trump’s military decisions, legislation originally designed to strengthen congressional authority over war declarations.
Florida Republican Rick Scott criticized Democrats for overlooking Cuban leadership’s human rights violations.
“President Trump is doing everything he can to bring back freedom and democracy all across Latin America, and we should do everything we can to support him,” Scott said.
A two-year legal battle between San Francisco and Oakland has come to an end with a settlement that permits Oakland to incorporate ‘San Francisco’ into its airport’s official name, though with strict limitations on how those words can be displayed.
Under the agreement revealed Tuesday, Oakland’s airport may operate under the name ‘Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport,’ but the city cannot emphasize ‘San Francisco’ or ‘San Francisco Bay’ through special fonts, highlighting, color variations, or other visual techniques. The settlement also mandates that Oakland must place the word ‘bay’ immediately following ‘San Francisco’ and prohibits the use of ‘International’ in the airport’s title, despite the facility serving international routes.
The conflict started in 2024 when Oakland, a multicultural port community frequently viewed as overshadowed by its wealthier western neighbor, renamed its airport to ‘San Francisco-Oakland Bay Airport.’ This move triggered a lawsuit from San Francisco officials who claimed trademark infringement.
The two aviation facilities sit on opposite sides of San Francisco Bay, separated by approximately 30 miles of driving distance.
Oakland authorities explained that the name change was essential to help unfamiliar travelers identify the city’s location within the Bay Area. They noted that visitors frequently choose San Francisco’s airport even when their final destination is nearer to Oakland’s facility. The airport’s three-letter identifier OAK remained unchanged.
‘We’re proud Oakland fought for, and preserved the right to retain our airport’s full name that puts Oakland first and recognizes OAK’s location on the San Francisco Bay,’ stated Mary Richardson, legal counsel for the Port of Oakland, which operates the airport.
San Francisco had contended that including ‘San Francisco’ in Oakland’s airport designation would mislead passengers, particularly international travelers and those unfamiliar with the Bay Area. However, city officials adopted a more conciliatory stance Tuesday.
‘We are grateful to have reached a resolution in this matter,’ commented San Francisco International Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet. ‘This agreement provides clarity for travelers to make informed decisions about travel through our respective airports.’
The resolution involved no admission of wrongdoing from either party and included no financial compensation.
San Francisco International Airport, commonly referred to as SFO, belongs to the city despite being technically situated south of its boundaries.
Delaware Department of Transportation crews are performing maintenance work that will slow traffic on a busy stretch of Interstate 495 through late tonight.
Northbound I-495 between U.S. Route 13 and Philadelphia Pike is experiencing reduced speeds due to sweeping operations currently underway. The maintenance work focuses on cleaning the entrance and exit ramps in this corridor.
DelDOT officials say the sweeping operations will continue until midnight tonight. Motorists traveling through this area should expect slower than normal traffic conditions and plan for additional travel time.
The affected section includes multiple on and off ramps that serve as key access points for commuters and commercial traffic in northern New Castle County.
Drivers traveling on northbound U.S. Route 13 should expect delays due to ongoing construction work that has shut down the right lane in a busy corridor.
The lane closure affects the stretch of highway between Hamburg Road and Federal School Lane, with work scheduled to continue until 6 a.m.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when driving through the construction zone. Traffic is being funneled into the remaining left lane during the closure period.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon faced intense questioning from senators during her first Capitol Hill hearing of the year, as lawmakers pressed her on proposed reductions to federal education funding and concerns over student civil rights protections.
During the hearing, McMahon addressed criticisms regarding budget cuts to the Education Department and outlined plans to expand the department’s legal team focused on civil rights enforcement. She acknowledged that too many attorneys working on civil rights cases had been let go in the previous year and committed to hiring additional lawyers to strengthen these efforts.
Senators from both parties challenged McMahon on various aspects of the department’s direction, particularly regarding how funding reductions might impact educational programs and student services across the nation.
The hearing provided lawmakers their first opportunity this year to directly question the Education Secretary about the administration’s educational priorities and policy changes affecting schools nationwide.
The National Basketball Association took another step Tuesday toward implementing significant changes to its draft lottery system, advancing a proposal designed to discourage teams from deliberately losing games to secure better draft positioning.
League general managers examined the “3-2-1 Lottery” concept, which would expand the current 14-team lottery to include 16 franchises while dramatically reducing the draft advantages for clubs with the poorest records. The proposal requires additional discussion before reaching the Board of Governors for a decisive vote anticipated next month.
Should the plan receive approval, it would take effect following this year’s draft lottery scheduled for May 10, marking the final use of the existing system.
Thursday’s competition committee meeting will feature further deliberation on the proposal, which aims to encourage competitive play even among teams eliminated from playoff and play-in tournament contention.
Under the suggested framework, all 16 participating teams would receive between one and three lottery balls, creating the system’s “3-2-1” designation. The distribution would work as follows:
Teams losing the No. 7 versus No. 8 play-in matchups in each conference would receive one lottery ball apiece.
The No. 9 and No. 10 seeds entering play-in competition would each obtain two lottery balls.
The remaining 10 franchises missing both playoffs and play-in tournaments would all receive three lottery balls, except for the three teams with the worst regular season records. These bottom-dwelling clubs would face “draft relegation,” losing one lottery ball as punishment for poor performance.
The league expressed significant frustration this season regarding teams that clearly prioritized draft positioning over victories, including levying a $500,000 fine against the Utah Jazz “for conduct detrimental to the league” after two key players were benched during fourth quarters of consecutive games.
This season witnessed an unprecedented race toward futility, with five franchises—Washington, Indiana, Utah, Memphis and Brooklyn—posting winning percentages below .180 following the All-Star break. No previous NBA season had featured so many teams losing at such rates during the campaign’s final stretch.
“The incentives are not necessarily matched here,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated in February regarding the correlation between poor records and favorable lottery positioning. “I think the tradition in sports where the worst-performing team receives the first pick from their partners, when any economist comes and looks at our system, they always point out you have the incentives backwards there. That doesn’t necessarily make sense.”
Silver has committed to addressing the tanking problem before next season, noting the league has modified its lottery structure multiple times throughout recent decades.
The proposed system would give teams with the three worst records identical 5.4% chances of securing the No. 1 pick, with those clubs unable to drop below the 12th selection.
However, the seven other teams missing playoffs and play-in tournaments would receive the best odds at 8.1% each for the top pick.
Play-in tournament seeds No. 9 and No. 10 would also have 5.4% chances, while teams losing the No. 7 versus No. 8 play-in games would each possess 2.7% odds.
This season’s three worst performers—Washington, Indiana and Brooklyn—currently have 14% lottery odds and guaranteed top-seven selections under the existing system. Indiana’s pick would transfer to the Los Angeles Clippers if it falls fifth or sixth due to a previous trade agreement.
The new system would reduce those teams’ chances to 5.4% while allowing them to fall as low as 12th overall. These clubs would face a 72% probability of landing outside the top five picks.
“This is a decision that needs to be made at the ownership level,” Silver explained earlier this year. “It has business implications, has basketball implications, has integrity implications for the league. It’s one that we take very seriously. We are going to fix it, full stop. I want to say that directly to our fans. … Incentives need to be fixed. We will fix them. I’m looking forward to that.”
Additional components of the 3-2-1 proposal include:
Preventing teams from winning consecutive No. 1 picks or securing three straight top-five selections.
Eliminating trade protections for picks falling between positions 12 and 15.
Granting the league “expanded disciplinary authority” to combat tanking through measures such as reducing lottery odds or altering draft positions.
Establishing a sunset clause after the 2029 draft, requiring Board of Governors approval to continue or modify the system.
NEW YORK (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman firmly defended Tuesday the controversial decision to allow Anaheim’s overtime goal against Edmonton that secured their Game 4 playoff victory.
“It wasn’t a controversy, it was absolutely the right call,” Bettman stated during a meeting with Associated Press Sports Editors at NHL headquarters in New York City. “Because of the technology that we currently use and the cameras that we have inside the net, you could see it, knew for certain that it would be in and over the line.”
The commissioner’s comments followed Sunday’s extensive video review of Ryan Poehling’s disputed goal, which officials ultimately ruled had crossed the goal line in Anaheim’s 4-3 victory. The Ducks now hold a commanding 3-1 series advantage and could eliminate Edmonton with a win in Tuesday night’s Game 5.
While referees on the ice initially called the goal valid, debate arose over whether replay footage provided sufficient proof that the puck had completely crossed the line at 2:29 of the extra period.
Poehling’s shot from a difficult angle deflected off an Edmonton player’s skate before sliding underneath goaltender Tristan Jarry. The puck appeared to barely slip across the goal line through Jarry’s legs, though the goalie’s skate blade obscured the top portion of the puck from camera view.
Officials reviewing the play concluded there was insufficient evidence to reverse the original goal call.
“I thought I saw some white (between the puck and the goal line) when I was behind the net,” Poehling said. “Then everyone was celebrating. Did it go in? I’m like, ‘I think so?’ But yeah, I thought so right away.”
Edmonton head coach Kris Knoblauch remained skeptical of the decision.
“I can’t see it going in,” Knoblauch said. “I can’t see the line. … The (initial) goal call on the ice was probably about 60 to 90 seconds after (the shot), maybe even more. They huddled when they got to center ice and then they made the (initial) call that it was a good goal. I don’t know. Wasn’t very definitive.”
During Tuesday’s discussion, Bettman revealed that the league is currently evaluating new technological improvements designed to help replay officials make more accurate goal determinations. However, he declined to share specifics about the technology or when it might be implemented.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves remains uncertain about his availability for Wednesday night’s critical playoff matchup against the Houston Rockets, as he continues recovering from an oblique muscle strain that has kept him off the court for almost a month.
Speaking with media on Tuesday for the first time since sustaining the injury on April 2nd during a game against Oklahoma City, Reaves displayed measured confidence about his potential comeback. The Lakers’ second-highest scorer had been marked as questionable for the previous two playoff games but remained on the bench as Los Angeles managed to split those contests, securing a commanding 3-1 advantage in their opening-round series.
“I want to get back out there as fast as I can,” Reaves told reporters at the team’s practice facility. “I feel good. Trending in the right direction. I can’t wait to get up (Wednesday) and attack another day.”
Head coach JJ Redick remained tight-lipped regarding the team’s decision-making process surrounding Reaves’ status, stating his participation would be “based on whether he’s good to go. We’ll talk through that.”
The injury represents the second significant setback during what has otherwise been a stellar campaign for Reaves. Despite appearing in only 51 games this season, he posted impressive numbers with 23.3 points per game alongside 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds. His limited appearances stemmed from both the current oblique issue and a left calf strain that forced him to miss 19 consecutive games spanning from Christmas through February.
While Reaves managed to complete the Oklahoma City contest where he initially suffered the injury, he recognized its severity due to his typically high threshold for pain. Notably, NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic also departed that same game with a hamstring strain, and both prolific scorers have remained sidelined since that date.
Despite their absence, Reaves has been encouraged by his teammates’ performance during the playoff run.
“Basically the message from that day forward was that they were going to do everything as a team to give us an opportunity to come back and play, and they’ve done exactly what they said,” Reaves explained.
LeBron James and the supporting roster have exceeded expectations by capturing the opening three games of their first-round matchup, placing the favored Rockets on the edge of elimination. Their Game 3 overtime victory proved particularly dramatic, as they overcame a six-point deficit with just 30 seconds remaining in regulation.
“It’s been a lot of fun, just seeing the determination, the togetherness, and just the joy of them playing basketball together (and) competing every single possession,” Reaves observed. “It’s been a lot of fun. Me and Luka talk about it every time we’re watching — just how hard we’re playing, the attention to detail and the togetherness.”
Doncic remains far from returning to action, potentially leaving both squads without their leading scorers for Game 5. Houston’s star Kevin Durant has been absent for three of the four series games due to his own injury concerns and did not participate in Tuesday’s practice session in Houston before the team’s flight to Los Angeles.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The vessel that transported four crew members on a historic lunar journey has arrived back at its starting point in Florida.
On Tuesday, NASA’s Artemis II spacecraft made its way back to Kennedy Space Center, nearly four weeks after launching on mankind’s initial moon voyage in more than five decades.
After touching down in Pacific waters on April 10, the Orion vessel was transported by truck from San Diego to Cape Canaveral. Technical teams will conduct thorough inspections of the craft’s thermal protection system and all other components as they prepare for the upcoming Artemis III orbital docking demonstration around Earth next year. The spacecraft’s electronic systems and scientific instruments will be extracted and repurposed.
The crew from the United States and Canada named their vessel Integrity, and it transported astronauts farther from Earth than any human has previously ventured. Apart from some issues with the restroom facilities, the spacecraft functioned effectively throughout the mission lasting nearly ten days, NASA reported.
Mission Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen are finally taking time to rest following extensive medical evaluations and additional testing after completing their mission.
“Been waiting for this moment,” Wiseman posted on X recently, sharing footage of himself enjoying time at the beach. “There is a lot in my head that I must process and very little has to do with leaving the planet. Today is my first step. I have never in my life felt peace like this.”
Before the Artemis II mission, no astronauts had journeyed to the moon since the Apollo 17 expedition in 1972.
The upcoming Artemis III mission will utilize a new spacecraft and different crew members. They will conduct orbital operations around Earth, practicing docking procedures with moon landing vehicles currently being developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin. This preparation will pave the way for a lunar surface mission involving two additional astronauts, potentially as soon as 2028.
NEW YORK – A historic milestone for gambling in the Big Apple was celebrated Tuesday as Queens welcomed the city’s first complete casino operation featuring live dealer table games.
The expanded Resorts World facility officially launched its new gaming floor, which houses over 200 live dealer tables offering blackjack, craps, baccarat, and roulette, alongside more than 2,500 slot machines. The venue had previously operated only as a slots-only establishment.
Additional gaming tables and slot machines are scheduled to come online throughout the year. Future development plans call for constructing a hotel, dining establishments, a 7,000-capacity entertainment complex, and over 12 acres of public green space across the 72-acre property.
“With our planned $5.5 billion expansion, this is only the beginning of something much bigger for Resorts World and for New York,” stated Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East, a division of the Malaysia-based Genting Group that operates the casino in Queens.
The Queens location has operated for over ten years adjacent to Aqueduct Racetrack, situated near John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Tuesday’s grand opening celebration included company leadership, government officials, and community members who participated in a ceremonial dice roll. Rapper Nas, who holds a partnership stake in the development, joined the festivities.
This facility represents one of three developments that recently secured state gaming licenses to operate comprehensive casinos within New York City limits.
Mets owner and billionaire Steve Cohen has unveiled plans for an $8.1 billion Hard Rock casino complex adjacent to Citi Field in Queens, which would feature entertainment venues, hotel accommodations, and retail shopping.
Bally’s has outlined approximately $4 billion in development at Ferry Point golf course in the Bronx, incorporating hotel facilities, event spaces, conference rooms, dining options, and additional amenities.
However, these two competing projects remain several years from completion.
The three approved developments emerged victorious from intense competition for coveted New York City area gaming licenses, defeating multiple rival proposals including three potential Manhattan casino locations.
Currently, four complete casinos offering table games operate upstate, while the state manages nine additional gaming facilities without live dealer options, most located far from Manhattan.
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling Tuesday declaring that digital voting records from individual ballots must be treated as public information, granting access to “cast vote records” that an election researcher working for the Trump Administration had sought last year.
The court’s Democratic majority stated their decision aimed to “satisfy the voting public that our elections are safe, secure and accurate” while upholding constitutional protections for ballot secrecy.
Election officials in Lycoming County’s Williamsport office had rejected Heather Honey’s application for electronic copies from the 2020 presidential race, claiming such access would essentially permit examination of individual ballot contents. These cast vote records generate automatically when voters make selections electronically or through scanned paper ballots.
State election statutes grant broad public access to county voting records, with exceptions for ballot box contents, voting machine data, and documentation related to voters who received assistance. Lycoming’s election office had contended that their scanning and tabulation equipment qualified as voting machines, making the cast vote records equivalent to protected ballot box contents.
When Honey’s non-resident status in Lycoming County became an issue, three local Williamsport residents took over the legal challenge — including a business owner, a former state police officer, and Republican state Representative Joe Hamm.
Attorney Thomas Breth, representing the plaintiffs, argued the information would enable citizens to examine what occurred during the contentious 2020 election cycle.
“In short, it’s not solely about the past,” Breth said. “It’s about the future. This significantly improves election integrity moving forward in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
Lycoming’s election supervisor Forrest Lehman stated Tuesday that he believes the records, which contain scrambled data, will not compromise any confidential voting information and expressed readiness to fulfill requests for the materials.
“The court made its decision, and anybody who wants it can have at it,” Lehman said.
The Supreme Court determined that cast vote records “are spreadsheets of raw data pulled from the cast ballots. They are not the physical ballots contained in the ballot box.” This classification makes them public records, the justices reasoned: “This interpretation does not destroy the secrecy of the vote any more than a tally of all votes from a specific election.”
The court emphasized its ruling applied specifically to the Lycoming County situation and noted that other counties might not adequately scramble their data. “Whether the Election Code requires disclosure of CVRs that clearly link the contents of a ballot with personally identifying data is not before us,” Justice Daniel McCaffery wrote.
Breth rejected concerns about voter privacy, explaining that Pennsylvania’s current voting equipment standards mandate protections for voter anonymity.
A 74-year-old businessman from upstate New York has admitted his role in a massive financial fraud that bilked hundreds of investors out of more than $50 million, state prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Miles “Burt” Marshall entered guilty pleas to second-degree grand larceny, securities fraud, and first-degree scheme to defraud. The charges could land him behind bars for four to 12 years when he appears for sentencing on June 11 in Madison County Court.
Operating from the small village of Hamilton near Colgate University, Marshall built his reputation as a tax preparer and insurance agent. But for years, he also ran what he called the “8% Fund,” promising investors that exact annual return on their money. His client base grew through personal recommendations, drawing investments from local residents, religious congregations, and community groups.
Court records reveal that by 2011, Marshall was operating a classic Ponzi scheme, using fresh investor funds to pay returns to earlier participants. A bankruptcy trustee’s investigation found that Marshall ultimately owed nearly 1,000 individuals and organizations approximately $95 million in principal and promised interest.
State Attorney General Letitia James revealed that Marshall diverted investor funds for personal luxuries including shopping sprees, vacation trips, and dining expenses.
“Miles Burton Marshall scammed his clients out of their life savings and used their hard-earned money to fuel a classic Ponzi scheme,” James stated in an official announcement.
The scheme unraveled in 2023 when Marshall sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection following a heart-related hospitalization. The medical emergency triggered a surge of withdrawal requests from investors, exposing the fraud. Marshall’s bankruptcy filing showed more than $90 million in debts against just $21.5 million in actual assets.
Victim Dennis Sullivan, who lost approximately $40,000, expressed frustration with the plea agreement. “I am shocked and a little upset that he didn’t get more time. I don’t feel justice was served,” Sullivan wrote in a text message following Tuesday’s court proceedings. “He has ruined so many of our lives.”
Marshall’s legal team has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the guilty plea.
LOS ANGELES — Eight contenders seeking California’s top executive office are gearing up for another televised face-off Tuesday evening as the state prepares to send out mail-in ballots within the coming week.
The mix of Democratic and Republican hopefuls — many still unfamiliar to much of the electorate — will attempt to convince voters they should succeed outgoing Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who cannot run for a third consecutive term.
The battle for leadership in America’s largest state by population comes as Sacramento grapples with persistent homelessness issues, wildfire insurance availability problems, anticipated budget deficits, and astronomical housing prices. Residents are simultaneously dealing with rising expenses for food, utilities, and fuel.
The hour-and-a-half forum will feature the top two GOP contenders, conservative media personality Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, alongside six Democratic candidates: former U.S. Representative Katie Porter, wealthy businessman Tom Steyer, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Biden administration Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, ex-Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and state education chief Tony Thurmond.
Porter told her supporters via email that she planned to take the stage “to fight for lowering costs for working families and Californians.”
“Because right now, Californians are getting crushed,” Porter stated.
A previous debate held last week, which did not include Villaraigosa and Thurmond, failed to produce any decisive moments or clear winners among the participants.
President Donald Trump — whose relationship with the heavily blue state has been consistently tense — will likely feature prominently in Tuesday’s discussion once again. Both Hilton and Bianco back the president, with Hilton receiving Trump’s official endorsement, while Democratic contenders have pledged to resist federal immigration enforcement operations and Trump’s conservative policy agenda.
California’s primary system places all candidates on one ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing to November’s general election regardless of party affiliation. Democrats worry their large field of candidates could allow two Republicans to move forward, which would represent an unprecedented disaster for the party.
The Democratic Party has controlled California’s state government for many years. No Republican has won a statewide race in two decades, and Democratic voter registration exceeds Republican registration by approximately two-to-one across the state.
Steyer, a former hedge fund executive who became a progressive political activist, has spent heavily from his personal wealth on television advertisements but has not separated himself from other candidates.
The campaign landscape shifted significantly earlier this month following the dramatic exit of U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell amid sexual assault allegations. His departure from both the race and Congress removed what had been considered one of the frontrunning campaigns.
CBS will host the debate, broadcasting it on its California television stations and online platforms.
WASHINGTON — A federal judge hearing a case that could determine the fate of Washington’s Kennedy Center challenged the Trump administration’s decision to completely shut down the renowned performing arts facility for two years of renovations beginning in July.
During Tuesday’s court session, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper pressed government representatives on their rationale for the total closure, questioning whether adequate research supported such a drastic measure.
The hearing marked the first of two consecutive court proceedings addressing legal challenges to Kennedy Center changes. Judge Cooper refrained from immediate action after extensively questioning lawyers from both sides, leaving his eventual ruling uncertain.
Cooper pressed government attorney Brantley Mayers about missing financial analysis regarding the closure’s economic impact, including lost sponsorships, canceled bookings, and revenue shortfalls. “I didn’t see any numbers,” the judge stated.
The judge also inquired why the government rejected phased renovation approaches, noting this had been the “status quo” before the administration abruptly shifted toward complete closure.
The legal challenge stems from a lawsuit filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat serving as an ex officio Kennedy Center trustee. Beatty’s case, originally filed last year against President Trump and other administration officials, expanded in February to contest the two-year closure plan.
Trump has focused considerable attention on the Kennedy Center since returning to office, removing previous leadership and installing a handpicked board that appointed him chairman. These changes sparked criticism from numerous artists and worsened the venue’s financial difficulties. Trump’s name was subsequently added to the building’s exterior, and he announced the renovation project earlier this year.
Judge Cooper devoted over half the two-hour session to questioning Nathaniel Zelinsky, senior counsel at the Washington Litigation Group, about technical aspects of Beatty’s legal standing to pursue the lawsuit.
The judge postponed any immediate decisions, including potential injunctions against the center’s name modification.
During proceedings, Norm Eisen, a Democracy Defenders Action board member serving as co-counsel with Zelinsky, cited numerous statutory references establishing the intended name as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
After the hearing, Beatty expressed concerns about potential changes during closure. “We went through the same thing at the White House. I was right outside there when we saw the bulldozers,” she said, referencing Trump’s modifications to the East Wing and Rose Garden.
Despite assurances from new executive director Matt Floca about appropriate renovation practices, Beatty said she doesn’t trust the president’s approach.
A second hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, addressing a separate lawsuit filed by eight cultural preservation organizations also opposing the closure and renovation plans.
Cooper indicated he wants specific questions answered at Wednesday’s hearing, particularly regarding what happens to Kennedy Center operations during closure, including whether any public access would remain available.
TAMPA, Fla. — A disturbing new development has emerged in the murder case of two University of South Florida doctoral students, as court documents reveal the accused killer consulted ChatGPT about disposing of human remains before the victims vanished.
The case centers around 26-year-old Hisham Abugharbieh, who authorities believe killed his roommate Zamil Limon and Limon’s girlfriend Nahida Bristy, both Bangladeshi graduate students who disappeared on April 16. Limon’s remains were discovered Friday beneath a bridge, while a second body found in nearby waters has yet to be officially identified.
Court filings submitted by prosecutors over the weekend reveal that Abugharbieh’s search history with the AI chatbot has become crucial evidence in the case. According to the documents, he posed multiple disturbing questions to the artificial intelligence system about firearms and body disposal methods in the days leading up to the students’ disappearance.
The suspect now faces two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon and remains in custody without bail following Tuesday’s court hearing.
The prosecution’s pretrial detention filing details a chilling timeline of Abugharbieh’s interactions with ChatGPT both before and after the victims went missing.
Prior to April 16, court records show Abugharbieh inquired about the consequences of placing human remains in trash bags and disposing of them in dumpsters. He also questioned whether his vehicle’s identification number could be altered and asked about keeping firearms at home without proper licensing. The AI system reportedly responded that his inquiries seemed dangerous.
Following the students’ disappearance on April 16, Abugharbieh continued his disturbing queries. Three days later, he asked ChatGPT about surviving gunshot wounds to the head and whether neighbors would hear gunshots. On April 23, he searched for the meaning of “missing endangered adult.”
Law enforcement officials can access AI chatbot conversations just like text messages, emails, and traditional internet search records during criminal investigations.
OpenAI representative Drew Pusateri stated Tuesday that the company is examining the reports regarding Abugharbieh and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement’s investigation.
This cooperation follows another probe launched by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who announced last week that his office opened a criminal investigation into whether ChatGPT provided assistance to a gunman responsible for killing two people and injuring six others at Florida State University.
Uthmeier revealed that prosecutors reviewed chat logs between ChatGPT and the alleged shooter, Phoenix Ikner, to determine if the AI application helped plan or advise the attack. Investigators believe the chatbot provided Ikner with guidance on weapon selection, ammunition types, effective shooting ranges, and optimal timing and locations to maximize casualties.
OpenAI representative Kate Waters acknowledged the FSU shooting as tragic but denied company responsibility. She emphasized that the company voluntarily provided information to authorities and maintains ongoing cooperation with investigators.
“In this case, ChatGPT provided factual responses to questions with information that could be found broadly across public sources on the internet, and it did not encourage or promote illegal or harmful activity,” Waters explained in an email statement last week.
Uthmeier announced Monday that his office would expand the FSU shooting investigation to include Abugharbieh’s case, describing the inquiry as “uncharted territory.”
However, similar criminal cases and civil lawsuits nationwide have already explored questions about AI technology’s role in criminal activity and the potential mental health risks posed by chatbots.
Last month, a father filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Google following his son’s suicide, joining a growing number of legal challenges against AI developers that highlight the mental health dangers of chatbot interactions.
Earlier, in late 2023, OpenAI faced a lawsuit over its alleged involvement in the murder of an 83-year-old Connecticut woman by her son, with plaintiffs claiming the company’s chatbot worsened the son’s “paranoid delusions” before he killed his mother and took his own life.
In another recent criminal case, prosecutors in March presented dozens of messages between former New York Jets linebacker Darron Lee and ChatGPT while building their case in the death of Lee’s girlfriend, Gabriella Perpetuo, who was found dead in their Tennessee residence. Hours before Perpetuo’s body was discovered, prosecutors said Lee asked the chatbot whether certain injuries could appear to result from accidental falls, among other suspicious inquiries.
A shooting incident on Saturday has once again brought the issue of political violence in America into sharp focus, though investigators continue searching for answers about what motivated the attack.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about the current atmosphere of political tensions nationwide, but many details about the suspect’s reasoning remain unclear.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attempted attack and the factors that may have influenced the suspect’s actions.
Motorists traveling on northbound U.S. Route 113 should plan for delays and alternate routes as construction crews close the left turn lane at Kruger Road overnight.
According to DelDOT, the left turn lane restriction will remain in place until 6 a.m. as crews complete necessary roadwork in the area.
Drivers needing to make left turns at this intersection are advised to seek alternative routes or plan extra travel time during the construction period.
Motorists traveling on Kruger Road should expect periodic lane restrictions due to ongoing construction activities. The work zone extends from US Route 113 to Kings Road, where crews are causing intermittent lane closures.
According to DelDOT, the construction-related lane restrictions will remain in effect until 6 AM. Drivers are advised to plan for potential delays and consider alternate routes when possible.
The Delaware Department of Transportation continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates as the construction work progresses.
Scientists at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have made a groundbreaking discovery that overturns a fundamental assumption about how plants feed themselves, according to an announcement made by the university on Tuesday.
The research team discovered that vegetation can take in vital nutrients directly from dust particles in the air through their leaves, contradicting the traditional scientific belief that plants obtain nourishment exclusively through their root systems from soil.
Published in New Phytologist journal and covered by Xinhua news agency, the research demonstrates that plant leaves can capture minerals like iron and phosphorus from dust floating in the atmosphere. Scientists explained that this feeding process works because leaves have a mildly acidic surface that dissolves dust particles, freeing up nutrients for the plant to absorb.
The research team conducted field testing under Mediterranean climate conditions, including locations in the Judean Hills, to verify their findings. Native plant species cistus creticus and salvia fruticosa that were subjected to artificial dust exposure displayed increased levels of iron and phosphorus in their upper portions, while nutrient concentrations in their root systems stayed essentially the same.
According to the research team, their discoveries reveal that plant leaves actively participate in nutrient collection rather than simply acting as inactive surfaces. Through a combination of field studies and worldwide data analysis, the scientists determined that nutrients obtained from atmospheric dust can significantly contribute to plant nourishment.
The study revealed that in certain areas, nutrients taken in through leaves represented as much as 17 percent of iron consumption and 12 percent of phosphorus consumption compared to nutrients obtained from soil. When intense dust storms occur, the quantity of nutrients absorbed from the atmosphere can equal or surpass the amounts gathered from ground sources.
The research indicates this feeding method could be especially crucial in locations where soil nutrients are scarce or hard for plants to reach. The scientists noted that this process might have a major impact in desert regions and ecosystems with poor soil quality.
The study also suggested that atmospheric nutrient absorption could become more significant as climate change influences worldwide dust movement patterns, potentially changing how plants obtain essential minerals across different geographical areas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a warning of potential sanctions against Israel following accusations that stolen Ukrainian grain is being accepted at Israeli ports, according to Reuters reports.
Speaking directly to Israel on Tuesday, Zelenskyy stated that acquiring grain shipped from occupied territories “violates Israel’s laws,” and emphasized that “buying stolen grain cannot be considered a legitimate business.” The Ukrainian leader expressed his expectation that Israeli officials “to respect Ukraine and refrain from actions that undermine relations between the countries.” Zelenskyy also noted that another vessel carrying what Ukraine deems stolen grain “has arrived in Israel and is preparing to unload.”
The diplomatic tension escalated when Ukraine’s foreign ministry called in Israeli Ambassador Michael Brodsky for questioning regarding these allegations. This action follows previous accusations that have created friction between the two nations, including a social media disagreement on Monday and earlier discussions between foreign ministers on April 15. A Ukrainian diplomatic official indicated that Israel had previously “brushed off” such complaints.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted on X that “Friendly Ukrainian-Israeli relations have the potential to benefit both countries, and Russia’s illegal trade with stolen Ukrainian grain should not undermine them.” He continued, “Now that another such vessel has arrived in Haifa, we once again warn Israel against accepting the stolen grain and harming our relations.”
Sybiha confirmed that Ukraine had “already officially summoned the Israeli ambassador to [the Ukrainian foreign ministry] tomorrow morning to present our protest note and request appropriate action.”
Israeli officials have pushed back against these accusations. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded on X, stating “Allegations are not evidence,” and noted that “Evidence substantiating the allegations have yet to be provided.” He promised the matter would be investigated and that international law would be followed.
According to Haaretz newspaper, a ship called the Panormitis, suspected of transporting grain from occupied Ukrainian regions, was waiting for clearance to enter Haifa port. The publication reported that four grain shipments from occupied Ukraine had already been processed in Israel during this year.
Ukraine maintains that grain grown in the four territories Russia has claimed since its 2022 invasion, along with Crimea which Russia annexed in 2014, constitutes stolen property taken by Moscow.
Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois recently participated in a discussion with NPR correspondent Scott Detrow about ongoing investigations into federal immigration enforcement operations in Chicago.
The conversation centered around public hearings being conducted by the Illinois Accountability Commission, which is examining federal immigration enforcement activities within the Chicago area.
The commission’s hearings are part of a broader investigation into what has been termed Operation Midway Blitz, focusing on federal immigration enforcement practices and their impact on local communities.
Good evening, Delmarva! We’re wrapping up this Tuesday with mostly cloudy skies and mild temperatures holding steady around 48 degrees tonight. Light southeast winds at about 5 mph will keep things comfortable as you head out this evening.
Looking ahead to Wednesday, we’re tracking some active weather moving into our area. Temperatures will climb to a pleasant 66 degrees, but don’t let that fool you – we’ll see increasing clouds with showers and thunderstorms becoming likely as the day progresses. Wednesday night will bring more widespread shower and thunderstorm activity, so keep those umbrellas handy and stay weather-aware.
The good news? Thursday looks much brighter! We’ll start with a chance of morning rain showers, but expect mostly sunny skies to return as we warm back up to 66 degrees.
Bottom line: enjoy the mild evening tonight, but be prepared for wet weather Wednesday into Wednesday night. Relief comes Thursday with sunshine returning to the peninsula.
Stay dry out there, and I’ll see you tomorrow with your updated forecast!
The Goldey-Beacom Lightning baseball team has secured the second-place position in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference standings following an 8-7 victory against Wilmington University.
The crucial conference matchup took place at Doyle Field in Hockessin, where the Lightning managed to edge out their opponents in what proved to be a decisive game for playoff positioning.
With this victory, Goldey-Beacom has officially clinched the runner-up spot in the CACC standings, positioning the team favorably as the conference tournament approaches.
A Manhattan federal judge made her feelings about New York City’s annual SantaCon celebration crystal clear during the court appearance of the event organizer now facing fraud charges.
Judge Colleen McMahon told the court that every year she feels “assaulted by SantaCon” and has to remain indoors when “drunken kids who are wearing Santa costumes” fill the city’s walkways.
The judge shared these candid remarks during the initial hearing for Stefan Pildes, the man behind the popular holiday bar crawl who was taken into custody last week before being released on bond.
The 50-year-old from Hewitt, New Jersey, remained silent when leaving McMahon’s courtroom in Manhattan.
Defense attorney Noam Biale defended his client in a public statement, declaring that Pildes “did not defraud anyone.”
Biale continued: “Every participant in SantaCon got exactly what they bargained for: mirth, merriment, and drunken debauchery. We look forward to advocating on Stefan’s behalf.”
Federal prosecutors outlined their strategy, saying they will rely on banking records, ticketing platform data, and documentation from dozens of drinking establishments and eateries that committed to donating between 10% and 25% of their SantaCon day revenue to charitable causes.
According to the criminal charges, Pildes donated only a fraction of the $2.7 million collected from 2019 through 2024 to charity. Authorities claim he redirected more than half the collected funds to support personal business ventures while spending hundreds of thousands more on luxury items for himself.
Federal authorities say Pildes misused charity-designated money for major improvements to a New Jersey lakefront home, entertainment tickets, high-end trips, expensive dining, and a luxury car.
The celebration originated from a 1994 San Francisco flash mob called “Santarchy,” designed to critique holiday commercialism. As the concept expanded across the country, it evolved from its anti-establishment roots into a widespread pub crawl tradition.
New York residents remain divided on SantaCon – some condemn the disruption it causes to streets and public transportation, while others enjoy watching thousands of holiday-costumed participants fill Manhattan’s streets as Santa Clauses, Mrs. Clauses, elves, and occasional Grinches.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Guyana has lodged a formal complaint with Caribbean leadership following Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez’s decision to display a disputed territorial symbol during recent diplomatic missions throughout the region.
The controversial accessory depicts Guyana’s mineral-rich Essequibo territory, a massive area comprising two-thirds of the nation that sits at the center of a longstanding border disagreement between the neighboring South American countries.
Venezuelan officials across government agencies have adopted the symbolic pin with growing frequency since Nicolás Maduro’s dramatic capture during a pre-dawn operation at his Caracas residence in early January.
Guyanese President Irfaan Ali addressed his concerns in correspondence to Terrance Drew, who serves as St. Kitts and Nevis’ prime minister and leads the Caribbean Community trade organization known as Caricom. Ali stated the accessory represents “Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s territory.”
Rodríguez displayed the territorial symbol during her Monday diplomatic mission to Barbados and had previously worn it while visiting Grenada in April, marking her inaugural international travel since assuming leadership following Maduro’s detention.
Ali expressed worry that Rodríguez’s choice to wear the symbol during formal state business might suggest host nations show “acquiescence or tolerance” toward Venezuela’s territorial assertions.
“Caricom’s principled support for Guyana must be reflected not only in declarations but in the context and conduct of official engagements,” Ali stated in his communication to the regional bloc.
The territorial disagreement stems from Venezuela’s position that an 1899 international boundary determination unfairly deprived the country of the region while under British colonial administration. The Netherlands’ International Court of Justice currently oversees the dispute.
Ali’s letter emphasized the trade organization’s consistent backing of Guyana’s territorial rights during important gatherings and argued that Venezuela should be prohibited from showcasing “symbols and maps” representing Essequibo, as such displays could weaken the ongoing international legal proceedings.
The Guyanese leader has also criticized Venezuela’s practice of incorporating Essequibo into official government maps, characterizing it as a “calculated and provocative assertion of a claim” that his nation continues to reject.
Recent tensions have escalated as Venezuela deployed naval vessels near American-operated offshore drilling platforms operating under Guyanese licensing, demanding cessation of petroleum extraction activities that the companies have disregarded.
Venezuelan government representatives in Caracas were unavailable for immediate response regarding the diplomatic complaint.
A federal judge has scheduled a June trial date for a 16-year-old accused of murdering his stepsister during a family cruise vacation last fall.
U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom announced Monday that Timothy Hudson will stand trial beginning June 1 in Miami on charges including first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in connection with the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner.
Hudson, who was originally charged as a minor before his case moved to adult court, submitted a written not guilty plea last week. Federal prosecution of juveniles is uncommon in the court system.
According to court documents, Kepner was aboard the Carnival Horizon vessel in November with family members, including Hudson, when tragedy struck. Authorities discovered her body hidden beneath a bed in a cabin she shared with Hudson and another teenager before the ship was set to dock back in Florida.
Medical examiners ruled that Kepner died on November 6 from mechanical asphyxia, which occurs when breathing is prevented by an external object or force.
In a public statement, Kepner’s father Christopher expressed the family’s faith in the legal process. “The situation is deeply painful and complex for the entire family,” Christopher Kepner stated, adding that they are placing “trust in the justice system to pursue the truth with care and integrity.”
The victim was a cheerleader at Temple Christian School located in Titusville, Florida, approximately 40 miles east of Orlando. During her November memorial service, relatives asked attendees to dress in vibrant colors rather than traditional black clothing “in honor of Anna’s bright and beautiful soul.”
Israeli military forces have eliminated a massive underground tunnel complex in southern Lebanon that officials say was constructed with Iranian oversight and funding over the past ten years.
The Israel Defense Forces announced Tuesday that soldiers from the 36th Division successfully demolished two major tunnels in the Lebanese town of Qanater, acting on what military officials called “precise intelligence.” The subterranean network stretched approximately 2 kilometers in total length and was situated roughly 10 kilometers from Israeli communities along the northern border.
Military officials report that the underground facility reached depths of about 25 meters and was developed under what they termed “direct guidance” from Iran. According to the IDF, the project received “funding by the Iranian terror regime and as part of Hezbollah’s plan to conquer the Galilee.”
During their exploration of the tunnel system, Israeli troops discovered extensive weapons caches, residential areas, water storage systems, and various equipment intended to sustain extended underground operations. Military sources indicate the network was designed to enable militant fighters to infiltrate northern Israeli communities.
The IDF stated that Hezbollah’s Radwan Force had recently utilized one tunnel section “to advance terror attacks against the State of Israel and its citizens, thereby posing a direct threat to Israeli civilians and IDF troops.”
The tunnel destruction required massive controlled detonations that were so powerful they registered on Israel’s seismic monitoring equipment, according to the Geological Survey of Israel. However, the explosions did not trigger earthquake warning systems.
Israeli military leadership characterized these tunnels as the most extensive underground network they have encountered in Lebanon throughout the ongoing conflict, emphasizing that the operation targeted infrastructure they viewed as an urgent danger to Israeli citizens and military personnel.
WASHINGTON — American military forces intercepted and searched a commercial cargo vessel this week as part of the ongoing naval blockade targeting Iranian shipping, but permitted the ship to continue its journey after determining it posed no threat.
According to U.S. Central Command’s social media announcement, Marines rappelled from helicopters onto the Blue Star III on Tuesday and “released the vessel after conducting a search and confirming its voyage would not include an Iranian port call.” Video footage captured American troops descending by rope onto the ship’s deck.
This marks the fourth commercial vessel inspected since the Trump administration launched its Iranian shipping blockade more than two weeks ago, though it’s the first ship not detained by U.S. forces. The naval operation seeks to apply economic pressure on Iran during ongoing ceasefire negotiations, as Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues disrupting global energy markets through the vital shipping corridor.
Maritime tracking data indicates the Blue Star III had departed from Qasim port in Pakistan and was traveling toward Sohar port in Oman.
Military officials provided no details about what initially raised suspicions about the vessel. U.S. Central Command has intensified efforts to demonstrate the blockade’s effectiveness despite criticism from maritime analysts.
The Middle East military command has been issuing regular reports on merchant vessels it claims the blockade has deterred, and stated Tuesday that “U.S. forces cut off economic trade going into and coming out of Iran.”
When the blockade commenced, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine announced that enforcement operations would reach beyond Iranian territorial waters and U.S. Central Command’s jurisdiction.
Military authorities have also published an extensive catalog of items classified as contraband, stating they will inspect, search and confiscate such materials from commercial ships “regardless of location.”
An official notice declares that any “goods that are destined for an enemy and that may be susceptible to use in armed conflict” are “subject to capture at any place beyond neutral territory.”
Maritime specialists like Campbell University professor Salvatore Mercogliano have pointed out that Iranian vessels possess multiple methods to evade the blockade, such as falsifying their location data or navigating through Pakistani waters.
Mercogliano also emphasized that monitoring the enormous volume of maritime traffic presents significant logistical challenges for military forces.
U.S. Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins described Tuesday’s Blue Star boarding as evidence that “demonstrates our thorough enforcement of the blockade.”
A group of Google workers has delivered a formal request to company leadership calling on the tech giant to turn down any Pentagon contracts that would involve secret military applications of their artificial intelligence systems.
The formal request, which was sent to CEO Sundar Pichai and includes signatures from high-ranking staff members and researchers at Google’s DeepMind AI division, asks the company to avoid any Defense Department partnerships involving confidential technology applications. The Washington Post obtained a copy of the document.
Staff members expressed concerns that confidential military projects would reduce openness and make it impossible for company officials to monitor how their AI systems are being utilized. “There is no way to ensure that our tools will not cause serious harm or violate individual freedoms,” the petition stated.
The document also addressed wider moral questions surrounding military AI applications. “We want to see AI benefit humanity; not to see it being used in inhumane or extremely harmful ways. This includes lethal autonomous weapons and mass surveillance but extends beyond,” the workers wrote.
They added, “The only way to guarantee that Google does not become associated with such harms is to reject any classified workloads. Otherwise, such uses may occur without our knowledge or the power to stop them.”
This workplace resistance mirrors similar internal pushback from 2018, when Project Maven sparked controversy over Google’s involvement in helping the Pentagon analyze objects in drone surveillance footage from international operations. During that incident, more than 4,600 workers signed a letter demanding the contract be canceled.
Two months earlier, competing AI firm Anthropic lost its Defense Department partnership after making a comparable demand to limit confidential military use of its technology.
Google has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the worker petition.
A prominent religious broadcasting organization has petitioned federal communications regulators to examine ABC Television following controversial statements made by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel about First Lady Melania Trump.
The National Religious Broadcasters organization submitted the complaint to the Federal Communications Commission, expressing worry that Kimmel’s comments could encourage political violence or make such acts seem acceptable.
The controversy stems from Kimmel’s April 23, 2026 show, where he performed what he described as a mock version of the upcoming White House Correspondents’ Dinner. During his routine, Kimmel addressed the First Lady directly, stating: “Our first lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have the glow of an expectant widow.”
Two days following the broadcast, on April 25, 2026, when the actual White House Correspondents’ Dinner occurred, someone attempted to attack President Trump and other federal officials. This incident represents the third attempt on the President’s life during this timeframe, occurring amid a backdrop of other violent incidents including prominent political assassinations and numerous school shootings nationwide.
First Lady Melania Trump addressed the situation through a social media post on X, declaring: “It’s time for ABC to take a stand” concerning Kimmel. She continued: “Enough is enough. Kimmel’s rhetoric is designed to divide our country.”
In a follow-up statement, she wrote: “His monologue about my family is not comedy, and it deepens the political sickness within America. People like Kimmel should not be given the opportunity to enter our homes every evening to spread hate.”
The religious broadcasters’ legal representative, General Counsel Michael Farris, argued that current laws permit restrictions on speech that promotes violence. “While the FCC is bound by the First Amendment of the Constitution and federal law (47 U.S.C. § 326) to respect freedom of speech, Supreme Court precedent makes clear that speech which incites violence is not protected. Under Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), speech loses constitutional protection when it encourages lawless action, is intended to produce such action, and is likely to result in imminent harm.”
Troy A. Miller, who serves as President and CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters, expressed concerns about escalating violence patterns across the nation. “We should be relieved that lives were spared Saturday evening; but relief can’t become complacency. We’re seeing a pattern of violence in this country that didn’t appear overnight.”
Miller further explained the organization’s position: “When influential voices joke about death or treat political opponents as disposable, it contributes to a culture where violence feels thinkable to the already unstable. National platforms carry real weight, and with that comes responsibility. That’s why this warranted action.”
The religious broadcasting group has requested that the FCC conduct a comprehensive investigation to establish whether any federal regulations or commission guidelines were violated by the broadcast.
A former Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson is sounding the alarm that current Middle East ceasefires are providing a false sense of security while hostile groups rebuild their military strength.
Jonathan Conricus, who previously served as an international spokesperson for the IDF and now works as a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, cautioned that existing ceasefire agreements should not be viewed as lasting solutions to regional conflicts.
“I think both sides, all sides, Iran, Israel, various Gulf countries, the Iranian proxies, Hezbollah, everybody is using this time, militarily speaking, in order to resupply and prepare for what probably inevitably is going to come,” Conricus explained in an interview with The Media Line. He believes future hostilities could emerge either locally between Israel and Hezbollah or expand regionally to include Israel, Iran, and the United States.
During ongoing questions about President Donald Trump’s ceasefire initiatives, Conricus emphasized that Israel and its opponents are exploiting the current lull to strengthen their military arsenals. “Gulf states are frantically trying to improve their defensive capabilities, and Israel is replenishing all of the stockpiles, both offensive and defensive ones,” he noted. “And I think that the Iranian regime is trying to do the same in order to try to brace themselves for whatever will come.”
Regarding diplomatic efforts with Iran, Conricus expressed pessimism about potential breakthroughs. “The negotiations, they look like two parallel lines that are not going to meet,” he stated, explaining that “the maximum that the Iranian regime is willing to address doesn’t meet the very basic minimum that the US is willing to consider.” He emphasized that Iran lacks the leverage to “be dictating terms,” citing the country’s vulnerability to economic sanctions and infrastructure damage.
While discussing Iran’s current military capabilities, Conricus avoided declaring the regime completely neutralized. “The Iranian regime is down, but it’s definitely not out,” he observed. Although Iran’s capacity “to project force,” produce ballistic missiles and drones, and serve as “the bully of the region” has been “significantly reduced,” it has “not permanently destroyed.”
“If the regime is left in place, then I have very little doubt that what we will eventually see within a relatively short period of time would be the Iranian regime going back to what they did before,” he predicted, identifying nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, drones, and terrorism support as probable focus areas. “There’s no indication … that the Iranian regime is changing its trajectory,” he concluded.
Addressing the situation in Lebanon, Conricus argued that calling the current arrangement a “ceasefire” misrepresents actual conditions. “We have a ceasefire on paper, but it isn’t really a ceasefire in the way that I would interpret the phrase, whereby both sides of a conflict cease their military operations,” he explained. Israel continues operating “to defend Israeli civilians in northern Israel” and weaken Hezbollah’s capabilities, while Hezbollah maintains rocket and drone attacks and engages Israeli forces stationed in Lebanon.
According to Conricus, Israel appears to be honoring American requests only by restraining major strikes against Hezbollah’s strategic infrastructure in Beirut and the Beqaa Valley. “In that … we have a certain aspect of a ceasefire,” he acknowledged. However, he maintained that the fundamental problem remains Hezbollah’s presence as an armed Iranian proxy within Lebanon.
“What really needs to happen here is for a strategic decision to be made by the Lebanese government,” he argued. “That is to make sure that there’s only one military in Lebanon, and that is the military of the state of Lebanon, the Lebanese Armed Forces.” Without this change, Conricus predicted Israel and Lebanon will continue experiencing “various aspects of ceasefires and violations of ceasefire and fighting and attacks and moving population and many other things.”
When asked about the Litani River’s strategic importance, Conricus dismissed its significance. “I don’t think that the Litani River holds any strategic significance,” he said. He suggested Israel should prioritize cutting connections between Iran and Hezbollah and blocking Hezbollah’s access to weapons.
“The ability to achieve our long-term goals using military only are very limited,” he admitted. “Military are necessary, but they are not the ones that will actually deliver what Israel needs on a long-term security perspective.” He recommended Israel employ military, diplomatic, financial, and non-kinetic approaches while supporting Lebanon’s government and army.
Conricus stressed that any Lebanese agreement will remain ineffective unless Beirut directly confronts Hezbollah. “Until we see the Lebanese government order the Lebanese armed forces to take meaningful kinetic military action against Hezbollah, action that would also entail casualties on the Lebanese side, then everything said and done will be void and of very little relevance,” he declared.
He suggested that once Lebanese authorities take such action, “then we know that they crossed the Rubicon.” At that point, he recommended Israel provide “maximum support, intelligence, and kinetic support and diplomatic support,” while avoiding actions that would complicate the Lebanese government’s domestic efforts.
Turning to Gaza, Conricus noted that Hamas maintains control over areas beyond Israeli military presence. “If we’re honest about it, Hamas controls half of the Gaza Strip,” he stated. “Is it a robust, functioning, and well-oiled bureaucracy? No, it’s jungle laws.” He characterized Hamas governance as “the survival of the fittest and the rule of the most cruel and violent,” adding that Hamas “still has weapons, and still controls the Palestinian civilian population.”
Conricus expressed no surprise at Hamas’ refusal to surrender weapons. “Hamas was never going to disarm,” he said. “The only way to disarm Hamas is to defeat them.” He described this process as lengthy and politically challenging. “This is not a quick fix. This doesn’t align with American or Israeli political calendars,” he warned.
Regarding Hamas’ tunnel infrastructure, Conricus noted increased caution in official Israeli evaluations. “The last assessment I heard was something to the tune of 60%,” he mentioned, referring to reported Hamas infrastructure destruction. “But I take that with many grains of salt and with caution, because I think that the gap between what we know and what we don’t know is still significant.”
He explained that certain Gaza areas remain beyond Israeli troop access, while zones within Israel’s deployment area undergo systematic searches and clearance. “It’s a spider web of underground network,” he described. “It appears almost endless in terms of the amount, depth, and diversity of tunnels that Hamas dug over so many years.”
Conricus recommended similar caution when evaluating Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas capabilities. “We’ve seen many times with the benefit of hindsight that what Intel assessments provided, they were perhaps a bit more optimistic than reality.”
For Conricus, the key insight across all three conflict zones is that incomplete military damage does not equal strategic victory. “Until you are able to force an enemy to surrender and give up and capitulate, it doesn’t really matter how much of his assets you’ve been able to degrade,” he concluded. “Whether you destroy 40%, 60% or 70 or 80%, it is important, but it is not decisive and crucial.”
Two Israeli Defense Forces personnel sustained injuries during a Hezbollah drone assault, with military officials reporting one soldier suffered severe wounds while the other received minor injuries, according to statements from the Israeli military. The attack took place despite an existing ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
Military sources indicate this incident represents one of several drone assaults conducted by Hezbollah in recent days, violating the current peace arrangement. Israeli forces have also documented numerous attempts by unmanned aircraft to penetrate northern Israeli airspace during this timeframe.
Israeli military officials characterized the assault as a “violation of the ceasefire understandings by the Hezbollah terror group” in their official statement regarding the incident.
Sources from Lebanon confirmed that Israeli military forces conducted retaliatory operations in southern Lebanon, targeting locations including the villages of Kounin, Touline, and areas near Bint Jbeil.
During a senior military leadership meeting on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu highlighted what he termed “significant achievements” in Lebanese operations. “We are striking in the security zone, north of the security zone and also north of the Litani,” Netanyahu stated.
The Prime Minister identified two continuing security challenges emanating from Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, specifically mentioning missile capabilities and unmanned aerial vehicle threats. “There are still two main threats from Lebanon, from Hezbollah: the rocket threat (Grad), the drone and UAV threat … I expect from you is to solve these two problems, because I think we will be able to solve the political side,” Netanyahu added.
A Jerusalem-based watchdog organization has published a comprehensive 35-page analysis claiming that the international medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières, commonly known as Doctors Without Borders, has transformed into a vehicle for spreading anti-Israel messaging, specifically allegations of genocide in Gaza.
NGO Monitor released their findings on Monday, targeting the humanitarian organization that works across more than 70 nations with an annual budget of $2.4 billion. The monitoring group claims the medical charity has abandoned its core humanitarian mission in favor of what they characterize as an extensive influence campaign against Israel.
The analysis contends that Doctors Without Borders has taken a leading position in anti-Israel advocacy efforts and what the report describes as Holocaust inversion narratives, particularly genocide allegations. NGO Monitor further claims the organization systematically fails to acknowledge Hamas’ military use of Gaza medical facilities and applies legal standards exclusively to Israel.
Additionally, the study alleges connections between Hamas and other militant groups among the charity’s staff and volunteers, stating that personnel in Gaza failed to report on Hamas operations within healthcare facilities.
The report also examines the organization’s refusal to meet Israeli counter-terrorism registration standards and analyzes their public statements following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. According to NGO Monitor, Doctors Without Borders participated in advocacy campaigns labeling Israel’s military response as genocide, using what they claim is distorted evidence while omitting crucial operational details.
Prof. Gerald M. Steinberg, who serves as NGO Monitor’s President, stated: “In its ‘genocide’ propaganda and heinous Holocaust inversion, many MSF officials promoted blatantly false testimonies, violating basic principles of medical ethics.”
“To restore its shattered reputation and resume its mission of providing aid, an independent investigation leading to fundamental organizational changes and close oversight is vital. MSF in its current framework is no longer a trustworthy humanitarian organization,” Steinberg continued.
The monitoring group’s analysis indicates that the medical organization’s statements gained traction across international news outlets, medical publications, academic institutions, United Nations bodies, and international legal proceedings.
NGO Monitor’s recommendations call for independent investigations into Doctors Without Borders International and its national divisions, including branches in the United States and United Kingdom. They also demand an end to genocide-related accusations, external screening of staff members, and examination of the organization’s charitable status.
NEWARK, Del. – The Blue Hens women’s basketball team has successfully recruited transfer student-athlete Sanyiah Littlejohn from George Mason University, according to an announcement made Tuesday by head coach Sarah Jenkins.
Littlejohn will be joining the University of Delaware’s women’s basketball roster after her time with the George Mason program.
Italian energy company Eni has finalized a partnership agreement with Venezuelan officials to restart operations at a significant heavy crude oil venture located in the Orinoco Belt region.
The deal was completed Tuesday in Venezuela’s capital with high-ranking government representatives and company executives in attendance, according to statements from both Eni and Venezuelan authorities.
This agreement represents part of Venezuela’s ongoing comprehensive evaluation of energy sector contracts as the nation implements broader oil industry reforms. The state-owned petroleum company PDVSA has been securing preliminary partnerships with various international energy firms during this restructuring process.
Several major energy corporations including U.S.-based Chevron, British company Shell, and Spain’s Repsol have completed similar partnership agreements in recent weeks to either maintain or expand their Venezuelan operations.
The ceremony took place in Caracas with Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez, Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi, PDVSA leader Hector Obregon, and Venezuelan Oil Minister Paula Henao all participating. State television broadcast the proceedings.
Descalzi indicated that the company’s investment strategy for Venezuela is currently under development and should reach completion before the year ends.
“This is one of the most important bets on our country in recent times,” Rodriguez stated during the ceremony.
The Italian energy firm and PDVSA maintain joint operations in the Junin 5 venture within the Orinoco region, which contains approximately 35 billion barrels of verified oil reserves. They also collaborate on the Petrosucre venture, producing crude oil in shallow water areas.
Additionally, Eni maintains a partnership with Repsol for the substantial Cardon IV offshore natural gas development, which recently resumed operations to boost Venezuela’s gas supply capacity. The companies also work together on methanol production within the South American nation.
Eni has maintained operations in Venezuela since 1998. During 2025, the company’s Venezuelan production reached 64,000 barrels of oil equivalent daily, according to company records.
Authorities are looking into a deadly collision in Somerset County that took the life of a road maintenance worker on Monday afternoon.
The victim has been identified as 70-year-old Dipakkumar Patel from Delmar, Maryland. Somerset County emergency responders declared him dead at the crash site.
Maryland State Police from the Princess Anne station were called to the scene around 12:40 p.m. after reports of an accident on northbound Route 13 near King Miller Road in Princess Anne. According to initial findings, Patel was seated in a stationary Maryland Department of Transportation Ford Fusion while conducting highway maintenance work when the collision occurred.
Investigators say Amanda Correa, a 31-year-old Salisbury resident driving a Dodge Caravan, crashed into the back of Patel’s work vehicle for undetermined reasons. Correa was traveling with one passenger when the impact happened. Emergency crews rushed both individuals to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
Traffic continues to be disrupted on northbound Route 13 at Revels Neck Road as investigators examine the crash scene. Maryland Department of Transportation highway officials are on location helping manage road closures and alternate routes for drivers.
Once the investigation concludes, findings will be forwarded to Somerset County’s State’s Attorney’s Office for examination. The Maryland State Police Crash Team is heading up the ongoing investigation.
The coffee chain announced Tuesday that its efforts to improve customer experience are paying off, with quarterly sales figures exceeding Wall Street predictions during the January through March period.
The company based in Seattle reported worldwide same-store sales growth of 6.2% during their fiscal second quarter. This performance surpassed analyst expectations of 4% growth, based on FactSet polling data. Domestic same-store sales performed even better, climbing 7% during the same timeframe.
The coffee retailer has spent the past year implementing strategic changes including boosting staffing levels during peak hours and deploying new technology to better coordinate in-store and mobile order fulfillment. The company has also emphasized more welcoming customer interactions and is renovating locations to create a warmer, traditional coffee shop atmosphere.
As part of its restructuring efforts, the company has streamlined operations and committed to reinvesting those cost savings into its recovery plan. The previous year saw the closure of hundreds of locations across the United States, Canada and Europe, along with workforce reductions affecting at least 2,000 corporate positions.
During a Tuesday video address to staff members, Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol described the quarter as “the turn in our turnaround.”
“Put simply, more customers are getting back to Starbucks as we deliver the best of Starbucks more consistently,” Niccol said.
The company reported second-quarter revenue increased 9% to reach $9.5 billion, surpassing analyst projections of $9.2 billion.
When accounting for one-time expenses, earnings reached 50 cents per share, beating the analyst consensus estimate of 43 cents.
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 28, 2026 – The organization representing more than 60,000 pork producers nationwide has expressed appreciation to the House Rules Committee for preserving crucial regulatory relief language in Farm Bill 2.0.
The National Pork Producers Council praised the committee’s decision to maintain provisions that would provide regulatory assistance to agricultural operations throughout the United States.
“Pork producers thank Chairwoman Virginia Foxx and Chairman GT Thompson for standing up for our livelihoods,” said NPPC President Rob Brenneman, a pork producer from Washington, Iowa. “We will continue to fight for our freedom to farm, and we urge the full House to support the Farm Bill 2.0.”
The council emphasized its commitment to advocating for farming rights as the legislation moves forward in the legislative process.
OCEAN CITY, MD – Multiple members of the Ocean City Police Department earned statewide honors Tuesday for their exceptional work promoting highway safety throughout the region.
The officers were celebrated at the Maryland Highway Safety Office’s Traffic Safety Specialist Awards Luncheon, which took place April 28, 2026, in Edgemere, Maryland.
The Traffic Safety Specialist Program recognizes law enforcement officers who show exceptional expertise, comprehensive training, and unwavering commitment to making roadways safer for all travelers.
This recognition underscores Ocean City Police Department’s ongoing efforts to enhance public safety through focused traffic enforcement and education initiatives.
JERUSALEM — Israeli President Isaac Herzog extended an invitation Tuesday to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and government prosecutors, hoping to facilitate settlement discussions that could resolve the corruption charges pending against the country’s leader.
Herzog’s office sent the invitation several days after declaring he would not make an immediate decision on Netanyahu’s pardon request, choosing instead to encourage both parties to pursue a negotiated resolution.
The formal invitation, bearing the signature of Herzog’s legal adviser, stated the president’s belief that settlement negotiations “must be exhausted first” before any pardon consideration could move forward. The document expressed hope for discussions conducted “with an open heart and sincere, good intention” and requested responses by Sunday.
In November, Netanyahu petitioned Herzog to halt his trial, arguing that dismissing the criminal charges would promote national unity. President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged Herzog to bring the proceedings to an end.
The prime minister faces charges including breach of trust, fraud, and bribery across three distinct cases that allege he traded political favors with wealthy business partners. Netanyahu maintains his innocence on all counts.
The legal proceedings have stretched across six years, creating deep divisions among Israeli citizens. Netanyahu and his allies maintain he has become the target of a coordinated political attack orchestrated by media outlets, law enforcement, and judicial officials.
Neither Netanyahu’s representatives nor the attorney general’s office provided immediate responses to the invitation.
NEW YORK — A key witness in Harvey Weinstein’s ongoing rape case delivered emotional testimony Tuesday, marking her third time recounting allegations against the disgraced Hollywood producer before a Manhattan jury.
Jessica Mann, a 40-year-old hairstylist and actor, broke down in tears as she described being trapped and assaulted in a New York hotel room in 2013. “I said ‘no’ over and over, and I tried to leave,” Mann testified through sobs. “He just treated me like he owned me.”
This marks six years since Mann first shared her story with jurors about what she describes as a relationship that started consensually but turned into sexual assault. The former movie mogul, who became synonymous with the #MeToo movement, sat quietly in court, occasionally drinking water as Mann recounted the alleged attack.
The 73-year-old Weinstein, currently serving time in prison, maintains his innocence and continues appealing sexual assault convictions from cases involving other accusers across the country. His legal team, which has not yet cross-examined Mann in this retrial, contends all interactions were consensual.
Weinstein’s legal troubles with Mann’s case have been extensive. A 2020 conviction for raping Mann was later overturned on appeal, and a subsequent retrial ended with a hung jury last year.
Court observers noted the jury’s focused attention as Mann provided her second day of testimony, with several jurors taking notes throughout her emotional account. Despite offers for breaks during particularly difficult moments, Mann chose to continue.
According to Mann’s testimony, she first encountered Weinstein at a Los Angeles party in early 2013 while pursuing acting opportunities. The producer showed interest in advancing her career, leading to meetings that mixed professional guidance with invitations to industry events and unwanted advances that made her uncomfortable.
Despite initial distress, Mann testified she eventually entered into what she believed was a consensual relationship with the married producer. She explained her reasoning Tuesday, saying she had been conditioned to think “this is just normal for men to kind of be that way, and I just thought that maybe by being in a relationship with him, it would make me feel better.”
Mann described Weinstein’s behavior as unpredictable, sometimes charming and validating, other times demeaning through inappropriate sexual discussions. She testified that when challenged or refused, “it was just like this monster side came out” of someone who wielded his Hollywood power aggressively.
The alleged assault occurred when Weinstein unexpectedly appeared before a planned breakfast meeting in New York, where Mann was visiting during a friend’s business trip. Despite Mann’s objections at the hotel front desk, Weinstein secured a room, according to both her testimony and a former hotel worker who testified earlier.
Mann recounted that after Weinstein angrily told her not to embarrass him, she followed him to the room hoping to resolve the situation privately. Instead, she testified, “he wasn’t listening to me; he was just telling me to undress.” She said she pleaded “Please don’t. I don’t want to,” and attempted to leave twice, but the physically larger Weinstein slammed the door, restrained her wrists, and held them crossed over her face.
“That was really scary, so I remember just like kind of like — just shutting down and giving up, because I had been fighting and arguing. So I obeyed,” Mann testified, describing how she undressed and lay on the bed before Weinstein allegedly raped her.
Following the alleged assault, Mann testified she accompanied Weinstein to breakfast with friends, appearing normal despite feeling shocked internally. She told no one about the incident at the time and accepted Weinstein’s invitation to extend her stay, attend a movie screening, and have tea with him and his daughter.
“I just wanted everyone to act like everything was normal,” she explained to the court.
The Associated Press typically does not identify individuals who report sexual assault unless they consent to being named publicly, as Mann has chosen to do.
WASHINGTON — Federal attorneys are seeking dismissal of a lawsuit challenging a proposed $400 million White House ballroom project, but their court document employs language typically associated with President Trump’s social media communications rather than traditional legal writing.
Monday’s Justice Department submission contains numerous characteristics common in Trump’s written statements, including unusual capitalization patterns, exclamation marks, tangential remarks, rhetorical questioning, presidential praise, and claims that critics are mentally unstable.
The 16-page document, bearing the signatures of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, demonstrates how significantly the president has broken down the traditional barrier of independence between the Justice Department and White House operations.
“The National Trust for Historic Preservation’ is a beautiful name, but even their name is FAKE because when they add the words ‘in the United States’ to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, it makes it sound like a Governmental Agency, which it is not,” opens the filing’s initial statement.
The preservation organization initiated legal action in December following the White House’s demolition of the East Wing to create space for Trump’s proposed ballroom designed to accommodate 999 guests. While Trump claims private donations fund the construction, taxpayer money covers security enhancements and underground bunker installation.
The organization’s legal challenge contends that Trump exceeded his executive powers by advancing the construction without securing Congressional approval and necessary federal agency clearances.
Following Saturday’s shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Trump and Republican allies have intensified their advocacy for the ballroom, claiming the event demonstrates the necessity for a protected venue capable of hosting large gatherings. Federal attorneys requested the Trust abandon its legal challenge, but the organization refused.
“What Saturday’s awful event does not change is that the Constitution and multiple federal statutes require Congress to authorize construction of a ballroom on White House grounds, and that Congress has not done so,” responded Trust attorney Gregory Craig in his reply to government representatives.
Monday’s Justice Department motion argues the court should reject the lawsuit, claiming it “greatly endangers the lives of all Presidents, current and future.”
When questioned about the court submission, White House officials did not dispute presidential involvement in creating or revising the Justice Department’s legal arguments.
“President Trump is intimately involved in the ongoing disgraceful lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and is working diligently with his team of lawyers to bring this charade to an end,” stated White House spokesman Davis Ingle.
Justice Department representatives did not provide comment when contacted.
Tuesday morning saw Trump sharing the filing across social media platforms, posting images of all 16 pages without additional commentary.
The legal document describes the Trust as “very bad for our Country,” echoing language frequently employed by the president. The submission twice alleges the Trust suffers from “Trump Derangement Syndrome, commonly referred to as TDS,” a fictional condition the president regularly assigns to his detractors.
The filing references Trust attorney Craig — formerly White House Counsel — as “the lawyer for Barack Hussein Obama.” Trump has consistently used the former president’s complete legal name, language that echoes his historical challenges to Obama’s allegiances, religious beliefs, and American birth.
Federal attorneys additionally claimed that “because it is DONALD J. TRUMP, a highly successful real estate developer, who has abilities that others don’t, especially those who assume the Office of President, this frivolous and meritless lawsuit was filed. Again, it’s called TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.”
SAVANNAH, Ga. — Fire officials in southern Georgia say they’re preparing for an extended firefighting campaign against two massive wildfires that have leveled dozens of residences, despite weekend rainfall that significantly aided containment operations.
“A little bit of rain is going to help us, but it’s not going to get us out of this situation,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp told a news conference after touring the fire areas Tuesday. “We’re going to be in this for a while.”
The blaze in rural Brantley County has scorched approximately 35 square miles and wiped out more than 80 residences, with containment levels jumping to 32% as of Tuesday, according to the fire command team. This marks a dramatic improvement from Monday’s 6% containment figure.
Sunday’s precipitation provided crews with the opportunity to expand containment barriers around the fire’s edges and eliminate smoldering hotspots, according to Johnny Sabo, director of the Georgia Forestry Commission.
“As that number increases, our confidence at holding it in that footprint increases,” Sabo told reporters. He added: “We have a long way to go. I just want to stress that.”
A second, more extensive wildfire spanning the Georgia-Florida border has consumed over 50 square miles in the lightly populated Clinch and Echols counties. Sabo reported that firefighting teams have successfully prevented this blaze from expanding beyond its current boundaries for four consecutive days, with containment at 23% on Tuesday.
The second fire destroyed one residence along with several dozen outbuildings and smaller structures, said Don Thomas, a Georgia Forestry Commission spokesperson.
An abnormally high number of wildfires are active this spring throughout the Southeast region. Researchers attribute the elevated fire risk to a deadly combination of severe drought conditions, strong winds, climate change effects, and accumulated dead plant material.
Georgia has reported no fire-related injuries or fatalities. However, a volunteer firefighter in Nassau County, Florida, died last week after experiencing an unspecified medical emergency while fighting a brush fire.
Improvements in controlling the Brantley County fire led local authorities to cancel evacuation orders Monday for approximately 1,500 residents who had abandoned their homes. Around 2,500 people remain displaced, said Susan Heisey, a spokesperson for the fire command team.
Returning residents have been cautioned by local authorities to stay ready for potential re-evacuation if conditions deteriorate.
Both Georgia fires started during the state’s most severe drought in two decades, which has left extensive pine forests and wetland areas extremely dry and prone to ignition.
Fire investigators determined the Brantley County blaze began April 20 when a metallic balloon contacted a power line, generating an electrical discharge that ignited ground vegetation. The Clinch and Echols counties fire started April 18 from a spark that fell while a man was welding a gate, state officials reported.
Weather predictions indicate high probability of additional rainfall over the fire zones this weekend. Thunderstorms are also possible, which could generate lightning strikes capable of starting new fires.
Authorities have not provided estimates for how long the Georgia fires might continue burning, stating only that substantial rainfall will be necessary to fully extinguish them.
Sabo referenced a massive lightning-sparked fire in the nearby Okefenokee Swamp in 2011 that burned for nearly twelve months.
WASHINGTON — Federal officials announced Tuesday they will launch a special edition of U.S. passports featuring President Donald Trump’s photograph to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, making him the first sitting president to appear in the official travel documents.
The commemorative passport design, which includes Trump’s portrait, underwent months of review before receiving final authorization on Monday evening. Initially, these special passports will only be distributed through the Washington D.C. passport facility and must be specifically requested by applicants. Citizens who prefer the traditional design can still obtain standard passports, according to government officials.
“As the United States celebrates America’s 250th anniversary in July, the State Department is preparing to release a limited number of specially designed U.S. passports to commemorate this historic occasion,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said. “These passports will feature customized artwork and enhanced imagery while maintaining the same security features that make the U.S. passport the most secure documents in the world.”
The anniversary edition will include Trump’s photograph on an internal page, while the cover design will be modified to display “United States of America” prominently in gold lettering at the top and “Passport” at the bottom — opposite from the current layout. A gold-foiled American flag bearing the number 250 surrounded by stars will appear on the back cover.
Currently, the only presidential figures shown in standard U.S. passports appear in a two-page spread depicting Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, featuring George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
Regular passport pages showcase various American landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in Philadelphia, along with images of the Great Plains, mountain ranges and coastal areas. Standard passports also include quotes from civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and former Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower.
International mining companies plan to maintain their operations in Mali, a mineral-rich African nation, despite weekend violence that claimed the life of the country’s defense minister and heightened security worries, according to industry leaders and analysts.
The West African country ranks among the continent’s leading gold producers, with the precious metal reaching unprecedented prices on global markets. Mali also possesses substantial deposits of lithium, uranium, and copper.
However, the nation has faced decades of conflict with insurgent forces, and the resulting instability has enabled military leaders to repeatedly seize power through coups.
During Saturday’s violence, an unusual alliance between al Qaeda-affiliated militants and separatist fighters demonstrated extraordinary cooperation, killing Mali’s defense minister, attacking the capital city’s airport, and forcing Russian troops to withdraw from a remote desert community more than 1,000 kilometers away.
Malian officials have stated that military operations against the rebels continue, while asserting that authorities have the situation under control.
The country’s mines ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Three mining company executives, speaking anonymously, along with two industry analysts, indicated that the unrest has heightened worries about transportation routes and facility protection, as insurgents occasionally prevent the delivery of fuel and essential materials.
Control Risks analyst Vincent Rouget warned that “security and terrorism risks on supply routes will prevail.”
Signal Risk senior analyst Daniel van Dalen noted that the possibility of another military coup has increased, and any resulting chaos could impact commercial mining activities.
“There is a credible risk that such reactions could extend to foreign interests, particularly Western-linked assets,” van Dalen stated.
Mali had already become less appealing to international mining companies after the military government, which relies heavily on mining revenue since taking power in 2021, modified the country’s mining regulations.
These changes increased tax burdens and expanded state ownership while reducing international companies’ stakes in mining operations.
Barrick successfully regained operational authority over its primary Loulo-Gounkoto facility earlier this year following nearly two years of disputes with government officials.
Despite these tense relationships, numerous mining companies have maintained their investments, particularly since industrial mining activities are concentrated in southern regions that have remained relatively protected from the violence.
Australian company Resolute announced Tuesday that its Syama gold operation in southern Mali continues running at full capacity, with the recent surge in violence having no effect on worker safety, transportation, or production levels.
One mining executive operating throughout the Sahel region of central Mali explained that the potential profits from elevated gold prices and high-grade ore justify the security risks.
Chinese mining companies have shown greater confidence, sometimes acquiring properties after other operators chose to reduce their involvement in the region.
In January, Canadian company Allied reached an agreement to transfer its Malian assets to China’s Zijin Mining.
A representative from Zijin confirmed the company employs professional armed security services, while a senior executive at Ganfeng Lithium, which controls 65% of Mali’s Goulamina lithium operation, emphasized that their facility is located far from conflict zones and the company has prepared for various contingencies.
Major American corporations are expressing confidence to investors about their ability to handle economic pressures stemming from the Iran conflict, despite facing increased costs for fuel and materials that are squeezing profit margins.
Fuel prices have risen significantly since hostilities began, creating higher expenses across multiple industries already dealing with pressure from U.S. tariffs. These increased costs are pushing businesses to consider raising prices during a period when consumers are showing signs of financial stress.
An analysis of corporate communications since the conflict started reveals that 24 firms have reduced or eliminated their financial projections, 35 have indicated they will raise prices, and another 35 have cautioned about financial impacts.
Despite these challenges, numerous corporate leaders maintained an upbeat outlook on Tuesday, citing protective strategies like hedging, existing purchase agreements, strong consumer demand, or their capacity to reduce expenses in other areas.
Coca-Cola emerged as one of the prominent companies expressing optimism, counting on continued strong demand for its beverages. Chief Financial Officer John Murphy noted that the company, similar to PepsiCo, had secured lower pricing agreements before the current disruption began.
However, the beverage company still faces increased expenses for plastic and aluminum packaging materials for certain products. Murphy explained the company is “working hard with our bottling partners to deal with the implications of the situation … in the Middle East.”
This positive outlook has influenced Wall Street sentiment. Financial analysts increased their projections for first-quarter S&P 500 earnings growth to 16.1% as of April 24, up from 14.3% on February 27 before the war started, though this improvement was primarily driven by strong predictions from technology and energy sectors, according to LSEG information.
“It’s been an extraordinarily strong earnings season,” commented David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation, emphasizing that optimistic messaging from financial officers and chief executives was essential.
“If they don’t sound as bullish and start citing higher energy costs or, the war with Iran or anything, the market is in a mood and it’s at a level where, these stocks could get punished quite badly,” Morrison explained.
United Parcel Service took a more cautious approach, maintaining its annual revenue projections while warning that escalating fuel costs could eventually reduce customer demand.
“It is early in the year and there is a war in the Middle East. High gasoline prices could potentially impact demand towards the end of the year,” stated UPS CEO Carol Tome.
General Motors, the Detroit-based automaker, suggested they have experience handling similar challenges and are prepared to manage current difficulties.
“We are clearly operating in a very dynamic environment, which isn’t unusual for this industry,” said GM CEO Mary Barra.
The automaker anticipates inflation affecting raw materials, computer chips, and transportation will reduce annual profits by $1.5 billion to $2 billion, approximately $500 million higher than their late-year estimate, but still increased their annual earnings projection, pointing to a strong U.S. market and an anticipated tariff refund.
Procter & Gamble stood out as an exception, particularly outside the airline industry, when the major consumer products company warned last week of approximately $1 billion in losses to its fiscal 2027 earnings due to surging oil prices.
Airlines face the greatest exposure, with jet fuel costs nearly doubling since late February, putting carriers in a difficult position between rising expenses and tickets already sold at lower prices.
JetBlue Airways intends to reduce hiring pace, decrease capacity, and increase ticket prices to minimize damage after reporting larger first-quarter losses that could threaten its recovery efforts.
Nevertheless, the potential for deeper profit margin damage and limitations on passing costs to consumers remains a significant concern.
“If energy prices continue to move higher, basically, every sector of the economy is affected. The cost to manufacture goods goes up, and that means higher inflation which is passed on to the consumer, and that means, a less robust consumer,” explained Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities in New York.
“In other words, (consumers) pull back on their spending,” Cardillo added.
BERLIN – A complex rescue operation launched Tuesday to save a young humpback whale that has been trapped in Germany’s shallow Baltic Sea waters for nearly a month, sparking weeks of heated public discussion about how best to help the marine mammal locals have dubbed Timmy.
The juvenile male whale will be directed through a specially-excavated channel onto a ship-transport barge filled with water before being taken to the North Sea, according to organizers of the privately-funded rescue effort reported by regional media outlets.
Rescue coordinators believe the whale is healthy enough for transport, but marine biology experts from the German Oceanographic Museum have expressed serious concerns about the plan.
“The chances of a successful rescue are very slim due to the animal’s poor state of health and the generally poor prognosis,” the museum stated.
The rescue attempt would subject the whale to “great deal of stress and a high risk of injury” and “would result in very high noise levels inside the barge due to the high level of sound reflection,” museum officials warned.
Two wealthy individuals are financing the rescue mission, including one person connected to the German electronics retailer MediaMarkt. The total cost of the operation remains undisclosed.
Constanze von der Meden, serving as a spokesperson for the rescue team, has not responded to media inquiries.
The whale earned its nickname from nearby Timmendorfer beach, close to the Baltic island where it became stranded. Marine biologists first observed the animal approximately four weeks ago swimming in low-salt waters that whales typically avoid, suggesting the creature was either sick or confused about its location.
Since then, the whale has repeatedly become stuck on underwater sand formations.
Government officials in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have defended their approach of reducing the animal’s stress levels while dismissing public demands to euthanize the whale to prevent further suffering.
Thousands of concerned citizens have contacted authorities through email, with some messages containing death threats against officials. State Environment Minister Till Backhaus announced that criminal charges will be pursued when appropriate.
Animal rights advocates and other interested parties have established temporary camps near the rescue location.
Humpback whales were once hunted nearly to extinction but have made a significant recovery, with the species now considered at low risk of disappearing, though two specific populations remain endangered.
The Edmonton Oilers could be forced to battle for their playoff survival Tuesday evening without their superstar captain Connor McDavid, whose status remains uncertain due to an ankle problem.
McDavid hurt his right ankle during Game 2 of the series and has continued playing despite obvious limitations from the injury.
The 29-year-old team leader has recorded four points in the current series with one goal and three assists, following a dominant regular season where he topped the NHL with 138 total points on 48 goals and 90 assists across 82 games.
Edmonton, winners of the Western Conference in back-to-back seasons, finds themselves trailing 3-1 in their opening-round matchup against Anaheim. The Ducks will travel to Edmonton Tuesday evening seeking to close out the series and claim their first playoff series victory in nine years.
The Ducks have rattled off three consecutive wins following their 4-3 series-opening loss on April 20, where they surrendered a late advantage.
Edmonton may also be missing center Jason Dickinson, who sat out Games 2 and 3 with a lower-body ailment before making his return in Game 4. Dickinson’s availability for Tuesday’s contest also remains undetermined.
Golfers competing in this summer’s Women’s Open championship will battle for an unprecedented $10 million prize pool as the tournament celebrates its golden anniversary, officials from The R&A revealed Tuesday.
The prize money represents a $250,000 boost from the previous year’s total, continuing an upward trajectory that has defined the major championship in recent seasons.
R&A CEO Mark Darbon emphasized the organization’s dedication to growth, stating: “This is the sixth consecutive year that the AIG Women’s Open prize fund has been increased. These consistent and sustainable investments in the prize fund clearly demonstrate The R&A and AIG’s commitment to elevating the Championship on the global stage.”
The tournament’s financial evolution tells a remarkable story since its debut in 1976, when competitors vied for a modest 500 euro total purse. Prize money has climbed dramatically, especially during the last twenty years.
When Sunningdale hosted the championship in 2008 — the same venue selected for the 2028 tournament as announced Tuesday — players competed for $2.1 million total.
A decade later, during the most recent Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes in England — this year’s host course for the July 29 through August 2 competition — the total prize fund reached only $3.25 million. The current $10 million purse represents a threefold increase from that 2018 amount.
The championship now joins two other LPGA major tournaments offering eight-figure prize pools, though it trails the U.S. Women’s Open and Women’s PGA Championship, which each feature $12 million in total prizes.
The recent Chevron Championship nearly reached the $10 million threshold this past weekend, with organizers boosting the purse by $1 million to a record $9 million just two days before play began. Nelly Korda captured the winner’s check of $1.35 million.
Television coverage will also expand significantly, with 34 hours of programming scheduled across the four-day event.
AIG chairman and CEO Peter Zaffino highlighted the company’s broader mission Tuesday, saying: “The AIG Women’s Open reflects our commitment to advancing women in business, sports and society, which is core to AIG’s values. In partnership with The R&A, we are making important strides in elevating the women’s game by continuing to increase the Championship purse and extending live broadcast coverage that will reach an even wider global audience of fans.”
The United States is withholding billions in overdue payments to the United Nations until the international organization implements nine specific reforms, including measures to limit China’s growing influence, according to a report published Tuesday.
Development news organization Devex obtained two diplomatic documents showing America’s demands for what officials call “quick-hit” changes before releasing additional funding to the cash-strapped UN.
The reform demands include restructuring the United Nations pension program, eliminating business-class air travel for certain senior staff and all mid-level employees, reducing the number of top-tier positions, and cutting peacekeeping operations by 10% where missions have proven ineffective over time.
Most notably, Washington wants to prevent China from contributing tens of millions annually to a discretionary account controlled by the UN Secretary-General’s office, a strategy designed to reduce Beijing’s institutional influence.
“These reforms will be an indication that the UN is serious about reform,” one diplomatic note stated, according to Devex reporting.
Neither the US mission to the United Nations nor China’s UN representatives provided immediate responses when asked for comment. Washington has consistently pressured the organization for changes after withdrawing from multiple UN agencies this year and reducing funding in previous years.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric emphasized that member nations’ financial contributions represent “a treaty obligation” and noted Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is already pursuing “a pretty heavy reform” agenda.
“It involves decisions that member states must take if we want to have a U.N. that is more effective, that uses its resources in the best way possible,” Dujarric explained during a press briefing. “The secretary-general is doing everything he can in that direction.”
Guterres warned earlier this year that the United Nations faced potential “imminent financial collapse” due to unpaid member contributions, with the vast majority owed by the United States. By February, America had paid approximately $160 million of its total $4 billion debt.
Current US obligations include $2.19 billion for the regular UN operating budget as of early February, representing more than 95% of all outstanding member dues worldwide. Additional American debts total $2.4 billion for current and previous peacekeeping operations, plus $43.6 million for UN tribunal expenses.
Federal prosecutors have brought a second indictment against James Comey, the former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The charges center on a social media post Comey shared last year that showed seashells positioned on a beach to form the numbers “8647.”
This marks the second time the Justice Department has filed criminal charges against the former FBI chief, who previously led the bureau during a tumultuous period in American politics.
The significance of the numbers “8647” in the seashell arrangement and how it relates to the federal charges has not been detailed in the indictment.
Three University of Delaware men’s tennis standouts have been honored with Conference USA all-conference recognition following the program’s inaugural season in the league.
The conference revealed Tuesday that Tobey Lock, Euan Mackenzie, and Luke Tollenaar all received all-conference selections, marking a strong debut for the Blue Hens in their new athletic home.
The trio’s recognition highlights the immediate impact Delaware’s tennis program has made since joining Conference USA, with all three players earning spots among the league’s top performers in the program’s first year of CUSA competition.
Federal intelligence officials are conducting assessments on Iran’s potential reactions should President Donald Trump announce a unilateral victory in the current conflict that has stretched into its second month, according to two government sources and an individual with knowledge of the situation.
Senior administration leaders have requested these intelligence evaluations as part of broader strategic planning. Sources indicate the analysis aims to gauge consequences of Trump potentially stepping back from military engagement that some advisers fear may hurt Republican prospects in upcoming midterm contests.
Although no final determination has been reached – and military escalation remains possible – a rapid de-escalation might relieve political pressures facing the president. However, such a move could strengthen Iran’s position, potentially allowing the nation to reconstruct its nuclear capabilities and missile infrastructure while posing renewed threats to regional U.S. partners.
Sources requested anonymity when discussing classified intelligence operations.
The timeline for completing these intelligence assessments remains unclear, though agencies have previously evaluated Iranian leadership responses to potential American victory announcements.
Following the February bombing operations, intelligence evaluations concluded that Iranian officials would likely interpret a Trump victory declaration coupled with regional force reductions as their own success, according to one source.
Alternatively, if Trump claimed victory while maintaining substantial military presence, Iran would probably view this as diplomatic maneuvering rather than genuine conflict resolution, the same source explained.
Both the CIA and Office of the Director of National Intelligence refused to provide statements.
White House representative Anna Kelly stated the administration continues Iranian negotiations and will “not be rushed into making a bad deal.”
“The president will only enter into an agreement that puts U.S. national security first, and he has been clear that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon,” she said.
Public opinion data reveals widespread American opposition to the military campaign. Recent Reuters/Ipsos polling found just 26% of Americans believe the operation justified its costs, while only 25% feel it enhanced national security.
Three individuals familiar with recent White House conversations describe Trump as acutely conscious of political consequences affecting both himself and his party.
Despite Trump’s ceasefire declaration twenty days ago, diplomatic efforts have failed to fully reopen the economically critical Strait of Hormuz. Tehran’s attacks on vessels and mine deployment have kept the strategic waterway largely closed.
This shipping disruption affects approximately 20% of global crude oil transport, driving up worldwide energy costs and American gasoline prices. Iran’s commercial disruption capabilities provide significant leverage against the United States and allied nations.
Reducing American military presence while mutually ending the blockade would eventually lower fuel costs.
Nevertheless, both nations appear distant from reaching any accord.
Trump recently cancelled a planned meeting between his special representative Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner with Iranian representatives in Pakistan. He told reporters Saturday the process would require “too much time” and suggested Iran could simply “call” if interested in discussions.
Military alternatives remain officially available, including renewed airstrikes targeting Iranian military and political leadership, according to someone familiar with administration planning.
However, one official and another knowledgeable source indicated that extensive options like ground invasion of Iranian territory appear less probable than several weeks ago.
A White House representative characterized domestic pressure on the president to conclude the conflict as “enormous.”
One source noted Iran has utilized the ongoing ceasefire to recover launchers, ammunition, drones and other equipment previously buried during initial U.S. and Israeli bombardments.
Consequently, the tactical challenges of resuming full military operations have potentially increased since the April 8 ceasefire began.
WASHINGTON – Julie Davis, currently serving as interim U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, is departing her diplomatic role following disagreements with President Donald Trump, according to a Tuesday report from the Financial Times.
When contacted for verification regarding Davis’s reported exit from the ambassadorial position, the U.S. State Department had not yet provided a response.
FRANKFURT, Germany — The United Arab Emirates has withdrawn from the OPEC oil alliance, disrupting a partnership that has lasted more than six decades and controls roughly 40% of global crude oil production while wielding significant power over worldwide energy costs.
After completing its departure in May, the UAE announced Tuesday its intention to pursue its established objective of boosting crude oil output “in a gradual and measured manner, aligned with demand and market conditions.”
Currently, this move has limited immediate impact on energy prices because Iran continues to obstruct the Strait of Hormuz, preventing Persian Gulf nations like the UAE from shipping much of their oil to international markets. However, the withdrawal could create lasting consequences for global oil pricing.
Here’s what the UAE’s OPEC departure means:
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries began in Baghdad during September 1960, established by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. The alliance now includes 12 nations — including the UAE until recently — that control over 80% of global proven oil reserves. Additional members include Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya, Nigeria and the Republic of the Congo.
Based in Vienna, the organization works to manage oil prices through coordinated production adjustments among member states.
The strategy involves maintaining prices at levels sufficient for member nations to fund government operations and profit from their natural resources — while avoiding prices so elevated they trigger economic downturns in oil-consuming nations or reduce energy demand significantly.
This strategy has occasionally sparked criticism from American officials, where gasoline costs carry major political implications. Former President Donald Trump once claimed OPEC was “ripping off the rest of the world,” while his successor Joe Biden also pressured the organization to boost oil production.
According to OPEC, its mission is “to coordinate and unify petroleum policies among member countries, in order to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers; an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations; and a fair return on capital to those investing in the industry.”
OPEC’s establishment marked a transition from Western corporate dominance of oil markets toward greater control by resource-rich nations over their petroleum assets and revenues.
The organization’s production decisions have occasionally created major global economic impacts. During 1973, Arab member states launched an oil embargo against the United States and other nations supporting Israel in the Yom Kippur War. Energy prices increased fourfold, creating lengthy queues at gas stations across America.
During 2016, OPEC partnered with ten additional oil-producing nations, led by Russia, creating the OPEC+ alliance.
The UAE wants greater autonomy over its oil sales volume. While cartels maintain higher prices, they limit member earnings and market position compared to non-cartel competitors. Tensions have persisted between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s largest producer and unofficial cartel leader.
One motivation for increased production now: Industry analysts believe oil demand will reach its peak in coming years as global energy systems shift toward renewable sources that don’t produce carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas driving climate change.
This means current underground oil reserves may hold greater value today than in the future when petroleum consumption drops, making production restrictions potentially costly in terms of lost revenue.
The UAE’s exit eliminates one of OPEC’s limited members capable of rapidly expanding production — the primary tool the cartel uses to influence oil prices, according to Jorge Leon, head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad Energy.
“A structurally weaker OPEC, with less spare capacity concentrated within the group, will find it increasingly difficult to calibrate supply and stabilize prices,” Leon said. “The net effect points to a more fragmented supply landscape and a potentially more volatile oil market over time as OPEC’s capacity to smooth imbalances diminishes.”
Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz prevents tanker traffic carrying one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies. This obstruction stops much petroleum from Persian Gulf producers like Saudi Arabia and the UAE from reaching buyers. Currently, this represents the primary factor influencing oil prices, which have increased dramatically consequently.
Should the UAE succeed in expanding oil production following the conflict, this could accelerate price returns to pre-war levels, according to Michael Brown, research strategist at Pepperstone foreign exchange brokerage.
“As for crude in the here and now, all that really matters is whether the Strait of Hormuz is open or closed,” he said. “At present, it’s essentially shut, tightening supply conditions day by day and probably seeing benchmarks continue to grind higher on a daily basis as well.”
BELGRADE, Serbia — A group of demonstrators assembled outside Serbia’s national television headquarters on Tuesday, calling for their country to withdraw from the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel’s inclusion in the competition.
The annual musical competition featuring 35 nations is set to take place May 12-16 in Vienna. Serbia’s representative will be Lavina, a metal group with six members.
In Belgrade’s city center, demonstrators displayed Palestinian flags and carried signs condemning Israel for alleged war crimes in the Gaza conflict. They urged the state broadcaster RTS to cancel coverage of the event and asked Serbian citizens to avoid watching.
Organizers of the demonstration released a statement saying “A Eurovision without Israel would mean defending the ideals that this event proclaims.”
RTS has not yet responded to the protesters’ demands. Serbia maintains strong diplomatic relations with Israel.
While Eurovision aims to prioritize entertainment over political matters, the contest has frequently become entangled in global conflicts. Russia faced exclusion in 2022 following its full-scale military action against Ukraine.
Contest officials made the decision in December to permit Israel’s participation, leading to withdrawals by Slovenia, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain. Slovenia’s state broadcaster RTV Slovenia announced plans to air programming focused on Palestinian issues during the Eurovision broadcast time slot.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In a significant business development, Amazon revealed Tuesday it was dramatically expanding its collaboration with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, coming just 24 hours after OpenAI announced it would reduce its dependency on Microsoft.
The partnership between Amazon’s cloud computing arm, Amazon Web Services, and OpenAI will focus on jointly creating a new platform designed for AI agents capable of performing computer tasks for users, according to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
Altman delivered his remarks through a pre-recorded video to attendees at an Amazon conference in San Francisco, while simultaneously attending a federal court hearing in Oakland for a lawsuit filed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who co-founded OpenAI.
On Monday, Microsoft revealed it would end its revenue-sharing arrangement with OpenAI, marking another step in distancing itself from a partnership that sparked the current artificial intelligence revolution.
Initially, OpenAI depended entirely on Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure investments to develop the technology that made ChatGPT widely recognized. Microsoft leveraged OpenAI’s innovations to create its own AI tool, Copilot.
However, the relationship has transformed as OpenAI, originally established as a nonprofit organization in San Francisco, has moved toward becoming a profit-driven company preparing for a stock market debut. The AI firm has also diversified its cloud partnerships beyond Microsoft to include Amazon, Google, and Oracle.
While OpenAI announced Monday it would maintain revenue sharing with Microsoft until 2030, the payments will now have limits. OpenAI has been aggressively pursuing corporate clients to increase sales of its artificial intelligence solutions. The company’s chief revenue officer, Denise Dresser, also participated in the Amazon conference.
Microsoft will continue as OpenAI’s main cloud provider, and OpenAI’s products will debut first on Microsoft’s Azure platform, “unless Microsoft cannot and chooses not to support the necessary capabilities,” according to statements from both companies.
During his Tuesday presentation, Altman indicated that Amazon possessed the required technical capabilities.
“These systems need to run reliably and robustly,” Altman stated. “They need to be secure, they need to scale, and they need to fit in the environments where companies already run their businesses. And they need infrastructure that customers already trust for their most important workloads. That’s what makes this partnership with AWS so important.”
A former NBA player and assistant coach has become the first defendant to accept a plea agreement in a sweeping federal gambling investigation that resulted in more than two dozen arrests.
Damon Jones, 49, entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud during a Tuesday hearing in federal court in Brooklyn, New York. His plea comes just one day after prosecutors announced additional charges against former Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.
“I would like to sincerely apologize to the court, my family, my peers and also the National Basketball Association,” Jones stated during his brief courtroom appearance.
The former player admitted his involvement in what federal authorities dubbed “Operation Royal Flush,” serving as a “face card” in at least three fraudulent poker games spanning from October 2020 through September 2023. Jones acknowledged participating in two Miami-based games while knowing they were rigged.
Prosecutors presented evidence placing Jones at all three games through witness statements, recovered text messages from confiscated phones and iCloud accounts, and wire transfer activity showing interstate fund movements. The investigation uncovered sophisticated technology that enabled undetectable cheating, according to prosecutors.
Jones is scheduled for sentencing in January 2027.
The guilty pleas were entered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo in two separate federal cases naming Jones: U.S. v. Earnest and U.S. v. Aiello.
Court documents indicate a sentencing range of five years to 78 months was established prior to his arraignment last year. As part of Tuesday’s agreement, Jones consented to forfeit at least $38,000 in winnings obtained through the scheme.
During his 11-season NBA career, Jones played alongside LeBron James in Cleveland and Miami before transitioning to an unofficial coaching role with the Lakers. Prosecutors alleged he provided confidential information, including details about James’ injury status for a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, to benefit a professionally-connected gambling operation.
The maximum sentence for that case is 27 months.
After initially entering a not guilty plea in December, Jones could receive up to two years credit for accepting the plea agreement.
WASHINGTON – Federal communications regulators announced Tuesday they are fast-tracking license renewal evaluations for eight television stations owned by Disney’s ABC network, advancing the process by more than six years ahead of schedule.
The Federal Communications Commission stated that the accelerated reviews stem from an ongoing 12-month investigation into the agency’s policies prohibiting unlawful discrimination in broadcasting. Originally scheduled to commence in October 2028, the license evaluations must now be submitted by Disney no later than May 28.
The television stations subject to the expedited review process operate in eight major metropolitan areas: Fresno, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and Durham, North Carolina.
The move represents a significant intensification of tensions between the previous Trump administration and major American media companies.
Technology stocks led a market decline Tuesday as fresh doubts about artificial intelligence growth momentum sent major indexes retreating from recent record highs, just days before major tech companies release their quarterly earnings.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq suffered the steepest losses, pulled down primarily by semiconductor companies that have climbed more than 40% this year. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones managed to hold onto small gains.
Market sentiment shifted after reports emerged that OpenAI failed to meet internal projections for weekly users and revenue, sparking questions about whether the AI company can justify its enormous investments in data center infrastructure, according to Wall Street Journal reporting.
Oracle stock dropped 3.7% as investors questioned the company’s cloud computing strategy, which heavily depends on its OpenAI partnership.
Major chip manufacturers also took significant hits, with Nvidia, AMD and Broadcom posting declines ranging from 2.2% to 4.7%. Nvidia-backed CoreWeave fell 4.8%.
“OpenAI missed their internal targets, but there’s lots of other players in the field,” explained Oliver Pursche, senior vice president at Wealthspire Advisors in New York. “It would be a mistake to simply look at a single security or a single earnings event and try to extrapolate that into a broad market.”
The market faces a critical test this week as five members of the so-called “Magnificent Seven” AI-focused mega-cap companies prepare to announce results. Wednesday brings reports from Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms and Microsoft, while Apple follows Thursday.
These companies represent approximately 44% of the S&P 500’s entire market value, according to Raymond James analysis.
In individual company news, General Motors exceeded profit expectations and raised its annual earnings outlook, benefiting from strong U.S. auto sales and an anticipated tariff refund. GM shares climbed 1.1%.
United Parcel Service stock fell 2.4% after the shipping company maintained its yearly revenue projections as rising fuel expenses counteracted operational improvements.
Coca-Cola surged 5.0% following stronger-than-expected quarterly results. The beverage company minimized concerns about elevated oil prices and increased its annual profit forecast.
Visa and Starbucks were scheduled to release earnings after market close.
By the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average remained essentially unchanged at 49,166.25, while the S&P 500 dropped 41.87 points, or 0.58%, to 7,132.04. The Nasdaq Composite fell 265.39 points, or 1.07%, to 24,621.71.
Among the S&P 500’s 11 major sectors, technology posted the largest decline while energy stocks recorded the biggest percentage gains.
The Federal Reserve began its monetary policy meeting, likely Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s final session in that role. Although officials are expected to maintain current interest rates Wednesday, investors will closely examine the policy statement and Powell’s press conference for insights on inflation risks tied to war-related energy price increases.
“We know that the Fed is effectively on hold,” Pursche noted. “If oil prices remain elevated, does that create an environment where energy-related inflation is not being viewed as transitory any longer, but rather as something that has a very much longer-term impact and might therefore force the Fed to raise rates?”
President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Iran’s latest peace proposal, citing delays in nuclear negotiations, which reduced hopes for a quick resolution to the conflict that has disrupted global markets and driven energy costs higher.
Adding pressure to oil-producing nations, the United Arab Emirates announced Tuesday its departure from OPEC.
Oil prices have jumped 53% above pre-war levels as disruptions continue through the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. Brent crude futures exceeded $110 per barrel for the first time in three weeks.
Crude prices climbing above $100 per barrel have reignited inflation concerns and contributed to cautious market sentiment.
On the New York Stock Exchange, declining stocks outnumbered gainers by a 1.63-to-1 margin, with 136 stocks hitting new highs and 39 reaching new lows.
Nasdaq trading showed 1,686 advancing stocks versus 2,946 declining, with losers leading by a 1.75-to-1 ratio.
The S&P 500 recorded three new 52-week highs and 14 new lows, while the Nasdaq Composite saw 89 new highs and 85 new lows.
WASHINGTON – Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against a former National Institutes of Health official, accusing him of deliberately hiding records connected to COVID-19 research funding and using personal email accounts to conduct government work.
David Morens, who served as a senior administrator at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases during the coronavirus outbreak, was indicted by a Maryland grand jury on charges of working to conceal federal records requests that came to the agency from April 2020 through December 2022.
The criminal charges, which were initially filed under seal on April 16 before being made public Monday, also identify two unnamed co-conspirators described as a New York nonprofit organization that focuses on infectious disease work and a doctor affiliated with an academic institution that received NIH funding.
“As alleged in the indictment, Dr. Morens and his co-conspirators deliberately concealed information and falsified records in an effort to suppress alternative theories regarding the origins of COVID-19,” Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote in a statement announcing the charges on Tuesday.
Attempts to contact Morens’ representatives for a response to the allegations were unsuccessful.
The former NIH official is facing five separate criminal counts, including conspiracy charges, destroying or altering records during federal investigations, and concealing or damaging official documents.
This legal action represents the most recent move by Republican President Donald Trump’s current administration concerning questions about how the coronavirus pandemic began, which devastated global communities starting in late 2019 during Trump’s initial presidency.
The World Health Organization along with the majority of scientific experts believe the virus most likely jumped from animals to humans naturally. While investigations have been limited due to insufficient information from China, U.S. intelligence agencies concluded last year that a laboratory accident was the probable source.
A Republican-controlled Senate committee is currently investigating the pandemic’s beginnings, including demanding documents from the prestigious medical publication the Lancet.
Several Republican lawmakers have claimed that former NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci worked to silence theories suggesting COVID-19 escaped from a Chinese laboratory. Fauci has categorically rejected these accusations, stating before a House subcommittee in 2024 that he never attempted to shape research into the virus’s source.
Morens, who served as an advisor to Fauci, was summoned to provide testimony last year to the Republican-controlled COVID subcommittee, which obtained subpoenas for tens of thousands of his email communications, including correspondence with the NIAID director.
A new art exhibition celebrating the beauty of natural stone formations opens next week at a Wilmington gallery, featuring the abstract works of artist Kira Krell.
The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery will host “Stone Formations,” a solo showcase of Krell’s latest creations, running from May 1 through May 29, 2026.
Krell’s artwork features rich textures and abstract designs that encourage visitors to pause and contemplate nature’s lasting impact on our world. The exhibition focuses on how natural geological structures can inspire artistic expression and personal reflection.
The gallery, located in Wilmington, regularly features works by local and regional artists as part of the state’s commitment to supporting the arts community.
The well-known Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, based in San Leandro, California, has issued a voluntary recall of specific powdered drink mixes over concerns they may contain salmonella bacteria.
The company’s decision to pull these products comes after California Dairies, Inc. recalled milk powder ingredients due to potential salmonella contamination issues.
Salmonella contamination can pose serious health risks to consumers, particularly vulnerable populations such as young children, elderly individuals, and those with compromised immune systems.
Customers who have purchased the affected Ghirardelli powdered beverage products are advised to stop using them immediately and contact the company for further instructions.
Construction crews began applying a bright blue coating to the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool Monday morning, transforming the iconic water feature as part of President Trump’s broader plan to alter Washington D.C.’s appearance.
The renovation involves changing the pool’s surface to what officials describe as “American flag blue,” though the resulting color resembles that of a typical swimming pool rather than the traditional darker shade.
The reflecting pool project represents just one element of multiple physical modifications the Trump administration has announced for the nation’s capital. Workers were observed Monday applying the new blue paint to sections of the historic water feature.
The dramatic color change has generated divided opinions among D.C. residents and tourists who frequent the National Mall area. Some view the alteration as an unnecessary departure from the memorial’s traditional appearance, while others support the administration’s vision for updating federal landmarks.
The reflecting pool, which stretches between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, has served as a backdrop for countless historic moments and attracts millions of visitors annually to the National Mall.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a strategic move to maintain their connection with Aaron Rodgers while protecting their interests should the veteran quarterback choose to play elsewhere.
On Monday, Pittsburgh filed an unrestricted free-agent tender on the four-time MVP, ensuring they would receive a compensatory draft pick should the 42-year-old decide to join a different team during the 2026 campaign.
Both General Manager Omar Khan and new head coach Mike McCarthy continue to express strong confidence that Rodgers will return following his role in securing the team’s AFC North championship last season.
Communication between the organization and Rodgers has remained consistent since the season concluded, with Khan stating after the NFL draft that selecting former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round has no bearing on their desire to retain Rodgers.
The tender arrangement doesn’t prevent Rodgers from joining another franchise or provide Pittsburgh with matching rights for any offers he might receive before July 22.
However, it does provide the Steelers with compensation should he depart before training camp begins in late July. Once camp starts, Pittsburgh would hold exclusive negotiating privileges with Rodgers.
The tender also establishes Rodgers’ potential earnings, entitling him to a 10% increase over his 2025 compensation should he return for what would be his 22nd NFL season.
In January, Rodgers indicated he would make his decision “down the line.” While the Steelers hoped for clarity before the draft, that timeline didn’t materialize.
Pittsburgh’s voluntary organized team activities begin May 18, with mandatory minicamp scheduled for June 2-4.
Last year, Rodgers bypassed OTAs completely, ultimately signing his one-year contract with the Steelers shortly after minicamp concluded.
WASHINGTON — James Comey, who previously served as FBI Director, received an indictment Tuesday related to an investigation into a beach photograph he shared on social media, sources tell news outlets. Federal authorities believe the image, which showed seashells positioned to form the numbers “86 47,” represented a threat directed at President Donald Trump.
A source with knowledge of the situation, speaking anonymously because they lacked authorization to discuss the matter publicly, confirmed the charges to reporters. The specific nature and number of charges filed against Comey remain unclear at this time.
This marks the second time the Justice Department has pursued criminal action against Comey, a prominent critic of Trump. The former FBI chief stated he believed the shell arrangement he encountered during a beach walk represented a political statement rather than an incitement to violence. Comey joins several other Trump critics who have faced Justice Department investigations over the past year, as acting Attorney General Todd Blanche seeks to demonstrate his suitability for the permanent position.
Following complaints from Trump administration officials who claimed he was promoting Trump’s assassination, Comey sat for a Secret Service interview in May. Trump serves as the nation’s 47th president. Shortly after posting the image, Comey removed it and explained his actions in writing: “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence” and “I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”
Attempts to reach Comey’s legal representative for comment Tuesday were unsuccessful.
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, which The Associated Press uses as reference, the term “86” serves as slang meaning “to throw out,” “to get rid of” or “to refuse service to.” The dictionary notes: “Among the most recent senses adopted is a logical extension of the previous ones, with the meaning of ‘to kill.’ We do not enter this sense, due to its relative recency and sparseness of use.”
During a Fox News Channel appearance in May, Trump claimed Comey understood “exactly what that meant.”
“A child knows what that meant,” Trump stated. “If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know what that meant, that meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear.”
Defense attorneys will likely argue the Trump administration is deliberately targeting Comey, given that the Justice Department has now brought a second case against the former FBI director just months after dismissing an unrelated previous indictment. Comey had supervised the initial stages of an investigation examining potential coordination between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia to influence that election’s results.
In September, prosecutors charged the former FBI director with lying to Congress and obstruction related to 2020 testimony about whether he had authorized sharing confidential investigation details with a reporter. Comey maintained his innocence, and a judge later dismissed the case after determining issues with the prosecutor who filed the charges.
When Trump assumed the presidency in 2017, Comey was already serving as FBI Director, having received his appointment from former President Barack Obama, a Democrat. Previously, he had held senior Justice Department roles during Republican President George W. Bush’s administration.
Their professional relationship faced difficulties from the beginning, particularly after Comey declined Trump’s request during a private meal to promise personal loyalty to the president — an approach that troubled the FBI director enough that he immediately wrote a detailed memo about the encounter.
In May 2017, Trump dismissed Comey while the FBI was investigating possible connections between Russia and Trump’s campaign for president. Special counsel Robert Mueller eventually assumed control of that investigation, which concluded that although Russia interfered in the 2016 election and Trump’s team welcomed such assistance, prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence to establish criminal conspiracy.
The department is simultaneously conducting a criminal investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan, another central figure from the Russia investigation — representing one of Trump’s primary complaints and a situation for which he and his allies have long desired retribution.
WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors have brought criminal charges against a former top advisor to Dr. Anthony Fauci, alleging he deliberately hid communications about COVID-19 research during the pandemic, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.
Dr. David Morens, 78, stands accused of deliberately using personal email to avoid public records requirements during his time at the National Institutes of Health. Prosecutors claim he hid or destroyed records of conversations about COVID-19 research funding, including efforts to restart a disputed coronavirus grant program.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche condemned the alleged actions in a Tuesday statement. “These allegations represent a profound abuse of trust at a time when the American people needed it most — during the height of a global pandemic,” Blanche said. “Government officials have a solemn duty to provide honest, well-grounded facts and advice in service of the public interest — not to advance their own personal or ideological agendas.”
The charges include conspiracy against the United States, destroying or falsifying federal investigation records, hiding or destroying government documents, and aiding others in these crimes, according to Justice Department officials. A conviction could result in decades behind bars. Morens’ legal representative chose not to provide a statement.
The criminal case validates Republican claims that federal agencies withheld crucial COVID-19 information as the pandemic developed. Despite extensive investigations, scientists still cannot definitively explain how COVID-19 began. Researchers remain divided on whether the virus spread naturally from animals or escaped from a laboratory. Intelligence agencies concluded in 2023 that available evidence cannot support either explanation.
According to Blanche, Morens’ alleged actions were designed to “suppress alternative theories” about how COVID-19 originated. Federal prosecutors also claim Morens maintained inappropriate relationships with research partners, including allegedly receiving wine as a gift and discussing COVID-19 studies and possible publication in major medical publications.
The criminal charges stem from House Republican investigations into COVID-19’s origins that examined Morens’ email records and accused him of deliberately hiding government documents. During congressional hearings, Morens rejected claims that he tried to avoid federal transparency requirements through personal email use.
Salisbury University’s athletic program is looking ahead to the 2026 Capital Athletic Conference Championships as the Sea Gulls prepare for competition.
The university’s athletic department has issued a preview of the upcoming championship events, though specific details about participating teams, event schedules, and venue information were not immediately available.
The CLC Championships represent a significant opportunity for Salisbury University athletes to compete at the conference level and showcase their skills against other member institutions.
Additional information about the championship schedule, participating sports, and competition dates is expected to be released as the event approaches.
DAKAR, Senegal – Lawmakers in Senegal’s National Assembly voted decisively on Tuesday to approve modifications to the nation’s election laws, creating a pathway for Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko to potentially seek the presidency in 2029.
The 51-year-old political firebrand had been barred from participating in this year’s presidential contest due to a criminal conviction that could have blocked future campaigns as well. Instead, Sonko endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who successfully captured the presidency.
Political observers have noted growing tensions between President Faye and Prime Minister Sonko since the administration began, sparking speculation that Sonko may pursue the nation’s highest office when the next election cycle arrives.
Parliamentary members passed the legislation by a commanding margin of 128 in favor, 11 opposed, and 2 abstentions. The dominant presence of Sonko’s Pastef party in the assembly helped secure the outcome, though opposition groups criticized the use of emergency procedures to fast-track the measure.
The approved changes specifically target legal provisions that had disqualified Sonko from seeking elected office, effectively clearing a major hurdle to his potential presidential ambitions.
The legislation now moves to President Faye’s desk for final approval. Opposition parties retain the option to contest the new law before the Constitutional Council.
In related developments, the presidential office released proposed constitutional and electoral reforms on Monday for public review before cabinet discussions begin.
The Boston Celtics’ president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, has earned his second NBA Executive of the Year recognition in a three-year span, the league announced Tuesday.
Under Stevens’ leadership, the Celtics posted an impressive 56-26 record during the 2025-26 season, claiming the Eastern Conference’s second-best mark and earning a top-two playoff position for the fifth consecutive year since he took over the front office role.
The achievement becomes even more remarkable considering Boston lost key veterans Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jrue Holiday during the offseason, while star forward Jayson Tatum was limited to just 16 games as he worked back from an Achilles injury.
Stevens previously claimed this honor during the 2023-24 campaign, making him the 12th NBA executive to win the award multiple times since the recognition began in the 1972-73 season.
In the voting conducted by fellow NBA executives, the 49-year-old Stevens collected 11 first-place ballots and accumulated 69 total points. Atlanta Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh finished as runner-up with 41 points, narrowly edging Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon by a single point.
Stevens spent eight seasons as Boston’s head coach before transitioning to the front office, compiling a 354-282 coaching record. Throughout his 13 years with the organization, the Celtics have reached the playoffs in 12 of those seasons.
Boston currently holds a commanding 3-1 advantage over the Philadelphia 76ers in their opening playoff round, with Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday evening at home.
American motorists are facing gasoline costs not seen in nearly four years, with the national average reaching $4.18 per gallon following escalating tensions in the Middle East, according to American Automobile Association data released Tuesday.
The price jump represents a sharp 7-cent increase in a single day – the steepest daily climb in over a month. Since late February, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched attacks against Iran, fuel costs have surged by $1.19 per gallon, marking more than a 40% increase.
Drivers nationwide are experiencing significant financial strain as energy expenses climb amid Middle Eastern warfare that has severely restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. This crucial maritime passage handles approximately one-fifth of global oil and gas transportation.
“There has been no progress there at all and crude oil prices are increasing because of it,” said Rystad Energy analyst Susan Bell.
Industry experts warn that gasoline costs may continue climbing if crude oil prices maintain their upward trajectory. Recent energy price spikes have particularly squeezed profit margins for fuel retailers across the nation.
Tom Kloza, chief energy advisor to Gulf Oil, explained that retail fuel margins have faced severe compression. While retailers traditionally maintain margins around 40 cents per gallon over the past five years, those margins have shrunk by approximately 30 cents as of last week.
“We had an abnormal situation where a lot of the recent increases in April never made it to the street,” Kloza noted. “The retailers have essentially been taking one for the team.” He emphasized that retail prices must increase or individual gas station operators will face losses on motor fuel sales.
Oil markets showed dramatic gains last week, with Brent crude futures jumping roughly 16% and U.S. West Texas Intermediate climbing nearly 13% as supply concerns intensified due to stalled peace negotiations regarding the Iran conflict. Earlier this month, oil prices had temporarily stabilized on hopes the Strait of Hormuz might reopen.
Refinery complications have compounded the supply shortage, particularly affecting the U.S. Midwest region, according to GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan. He predicted that Great Lakes area retailers might implement additional price increases as early as today.
Several major refineries are currently experiencing operational challenges. Phillips 66’s Wood River facility in Illinois, which processes 356,000 barrels daily, shut down its crude oil unit and additional sections in late February for a 45-day maintenance program.
Marathon Petroleum’s Robinson refinery in Illinois, handling 253,000 barrels per day, entered scheduled maintenance in mid-March with units expected to remain offline through mid-May.
Additionally, BP’s massive Whiting, Indiana refinery experienced a weekend power failure that forced the shutdown of one processing unit. The facility typically processes 440,000 barrels daily.
Rystad Energy data indicates that April has seen approximately 150,000 barrels per day of unexpected outages nationwide, combined with roughly 670,000 barrels daily of planned maintenance shutdowns.
Authorities in Smyrna are working to determine what caused a deadly accident yesterday that claimed the life of an 8-year-old girl on an electric scooter.
The tragic incident unfolded around 4:54 p.m. on April 27, 2026, when a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck heading west on Greens Branch Lane near Eagle Way struck the child, who was riding her scooter north on Eagle Way toward the intersection with Greens Branch Lane.
Officials with the Smyrna Police Department say they are still working to piece together exactly how the deadly crash occurred between the young rider and the pickup truck.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding this fatal accident remains ongoing.
Delaware is expanding mandatory health insurance coverage for chiropractic and physical therapy services as part of efforts to reduce opioid dependence among chronic pain patients.
Currently, Delaware law requires all health insurance plans in the state — including individual policies, group coverage, state employee benefits, and Medicaid — to provide unlimited chiropractic and physical therapy visits for chronic back pain treatment. However, this coverage has been limited to specific areas of the spine.
A recent evaluation by the Patient Centered Care Subcommittee, part of the Addiction Action Committee within Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services, revealed important gaps in the current system. The subcommittee surveyed Delaware-based chiropractic and physical therapy practitioners to assess how well the existing coverage requirements were working.
While the survey results indicated that unlimited coverage has enhanced care for chronic pain sufferers, researchers discovered the benefits were restricted to only two spinal regions: the thoracic area (middle spine from neck base to rib bottom) and the lumbar region (lower back area).
Health officials noted that comprehensive chiropractic and physical therapy care can help patients avoid both opioid medications and costlier medical interventions. However, the current limitations on which body areas receive coverage may reduce treatment effectiveness and restrict patient recovery potential.
The new legislation addresses these concerns by expanding coverage requirements to include the entire spine plus other neuromusculoskeletal areas, including arms and legs, without annual or lifetime visit restrictions.
Insurance companies will need to comply with these enhanced coverage mandates for any policies that are issued, renewed, or modified after December 31, 2026.
The legislation also includes technical language updates to align with current Delaware legislative drafting standards.
A traffic accident has resulted in the closure of the right merge lane on East Chestnut Hill Road coming from Salem Church Road, according to Delaware Department of Transportation officials.
The crash has blocked access to the merging lane, prompting authorities to shut down that portion of roadway to vehicle traffic. DelDOT is advising motorists to avoid the area if possible and to use alternative routes while emergency crews and transportation workers address the situation.
No details about the severity of the collision or potential injuries have been released at this time. Drivers traveling through the area should anticipate delays and exercise caution around the accident scene.
This is a developing situation and road conditions may change as crews work to clear the wreckage and reopen the affected lane to normal traffic flow.
Law enforcement officials in New Castle County are alerting residents about a sophisticated fraud scheme targeting people seeking government permits.
Detectives with the New Castle County Division of Police are looking into a case where scammers created fake email addresses that mimic official county government communications. The fraudulent scheme specifically targets individuals who have submitted permit applications.
According to investigators, the scam works by sending victims official-looking emails that falsely claim to be from New Castle County offices. These deceptive messages request additional fees supposedly needed to complete the permit application process.
Police say the fake emails are designed to appear authentic, making it difficult for residents to distinguish them from legitimate county correspondence. The criminals behind the scheme are attempting to collect unauthorized payments from unsuspecting permit applicants.
Authorities are urging residents to verify any unexpected payment requests by contacting the appropriate county office directly through official phone numbers rather than responding to email solicitations.
The University of Delaware’s men’s basketball team has welcomed a new addition to their upcoming roster through the transfer portal. Head coach Martin Ingelsby revealed Tuesday that Steven Solano has committed to play for the Blue Hens during the 2026-27 season.
Solano brings two years of collegiate experience to Newark, having competed for Saint Joseph’s University over the past two seasons. The transfer represents another strategic roster move as Coach Ingelsby continues building his program for the upcoming campaign.
The announcement was made from the university’s Newark campus, adding another piece to what promises to be an evolving Fightin’ Blue Hens lineup for the 2026-27 academic year.
DALLAS – The University of Delaware women’s tennis program celebrated major recognition Tuesday as the Conference USA announced its postseason awards, with five Blue Hens student-athletes receiving honors.
Leading the way was Gorman, who captured the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year award for her outstanding debut season with the program.
The announcement from Dallas marks a significant achievement for the Delaware tennis program, highlighting the depth of talent on the roster this season.
In addition to Gorman’s individual recognition, four other Blue Hens earned spots on the All-Conference USA teams, demonstrating the program’s competitive strength within the conference.
The awards recognize the top performers across Conference USA women’s tennis programs for their achievements during the 2025-26 season.
A key piece of weather monitoring technology has reached a significant milestone after serving the eastern United States for twelve months.
NOAA’s GOES-19 satellite officially completed one full year of operations as GOES-East on April 28, providing essential weather data and imagery for the entire eastern seaboard, including Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic region.
The advanced geostationary satellite has delivered vital information during numerous high-impact weather events throughout its first year of service. From tracking severe thunderstorms to monitoring hurricane development, GOES-19 has enhanced forecasting capabilities for meteorologists across the region.
Since taking over the GOES-East position, the satellite has continuously observed weather patterns from its position 22,300 miles above Earth’s equator. This strategic location allows it to maintain constant surveillance of weather systems affecting the eastern United States.
The satellite represents the latest in weather monitoring technology, offering improved resolution and faster data transmission compared to its predecessors. These enhancements have translated into more accurate forecasts and earlier warnings for potentially dangerous weather conditions.
GOES-19’s successful first year demonstrates the ongoing advancement of satellite technology in protecting communities through better weather prediction and monitoring capabilities.
HOUSTON (AP) — While Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant is showing signs of improvement with his left ankle injury, his availability for Wednesday evening’s pivotal Game 5 matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers remains doubtful.
The veteran forward was absent from Tuesday’s team practice session before the Rockets departed for California, where they face elimination trailing 3-1 in their first-round playoff series. However, Durant was observed working out on an anti-gravity treadmill as his teammates concluded their preparation before traveling.
When Head Coach Ime Udoka was questioned about the possibility of Durant suiting up for Game 5 after being sidelined for the previous two contests due to a sprained left ankle and bone bruise, he remained cautiously optimistic.
“We’ll see,” Udoka said. “It is day to day, game to game. But we’ll have to get on the court and do some things, and he didn’t participate in practice today. But he’s doing the conditioning and other aspects to try to get back.”
Durant’s absence has been felt throughout the series, having missed three total games after sitting out the series opener with a bruised right knee. The 37-year-old managed to return for the second game, contributing 23 points over 41 minutes in a 101-94 defeat, but sustained the ankle injury in the closing moments of that contest.
Houston managed to stave off elimination in Game 4 with an impressive 115-96 victory, even without their star player on the court.
The injury setbacks come after Durant logged heavy minutes during the regular season, accumulating 2,840 minutes to rank second league-wide. This marks his debut season with Houston following an offseason trade from Phoenix.
Durant, who holds the distinction of being the NBA’s fifth all-time leading scorer, will be crucial if the Rockets hope to mount an unlikely comeback in the series.
