BE Semiconductor Industries announced Thursday that its quarterly orders more than doubled compared to the same period last year, driven by robust growth across all business segments and exceptionally strong interest in hybrid bonding technology.
The semiconductor equipment manufacturer has captured investor attention with its hybrid bonding capabilities, which enable direct stacking of computer chips. This cutting-edge approach has positioned the company as an early leader as artificial intelligence applications create unprecedented demand for advanced semiconductor solutions.
The company’s order bookings, a key metric for predicting future performance, surged 104.5% to reach 269.7 million euros ($315.5 million) during the first quarter, a dramatic increase from the previous year’s 131.9 million euros.
“Favorable order trends in Q1 reflect the strength of Besi’s advanced packaging market position for next generation AI applications,” CEO Richard Blickman said in a statement.
The artificial intelligence investment wave has helped compensate for sluggish performance in automotive, personal computer, and memory chip sectors.
Other semiconductor industry players, including TSMC, ASML, and ASM International, have also reported strong results recently, indicating the entire sector continues to capitalize on the artificial intelligence chip demand explosion.
Looking ahead, BESI projected second-quarter revenue growth of 30% to 40% compared to the first quarter’s 184.9 million euros in 2026.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark – A head-on collision between two passenger trains in Denmark left multiple people wounded on Thursday, according to emergency officials.
The crash occurred in the vicinity of Hillerod, located north of the Danish capital of Copenhagen.
A representative from the Greater Copenhagen fire department confirmed the nature of the accident, stating “It is two local trains that have collided head-on.”
The fire department spokesperson provided additional details about the aftermath, saying “There are injuries among the passengers. Everyone is out of the trains, so no one is trapped… Large resources have been dispatched to the scene.”
Emergency crews mobilized significant personnel and equipment to respond to the incident, though the exact number of casualties has not been disclosed.
SYDNEY – The Australian government has announced it is collaborating with artificial intelligence company Anthropic and other software firms following concerns about cybersecurity weaknesses, according to a representative for Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke who spoke Thursday.
The partnership comes after Anthropic launched its Mythos artificial intelligence system, which was created to help with defensive cybersecurity operations. However, the powerful AI tool has raised alarm bells in multiple nations due to its extensive abilities to identify security weaknesses in computer systems.
According to Anthropic, early testing of the Mythos model revealed what the company described as “thousands” of significant security flaws found across “every major operating system and web browser.” This discovery has heightened worries about existing vulnerabilities in commonly used software and technology platforms.
PHOENIX — Japanese first baseman Munetaka Murakami of the Chicago White Sox has reached a remarkable milestone, matching a Major League Baseball rookie record by hitting home runs in five consecutive games during their matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Murakami launched a towering 451-foot blast to right-center field for his 10th home run of the season, joining an exclusive group of just 13 rookies in baseball history to accomplish this rare feat, according to MLB.com records. The impressive streak also matches the Chicago White Sox franchise record, previously achieved by several players including A.J. Pierzynski in 2012, Paul Konerko in 2011, Carlos Lee in 2003, Frank Thomas twice in 1994, Ron Kittle in 1983, and Greg Luzinski in 1983.
The rookie’s two-run blast occurred in the seventh inning off Arizona reliever Ryan Thompson, helping narrow the Diamondbacks’ advantage to 10-7. With 10 home runs this season, Murakami trails only Houston’s Yordan Alvarez, who leads the majors with 11 homers.
Perhaps most remarkably, Murakami’s 10 home runs through his first 24 major league games represent the most ever hit by a Japanese-born player in that span, with eight of those coming during road games.
Nearly four decades after the catastrophic Chernobyl accident sparked worldwide anxiety about atomic energy and hindered its expansion across Europe and beyond, nuclear power is experiencing a remarkable global resurgence. This renewed interest has gained significant momentum due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Currently, more than 400 atomic reactors operate across 31 nations, with approximately 70 additional units under development. These facilities generate roughly 10% of global electricity production, representing about one-fourth of all low-carbon energy sources worldwide.
Modern atomic facilities have undergone continuous enhancements, incorporating additional safety mechanisms while reducing construction and operational costs.
Although both the Chernobyl catastrophe and Japan’s 2011 Fukushima nuclear incident reduced enthusiasm for atomic energy, a comeback was anticipated years ago, according to Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency.
Given the Middle East conflict, “I am 100% sure nuclear is coming back,” he stated.
“It’s seen as a secure electricity generation system, and we will see that the comeback of nuclear will be very strong, both in (the) Americas, in Europe and in Asia,” Birol told The Associated Press.
America leads global nuclear electricity production with 94 functioning reactors that generate approximately 30% of worldwide atomic power. The nation is expanding efforts to boost nuclear capacity with ambitions to increase it fourfold by 2050.
“The world cannot power its industries, meet the demands of artificial intelligence, or secure its energy future without nuclear power,” U.S. Undersecretary of State Thomas DiNanno said last month.
China currently runs 61 atomic reactors and dominates new construction globally, with nearly 40 facilities being built as the country aims to overtake America as the world’s top nuclear producer.
European Commission leader Ursula von der Leyen has admitted that reducing nuclear energy was Europe’s “strategic mistake” and has presented new programs to promote power plant construction.
Meanwhile, Russia has established a commanding position in exporting nuclear expertise, constructing 20 reactors internationally.
On April 26, 1986, Chernobyl’s fourth reactor exploded while Ukraine remained part of the Soviet Union. The incident contaminated surrounding regions and released radiation throughout Europe.
Ukraine continues to depend significantly on atomic plants for approximately half its electrical supply. These facilities have served a crucial function since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Moscow’s military has seized Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and Kyiv has accused Russia of launching a drone strike against the protective structure surrounding the damaged Chernobyl reactor.
Japan has reactivated 15 reactors following a comprehensive review of lessons learned from the earthquake and tsunami that damaged Fukushima, with 10 additional units awaiting restart approval.
South Africa maintains the African continent’s sole nuclear facility, though Russia is constructing one in Egypt, and several other African countries are investigating the technology.
“The momentum we are seeing today is the result of a growing recognition that reliable, low-carbon electricity will be essential to meet the world’s rising energy demand,” said Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Europe attempted to reduce its dependence on Russian energy following the Ukraine war, but the Middle East conflict highlighted its reliance on fossil fuels.
The European Commission has changed its view of atomic energy, now considering it part of clean power alongside wind and solar to achieve environmental objectives.
In 1990, nuclear energy provided roughly one-third of Europe’s electricity; currently it supplies only about 15%, and von der Leyen has recognized that depending on imported fossil fuels creates a disadvantage.
“I believe that it was a strategic mistake for Europe to turn its back on a reliable, affordable source of low-emissions power,” she said recently. “In the last years, we see a global revival of nuclear energy. And Europe wants to be part of it.”
The EU is exploring Small Modular Reactors, anticipated to begin operations in the early 2030s. These units are considered more economical and quicker to construct, offering greater flexibility than conventional reactors.
France and several other EU nations, including Sweden and Finland, have championed atomic power. Conversely, Germany, Austria and Italy are among EU countries that have prohibited its use.
In a significant policy change last year, Belgium overturned legislation requiring reactor closures and extended their operational periods. Spain continues planning to eliminate its nuclear capacity and shut down seven functioning reactors between 2027 and 2035.
Operating 57 reactors across 19 facilities, France depends on atomic power for nearly 70% of its electricity.
Multiple French administrations have supported nuclear energy as fundamental to the nation’s energy independence, remaining undaunted by Chernobyl. In 2022, President Emmanuel Macron announced plans for six new pressurized water reactors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the shift to low-carbon energy.
The COVID-19 pandemic, along with gas supply shortages caused by the Ukraine conflict, “revealed the limits of deploying renewable electricity and Europe’s dependence on gas,” said Nicolas Goldberg, a partner at Paris-based Colombus Consulting.
“France has therefore been reinforced in its strategy of maintaining its existing nuclear plants, which means extending their lifespan as much as possible,” he said.
Years of anti-nuclear demonstrations in Germany, intensified by previous accidents, pressured successive administrations to abandon technology that opponents viewed as dangerous and unsustainable. Germany deactivated its final three atomic reactors in 2023, completing plans developed by various governments over twenty years.
A substantial nuclear comeback in Europe’s largest economy remains unlikely, despite recent discussions among some in Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right coalition about openness to potential future small modular reactors.
“The decision is irreversible — I regret it, but that’s how it is,” Merz said, noting the plant operators’ “consistent answer was: ‘We are too far along with demolition.’”
Russia has aggressively expanded atomic power capacity both domestically and internationally.
The country operates 34 reactors, including eight Chernobyl-type RBMK reactors, known as light water graphite reactors, which produce about one-quarter of all nuclear generation. These have undergone extensive upgrades, adding safety features to address the inherent design flaw that, combined with human error, caused the Chernobyl disaster.
Major construction projects include new units at Kursk, Leningrad and Smolensk locations, a planned Far East facility, and potential floating nuclear units.
Russia is also constructing 20 reactors across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, having signed agreements to begin construction in several additional countries.
Russia has completed the first atomic reactor for neighboring ally Belarus, which experienced contamination across one-third of its territory from Chernobyl.
“Belarusian authorities are using the changed context and the so-called ‘nuclear renaissance’ to claim that we are acting like everyone else in the world, rather than solving the problems of Belarusians in the contaminated territories,” said Irina Sukhiy, founder of the Belarus ecological group Green Network.
BRUSSELS — European Union officials are accelerating preparations for crisis response scenarios as concerns mount that President Donald Trump’s administration may be shifting security priorities away from traditional NATO commitments and European defense.
Beginning with a summit in Cyprus on Thursday, EU leadership will develop “an operational plan” to maximize the effectiveness of the bloc’s military, security, trade and other resources during emergency situations, according to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in comments to The Associated Press.
Scheduled for mid-May, EU diplomatic representatives will participate in simulated “table-top exercises” designed to evaluate how Article 42.7 of EU treaties might be implemented to deliver mutual aid to any member nation facing attack or invasion from countries such as Russia.
A few weeks following those simulations, EU defense ministers will conduct comparable preparedness tests. These exercises focus on political decision-making processes and do not include actual deployment of military forces, government agencies or field operations.
NATO’s Article 5 security provision establishes that an assault against any member nation constitutes an attack on all members, requiring coordinated response typically involving military action.
This provision has been invoked only once in NATO history — supporting the United States after the September 11 attacks, which resulted in NATO’s unsuccessful 18-year military mission in Afghanistan.
The EU’s Article 42.7, written specifically to complement rather than conflict with Article 5, has likewise been activated just once. France requested assistance following the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks that killed more than 130 people and injured over 400 others.
According to EU treaty language, Article 42.7 mandates that when a member nation “is the victim of armed aggression on its territory,” fellow members must provide “aid and assistance by all the means in their power.”
The provision requires such assistance to comply with United Nations charter principles and avoid conflicts with NATO obligations, while accommodating the neutral status of countries like Austria and Ireland.
When France activated the article, EU nations demonstrated solidarity and offered various forms of support. France asked partners to increase counter-terrorism efforts internationally, allowing French military resources to focus on domestic security operations.
While comparable exercises testing Article 42.7 implementation have occurred periodically over the past ten years, increasing uncertainty about U.S. NATO dedication and Ukraine’s potential EU membership has added new urgency to these preparations.
European discussions about independent defense capabilities intensified after Trump’s threats to annex Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory within Denmark, which is a NATO member.
Multiple European nations deployed small numbers of troops to the Arctic territory near Canada as a symbolic gesture of support for Denmark. Trump initially threatened tariffs against participating countries but later withdrew those threats.
Trump’s decision to engage in military action against Iran alongside Israel appeared to validate European planning concerns. Iran’s retaliatory strike in March targeted a British military installation on Cyprus, the Mediterranean island currently holding the EU’s rotating presidency.
Unlike NATO’s exclusively security-focused mission, the EU possesses a broader range of response tools including military capabilities, economic sanctions, border controls, and trade or visa policy adjustments.
How extensively these and other measures might be deployed during crisis situations will be evaluated in upcoming weeks as conflicts continue in the Middle East, drawing U.S. attention, and in Ukraine.
“We don’t know what is going to happen if a member state triggers this article,” Christodoulides told the AP. “There are a number of issues.”
KOLKATA, India — Electoral proceedings kicked off Thursday in West Bengal, one of India’s most politically significant states, following a contentious nationwide review of voter registrations that eliminated millions of eligible voters and sparked widespread concerns about systematic disenfranchisement.
The electoral contest carries substantial national significance as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party attempts to expand its influence in a region historically controlled by opposition forces. A successful defense by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would strengthen her standing as a prominent opposition leader against Modi’s administration.
Additional polling rounds are planned for the following week, with simultaneous elections occurring Thursday in Tamil Nadu’s southern region.
These elections represent part of a broader series of state-level contests examining the BJP’s capacity to penetrate traditional opposition territories. Final results from these elections, along with earlier contests in Kerala, Assam, and the federally governed Puducherry region, are anticipated on May 4.
The electoral process follows an extensive overhaul of voter databases conducted by India’s Election Commission, designed to eliminate duplicate entries, deceased individuals, and ineligible participants. Administrative officials report approximately 9 million deletions — representing roughly 12% of registered voters — with 6.3 million categorized as deceased or absent and 2.7 million designated as “doubtful” pending further review.
Numerous affected individuals report having participated in prior elections with legitimate documentation, yet were eliminated without adequate justification.
Sheikh Najrul Islam, a 53-year-old paramilitary official assigned to election oversight duties in West Bengal, explained his previous voting participation in 2021 and possession of valid credentials, despite his removal from current voter rolls.
“The Election Commission has deputed me to ensure free and fair polls. Yet, it does not consider me a citizen of this country,” he said.
Similarly, Taibunessa Begum, a 62-year-old former educational administrator, expressed dismay upon discovering her deletion despite maintaining a passport, pension documentation, and previous voter registration.
“It felt like being told I don’t exist,” she said.
Opposition politicians claim the removals disproportionately target Muslim populations and other marginalized groups.
India’s Election Commission has rejected these accusations, maintaining the process removed deceased, duplicate, and fraudulent voter registrations.
Modi’s political organization characterized the review as standard administrative procedure implemented across multiple states, suggesting any disproportionate effects in West Bengal reflect undocumented immigration issues. They emphasize that Hindu voters also experienced removals.
Critics connect the deletions to broader political rhetoric from Modi and BJP leadership, who have repeatedly indicated the voter roll revisions targeted individuals who entered illegally from neighboring Bangladesh. Opposition figures argue such statements have intensified concerns among minority populations, especially Muslims, that the registration review serves to exclude their participation.
Derek O’Brien, representing the opposition Trinamool Congress, characterized the process as “invisible rigging.”
“The motive is to disenfranchise voters,” he said.
Political experts caution the deletions may generate concerns about extended ramifications.
“Losing one’s place in the electoral roll can be deeply unsettling. It is not only about voting rights; it is about dignity, recognition, and the assurance that one counts as a citizen,” political analyst Iman Kalyan Lahiri said.
For numerous affected individuals, the concerns remain more pressing.
“This is not just about politics,” said Begum. “It is about identity, about whether we belong to this country.”
HONG KONG (AP) — Asian markets gave back early gains on Thursday following an initial surge that briefly sent Japan’s Nikkei 225 beyond the 60,000 milestone for the first time, as crude oil prices climbed amid deteriorating hopes for renewed negotiations to resolve the Iran conflict.
American market futures also declined after Wednesday’s record-setting performance on Wall Street, which was fueled by robust quarterly earnings reports.
Japanese and South Korean exchanges momentarily reached historic highs, propelled by technology stock purchases. The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo dropped 1.5% to close at 58,707.60 after earlier touching 60,013.98.
South Korea’s Kospi finished 0.1% down at 6,414.57, surrendering morning advances after briefly crossing the 6,500 threshold. Government data revealed stronger-than-anticipated economic expansion of 1.7% year-over-year for the first quarter, supported by robust export activity, especially computer chips tied to artificial intelligence development.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 1.1% to 25,865.88, while Shanghai’s Composite index dropped 0.8% to 4,073.71.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.8% to 8,770.70.
Taiwan’s Taiex tumbled 1.6% while India’s Sensex decreased 0.6%.
Mounting concerns about the likelihood of ending the Iran conflict, now in its eighth week, continue to dampen market confidence despite President Donald Trump’s ceasefire extension. The timing and possibility of additional peace discussions remain uncertain.
Iranian forces attacked three vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday following the implementation of a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports last week, with Trump confirming the blockade would persist.
Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz, which typically handles approximately one-fifth of global oil transport before the conflict began, remains mostly suspended. Prospects for reopening grew dimmer after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard captured two of the three targeted ships.
International energy costs have skyrocketed due to the Iran conflict’s impact on supply. Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose 1.5% early Thursday to $103.39 per barrel, compared to around $70 before the war started in late February.
U.S. benchmark crude increased 1.8% to $94.66 per barrel.
With diminishing hopes for U.S.-Iran resolution and stagnant peace negotiations, oil markets “are having to reprice expectations,” according to ING Bank strategists Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey in their research analysis.
“As hopes fade, the reality of the supply disruption will set in, leaving further upside for prices,” they noted. “If no progress is made, the market will become increasingly numb to the noise and headlines that have dictated price action recently.”
Wall Street achieved additional milestones Wednesday following impressive corporate earnings and the Iran ceasefire extension, with the S&P 500 surging 1% to 7,137.90, surpassing Friday’s previous record. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.7% to 49,490.03, while the Nasdaq composite also established a new record, advancing 1.6% to 24,657.57.
GE Vernova stock soared 13.7% after delivering quarterly profits that exceeded forecasts. The energy equipment manufacturer is capitalizing on AI growth through strong equipment orders, including data center infrastructure. Boeing shares climbed 5.5%, and Philip Morris International advanced 7%, both following earnings that topped expectations.
In early Thursday trading, precious metals declined. Gold fell 0.6% to $4,722.70 per ounce, while silver dropped 2.3% to $76.17 per ounce.
The U.S. dollar strengthened to 159.53 Japanese yen from 159.48 yen. The euro traded at $1.1696, down from $1.1705.
ATLANTA — Despite his family’s considerable wealth, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones cannot match the spending power of billionaire Rick Jackson in Georgia’s Republican gubernatorial primary. Instead, Jones has leveraged his role leading the state Senate to gain an advantage over his deep-pocketed rival.
In his capacity as lieutenant governor, Jones promoted legislation that would have barred Jackson’s business from securing government contracts funded by taxpayers. Although the measure was unsuccessful, Jones is now airing television commercials criticizing Jackson on this issue while simultaneously promoting himself as a “proven leader.”
This development represents another chapter in what has become a surprisingly bitter fight for the Republican nomination. While Jones secured President Donald Trump’s backing last year, Jackson has emerged as a serious contender by investing over $50 million in his campaign.
However, Jones’ strategy may have created unintended consequences, as tensions within the state legislature could damage his campaign prospects.
The state House declined to take up the measure targeting Jackson, while state senators rejected a House proposal to cap property taxes in favor of their own alternative. Jones also frustrated House leadership by disregarding a plan to extend the use of Georgia’s current voting machines for another year while replacements are secured, potentially forcing a problematic special session during election season.
House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones, a leading Republican in the lower chamber, has now backed Jackson, stating “we can count on Rick to do the right thing to make our lives better and more affordable.”
Jackson contended that Burt Jones’ legislative actions provide additional proof that the lieutenant governor engages in corrupt practices, a theme the healthcare executive is also promoting through his advertising campaigns.
“From my standpoint, Burt is more concerned about things that are self-interested for him and his family, and he uses the power of that position to enhance his financial situation like he’s done in the past,” Jackson told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Along with Jones and Jackson, the other leading contenders in the May 19 primary include Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
During the legislative session, Jones attempted to achieve victories that would resonate with Republican primary voters, including some he could deploy against Jackson.
“I’m the one who has actually has the legislative background and legislative experience on knowing how to get things done,” Jones told reporters Tuesday.
However, the significance of that track record remains uncertain, according to Martha Zoller, a conservative radio host who has been backing Carr.
“I think what Burt’s got is the Trump endorsement,” Zoller said. “I don’t think he has much more than that.”
Jackson expressed even greater skepticism about Jones’ accomplishments.
“I don’t know anything he’s actually accomplished ever,” Jackson said.
Jan Jones’ support for Jackson could signal the beginning of a broader rejection of the lieutenant governor by state House Republicans, who have grown frustrated with his repeated efforts to control the lower chamber.
These tensions trace back to 2023, when Jones initiated a conflict over hospital licensing legislation, resulting in corruption allegations due to his family’s financial stake in a company planning to construct a hospital. Jones has maintained that his advocacy wasn’t intended to benefit his family’s business interests but rather to enhance healthcare services.
This year’s legislation targeting Jackson became the subject of extensive speculation throughout Georgia’s Capitol. An initial version surfaced in the House but failed to meet a procedural deadline. Then on March 18, Jones delivered an uncommon address to the Senate, alleging that Jackson’s company, Jackson Healthcare, bears responsibility for increasing state costs through its staffing contracts.
On April 2, a proposal emerged to prohibit anyone conducting business with the state from seeking statewide office, which would have eliminated Jackson from consideration. Jones is now broadcasting advertisements labeling Jackson “a fraud who got filthy rich off Georgia’s taxpayers and seniors,” referencing the $930 million in contracts Jackson Healthcare has secured with Georgia’s government in recent years, including a substantial no-bid agreement to supply additional healthcare personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When you get over $1 billion in state contracts and it goes through a no bid process, you tell me where else that’s possible,” Jones said Tuesday, holding state agencies accountable for facilitating Jackson’s success.
State Sen. Matt Brass, among Jones’ closest supporters, described the proposal as demonstrating Jones’ direct leadership approach.
“I think he’s done what he’s always done, and that’s lead from the front,” Brass said. “When we go into battle and we take on tough issues, the lieutenant governor, he doesn’t send us in there to do his work, he leads.”
Jackson explained that he responded to Gov. Brian Kemp’s request to assist with pandemic response efforts and was prioritizing Georgia’s welfare.
“I don’t see how responding to what a governor asks you to do as being corrupt,” Jackson said Tuesday.
Additional complications may arise regarding Georgia’s voting equipment, which has generated controversy and conspiracy theories since Trump falsely claimed Joe Biden stole the 2020 presidential election.
The state must meet a July 1 deadline to discontinue ballot counting using computerized bar codes. Jones, along with other grassroots Trump supporters controlling the state Republican Party organization, argued in an April 14 letter that Georgia should switch to a hand-marked paper ballot system.
Nevertheless, many election officials warn that state law has become contradictory and vulnerable to legal challenges. They also caution that the alternative paper ballot system would be extremely costly and potentially unworkable.
Even Jones now acknowledges that a special session may be required this summer to resolve the legal complications.
Jones also promoted his objective to eliminate Georgia’s income tax, but an ambitious reduction plan faltered after receiving criticism from Kemp, who is completing his final term, and state House Republicans.
A compromise was negotiated to further reduce — though not eliminate — the tax over nearly ten years.
The House, meanwhile, sought significant property tax limitations. Following extended negotiations, the Senate instead implemented more modest restrictions, leaving House Republicans feeling betrayed.
State Rep. Steven Sainz, a Republican who has endorsed Jackson, said generally that “volatility” dominated the Capitol this year.
“I could not think of a more extreme session, of the process becoming more distracting than the policies we’re looking at,” he said.
French technology company Dassault Systemes announced Thursday that its first-quarter earnings met Wall Street expectations, posting revenue of 1.51 billion euros (equivalent to $1.77 billion).
The software manufacturer saw its quarterly revenue drop by 4% compared to the same period last year when calculated on a constant-currency basis. However, the company’s operating margin reached 30.3% during the three-month period.
Dassault Systemes specializes in providing software solutions to automotive manufacturers, aerospace companies, and various industrial enterprises. The company’s performance was bolstered by robust sales from its 3DExperience platform and cloud-based services.
Earlier in February, company executives had projected quarterly revenue would fall between 1.48 and 1.54 billion euros, with operating margins expected to range from 29.2% to 30.7%.
Looking ahead to the remainder of the year, Dassault Systemes maintained its annual projections on Thursday, anticipating total sales between 6.29 and 6.41 billion euros. The company also reaffirmed expectations for yearly operating margins of 32.2% to 32.6% and earnings per share ranging from 1.30 to 1.34 euros.
Iranian judicial authorities have carried out the death sentence of a man found guilty of maintaining ties to an exiled opposition organization and Israeli intelligence services, according to reports from the country’s judiciary news source Mizan on Thursday.
The executed individual was named as Soltanali Shirzadi Fakhr, who authorities said maintained long-standing membership in the Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK) opposition group and was convicted of collaborating with Israel’s intelligence apparatus.
According to Mizan’s report, Iran’s Supreme Court confirmed the death penalty verdict, and the execution was conducted following the completion of all required legal processes.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials have shut down the southbound Route 896 ramp connecting to Interstate 95, forcing drivers to seek alternative routes during the closure.
The ramp closure, designated as Ramp D in DelDOT’s traffic management system, is currently directing all affected traffic to follow established detour routes around the area.
Transportation authorities have not yet provided details regarding the cause of the closure or an estimated timeline for reopening the ramp to normal traffic flow.
Drivers who regularly use this route are advised to plan extra travel time and follow the posted detour signage until the ramp reopens.
DETROIT — With franchise legends Ben Wallace and Rick Mahorn looking on like proud family members, the Detroit Pistons delivered a punishing defensive performance to defeat the Orlando Magic 98-83, evening their first-round playoff series at one game each.
“I’m sure they appreciated it,” said Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart about the former players witnessing the victory.
Wallace, who earned four NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards, and Mahorn, a key member of the notorious Bad Boys teams, were familiar with the type of physical, grinding basketball Detroit displayed Wednesday evening.
Stewart contributed two blocked shots, including a crucial rejection that prevented Paolo Banchero from completing a dunk attempt.
“I’m willing to lay my body on the line to make those plays for the energy,” Stewart explained.
The top-seeded Pistons limited eighth-seeded Orlando to 33% field goal shooting while forcing season-low totals in both points and made field goals. Detroit generated 19 turnovers and swatted away 11 shots.
“When we play defense at the level we’re capable of, it triggers everything for us,” explained Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “We can be an elite defensive team, a disruptive defense. It’s Pistons basketball. That’s what it looks like.
“We had one off night and it came at a bad time.”
During Game 1, Detroit struggled out of the gate in both halves while allowing Orlando to connect on nearly 50% of their field goal attempts. All five Magic starters reached double figures with at least 16 points in their 112-101 victory.
The roles reversed in Game 2, with Detroit taking the aggressive approach from the opening tip. The Pistons rejected seven shots during the first quarter alone, matching a franchise playoff record for blocks in a single period.
During the third quarter, Detroit exploded with a 30-3 scoring run while outpacing Orlando 38-16 for the period.
The Pistons cruised through the final quarter to secure their first playoff victory at Little Caesars Arena. The triumph snapped an NBA-record 11-game home playoff losing streak that stretched back to 2008, when the team still played at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
“Obviously, we’ve heard it,” said Tobias Harris, who contributed 16 points along with two blocks and two steals.
“They did a heck of a job of reaching, grabbing and holding,” said Magic coach Jamahl Mosley. “They protected that paint and our ability to get downhill.”
Jalen Suggs led Orlando with 19 points while Banchero added 18. The duo combined to shoot just 14-of-35 from the field.
“They met us at the rim a few times, and they brought the intensity on defense,” Banchero noted. “But we got good looks, and nobody really had a great night shooting the ball.”
CARACAS, Venezuela — Colombian President Gustavo Petro traveled to Venezuela Friday for crucial discussions with the nation’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, focusing on border security and trade relations. This marks their inaugural meeting, occurring several months following the U.S. military’s seizure of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse from their residence in January.
Colombia is pushing to purchase Venezuelan natural gas and recently requested relief from U.S. sanctions to invest in Venezuela’s electrical infrastructure and gas projects, potentially including the restoration of a gas pipeline connecting the two South American nations.
Petro’s government has also struck deals with Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA to replace pipeline infrastructure on Colombia’s side of the border.
The two leaders are anticipated to address illegal armed organizations and narcotics smuggling activities along their common frontier.
“The United States has an interest in Colombia becoming the buyer of Venezuelan gas,” said Ronal Rodríguez Durán, a researcher at the Venezuela Observatory at the Universidad del Rosario.
“Colombia, by virtue of its geographical nature, would become the client that could quickly bring revenue into Venezuela under U.S. supervision,” he added.
This subject was discussed during the approximately two-hour session between Petro and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in February. Both characterized the discussions as cordial — a stark contrast from earlier tensions when Trump blamed Petro for flooding the U.S. with cocaine and threatened military intervention.
Petro stated they explored ways to revitalize Venezuela’s economy through Colombian support, along with America’s role, which the Colombian president said should “lift sanctions” on Venezuela.
The Trump administration seeks to restore Venezuela’s economy by attracting foreign investment to its abundant natural resources, especially oil, after years of deterioration under Maduro’s rule that devastated the country and forced at least 7.7 million people to flee.
Before Friday’s gathering, Petro revealed that his team, including senior military and police commanders, would address border security matters with Rodríguez.
Attention centers on the Catatumbo region, where competing armed factions battle for territorial dominance, and Petro emphasized the need for “close collaboration on intelligence,” cautioning that without it, “bombs land in the wrong places … and end up killing civilians.”
Colombian-Venezuelan relations have remained strained for years. Petro refused to acknowledge Maduro as Venezuela’s rightful leader after the disputed July 2024 elections that sparked protests and widespread government crackdowns. Nevertheless, he preserved diplomatic connections with Caracas.
Colombia’s administration stated that Friday’s Petro-Rodríguez meeting seeks to “contribute to a resolution of Venezuela’s political crisis.”
Yet the path to achieving this remains uncertain.
University researcher Rodríguez Durán noted that Petro’s influence in potential mediation efforts is constrained since his presidency concludes in August. Future Venezuelan relations will probably depend on Colombia’s next leader.
Petro and Rodríguez had planned to meet last month at their shared border, but both governments suddenly postponed the gathering, citing “force majeure” without providing details, stating only that it would occur later.
Prior to that cancelled meeting, multiple Venezuelan civil society groups sent an open letter to Petro, requesting Colombia’s help in “promotion of democratic principles and human rights,” including freeing “all political prisoners” and stopping “persecution.”
NEW YORK — Stockholders of Warner Bros Discovery will cast their ballots Thursday on a proposed $81 billion acquisition by Paramount, a massive entertainment industry merger that could dramatically transform Hollywood’s landscape.
The deal would place Paramount in control of Warner’s entire portfolio, meaning popular properties like HBO Max, the “Harry Potter” franchise, and CNN would operate alongside Paramount’s CBS network, “Top Gun” movies, and Paramount+ streaming platform. Shareholder approval would move the acquisition significantly closer to completion.
The stockholder meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Eastern Time to decide on the transaction, which carries a total value of approximately $111 billion when including debt obligations based on Warner’s current shares in circulation.
Should shareholders give their approval, the Paramount-Warner combination must still navigate continued regulatory scrutiny, including examination by the U.S. Department of Justice. Warner executives anticipate finalizing the transaction during the third fiscal quarter.
Paramount’s pursuit of Warner has encountered numerous obstacles along the way. Although Warner’s board of directors currently supports the Paramount acquisition, the company initially showed little interest in this corporate union.
In late 2023, Warner rejected Paramount’s initial proposals and instead negotiated a $72 billion entertainment and streaming agreement with Netflix. Paramount responded by launching a hostile takeover attempt, appealing directly to shareholders to acquire the entire corporation, including cable operations that Netflix had no interest in purchasing.
The three corporations engaged in months of public competition over which presented the superior proposal. Warner’s leadership consistently favored Netflix’s offer. However, Paramount eventually increased its financial commitment, prompting Netflix to suddenly withdraw from the bidding war rather than continue the prolonged battle.
While the corporate conflict may have concluded, its consequences persist. Thousands of entertainment industry workers, including performers, filmmakers, screenwriters, and other professionals, have expressed “unequivocal opposition” to the transaction through a formal letter, contending that additional industry consolidation will result in employment cuts and reduced opportunities for creators and audiences alike.
Several legislators have also raised concerns about the merger.
“What is at stake is clearly not just a corporate deal, but who controls news, who controls entertainment, who controls storytelling,” Democratic Sen. Cory Booker said in a “spotlight” hearing on the merger held in Washington last week. “It’s about the concentration and consolidation of cultural power.”
This merger would unite two of Hollywood’s five remaining traditional studios. The combination would also merge two significant streaming services — Paramount+ and HBO Max — along with two prominent television news organizations — CBS and CNN — plus numerous other brands and entertainment channels.
Corporate leadership maintains this arrangement will benefit consumers by providing access to expanded content collections, especially if HBO Max and Paramount+ merge into a single streaming platform. Paramount CEO David Ellison has attempted to reassure filmmakers by guaranteeing a 45-day theatrical release window and establishing a target of producing 30 films annually across both Paramount and Warner divisions, which he promises will continue operating as independent entities within the merged company.
“I love cinema and I love film,” Ellison said at CinemaCon last week. “You can count on our complete commitment.”
However, the new ownership will also seek to reduce expenses. Regulatory documents have already revealed plans for staff reductions and scaling back duplicate functions. Critics remain doubtful about consumer advantages, cautioning about potential streaming price increases and possibly reduced content variety in the future.
The news division presents additional concerns. Following Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount less than twelve months ago, CBS has already experienced notable editorial changes, most significantly with Free Press founder Bari Weiss becoming CBS News editor-in-chief. Should the Warner acquisition proceed, many anticipate similar modifications at CNN, which has frequently drawn criticism from President Donald Trump.
Additional questions regarding political influence continue to emerge. The Justice Department and company executives have stated that politics will not influence the regulatory review process — but Trump has occasionally commented publicly on Warner’s future, despite retreating from previous suggestions about his potential personal involvement. Trump also maintains close ties with the Ellison family, especially billionaire Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who is investing billions to support his son’s company’s acquisition bid.
Meanwhile, Paramount has obtained financing from multiple sovereign wealth funds — including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and funds from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, according to regulatory documents. However, these investors will not receive voting privileges in the combined Paramount-Warner entity, the filings indicate. Paramount has not disclosed publicly how much these funds are contributing.
International regulators, including those in Europe, are examining the transaction — and individual states may attempt to challenge it as well. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has been especially outspoken regarding the deal and announced his state is conducting an investigation.
BEIRUT (AP) — Israeli military forces have been systematically destroying residential buildings in southern Lebanese territories they’ve controlled since establishing a ceasefire with Hezbollah last week, claiming these structures served as militant strongholds for the Iran-supported organization.
However, the scale of destruction has grown so extensive that local residents, government officials from Lebanon, and United Nations peacekeeping forces are expressing mounting concern that thousands of displaced civilians may find no homes to return to should the delicate peace agreement survive.
Associated Press reporters observing from an elevated position above Beit Lif — located approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) north of the Israeli-Lebanese border — witnessed the near-complete destruction of the village that previously housed several thousand inhabitants.
“They were demolishing it gradually until they reached the main square and now, as you can see, there are no more houses,” said Hassan Sweidan, a resident of a neighboring village.
Lebanese government representatives intend to address the extensive demolition activities on Thursday during ceasefire discussions with Israeli officials in Washington — marking the first direct diplomatic engagement between the nations in several decades.
Due to safety risks and restricted access, neither UN peacekeeping personnel nor Lebanese authorities have managed to complete comprehensive assessments of the communities experiencing demolitions. However, witnesses have reported the systematic destruction of complete residential areas across multiple villages.
On March 2, two days after the U.S. and Israel launched the war with Iran, Hezbollah entered the fray by firing missiles into northern Israel. The group had been under pressure by the Lebanese government to disarm following its previous war with Israel in 2024, but refused to do so.
Israel retaliated with a massive aerial bombardment and ground offensive into Lebanon, forcing hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate the country’s southern regions. The conflict resulted in approximately 2,300 Lebanese casualties, including numerous women and children.
A 10-day ceasefire that commenced Friday largely ended the hostilities. However, both parties have conducted strikes since the truce began. Hezbollah has defended its attacks partly by citing the Israeli military’s destruction of residential properties.
Israeli leadership has announced intentions to maintain control over portions of southern Lebanon, with military officials publishing maps showing a “forward defense line” extending several miles into Lebanese territory and covering numerous villages whose inhabitants remain barred from returning.
Following the ceasefire announcement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated this region had been “cleared of terrorists and weapons and is empty of citizens, and will continue to be cleared of terrorists’ infrastructure, including the destruction of houses in Lebanese villages that border (Israel) and have become terrorists outposts in every sense.”
When the ceasefire took effect, Sweidan traveled back to inspect his residence in the southern Lebanese community of Yater. His home remains undamaged.
Since Sweidan’s community provides a view of adjacent Beit Lif, he has witnessed Israeli military activities in that area. Although the village sustained damage from Israeli airstrikes during combat, most of Beit Lif remained standing when the ceasefire began, according to his account.
However, on the following day, Israeli troops arrived with bulldozers, jackhammers and tanks.
“We would come each day to see how much of the village was demolished,” he said.
Tilak Pokharel, a spokesperson for the U.S. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon known as UNIFIL, confirmed that peacekeepers “have observed demolitions taking place in several areas” since the truce.
The Israeli military released a statement declaring that the demolition operations target Hezbollah, not Lebanon or its civilians, and that it “operates in accordance with international law and does not destroy civilian property unless required by imperative military necessity.”
Extensive damage already existed in border regions following the previous Israel-Hezbollah conflict in 2024. While some property owners managed to fund repairs, no large-scale rebuilding occurred.
Destruction also occurred during the most recent conflict. Images captured on April 12 by AP from the Israeli northern towns of Menara and Misgav Am show excavators and bulldozers demolishing Lebanese homes across the border.
Lebanon’s government-operated National News Agency reported Wednesday that Israeli bulldozers were destroying neighborhoods, roads and infrastructure in Khiam, a combat zone during the Israel-Hezbollah fighting, “in a scene that suggests an attempt to completely erase the town’s identity.”
The agency also documented “systematic bombing operations” Wednesday targeting residential areas in Bint Jbeil — another conflict hotspot — and in the communities of Beit Lif, Shamaa, Tair Harfa and Hanine.
Hezbollah announced Tuesday it had conducted drone and rocket strikes, the first since the ceasefire, responding to Israeli “attacks on civilians and the destruction of their homes and villages in southern Lebanon.”
While Lebanese authorities work to preserve the ceasefire, President Joseph Aoun declared in a statement that “halting Israel’s demolition operations in southern villages and towns” would be an issue Lebanese ambassadors in the United States will discuss with their Israeli counterparts during Thursday’s ceasefire negotiations.
The discussions were anticipated to address a possible extension of the 10-day truce and developing a structure for future negotiations aimed at achieving lasting peace between the two nations.
ELLERBE, N.C. — A small North Carolina community is paying tribute to one of wrestling’s most iconic figures with the dedication of a memorial roadside marker honoring Andre The Giant, who called their town home.
The marker will be revealed Thursday in Ellerbe, North Carolina, a tight-knit community of roughly 1,000 residents where the wrestling legend Andre Rene Roussimoff owned and operated a ranch on the town’s outskirts.
Standing at a reported 7 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 520 pounds, Andre dominated the WWE wrestling scene throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Promoted as an unstoppable force in the ring, Roussimoff maintained his undefeated reputation until his famous showdown with Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania III in 1987, a match that helped transform WWE from a regional operation into a national entertainment powerhouse.
That same year, Roussimoff transitioned to Hollywood, portraying the lovable strongman Fezzik in the classic film “The Princess Bride.” His character served as muscle for the story’s villain but was known for his kind nature and need for rhyming cues to follow directions.
Though born in France, Roussimoff developed a deep affection for the American South during his wrestling career, eventually purchasing his North Carolina property and operating a cattle ranch approximately 60 miles east of Charlotte.
The wrestling star became deeply involved in Ellerbe’s community life. In 1990, he recorded television and radio advertisements opposing a proposed low-level radioactive waste facility in the area. A local museum still displays a pair of his size-26 cowboy boots as a tribute.
Roussimoff passed away in 1993 at 46 years old while in France attending his father’s funeral. Following a service there, his remains were cremated and his ashes scattered across his cherished North Carolina ranch property.
The Richmond County memorial marker, positioned at the intersection of NC Highway 72 and Old NC Highway 220, bears a simple inscription: “Andre The Giant. 1946-1993. Actor and professional wrestler. Was born Andre Roussimoff. Known for role in The Princess Bride in 1987. Lived nearby.”
Millions of Americans now have a significantly simpler route to obtaining Canadian citizenship following recent legislative changes, creating a surge in ancestry research and citizenship applications across the country.
The development came as a revelation to individuals like Zack Loud from Farmington, Minnesota, who discovered that Canada’s updated regulations already recognized him and his siblings as citizens due to their Canadian grandmother.
“My wife and I were already talking about potentially looking at jobs outside the country, but citizenship pushed Canada way up on our list,” Loud explained.
Immigration attorneys on both sides of the border report being inundated with clients requesting assistance with citizenship proof applications since the updated legislation became effective December 15, 2025. Americans are investigating the streamlined process for various reasons including political concerns, family connections, employment prospects, and other personal factors.
Nicholas Berning, who practices immigration law at Boundary Bay Law in Bellingham, Washington, described his firm as “pretty much flooded with this.”
“We’ve kind of shifted a lot of other work away in order to push these cases through,” Berning stated.
Immigration lawyer Amandeep Hayer reported his Vancouver, British Columbia practice experienced a dramatic increase from approximately 200 citizenship cases annually to over 20 daily consultations.
Canada has been modifying its citizenship regulations for many years, addressing both historical legal interpretations and discrimination concerns.
The previous system limited Canadian citizenship by descent to just one generation – from parent to child. Canadian bill C-3 transformed this framework when it became law December 15, 2025, extending citizenship eligibility to anyone born before that date who can demonstrate direct Canadian ancestry, including grandparents, great-grandparents, or even more distant relatives.
Individuals born on or after December 15 must demonstrate their parent satisfied a 1,095-day residency requirement.
The updated legislation considers Canadian descendants as automatic citizens, though they must submit documentation to receive an official citizenship certificate. Hayer estimates millions of Americans qualify as Canadian descendants.
“You are Canadian, and you’re considered to be one your whole life,” said Hayer, who supported the new legislation before Canada’s Parliament. “That’s really what you’re applying for, the recognition of a right you already have vested.”
“The best way I can put it is like, if a baby’s born tomorrow in Canada, the baby’s Canadian even though they don’t have the birth certificate,” he explained.
While American applicants cite various reasons, many reference President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and other initiatives as factors driving their pursuit of dual citizenship.
Michelle Cunha from Bedford, Massachusetts, explained her decision to relocate to Canada followed years of political involvement and concluding she had “nothing left to give.”
“I put in my best effort for 30 years. I have done everything that I possibly can to make the United States what it promises the world to be, a place of freedom, a place of equality,” Cunha stated. “But clearly we’re not there and we’re not going to get there anytime soon.”
Troy Hicks, whose great-grandfather was born in Canada, said an international journey influenced his decision.
“I recently went to Australia and you know, first words out of the first person I talked to in Australia was basically an expletive about Trump and the U.S.,” explained Hicks from Pahrump, Nevada. “It was just like, whoa, I walked off a 20-hour flight and literally the first words of somebody’s mouth to me were that. … So the idea of doing that with a Canadian passport just seemed easier, better, more palatable.”
Maureen Sullivan from Naples, Florida, said the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement in Minnesota motivated her decision, particularly after her teenage nephew encountered federal agents near his St. Paul high school. Sullivan, whose grandmother was Canadian, views Canadian citizenship as a backup plan should circumstances in America “really go south.”
“When I first heard about the bill, I couldn’t believe it. It was like this little gift that fell in my lap,” Sullivan said. “There was kind of this collective excitement amongst the (family) who just felt like, we wanted to feel like we were doing something to take care of our security in the future if needed.”
Applicants with readily available documentation face a modest citizenship proof application fee of 75 Canadian dollars ($55).
However, expenses increase substantially for those requiring legal or genealogical assistance.
Cunha said she hired an attorney and anticipates total costs around $6,500.
Meanwhile, Mary Mangan from Somerville, Massachusetts, submitted her January application using guidance from internet discussion groups.
“There are some situations where a lawyer might be the right thing, but for many people, I would guess 90% of people can probably do this on their own,” Mangan noted.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s website indicates certificate processing takes approximately 10 months, with over 56,000 individuals currently awaiting decisions.
The agency reported confirming citizenship by descent for 1,480 people between December 15 and January 31, though not exclusively Americans. During the previous year, 24,500 Americans obtained dual US-Canada citizenship.
Fen Hampson, an international affairs professor at Ottawa’s Carleton University, characterized Canadians as generally “welcoming people.”
“I think where people start looking askance is someone who’s never been to Canada, who has very thin ties. They can get a passport, becoming Canadians of convenience. People don’t like that,” he observed.
Hampson noted concerns that increased American interest might create delays for refugees and asylum-seekers escaping dangerous situations.
“Canadians don’t like queue jumpers,” Hampson concluded.
Defense attorneys for popular singer D4vd are taking an unusual legal approach by demanding prosecutors immediately and publicly reveal their evidence in the murder case involving 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez from Lake Elsinore, California.
David Burke, the 21-year-old artist’s real name, is scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom Thursday for a hearing just three days following his arraignment where he entered a not guilty plea to first-degree murder charges. This comes seven months after authorities discovered the teenager’s dismembered remains inside his Tesla vehicle in the Hollywood Hills area.
In an uncommon legal strategy, Burke is invoking his California right to have a judge determine within 10 court days of his arraignment whether sufficient evidence exists to move forward with a trial.
Most defendants typically waive this particular right, choosing instead to delay this phase of legal proceedings and wait several months before reaching this point.
Lead defense counsel Blair Berk stated to the judge on Monday: “We believe the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez.”
Prosecutor Beth Silverman responded in court that the state would be “very happy” to share their evidence, noting that “40 terabytes” of material has been gathered and is available for presentation.
A significant piece of evidence became available Wednesday when the LA County Medical Examiner’s Office released the autopsy findings from months earlier. The report determined that Rivas Hernandez died from two penetrating injuries to her upper torso.
Burke, currently detained without bond, also entered not guilty pleas to charges of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor under 14 and corpse mutilation. Authorities claim he sexually exploited Rivas Hernandez for approximately one year beginning when she was 13, murdered her when she threatened to expose their relationship, and dismembered her body roughly two weeks afterward.
Thursday’s court appearance falls exactly one year from the date investigators believe she was last seen alive when she visited Burke’s residence.
A confidential grand jury listened to months of witness testimony regarding this case. However, no indictment had been issued when the musician was taken into custody last week. The grand jury’s existence was revealed in a February Texas court document when Burke’s family members attempted to challenge subpoenas requiring their testimony.
Burke’s legal representative informed the judge Monday that this confidential testimony motivated the defense team’s push to make the evidence public.
It remains uncertain whether evidence presentation will commence during Thursday’s hearing or if the session will be used to arrange witness testimony for upcoming days.
The victim’s parents, Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez, issued their first public comments about the case Tuesday, describing their daughter as “a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance.”
“We love her very much and she always told us that she loved us,” the parents stated. “We miss her deeply. All we want is justice for Celeste.”
The artist known as D4vd, pronounced “David,” built a following among younger audiences with his combination of indie rock, R&B and lo-fi pop sounds. He achieved viral status on TikTok in 2022 through his track “Romantic Homicide,” which reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. His debut EP “Petals to Thorns” and its follow-up “The Lost Petals” were both released in 2023.
His first complete album, “Withered,” was released exactly one year ago, just two days after prosecutors believe Rivas Hernandez was killed.
Remote workers who frequently set up shop in coffee houses, shared workspaces, airport terminals, or hotel lobbies face unique security challenges that require careful attention.
The rise of telecommuting, accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic and enabled by widespread broadband access, has created new workplace flexibility. Many employees now work outside traditional offices either because their companies lack local facilities or their home environments aren’t conducive to productivity.
However, conducting business in public venues introduces significant privacy and security concerns that demand protective measures.
Companies increasingly recognize these risks, with many organizations establishing specific protocols for off-site work environments. Some businesses provide comprehensive privacy training and detailed guidelines for employees who work in public settings.
Certain employers actively discourage working from busy establishments like coffee shops due to data protection concerns. British government guidelines for employees handling sensitive materials state clearly: “These environments can present additional risks, including being more freely accessible to people without the appropriate clearance and need-to-know.”
International travel policies may also restrict which countries employees can work from, adding another layer of workplace security considerations.
While most people in busy cafes and shared spaces focus on their own activities, workers should still take precautions against unwanted observation.
Choosing seating arrangements strategically can prevent accidental screen viewing by others. Positioning yourself with a wall behind you makes “shoulder surfing” much more difficult for potential snoopers.
Privacy screen filters offer additional protection by using microscopic slats that block viewing from side angles, making your display visible only when viewed directly.
Public internet connections, despite their convenience, present serious security vulnerabilities that cybersecurity professionals strongly advise against using.
The National Security Agency specifically warns against networks that don’t require passwords, as information transmitted through these connections remains vulnerable to interception and tampering.
Password-protected networks don’t guarantee data encryption, according to NSA cybersecurity recommendations.
The agency identifies multiple threats associated with public wireless networks, including fraudulent access points designed to deceive users.
“A malicious actor can set up a fake access point, also known as an evil twin, to mimic the nearby expected public Wi-Fi, resulting in that actor having access to all data sent over the network,” the NSA explains.
Mobile hotspots provide superior security by utilizing cellular signals to establish personal wireless networks. Both iPhone and Android devices typically include this capability.
Virtual private networks (VPNs) add another security layer by encrypting data transmission and directing it through protected channels to secure servers, preventing unauthorized access. Many companies supply VPN access to employees, though individuals can obtain personal subscriptions.
Additional practical safety measures apply when working in public environments.
Maintaining awareness of your surroundings helps protect against theft, as visible laptops can attract criminals. Never leave devices unattended, even for brief bathroom breaks.
Private conversations should be avoided in public settings. Speaking loudly during video conferences in crowded locations to overcome background noise increases the risk of sensitive information being overheard.
“In public areas be aware of whether you can be overheard by any unauthorized individuals, such as members of the public, or smart listening devices,” British government guidance cautions.
Military officials in South Korea have issued a formal apology following revelations that a costly 2021 aircraft accident resulted from pilots taking photographs and recording videos while flying fighter jets.
During a Thursday press conference, an air force representative expressed regret over the December 2021 incident, stating: “We sincerely apologise to the public for the concern caused by the accident that occurred in 2021.” Officials confirmed that one aviator involved in the crash has been removed from flight status, faced serious disciplinary measures, and subsequently departed the armed forces.
The military’s statement came one day after South Korea’s Board of Audit and Inspection published findings that blamed unauthorized aerial photography for the collision between two F-15K fighter aircraft during a training mission near Daegu.
According to investigators, the wingman aviator was attempting to capture commemorative footage on his last flight with the squadron. Without authorization, he performed steep climbs and banking movements to create better camera angles while his colleague recorded from the lead aircraft.
When the two jets came dangerously close together, both flight crews tried to avoid impact, but the trailing aircraft’s tail section hit the leading plane’s wing. The collision resulted in approximately 880 million won in repairs, equivalent to about $600,000, though fortunately no personnel were hurt.
While auditors determined the wingman bore primary responsibility for the accident, they also faulted the air force for insufficient oversight of in-flight recording activities during that period. The pilot has been ordered to reimburse roughly ten percent of the damage costs.
Military leadership indicated they are implementing stricter aviation safety protocols to ensure similar incidents don’t occur in the future.
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans pushed forward with an overnight session Wednesday as they attempt to secure funding for two key immigration enforcement agencies and end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown that has stretched beyond two months.
The marathon session marks the beginning of a complex legislative maneuver as GOP lawmakers try to circumvent Democratic opposition to funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol operations. The standoff began when Democrats insisted on policy reforms following deadly shootings of two demonstrators by federal officers.
GOP leadership has turned to budget reconciliation — the same procedural tool they employed to advance former President Donald Trump’s tax and spending reduction package without any Democratic support. While the Senate has already approved reopening other DHS divisions on a bipartisan basis, House Republican leaders refuse to consider that legislation until the Senate makes headway on ICE and Border Patrol funding.
The reconciliation approach allows Republicans to advance legislation with just a simple majority vote, avoiding filibuster rules that would otherwise require 60 votes when the GOP controls only 53 Senate seats. However, this path involves extensive review by the Senate parliamentarian and potentially endless amendment votes that could continue throughout the night.
Democratic lawmakers plan to introduce amendments targeting healthcare expenses and other living costs, creating a sharp contrast with the Republican emphasis on Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda.
“Republicans are ‘bending the knee to Donald Trump,’” declared Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer before the voting commenced.
Senate leaders anticipate passing the budget framework following the extended vote series, likely early Thursday morning, before sending it to the House. After House approval and Senate Parliamentarian clearance, both chambers can proceed with final passage.
The $70 billion measure would provide three years of funding for ICE and Border Patrol, covering the remainder of Trump’s presidential term. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and fellow GOP leaders express hope to maintain narrow focus on these two agencies and deliver the legislation to Trump by month’s end, alongside the remaining DHS funding already approved by the Senate.
However, complications may arise as many party members view this budget bill as their final opportunity this year to advance key priorities. Republicans in both chambers have advocated for additional provisions, including agricultural funding and Trump’s citizenship verification voting legislation known as the SAVE America Act.
Louisiana Senator John Kennedy temporarily disrupted the vote proceedings late Wednesday, expressing frustration over the bill’s exclusion of SAVE America Act components and other priorities.
“This is the last train leaving the station,” Kennedy stated, warning they would lack opportunities to pass additional legislation before November’s midterm elections. Despite his concerns, Kennedy eventually withdrew his objections and permitted voting to continue.
The South Korean government has committed to treating American technology companies fairly following complaints from U.S. congressional members about alleged discriminatory practices against firms including e-commerce giant Coupang.
In a statement released Thursday, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry announced that the country is putting measures in place to prevent U.S. digital companies from facing unfair treatment or unnecessary obstacles to conducting business.
The ministry referenced a bilateral fact sheet from November that was part of a trade agreement between the United States and South Korea, which included these protections for American companies.
This diplomatic response follows a letter sent earlier this week by American legislators to South Korean Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha, calling for an immediate halt to what they described as discriminatory regulatory measures targeting U.S. businesses.
Republican Study Committee member Michael Baumgartner led the congressional effort, with lawmakers stating that the “systematic targeting of American companies such as Apple, Google, Meta, and Coupang is particularly concerning.”
The legislators accused South Korea of using a minor data security incident in November 2025 as justification to launch coordinated government action against Coupang, including potential license revocation and pressure on pension funds to sell their stakes in the company’s parent organization.
“We are committed to ensuring that your government ceases its persecution of Coupang and other American companies operating in South Korea,” the congressional letter stated.
Seoul’s Foreign Ministry defended its actions, explaining that the investigation into Coupang’s data security breach follows standard domestic legal procedures that apply equally regardless of a company’s nationality.
The U.S.-listed company Coupang Inc., which operates Coupang Korea, has faced significant criticism from South Korean officials and the public after a data breach compromised information belonging to more than 30 million customers.
On Wednesday, the ministry emphasized that matters related to Coupang should remain separate from ongoing security discussions with Washington, which include South Korea’s plans to develop nuclear-powered submarine capabilities.
A Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer has announced ambitious plans to begin mass production of aerial vehicles by next year, marking a significant step forward in the development of personal flying transportation.
During a Thursday interview, Xpeng president Brian Gu revealed that the company anticipates launching volume production and widespread delivery of their flying car technology in 2027. The announcement represents a major milestone for the electric vehicle industry as it expands beyond traditional ground-based transportation.
In addition to the flying car initiative, Gu disclosed that Xpeng will begin manufacturing robots on a large scale during the final quarter of this year. The company has outlined strategies to substantially grow this robotics division through partnerships with outside companies beginning next year.
The developments highlight China’s continued push into advanced transportation technologies and autonomous systems, as the nation seeks to establish itself as a leader in next-generation mobility solutions.
While Middle Eastern conflicts have created supply chain headaches for manufacturers worldwide, India’s cotton yarn producers are experiencing an unexpected boom as Chinese buyers turn to them for unprecedented orders.
Manufacturing facilities like Fiotex Cotspin are ramping up operations to meet soaring demand from China, which relies heavily on imports despite being the world’s largest cotton producer. India ranks second globally in cotton production.
Trade route disruptions caused by Middle Eastern warfare have limited China’s access to cotton supplies from traditional sources, positioning India as an attractive alternative due to its proximity, according to Indian trade representatives.
The situation has been compounded by China’s tight domestic cotton availability and shipping delays from major suppliers in the United States and Brazil, creating a sharp uptick in Chinese yarn imports.
Currency fluctuations have also played a role, with the Indian rupee declining approximately 7% against China’s yuan this year, making Indian cotton yarn more affordable for Chinese purchasers.
Ripple Patel, who leads the Fiotex spinning facility in Gujarat state, reports his export commitments have expanded by 40% recently, with his plant now operating at full capacity compared to 90% previously.
“As exports are more viable in profit realisation, we have increased its share… Orders have already been booked until June,” Patel explained to Reuters.
China’s National Textile and Apparel Council chose not to provide commentary regarding increased imports from India.
While numerous Indian manufacturing centers have struggled with commercial gas shortages and rising costs for materials like plastics and industrial components, spinning operations have avoided fuel-related problems since they primarily operate on electrical grid power or solar energy, industry leaders noted.
Monthly shipments from India to China have increased dramatically, with approximately 1,500 containers carrying 30,000 tonnes of cotton yarn departing monthly since November, compared to roughly 300 containers previously, according to Rahul Shah, who serves as co-chair of the Textiles Committee within Gujarat’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The conflict’s effect on polyester availability has enhanced cotton’s appeal, with shipments receiving additional support from the weakening rupee. Shah indicated that multiple Gujarat spinning facilities plan to maintain similar export volumes through April and May to capitalize on strong Chinese demand.
Gujarat mills hold a particular advantage due to their proximity to both cotton-producing regions and shipping ports.
Tamil Nadu state, home to thousands of spinning operations, faces higher transportation expenses because raw cotton must be transported from western and central India.
“There is a cost involved for us. We have to take it to the port…that is the reason why export is not very favourable,” explained Vishnu Prabhu, joint managing director at Tamil Nadu garment manufacturer K.M. Knitwear, which includes spinning operations in its integrated business model.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis enacted new legislation Wednesday that blocks local governments throughout the state from supporting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, arguing these initiatives unfairly target white men.
The Republican governor’s action comes amid a broader conservative movement against DEI practices, with GOP officials and President Trump’s administration working to eliminate such programs nationwide.
“I would think with DEI the disfavored groups, number one obviously, would be white males and I think they’ve been discriminated against,” DeSantis stated Wednesday.
Civil rights organizations defend DEI programs as necessary tools to combat historical discrimination against women, LGBTQ individuals, and minority communities.
Under the new Florida law, municipalities cannot create or operate DEI departments or initiatives, according to the governor’s office. The measure also mandates that organizations receiving grants must confirm taxpayer dollars won’t advance diversity programs.
Officials who break the law face penalties through enforcement provisions included in the legislation.
Conservative lawmakers nationwide have targeted diversity programs, describing them as merit-based discrimination against white Americans and men. Meanwhile, Trump has issued federal directives dismantling DEI policies across government agencies and private contractors, while attempting to withhold university funding over such programs.
These diversity initiatives typically encompass anti-discrimination training, addressing wage gaps based on gender or race, and expanding opportunities for underrepresented communities.
DeSantis simultaneously signed separate legislation targeting climate change programs, preventing new carbon emission-related taxes, fees or fines.
Advocacy groups have condemned Republican efforts to restrict DEI programs, climate action, transgender rights and pro-Palestinian demonstrations regarding Israel’s Gaza operations. These organizations argue such measures violate constitutional protections for free speech and due process, while Republicans characterize their actions as opposing “woke” and “far-left” ideologies.
Earlier this month, DeSantis approved another controversial measure granting him and state officials authority to classify organizations as “terrorist groups.”
President Rodrigo Paz of Bolivia announced Wednesday the selection of Marcelo Blanco to head the nation’s energy and hydrocarbons ministry, marking a significant cabinet change fewer than six months after the current administration began.
Blanco brings experience from his previous role overseeing electricity and renewable energy initiatives as vice minister.
The ministerial replacement of Mauricio Medinaceli occurs during a challenging period for Bolivia, which is experiencing severe fuel shortages and a shortage of U.S. currency. The nation’s foreign currency reserves continue to decline due to reduced energy production and falling export revenues.
When Paz assumed the presidency in November, he ended nearly twenty years of leftist governance. His administration has pledged to welcome private sector investment in certain economic areas and shut down unprofitable government-owned enterprises as part of efforts to address the country’s worsening financial situation.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials have shut down the southbound Route 896 entrance ramp to Interstate 95 at Ramp D, forcing drivers to seek alternative routes.
DelDOT is directing motorists to follow posted detour signage while the ramp remains inaccessible. The department has not yet provided details about the cause of the closure or when normal traffic flow is expected to resume.
Drivers planning to travel in the area should allow extra time and prepare for potential delays as traffic is rerouted around the closed ramp.
SAN FRANCISCO — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says he’s prioritizing Shohei Ohtani’s long-term health by potentially resting the superstar from batting duties during certain pitching appearances.
The strategy could vary from game to game based on how the dual-threat player feels physically, Roberts explained.
In some contests, this approach might involve Ohtani taking the mound while sitting out his designated hitter role — a flexibility Roberts wants to maintain moving forward.
Ohtani took his fourth pitching turn Wednesday evening versus the San Francisco Giants. Seven days prior, Roberts benched him from the batting order while he pitched — his first time since 2021 not hitting on a day he started, due to lingering soreness from being struck by a pitch.
The 31-year-old entered the game batting .271 with five homers and 11 RBIs across 85 plate appearances. On the pitching side, he had surrendered only one earned run through 18 innings in 2026, posting a 0.50 ERA and 2-0 record while giving up 10 hits with 18 strikeouts and six walks.
Ohtani also carried a career-high 53-game on-base streak, matching Shawn Green for second place in franchise history. Duke Snider holds the Dodgers record with 58 consecutive games from May 13-July 11, 1954. Ohtani’s run represents the longest active streak in baseball since Orlando Cabrera reached base in 63 straight games from April 25-July 6, 2006.
“I think if you look at the overall numbers it’s certainly something. I still feel really good about putting his name in the lineup,” Roberts said. “I know the last start I chose not to have him hit and just pitch. I am open to it. We’ll see. It’s something that we’ve certainly flagged, and also you have to look at what’s the option. In years past or last year, you’ve got to kind of weigh, who’s a different option?”
Catcher Dalton Rushing has emerged as a reliable designated hitter alternative, batting .414 with seven home runs and 13 RBIs.
The back-to-back World Series champions had struggled recently, losing three of their previous four games after falling 3-1 in Tuesday’s series opener against San Francisco.
During Wednesday’s pre-game conversation, Roberts found the four-time MVP — including back-to-back National League MVP winner — to be “really focused.”
“He wants to reset things, to go out there and pitch well and give us a chance to win tonight,” Roberts said.
Roberts hadn’t determined whether Ohtani would participate in Thursday’s series finale. He mentioned having no concerns about giving Ohtani five at-bats on pitching days but would consider moving him lower in the batting order when appropriate.
“I think everything should be on the table,” Roberts said.
The New York Times reports that federal investigators examined whether journalist Elizabeth Williamson broke anti-stalking statutes following her February story detailing how FBI personnel were assigned to safeguard and transport Director Kash Patel’s romantic partner.
Federal authorities confirmed Wednesday they spoke with Patel’s girlfriend, country music artist Alexis Wilkins, after she raised concerns about threatening messages she received following publication of Williamson’s report. However, officials took no additional steps in the matter.
According to the Times’ Wednesday online report, the FBI searched federal records for details about Williamson and suggested moving forward with the probe, though the Justice Department prevented further action.
The publication learned of these developments only after reporter Michael S. Schmidt received an anonymous tip. Newspaper leadership characterized the federal response as deeply troubling.
“The FBI’s attempt to criminalize routine reporting is a blatant violation of Elizabeth’s First Amendment rights and another attempt by this administration to prevent journalists from scrutinizing its actions,” declared executive editor Joseph Kahn. “It’s alarming. It’s unconstitutional. And it’s wrong.”
The newspaper appears to have limited options beyond requesting a federal inspector general examine whether the government’s actions were inappropriate.
During her reporting process, Williamson conducted a short interview with Wilkins, though the performer demanded their discussion remain confidential. The journalist also contacted individuals familiar with Wilkins or who had professional relationships with her.
Williamson’s February 28 article examined how federal resources were being utilized for personal services benefiting administration officials. Her reporting revealed that Patel had designated four agents for Wilkins’ round-the-clock protection, including accompanying her to events in Britain, Illinois and Nashville.
FBI representative Ben Williamson stated on social media that while investigators “were concerned about how the aggressive reporting techniques crossed lines of stalking, no further action regarding Williamson or the reporting was ever pursued by the FBI.”
Patel has shown willingness to challenge unfavorable media coverage. This week, he initiated a $250 million defamation case against The Atlantic over their reporting on accusations regarding his drinking habits and agency leadership issues.
A high-ranking Taiwanese official has traveled to a disputed island in the South China Sea to oversee military training exercises, marking the first such ministerial visit in seven years to the contested territory.
Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling made the journey to Itu Aba Island, known locally as Taiping Island, on Tuesday to observe coast guard training operations focused on emergency response scenarios, according to a Wednesday announcement from Taiwan’s coast guard.
The exercises simulated various crisis situations including search and rescue missions, medical evacuations, and environmental cleanup efforts. A key component involved heavily armed special forces conducting practice raids on uncooperative vessels in the area.
During one training scenario, black-clad coast guard personnel carrying weapons boarded a cargo ship that had allegedly ignored radio communications. Video released by authorities showed the tactical team entering the vessel’s command center.
“You have entered the waters under the jurisdiction of our country. Please cooperate with the investigation,” one team member told a crew member during the exercise.
The coast guard explained the simulated operation by stating: “In order to safeguard the nation’s rights and national security, the cargo vessel was escorted back to Taiping Island for further investigation.”
Itu Aba represents one of Taiwan’s most remote territorial holdings in the hotly contested Spratly Islands chain. Multiple nations including China, Vietnam, and the Philippines also lay claim to this particular island.
The territory features infrastructure capable of supporting military operations, including an airstrip suitable for supply flights from mainland Taiwan. A new dock facility completed in 2023 can accommodate patrol vessels weighing up to 4,000 tons.
Despite these capabilities, the island maintains relatively modest defenses compared to nearby Chinese-controlled territories. Beijing’s forces typically avoid direct confrontation with Taiwanese personnel stationed there.
China has dramatically expanded its presence throughout the South China Sea by constructing artificial islands and installing major military installations on various reefs and outcrops under its control. These developments have raised concerns in Washington and throughout the region.
Beijing maintains that it has full authority to develop and protect what it considers sovereign Chinese territory.
Taiwan also maintains control over the Pratas Islands located in the northern section of the South China Sea. Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels frequently operate in these waters as part of Beijing’s efforts to assert territorial claims over Taiwan, which Taipei’s government firmly rejects.
The South China Sea serves as a crucial international shipping corridor handling billions of dollars in global commerce annually. The region also provides important fishing grounds and potentially significant energy resources.
North Korea and Russia are moving forward with plans to complete a new road bridge connecting both nations across the Tumen River, according to reports from North Korean state media KCNA released Thursday.
The bridge construction project, which started approximately one year ago, represents what KCNA called “an important business” designed to enhance cooperation between the countries in areas including tourism, commerce, and cross-border travel.
The 850-meter span, equivalent to 2,789 feet, will link directly to Russia’s highway network. This infrastructure project received approval during President Vladimir Putin’s 2024 diplomatic visit to North Korea.
A ceremonial event took place Tuesday to commemorate the physical connection of the bridge structure, according to reporting by the Moscow Times.
The new crossing is being constructed adjacent to the existing “Friendship Bridge,” a railway span that has operated since 1959 following the end of the Korean War.
While KCNA announced that an official opening celebration will occur in the near future, no specific date was provided. However, Russia’s embassy in Pyongyang indicated through Telegram that the bridge completion is scheduled for June 19.
Oleg Kozhemyako, who serves as governor of Russia’s Far East Primorsky region, shared via Telegram that the bridge will enhance commercial activity and strengthen cultural and tourism connections. He noted the structure will reduce the travel distance between Vladivostok and the border city of Rason to 320 kilometers, with daily capacity for up to 300 vehicles.
This development coincides with multiple Russian diplomatic delegations visiting North Korea during the current week.
Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev conducted a meeting Wednesday with Jo Yong Won, who chairs the Standing Committee of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly. KCNA characterized the discussion as occurring in a “favorable atmosphere.”
Additionally, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko traveled Tuesday to the North Korean coastal city of Wonsan for a ceremony marking the construction of a medical facility that represents the “friendship” between both nations, according to KCNA.
The two countries established a “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty” in 2024 during Putin’s trip to Pyongyang.
This agreement contains mutual defense clauses, and North Korea has deployed thousands of military personnel to support Russian forces in the Kursk region of western Russia following a significant Ukrainian military operation in that area.
Meanwhile, China has also pursued stronger cross-border infrastructure and renewed diplomatic ties with North Korea, with passenger rail service between those countries resuming last month after a six-year suspension.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Wednesday that his country’s access to critical U.S. missile defense systems could become more difficult if Middle East conflicts involving Iran drag on for an extended time.
During a CNN interview, Zelenskyy explained that Ukraine has only received small quantities of these defensive weapons due to constraints in American manufacturing capabilities. However, he noted that supply deliveries and intelligence sharing have remained steady so far.
The Ukrainian leader described how his nation obtains U.S. military equipment through the PURL program, which allows NATO member countries to fund weapons purchases for Kyiv.
“Through this programme, we can include and buy anti-ballistic missiles for Patriot systems and some other weapons which is very important for us. We don’t have this…with our European neighbours,” Zelenskyy told CNN in English.
“And of course, (given) the big challenge in the Middle East war and Iran, all these packages are at risk.”
Regarding the limited quantities received from Washington, Zelenskyy said the United States had supplied “only a small number. We had not too much. We understand why, because the production in the United States is not so big.
“And if the war will continue or a ceasefire is delayed…(this) will be not good. And maybe we will have more risks with anti-ballistics.”
Zelenskyy also mentioned that Ukraine continues sharing its four years of experience fighting Iranian-designed drones used by Russian forces with Middle Eastern nations. His country has established agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
“We will continue to work with other countries,” he said. “We will be ready to deliver first our expertise…and the second point is training missions.”
New York Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor was forced to leave Wednesday evening’s matchup with the Minnesota Twins after experiencing tightness in his left calf muscle, cutting his night short after just four innings of play.
The injury became apparent when Lindor reached first base on a hit and then attempted to circle the bases on teammate Francisco Alvarez’s two-base hit. Observers noted that Lindor appeared to be moving slower than usual as he made his way around the base paths.
The 32-year-old veteran showed visible signs of discomfort as he approached home plate, wincing in pain while navigating around third base. After sliding safely into home ahead of catcher Victor Caratini’s attempted tag – a play that put New York ahead 2-1 – Lindor stayed down on the ground momentarily before being helped up.
The timing of Lindor’s injury coincides with teammate Juan Soto’s return to action after missing 15 games with his own calf strain in his right leg. The Mets had initially won three consecutive games following Soto’s April 3rd injury before entering their current 12-game losing skid.
This marks a rare injury concern for Lindor, who has appeared in all but 15 games since his last stint on the injured list three years ago in 2021, when a strained right oblique muscle kept him sidelined for more than five weeks.
HONG KONG, April 23 – The American dollar maintained strength near its highest point in more than a week Thursday, as escalating Middle Eastern tensions between Iran and the United States drove oil costs back over the $100 mark, dampening global investor confidence.
Iran captured two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday, intensifying the conflict after President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran, though peace negotiations show no signs of resuming.
Both nations continue to clash over ceasefire terms, naval blockades, nuclear concerns, and strait control, keeping the crucial shipping channel essentially closed and creating a worldwide energy crisis that threatens global economies.
The euro traded at $1.1712 after hitting its weakest position since April 13 during the trading session. The European currency is tracking toward a 0.4% weekly decline, marking its first downturn in a month. The British pound held at $1.3497.
Australia’s currency remained stable at $0.7165, close to the four-year peak reached last week. New Zealand’s dollar was at $0.59045. The greenback slipped 0.02% against the Japanese yen to 159.48.
March saw the dollar gain strength as a safe investment when the conflict began, but hopes for a peace agreement and ceasefire earlier this month sparked a risk-taking surge, with the dollar losing most of those increases.
The US dollar index, tracking the currency against six major trading partners, reached 98.644, approaching its April 13 peak. The index is positioned for a modest 0.4% weekly increase after two consecutive weekly declines.
“Despite Trump’s ceasefire extension, tensions remain elevated with Iran refusing to reopen Hormuz while U.S. naval blockades persist, raising the risk of prolonged supply disruption,” said Skye Masters, head of markets research at National Australia Bank, in a research note.
Masters noted that extreme risks are being underestimated, and inflationary pressures will continue through the end of the year.
The nearly two-month Middle Eastern conflict has caused fuel costs to surge, pushing consumer confidence to historic lows and eliminating market expectations for interest rate reductions this year.
According to a Reuters survey of economists, the Federal Reserve will delay interest rate cuts for at least six months this year, as energy price shocks from the war have reignited existing inflation concerns.
Market attention will turn to Thursday’s release of US weekly unemployment claims and purchasing managers’ indices for indicators of whether rising energy costs are affecting the broader economic landscape.
Southbound traffic on US Route 13 has come to a complete halt at Boulden Boulevard following a vehicle collision, according to Delaware Department of Transportation officials.
The roadway closure is currently in effect as emergency responders and cleanup crews work at the crash site. DelDOT has not provided details about the severity of the accident or potential injuries.
Drivers traveling southbound on Route 13 should plan for significant delays and consider using alternative routes until the roadway reopens. No timeline has been given for when normal traffic flow will resume.
Technology giant Microsoft announced Thursday its commitment to pour A$25 billion ($17.9 billion) into Australia’s economy through 2029, focusing on expanding the nation’s artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The substantial financial commitment represents one of the largest foreign technology investments in Australia’s history, as the software company seeks to strengthen AI capabilities in the region.
The investment timeline spans from now until the end of 2029, positioning Australia as a key player in Microsoft’s global AI strategy.
Motorists traveling on Route 13 should expect delays this morning as construction work has forced the closure of left lanes in both directions.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that left lanes are blocked between Voshell Mill Road and Shamrock Avenue while crews complete ongoing construction activities.
The lane restrictions are scheduled to be lifted by 7:00 AM, according to DelDOT officials. Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when passing through the work zone.
Traffic is being maintained in the right lanes during the construction period.
Motorists traveling north on Foulk Road should expect delays this afternoon as construction crews have shut down the right lane near Maplewood Lane.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the right lane closure on Route 261 northbound at Maplewood Lane is currently active due to construction activities in the area.
Officials indicate the lane restriction will remain in place until 5 PM today, potentially causing traffic backups during the afternoon commute.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when passing through the construction zone.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials are alerting drivers about a temporary lane restriction on Frederica Road that will impact traffic flow through this afternoon.
The southbound direction of Frederica Road is experiencing a lane closure between David Street and Market Street as construction crews complete their work. The restriction is scheduled to remain in place until 4:00 PM today.
Drivers using this route should plan for possible delays and consider alternate paths if traveling through the area during the affected timeframe.
Japanese investment giant SoftBank Group is reportedly working to secure a massive $10 billion loan using its ownership stake in artificial intelligence company OpenAI as collateral, according to a Bloomberg News report published Wednesday.
Sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that the proposed financing arrangement would be structured as a two-year margin loan, with SoftBank having the flexibility to extend the borrowing period for an additional 12 months if needed.
The loan would be backed by SoftBank’s shares in OpenAI, the company behind the popular ChatGPT artificial intelligence platform that has revolutionized how people interact with AI technology.
Reuters has not been able to independently confirm the details of this reported loan arrangement.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards delivered the star-level performance Minnesota desperately needed, helping the Timberwolves even their heated first-round playoff battle with Denver after capturing Game 2 on the road.
Edwards posted 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while adding two blocks and providing vocal leadership for his squad. Minnesota head coach Chris Finch praised Edwards’ calming presence even after a disappointing showing in the series opener.
“He was calm and gave confidence to the guys,” Finch said, reflecting on the series opener after practice on Wednesday. “When we were down early and big, he was really into them with the right messages, to stay calm but to do the things that were asked to be done — put a little bit more work in, be a little smarter with the fouling, all that kind of stuff. So I thought that was really key.”
The four-time All-Star has been crucial in motivating Rudy Gobert to excel defensively against Denver’s star center Nikola Jokic. Edwards has also shown his commitment by competing despite knee issues that kept him out of 11 of the final 13 regular season contests.
“It definitely uplifts me. I feel like I can’t let him down. If he’s out there battling, then there’s no excuse why I can’t give my best and make the extra effort plays and just go out there and compete at the highest level,” teammate Julius Randle said.
Minnesota will require Edwards to maintain this level of intensity across all aspects of the game to defeat their biggest rival three more times and advance to the next round.
Denver will certainly bring their own determination when they visit Minnesota for Thursday’s Game 3 between these evenly matched clubs. Thursday’s other Game 3 matchups feature New York traveling to Atlanta and Cleveland visiting Toronto.
The recent history between Minnesota and Denver shows just how competitive this rivalry has become, with each team claiming 15 victories in their past 30 encounters across regular season and playoff action over the last four seasons.
“Who doesn’t love a big game? Who doesn’t want to wake up for a game with a lot of excitement, a lot of back and forth in it?” Timberwolves reserve Naz Reid said.
Game Details: Game 3, 7 p.m. EDT (Prime Video)
Series Status: Tied 1-1.
Betting Line: Nuggets by 2 1/2.
Key Storylines: The intensity between these division foes continues to escalate in their third playoff meeting in four years, with both games featuring physical play and heated moments. Minnesota gained valuable momentum by overcoming a 19-point early deficit to claim a 119-114 victory in Game 2. Edwards now has six 30-point performances against Denver across 14 playoff games, while guard Donte DiVincenzo has been exceptional with a game-high plus-20 rating and 16 points in the latest win. DiVincenzo has connected on 10 of 16 three-point attempts through two games. Denver dismissed postgame comments from Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels, who suggested the Timberwolves should continue attacking Denver directly because they’re “all bad defenders.”
The New York Mets faced another injury setback Wednesday evening when All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor departed their matchup with the Minnesota Twins due to left calf tightness.
The timing proved particularly cruel for the struggling franchise, as Lindor’s departure came on the same day outfielder Juan Soto returned from a similar calf injury that had kept him sidelined.
Lindor’s injury became apparent during the fourth inning when he appeared to struggle while running the bases. After reaching first base, he scored on Francisco Alvarez’s double to right-center field but showed clear signs of discomfort as he rounded third base and slid home feet-first.
The veteran infielder winced noticeably during the play and briefly remained on the ground after successfully beating the throw to home plate. He subsequently left the field with a team trainer and did not return to action.
Brett Baty took Lindor’s spot in the batting order, moving to third base while Bo Bichette shifted from third to shortstop when the Mets took the field in the fifth inning.
Before his exit, Lindor had contributed offensively by driving in a run with an infield single in the opening frame. He also showcased his defensive skills early in the contest with an impressive leaping catch at shortstop.
The injury comes at a particularly difficult time for New York, which entered the game mired in a 12-game losing streak. Soto had just been activated from the 10-day injured list earlier Wednesday after missing time with a right calf strain suffered on April 3 during a game in San Francisco.
WASHINGTON, DC — A comprehensive renovation project is set to begin at the nation’s Kennedy Center, with congressional funding of $257 million allocated for the extensive two-year effort.
On Wednesday, Matt Floca, who serves as the facility’s new executive director, guided members of the media through the iconic performing arts venue to showcase the deteriorating conditions that necessitated the major restoration work. The tour revealed significant water damage throughout the building along with aging, obsolete equipment that requires replacement.
President Donald Trump has described the current state of the Kennedy Center as “tired, broken, and dilapidated,” underscoring the urgent need for the planned improvements.
The renovation timeline spans two years, during which crews will address the structural issues and modernize the facility’s infrastructure to restore the venue to its former prominence as a premier destination for the performing arts.
A federal immigration officer in Colorado faces criminal charges after allegedly using a chokehold on a protester, setting up a potential legal battle over how far states can go in prosecuting federal agents for excessive force.
Prosecutors in Colorado announced Wednesday that the officer has been hit with third-degree assault and criminal mischief charges following their investigation into the October incident involving a demonstrator in Durango.
Video footage captured a masked federal agent grabbing 57-year-old Franci Stagi by the neck during protests outside an immigration facility. Stagi claims she was placed in a chokehold during the confrontation.
The charges come as Colorado joins other states in restricting or banning chokeholds and similar restraint techniques by law enforcement. However, federal agents typically enjoy broad immunity protections under constitutional and federal statutes that can shield them from local prosecution.
This Colorado case represents part of a growing pattern of state-level investigations into federal immigration enforcement methods under recent administration policies.
In Minnesota, prosecutors have filed second-degree assault charges against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. for allegedly drawing his weapon on vehicle occupants during a highway encounter. Morgan claimed he felt threatened when the car swerved near him, according to investigators.
Minnesota authorities are also pursuing legal action to obtain evidence related to three shooting incidents during immigration operations, including fatal encounters involving Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Near Chicago, an off-duty ICE agent faces misdemeanor battery charges for allegedly throwing a 68-year-old protester to the ground at a gas station in December while the individual was recording video. The Department of Homeland Security maintains the agent was acting in self-defense.
In California, the fatal New Year’s Eve shooting of 43-year-old Keith Porter by an off-duty ICE agent has sparked demonstrations and demands for an independent probe.
Federal law enforcement personnel typically receive extensive legal protections while performing official duties, and the Justice Department has strongly opposed state attempts to arrest or charge federal agents.
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated late last year that arresting federal officers during duty performance would be “illegal and futile,” referencing constitutional supremacy provisions and federal statutes.
However, legal scholars note these protections have limits and that supremacy clauses don’t create unlimited immunity from prosecution.
ICE operations face heightened examination amid rapid personnel expansion and concerns that background screening for new hires may have been inadequate.
The Colorado confrontation stemmed from October 27 protests following the detention of three Colombian asylum seekers – an adult and two minors – who were traveling to school that morning. Demonstrators later assembled outside the ICE facility in Durango, a mountain college community popular with outdoor enthusiasts.
Video evidence shows the masked agent restraining Stagi in what she characterized as a chokehold. Such restraint techniques have become central to debates over excessive force since Eric Garner’s 2014 death in New York following a police chokehold incident.
Stagi, who previously worked as a hypnotherapist before retiring, said she touched the agent’s shoulder to gain his attention. She alleges he then seized her hair, wrapped his arm around her neck, and dragged her across the street by her head before pushing her down a nearby slope.
Charging documents name Customs and Border Protection officer Nicholas Rice as the defendant in the third-degree assault case, alleging he caused physical harm to Stagi. The documents don’t detail her specific injuries or reference chokehold allegations. No legal representation for Rice was listed in court filings.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which initiated its own internal investigation, has not responded to inquiries about the criminal charges.
While Stagi expressed disappointment that Rice faces lesser charges, she hopes the prosecution demonstrates that immigration officers cannot use excessive force or tackle individuals without justification.
Crude oil markets retreated Thursday despite ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran that have disrupted a vital shipping corridor for global energy supplies.
Brent crude dropped 15 cents to $101.76 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate declined 14 cents to $92.82. The decrease followed Wednesday’s significant rally that pushed Brent above $100 for the first time in over two weeks.
Both oil benchmarks had surged more than $3 Wednesday after U.S. inventory data showed unexpectedly large decreases in gasoline and distillate stockpiles, combined with continued diplomatic deadlock between Washington and Tehran.
President Trump extended a temporary ceasefire following intervention by Pakistani mediators, though both countries continue limiting vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway previously handled approximately 20% of worldwide oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before hostilities erupted in late February with American and Israeli strikes against Iran.
Iranian forces captured two vessels in the Strait Wednesday, further tightening control over the strategic passage. The U.S. Navy maintains a maritime blockade of Iranian commerce, while Iranian parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated that comprehensive peace talks require lifting the naval restrictions.
American military forces have stopped at least three Iranian oil tankers in Asian waters, redirecting them from positions near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, according to shipping and security sources Wednesday.
Trump’s Tuesday ceasefire extension marked another instance of stepping back from threats to target Iranian infrastructure including power facilities and bridges. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed no timeline has been established for the extended truce.
Meanwhile, American petroleum exports reached unprecedented levels, climbing 137,000 barrels daily to a record 12.88 million barrels per day as Asian and European nations secured alternative supplies amid Iran-related disruptions.
The Energy Information Administration reported Wednesday that U.S. crude inventories increased while refined product stockpiles decreased. Crude supplies grew by 1.9 million barrels, exceeding analyst predictions of a 1.2 million barrel decline.
Gasoline inventories fell 4.6 million barrels compared to forecasted drops of 1.5 million barrels. Distillate stocks decreased 3.4 million barrels versus expected declines of 2.5 million barrels.
Major international shipping companies are demanding guaranteed security before resuming operations through the Strait of Hormuz, according to top industry executives speaking at a maritime conference in Singapore on Wednesday.
Jotaro Tamura, who leads Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, one of the world’s largest shipping firms and biggest operator of oil and gas tankers, expressed disappointment about recent developments in the region.
“Two weeks ago when the ceasefire, said to be temporary, came into picture, we thought there was hope. But in reality, the agreement was not translated into the safety and passage (of the vessels),” Tamura told reporters during the Singapore Maritime Week conference.
Even if the waterway becomes accessible again, Tamura emphasized that security concerns would persist. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has issued warnings about mines in the area surrounding the strait.
“It’s a question of the definition of open. Is it really open, or is it half open? Is it open, but there is risk?” Tamura explained. “At some point in time, it (voyages) will resume, and normalisation comes into picture. But it’s hard to foresee how reality would be.”
Regarding potential toll payments to Iran, Tamura stated that his company’s stance follows international maritime law, which guarantees free passage through the strait.
Alexander Saverys, head of Belgium’s CMB.Tech, which operates more than 250 vessels across various maritime sectors, echoed similar concerns about the uncertain situation.
“We cannot hedge. We just need to wait for what is going to happen in the Middle East,” Saverys said at the same Singapore conference. “It is creating a lot of uncertainty.”
“We need to be confident that we can transit without having any issues,” he continued. “Today we have no reassurance whatsoever. We will only get the reassurance once we see that ships can pass through the straits in a safe and sustainable way.”
Saverys maintained that the Strait of Hormuz should remain toll-free, stating: “The Strait of Hormuz is a free passage where normally no toll should be paid. If that would change in the future, we will investigate.”
The executive refused to disclose how many of his company’s vessels are currently trapped in the Gulf region, though he confirmed ongoing discussions with various governments to ensure safe navigation for their fleet.
“We’re in communication with all the governments to see and to make sure that our vessels can navigate. But right now, as you know, the situation is not safe yet,” Saverys said.
Commercial shipping through the critical waterway has come to a near-complete halt following the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran conflict on February 28, severely impacting energy distribution from Gulf nations.
Under normal circumstances, approximately 130 vessels traverse the strait daily, carrying roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
English golfer Matt Fitzpatrick has captured widespread public interest heading into next month’s PGA Championship following his climb to a career-high No. 3 position in the Official World Golf Ranking.
The 31-year-old secured a dramatic playoff victory over top-ranked Scottie Scheffler at Sunday’s RBC Heritage tournament, capping off an impressive stretch that included a second-place finish at The Players Championship, a victory at the Valspar Championship, and an 18th-place showing at the Masters.
Despite stumbling with a bogey on the final regulation hole Sunday that forced a playoff with Scheffler, Fitzpatrick recovered brilliantly by hitting a 4-iron approach shot through strong winds to within 13 feet of the pin, then sinking the birdie putt to claim victory on the first playoff hole.
The strong performance has dramatically shifted betting markets, with Fitzpatrick’s PGA Championship odds improving from 35/1 to 20/1 according to Oddschecker. The 2022 U.S. Open winner has attracted the most wagering action this week, drawing 23% of all PGA Championship winner bets placed since his Harbor Town triumph.
Cameron Young ranks as the second-most popular betting choice this week, capturing 6% of total wagers alongside Ludvig Aberg, Sam Burns, and Justin Rose. Young previously defeated Fitzpatrick at The Players Championship.
Despite the recent attention on other players, Scheffler remains the tournament favorite with 7/2 odds, translating to a 22% probability of victory. He has drawn 5% of this week’s betting action, matching the percentage for LIV Golf’s Jon Rahm.
Masters winner Rory McIlroy holds the second-best pre-tournament odds at 7/1, while Rahm sits at 12/1. Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau follow at 16/1, with both Fitzpatrick and Young positioned at 20/1.
Looking ahead to this week’s action, Fitzpatrick will team with his brother Alex as co-favorites for the Zurich Classic, the PGA Tour’s sole team competition. The Fitzpatrick brothers share 11/1 odds with the pairing of Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry.
Shares of Australian pharmaceutical company CSL continued their downward spiral Thursday, reaching their lowest point since 2017 after the Pentagon announced it would no longer require military personnel to receive annual flu vaccinations.
The U.S. Defense Department’s Tuesday announcement represents a complete reversal of a decades-old policy and has sparked concerns about reduced demand from one of CSL’s major institutional customers.
“The Pentagon’s move was a meaningful catalyst for the sell-off and could be the straw that finally breaks the camel’s back,” explained Marc Jocum, senior product and investment strategist at GlobalXETFs.
“CSL was already carrying a heavy load around falling U.S. flu vaccination rates, weaker Seqirus earnings, and delayed strategic plans, and this decision simply adds incremental pressure at the worst possible time,” Jocum added.
The company’s shares dropped by as much as 0.8 percent, marking a yearly decline exceeding 25 percent and hitting levels not seen since late August 2017.
CSL relies heavily on the United States as its primary revenue generator, according to company financial reports. The firm’s vaccine operations, which include influenza immunizations distributed through its CSL Seqirus division, represent one of its most lucrative business segments.
CSL Seqirus brought in approximately $2.17 billion during fiscal 2025, accounting for roughly 14 percent of the company’s overall revenue.
The stock had already faced significant pressure due to declining demand for plasma-based treatments, increased collection and production expenses, and several earnings reductions throughout the past year.
CSL, which began as a government research facility before becoming a market favorite, has faced investor criticism over its stock performance. The company, once Australia’s most valuable publicly traded stock, plummeted approximately 39 percent last year in its steepest annual decline since 2002.
Market participants have also expressed skepticism about the recovery timeline for CSL’s primary plasma operations, which suffered major disruptions during the coronavirus pandemic.
“The real issue runs deeper: slowing earnings momentum, a more volatile vaccine segment, and a lack of clarity around the company’s forward strategy,” noted Hebe Chen, market analyst at Vantage Markets.
“A 5% drop (on Wednesday) of this magnitude signals the market is still repricing that broader confidence gap, with CSL yet to convincingly find a floor,” Chen concluded.
The New York Jets remain tight-lipped about their plans for the second overall selection in Thursday night’s NFL draft.
However, major sportsbooks believe they’re detecting a pattern: David Bailey, the pass rusher from Texas A&M, has overtaken Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese as the betting favorite to be chosen right after the Las Vegas Raiders select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first pick.
Just one day earlier, BetMGM had Reese listed at -400 odds to be the second pick, while Bailey was available at +200. At that point, Bailey led in total number of bets placed at 21.2%, while Reese attracted the most money wagered at 37.2%. However, by Wednesday evening, Bailey had become the favorite at -145 odds, with Reese dropping significantly to +110.
DraftKings similarly shows Bailey at -150 to be selected second overall, Reese at +115, and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love far behind at +8000.
This dramatic shift in betting patterns happened even though the Jets canceled Bailey’s scheduled “top 30” visit to their facility. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn minimized the significance of not hosting Bailey for a pre-draft workout, and Bailey echoed that sentiment Wednesday, explaining he has maintained extensive communication with team leadership and recently connected with them via FaceTime.
Another consideration remains whether the Jets will actually use that second pick.
New York holds five selections among the first 103 picks and might choose to trade down from either the No. 2 or No. 16 positions Thursday evening. The team also possesses two second-round picks for Friday night.
Should the Jets remain at No. 2, the choice between Bailey and Reese has generated significant pre-draft discussion.
Field Level Media ranks the 6-foot-4, 243-pound Reese as the sixth-best prospect in the 2026 draft class, with the 6-3, 247-pound Bailey following closely at seventh.
Bailey shared the NCAA lead with 14.5 sacks this past season and has earned recognition as an exceptional athlete who demonstrates explosive first-step quickness. Analysts have drawn comparisons between Bailey and Denver Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto, who faced similar concerns about his run-stopping ability when he left Oklahoma before the 2022 draft.
Reese offers the ability to anchor the edge in a 3-4 defensive scheme or provide interior pressure in a 4-3 alignment. He also demonstrates coverage skills against tight ends and brings an appealing mix of physical tools and positional flexibility. However, comparisons to former pass rusher Barkevious Mingo, who failed to meet pre-draft expectations during his career, may have NFL decision-makers in the Jets’ position leaning toward Bailey instead.
SALISBURY, Md. – Salisbury University’s softball squad faced a challenging afternoon Wednesday as they were swept in a doubleheader by the nation’s top-ranked Virginia Wesleyan Marlins at Margie Knight Sea Gull Softball Stadium.
The undefeated Marlins, who improved to 38-0 on the season, dominated the opening contest with a 9-0 shutout victory over the Sea Gulls. Virginia Wesleyan continued their offensive onslaught in the second game, mercy-ruling Salisbury 12-3 in just five innings.
The losses dropped Salisbury’s record to 18-12 as they continue their season against one of the most formidable programs in collegiate softball. The Sea Gulls faced the challenge of competing against a Virginia Wesleyan team that has yet to taste defeat this year.
The Naval Academy baseball team secured a decisive 7-3 victory over the Hawks in recent college baseball action, despite an outstanding individual performance from the visiting team.
Hawks player Brown delivered his best offensive showing of the season, collecting four hits throughout the contest. However, his stellar performance at the plate wasn’t enough to prevent his team from falling to the Midshipmen.
The game saw Navy control the scoreboard for most of the matchup, ultimately winning by a four-run margin. While Brown’s season-high hitting display provided a bright spot for the Hawks, they were unable to generate enough offensive support to match the Midshipmen’s scoring output.
The loss adds another game to the Hawks’ record as they continue their season, while Navy extends their winning ways with the home victory.
Two people died and 30 others were rushed to hospitals following a dangerous chemical release at a West Virginia industrial facility, according to emergency officials.
The fatal incident took place at Catalyst Refiners, a business that specializes in silver recovery operations. Emergency management authorities report that employees were in the process of shutting down portions of the plant when the hazardous leak happened, triggering a toxic gas reaction.
Kanawha County Commission Emergency Management Director C.W. Sigman addressed the situation during a Wednesday press conference in Charleston, West Virginia, providing updates on the emergency response efforts.
The exact cause of the chemical release and the specific substances involved have not yet been disclosed by authorities as the investigation continues.
The University of Delaware women’s golf squad secured a runner-up finish at the Conference USA Championship held in Frisco, Texas this week.
The Blue Hens posted a combined team score of 884 strokes, finishing 20 shots over par during the three-day competition at Stonebriar Country Club’s Fazio Golf Course. The challenging 6,345-yard layout played to a par of 72.
Delaware’s strong team performance was highlighted by four players who earned spots among the tournament’s top 20 individual finishers, showcasing the depth and talent of the Blue Hens roster.
The second-place showing caps off a successful conference championship appearance for the Delaware women’s golf program at the prestigious Texas venue.
Goldey-Beacom College’s softball program has achieved another milestone by earning a spot in the season’s inaugural NCAA East Region rankings.
The Lightning’s inclusion in these regional rankings comes exactly one year following their groundbreaking debut in the NCAA Tournament, which marked the first time in the program’s history that the team had qualified for the national championship tournament.
This latest recognition demonstrates the continued growth and success of Goldey-Beacom’s softball program as they build upon last season’s historic achievements.
WASHINGTON — AI technology firm Anthropic filed a 96-page court document Wednesday arguing that its Claude artificial intelligence system operates beyond the company’s control once integrated into the Pentagon’s classified military networks. The filing represents the company’s effort to challenge the Trump administration’s classification of the firm as a potential supply chain threat.
The legal brief submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. offers insight into the strategy Anthropic’s legal team plans to pursue in their lawsuit, which emerged from a disagreement over the use of AI in fully autonomous weapons systems and possible domestic surveillance applications.
The California-based technology firm argues that defense officials are unlawfully punishing the company by applying a security designation typically reserved for preventing foreign interference with critical national security infrastructure.
The appeals court previously denied Anthropic’s emergency motion to halt Pentagon actions during the ongoing evidence-gathering phase of the case.
Wednesday’s submission directly responds to judicial inquiries in preparation for May 19 oral arguments. Federal attorneys representing the Trump administration will submit their counter-arguments prior to the scheduled hearing.
Anthropic experienced a procedural loss in the Washington proceedings despite winning a related case on identical issues in San Francisco federal court. That victory led the Trump administration to withdraw the controversial designations, according to legal documents.
However, the absence of a comparable ruling in the Washington case continues to create uncertainty for Anthropic, which has emerged as a major player in the AI sector alongside competitor OpenAI. Following the Pentagon’s cancellation of a $200 million Anthropic contract due to their dispute, OpenAI secured an agreement to supply AI technology to military operations.
A federal immigration agent is facing criminal charges for assault and property damage after allegedly using a chokehold on a demonstrator during a protest in Colorado, according to prosecutors.
Bystander videos captured the October incident showing a masked federal agent dragging protester Franci Stagi across a street during a demonstration opposing the detention of three Colombian asylum-seekers in Durango, Colorado. Stagi alleges the officer grabbed her hair and applied a chokehold before throwing her down an embankment. Colorado has banned such restraint techniques since George Floyd’s 2020 death.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigations opened a probe into the agent’s conduct after Durango Police Chief Brice Current requested the inquiry, citing potential state law violations – a rare move involving federal officers.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which has opened its own internal investigation, received requests for comment about the charges against Officer Nicholas Rice but has not yet responded. Court filings do not identify legal representation for Rice.
According to Stagi, she was recording the officer outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in the outdoor recreation hub when he struck her hand forcefully, causing her to drop her phone. The retired hypnotherapist said she then touched the officer’s shoulder to get his attention before the alleged chokehold incident occurred. She reports ongoing arm pain that interferes with daily tasks like putting on clothing.
Charging documents accuse Rice of third-degree assault for causing physical harm to Stagi, though they do not detail her injuries or reference the chokehold allegations. Rice also faces criminal mischief charges for allegedly destroying Stagi’s mobile device.
Stagi expressed disappointment Wednesday that Rice received lesser charges. The misdemeanor assault count carries a maximum penalty of nearly one year behind bars. However, she hopes the case demonstrates that immigration agents cannot use unreasonable force against civilians.
“It did open my eyes to how quickly I can be under someone else’s control, and it’s frightening,” said Stagi, whose full legal name is Anne Francesca Stagi.
Federal agents typically enjoy extensive legal immunity while performing official duties, and the Justice Department has recently opposed state attempts to prosecute federal personnel. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche declared such arrests “illegal and futile” last year, referencing constitutional supremacy principles. Legal scholars note these protections are substantial but not unlimited.
Chokehold restrictions have become central to police reform discussions since Eric Garner’s 2014 death in New York after an officer applied the technique to the Black man.
Garner’s final words, “I can’t breathe,” became a Black Lives Matter movement rallying cry.
Though some states have prohibited chokeholds and similar tactics, comprehensive reform efforts have faced opposition.
Federal legislation banning chokeholds nationwide cleared the House in 2021 but never reached then-President Biden for signature. The measure honored Floyd, who died in Minneapolis when an officer knelt on his neck.
Colorado legislators banned chokeholds within weeks of Floyd’s death as part of comprehensive police reform measures. The new law strengthened weaker chokehold limitations enacted four years prior.
Russian emergency crews entered their third consecutive day Wednesday fighting a massive fire at an oil refinery along the Black Sea coast, sparked by a Ukrainian drone strike last week that has severely compromised air quality in the surrounding area.
The Tuapse refinery, which primarily exports its petroleum products, completely shut down operations Tuesday following the April 16 drone assault, according to two industry sources.
Regional emergency officials from Russia’s southern Krasnodar territory reported Wednesday that extensive firefighting efforts continue at the facility’s maritime terminal. “In Tuapse, firefighting operations are going on for the third day at a large fire at the sea terminal after a drone attack by the Kyiv regime,” the headquarters stated.
Emergency response teams have deployed 276 firefighters along with 77 specialized vehicles to combat the ongoing blaze.
The fire’s toxic emissions, combined with recent precipitation, have produced what officials describe as a “black coating” covering areas surrounding the terminal facility.
Environmental monitoring has detected dangerous chemical concentrations in the atmosphere, including benzene, xylene and particulate matter at levels two to three times above acceptable safety thresholds. Authorities have advised local residents to stay inside their homes, seal windows and doors, and regularly clean indoor surfaces.
“The situation will normalise as soon as the fire is extinguished,” officials stated.
Ukrainian forces have intensified their targeting of Russian energy facilities as the United States, previously involved in mediating peace negotiations to end the conflict, has redirected attention toward the situation in Iran.
Russian authorities report that strikes on both April 16 and April 20 against Tuapse caused significant damage to port transportation systems and ignited petroleum storage facilities.
The University of Delaware baseball team delivered a commanding performance against St. Joseph’s on Wednesday, routing their opponents 11-2 in Merion Station, Pennsylvania.
The Fightin’ Blue Hens turned the game into a blowout during a spectacular fifth inning rally that saw Delaware plate seven runs to break the contest wide open.
The offensive outburst proved to be the decisive moment in what became a dominant road victory for the Blue Hens, who overwhelmed St. Joe’s with their hitting prowess during the crucial middle innings.
Delaware’s baseball squad showcased their offensive capabilities throughout the matchup, ultimately outscoring their hosts by a wide margin to claim the convincing win.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Salisbury University women’s tennis team faced a challenging return to competition Wednesday, suffering a shutout defeat against the nationally-ranked Mary Washington Eagles.
After a lengthy 20-day break from competition, the Sea Gulls were unable to find their rhythm against the 25th-ranked Eagles, falling 7-0 at Mary Washington’s Hegmann Family Courts.
The extended layoff appeared to impact Salisbury’s performance as they struggled to match the level of play from their highly-ranked opponents throughout the afternoon match.
A Lebanese reporter died Wednesday when Israeli forces targeted a residence in southern Lebanon where she had sought refuge while covering the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict, according to rescue officials who said her remains weren’t recovered from the debris until hours after the attack.
Amal Khalil, a correspondent for the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper, was fatally wounded in the southern community of al-Tiri, the publication reported.
Khalil had been documenting the Lebanon conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants that reignited in early March alongside the broader U.S.-Israeli military action in Iran. She sought safety in the al-Tiri residence after an initial Israeli bombardment struck close to the vehicle she was using with a fellow reporter.
According to Lebanon’s health ministry, the initial attack claimed two lives. Israeli forces then launched a second strike against the al-Tiri house where Khalil and colleague Zeinab Faraj had taken refuge.
Rescue personnel initially managed to reach Faraj, who sustained severe injuries, and recover the two victims from the first bombing. However, Israeli troops opened fire on the rescue workers, forcing them to abandon efforts to reach Khalil, ministry officials stated.
Khalil remained trapped beneath the wreckage for several hours before Lebanese military units, civil defense teams and the Lebanese Red Cross could access the location. Her remains were finally extracted just before midnight, at least six hours following the strike.
Israeli military officials claimed that people in the community had breached ceasefire agreements, putting their soldiers at risk. Israel rejected accusations that it deliberately targets media personnel or blocked rescue operations from entering the zone. Military leaders said they were investigating the incident.
“Killing of journalists is a crime and a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law,” stated Lebanon’s Information Minister Paul Morcos.
Khalil’s death occurred as Israeli and Lebanese representatives prepare for a second round of direct negotiations in Washington aimed at extending the ceasefire that began last Friday.
A native of southern Lebanon, Khalil had reported from the region for al-Akhbar since 2006. Her recent coverage focused on Israeli destruction of Lebanese residences in communities now occupied by Israeli military forces within Lebanon.
Her death raises to nine the total number of media workers killed in Lebanon this year. Israeli attacks have resulted in at least 2,300 deaths and displaced over one million people since the current Israel-Hezbollah war began March 2.
Earlier Wednesday, Reporters Without Borders demanded international intervention to pressure Israeli forces to permit Khalil’s rescue. The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed “outrage” over what appeared to be deliberate targeting of the two reporters and warned that blocking rescue efforts “may amount to a war crime.”
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun requested that the Lebanese Red Cross work with military forces and U.N. peacekeepers “to carry out the rescue operation” as rapidly as possible.
In late March, three journalists covering the conflict died in an Israeli attack on southern Lebanon. Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV reported that veteran correspondent Ali Shoeib was among the victims. Israeli military officials said they had deliberately targeted Shoeib, claiming he served as a Hezbollah intelligence agent, though they offered no proof.
The same strike also killed reporter Fatima Ftouni of Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV and her brother Mohammed Ftouni, who worked as a video journalist.
Several days before that incident, an Israeli strike on a central Beirut apartment killed Mohammed Sherri, who directed political programming at Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV, along with his spouse.
A prediction betting platform has disciplined three congressional candidates who violated company rules by placing wagers on their own election races, the company announced Wednesday.
Kalshi imposed five-year suspensions and financial penalties on the trio, marking another significant incident involving potential insider trading on prediction markets that have drawn increased attention from lawmakers calling for tighter oversight.
The company’s enforcement action targeted Mark Moran, an independent candidate seeking Virginia’s U.S. Senate seat; Ezekiel Enriquez, who competed in a Texas Republican House primary; and Matt Klein, a Democratic state legislator from Minnesota pursuing a U.S. House position.
According to Kalshi’s findings, both Klein and Enriquez wagered amounts under $100 on outcomes involving their own campaigns. Moran acknowledged on social media that he placed a $100 bet on his own candidacy.
The financial consequences varied based on each candidate’s cooperation with the investigation. Moran, who declined to negotiate a settlement with Kalshi, received the steepest penalty exceeding $6,200. Klein and Enriquez, who agreed to settlements, face fines of more than $530 and $780 respectively. The disciplinary measures represent company enforcement rather than government regulatory action.
Rather than disputing the accusations, Moran used social media Wednesday to defend his actions as a deliberate attempt to spotlight problems with prediction markets.
“We live in a Country destroyed by vice, which Kalshi directly contribute to,” Moran posted on X, explaining his trade aimed to “highlight how this company is destroying young men.”
Klein similarly acknowledged the company’s conclusions in his own social media statement Wednesday. He described his $50 October wager as his initial experience with prediction markets, driven by curiosity about their operations.
“This was a mistake and I apologize,” Klein stated, adding that the incident demonstrated the need for enhanced market regulation.
Enriquez, commonly called Zeke, was unsuccessful in his House bid, securing less than two percent of votes when his race concluded in early March. Attempts to reach Enriquez for response were unsuccessful.
The Department of Defense announced that Navy Secretary John Phelan is stepping down from his role as the Navy’s highest-ranking civilian leader, effective immediately.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed Phelan’s exit, stating he is “departing the administration, effective immediately.” Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao has been named to serve as acting secretary of the Navy.
This departure marks another significant change in the Pentagon’s senior leadership ranks, with Phelan’s exit adding to a series of high-level defense official departures in recent months.
WASHINGTON D.C. — A baby Asian elephant is capturing hearts in the nation’s capital after stepping into public view for the first time Wednesday at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. The female calf, named Linh Mai, represents a milestone as the first elephant born at the facility in 25 years.
Linh Mai arrived on February 2nd, born to mother Nhi Linh following an almost two-year gestation period.
According to Robbie Clark, who manages the zoo’s elephant program, the young pachyderm has quite the personality. “Linh Mai is a hoot, she’s a fantastic little elephant to get to know,” Clark explained.
Clark went on to describe the calf’s developing character traits. “She’s very curious,” Clark added. “She’s learning how to be quite playful with the enrichment and the environment that she’s living in, and she’s confident.”
The zoo houses its Asian elephant population in a spacious habitat known as Elephant Trails, featuring outdoor pathways and water features. Those unable to make the trip to Washington can observe Linh Mai through the zoo’s online elephant camera.
Civil rights organizations filed legal action Wednesday against Alaska’s election administrators, claiming the state’s decision to turn over complete voter registration records to federal authorities violates constitutional privacy protections.
According to the Brennan Center, Alaska joins at least 12 states that have handed over or committed to providing comprehensive voter information — including birth dates, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers — to the Trump administration. Both Alaska and Texas entered into formal agreements when transferring this data, allowing the federal department to conduct its own voter file analysis, identify potential issues with voter rolls, and provide guidance for removing voters considered ineligible.
While several additional states complied with data requests, they declined to sign similar agreements as part of the Justice Department’s broad initiative to collect detailed voter information from all 50 states. Some election administrators have voiced concerns that this information could be used by the Trump administration to identify potential non-citizens on voter rolls.
The League of Women Voters of Alaska and Alaska Black Caucus brought the state court case against Division of Elections leadership. Their complaint argues that releasing personal voter information breaches privacy rights guaranteed under Alaska’s constitution. The filing also contends that the memorandum of understanding undermines due process by permitting the Justice Department to mark voters for removal “without any apparent notice or process for impacted voters to challenge those decisions.”
Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, who supervises the division, and division Director Carol Beecher are named as defendants in the case. Division spokesperson Steve Kirch directed comment requests to the Alaska Department of Law, which has not yet responded.
Legal representation for the plaintiffs comes from the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska, ACLU Voting Rights Project and the Electronic Privacy Information Center.
The Brennan Center reports that the Justice Department has initiated lawsuits against at least 30 states plus the District of Columbia attempting to compel data release. Courts have denied these federal efforts in California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon and most recently Rhode Island. A Georgia judge dismissed one Justice Department lawsuit for being filed in an incorrect jurisdiction, though it was later refiled.
During the Rhode Island proceedings, Justice Department lawyers admitted the agency wanted unredacted voter data for sharing with the Department of Homeland Security to verify citizenship status.
Beyond Alaska’s state court challenge, at least four federal cases have been filed nationwide aimed at blocking the Justice Department from gathering unredacted voter registration information or preventing states from canceling voter registrations based on this federal initiative.
At a legislative hearing in Alaska last month, state Department of Law attorney Rachel Witty informed lawmakers that Alaska had a “compelling interest” in responding to the federal data request.
“To ensure the integrity of elections, there was a mutual interest in maintaining voters rolls that were accurate and current,” she said.
The Alaska complaint outlines state procedures for maintaining voter registration lists and notes that only specific circumstances allow for immediate voter registration cancellation — “upon death or conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude.” While election officials claim they will only remove voters “to the extent allowed by state and federal law,” the lawsuit argues this interpretation conflicts with “the plain language” of the Justice Department agreement.
The legal challenge asks a judge to invalidate the agreement and order the elections division to make “reasonable efforts” to ensure immediate destruction of all physical and electronic copies of the shared voter list by the Justice Department.
“Rather than fiercely defending the rights of Alaska’s voters, our Division of Elections acceded to federal overreach,” Eric Glatt, legal director for the ACLU of Alaska, said in a statement. “Now, we are asking the court to step in and ensure that DOE upholds its constitutional and legal obligations to Alaskans.”
A woman who previously worked for YouTube sensation MrBeast’s production company has filed a federal lawsuit claiming she was terminated following her return from maternity leave and endured years of sexual harassment on the job.
Lorrayne Mavromatis filed the legal action in North Carolina federal court on Wednesday against MrBeastYouTube, LLC and GameChanger 24/7, LLC, claiming violations of federal employment protections that guarantee eligible workers unpaid leave for family and medical situations, including childbirth. She has also lodged a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission citing discrimination based on sex, pregnancy, and retaliation.
According to Mavromatis, she continued working around the clock after giving birth and even while in the hospital delivery room. “I was still bleeding, and I just had to show up,” Mavromatis stated during an Associated Press interview.
She says her employment was terminated fewer than three weeks after resuming full-time duties.
A representative for Beast Industries dismissed the legal filing as a “clout-chasing complaint” containing “deliberate misrepresentations and categorically false statements” in a written response. The company maintains Mavromatis lost her job due to restructuring by a new ecommerce director who eliminated her role.
The organization provided documentation of a March 31, 2025 workplace chat where a colleague advised Mavromatis she “shouldn’t even be checking” messages after she postponed a meeting, writing she was “actually in labor at the hospital as we speak.” Responding to claims they failed to notify her about Family and Medical Leave Act protections, the company showed proof of her acknowledgment of receiving employee policies including FMLA guidelines.
“We will not submit to opportunistic lawyers looking to manufacture a payday from us,” their statement declared.
The legal complaint presents troubling claims about workplace conditions at the organization behind YouTube’s biggest content creator, as new leadership works to rapidly grow the media business established by Jimmy Donaldson, known professionally as MrBeast.
The lawsuit describes a harmful, male-dominated work environment that Beast Industries has recently attempted to reform while Donaldson’s entertainment empire pursues major expansions into television programming and financial technology. His “Beast Games” Amazon Prime competition series has secured two seasons, and the company recently purchased Step, a banking application targeting teenagers.
Concerns about Beast Industries’ workplace atmosphere emerged two years ago following online controversy over Donaldson’s previous offensive language and allegations that a long-time associate sent inappropriate messages to underage individuals. In an August 2024 message to staff, Donaldson acknowledged his responsibility to “create a culture that makes all our employees feel safe and allows them to do their best work.”
Following an external investigation that found “isolated instances” of workplace harassment and inappropriate behavior, Beast Industries terminated multiple workers.
Donaldson has expanded his influence in American media beyond YouTube platforms. He attended last year’s MTV Video Music Awards, promoted business software company Salesforce during a Super Bowl advertisement, and joined the voice cast for the forthcoming “Angry Birds Movie 3.”
Beast Industries, which had approximately 450 employees last year, maintains its growth trajectory. The organization has actively recruited leadership talent from major companies like NBCUniversal and TikTok as it seeks success independent of Donaldson’s personal brand.
The timing of Mavromatis’s lawsuit precedes Thursday’s TIME100 event in New York City, where Donaldson will receive recognition as one of the publication’s most influential figures, alongside Pope Leo XIV, President Donald Trump, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
According to the lawsuit, Beast Industries pushed workers to “go to great lengths” to complete assignments, referencing a 36-page employee manual titled “HOW TO SUCCEED IN MRBEAST PRODUCTION” that was distributed during Mavromatis’s tenure. The document contained sections stating “It’s okay for the boys to be childish” and “The Amount of hours you work is irrelevant.”
Within this work culture, Mavromatis says she participated in a team conference call from her hospital bed during active labor, fearing termination if she declined.
“I actually had to hold my breath in between talks because of how hard the contractions were,” she explained.
The 34-year-old Mavromatis began working as MrBeast’s Instagram director in August 2022 and received two promotions within twelve months. From June 2023 through January 2024, she managed the company’s verticals division in an executive capacity.
Several months into her employment, she approached James Warren — Donaldson’s cousin and the CEO at that time — seeking guidance after observing that Donaldson avoided direct eye contact with her.
The legal filing states Warren told her: “Jimmy gets really awkward around beautiful women. Let’s just say that when you’re around and he goes to the restroom, he’s not actually using the restroom.”
The company explained Donaldson’s frequent bathroom visits as related to his Crohn’s disease diagnosis.
After Mavromatis brought sexual harassment concerns and hostile workplace conditions to human resources, which was overseen by Donaldson’s mother, the lawsuit claims she was reassigned and downgraded to “an obscure role.” The company disputes this characterization, labeling it “false and inaccurate.”
TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund at the National Women’s Law Center, established during the early #MeToo movement addressing sexual misconduct, announced its support for Mavromatis’s case.
“Abusive workplaces rely on a persistent lack of accountability. We see this pattern frequently, where those with influence and power are allowed to harm others and retaliate against those who decide to speak up,” stated senior director Jennifer Mondino. “We are in a collective fight to address a longstanding culture of harassment that relies on entrenched silence and shame.”
Authorities in Iowa City have issued an arrest warrant for a 17-year-old suspect on attempted murder charges after a weekend shooting that wounded five individuals in the downtown entertainment area adjacent to the University of Iowa campus.
The incident occurred early Sunday morning and left five people with gunshot injuries, three of whom are University of Iowa students, according to Iowa City Police Chief Dustin Liston. As of Wednesday, one female victim continues to fight for her life in critical condition after suffering a severe head injury.
Law enforcement reports indicate the shooting stemmed from a massive altercation involving potentially 40 individuals. Officers responded to the disturbance and reached the scene in under a minute, Liston stated.
According to authorities, the teenage suspect from Cedar Rapids stepped away from the brawl before allegedly discharging his weapon six times into the busy pedestrian zone. The downtown pedestrian mall features numerous establishments including bars, restaurants and retail stores.
Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmermann Smith confirmed the minor will face adult charges initially, as mandated by Iowa state law for forcible felony accusations against defendants 16 years old and above.
Smith indicated that five attempted murder counts will be filed once the suspect is taken into custody.
Chief Liston noted the investigation remains active with more charges anticipated. Law enforcement has already carried out approximately three dozen search warrants in connection with the case.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to hold those responsible fully accountable,” Liston stated, encouraging anyone with knowledge about the incident or the suspect’s whereabouts to contact authorities.
The five individuals who were shot were not “targets of the shooting,” according to Liston. “We have no reason to believe they were otherwise affiliated with the fight that preceded the shooting.”
Liston detailed the remaining victims’ conditions, noting injuries to various body parts including arms, chest, legs and abdomen. One person remains hospitalized in stable condition while three others have been discharged from medical care.
Federal authorities took extraordinary measures this week by dispatching a government aircraft to Cuba to retrieve a 10-year-old Utah child caught in the middle of a complex international custody dispute centered around gender identity issues.
Rose Inessa-Ethington, a transgender woman, stands accused of taking her child to Cuba without authorization from the biological mother. Government officials worked to bring the child home after a family member raised concerns that Inessa-Ethington had traveled to Havana seeking gender transition procedures for the minor.
Both Rose Inessa-Ethington and her partner Blue Inessa-Ethington face arrest and federal charges for international parental kidnapping.
The pair departed with the child to Canada in late March, claiming they were taking a camping vacation along with Blue’s 3-year-old. However, after notifying the older child’s mother of their Canadian arrival, the adults disabled their phones. Court documents filed Monday in Utah federal court reveal they flew from Vancouver through Mexico before reaching Cuba on April 1.
Federal charges do not specify whether the couple actually intended to pursue gender-affirming procedures for the child in Cuba, nor do they explain how such treatment would be obtained since Cuban law prohibits these surgeries for minors.
FBI investigators discovered that Blue Inessa-Ethington had withdrawn $10,000 from her bank account prior to departure. Federal agents also located a note at their residence containing guidance from a Washington, D.C. mental health professional “to send the therapist the $10,000.00 and instructions on gender affirming medical care for children.” The note made no reference to Cuba.
The deployment of a Department of Justice aircraft for this parental kidnapping case occurs as the Trump administration has worked to restrict access to gender-affirming treatments for minors and has pressured healthcare providers on this matter.
The Associated Press contacted court-appointed lawyers representing both Blue and Rose Inessa-Ethington in Virginia. Court records indicate the defendants will be transported to Utah to face individual charges of international parental kidnapping.
The search effort commenced April 3 when the child failed to return to the mother in Utah as planned, according to court filings. The 10-year-old’s mother, who had divorced Rose Inessa-Ethington and maintained joint custody, contacted Logan City police about 70 miles north of Salt Lake City to report the child missing.
Logan City Police Chief Jeff Simmons explained his department initially concentrated on the custodial interference aspects of the case, noting investigators only learned later about the gender-affirming surgery concerns.
Logan police spokesperson Sgt. Brandon Bevan confirmed those concerns came from one family member, though he refused to identify the individual.
“They just had the concern about it, no actual physical evidence” Bevan stated.
A Utah state court judge mandated the 10-year-old’s return to the biological mother on April 13. Three days following, a federal magistrate judge issued arrest warrants for the Inessa-Ethingtons. That same day, Cuban law enforcement found the group. They were expelled to the United States via government plane Monday and appeared in Richmond, Virginia federal court.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak in Utah confirmed in a statement that the 10-year-old was reunited with the biological mother. FBI representatives and Utah U.S. attorneys declined to reveal what occurred with the 3-year-old who had accompanied the group.
The parental custody battle appears to be an ongoing issue. An online fundraising campaign established five years ago by Blue Inessa-Ethington titled “Help a Trans Mother Keep Custody of Her Child” collected $9,766.
“Last week, Rose’s ex relocated several counties away, negatively impacting Rose’s parent-time with the child,” she explained in the fundraiser. She indicated the funds would help obtain a court order keeping the child “safe and stable throughout this process.”
Anyone familiar with Rose understands “how much care and thought she puts into parenting her gender open child,” she stated.
She added, “While her ex is not making an issue of Rose’s gender, as a trans woman, Rose is at a disadvantage against her cishet ex-wife. Rose also lacks the family resources and connections to face this litigation on her own.”
Family members claimed the child was born male but identifies as female due to what they considered “manipulation” by Rose Inessa-Ethington, according to an April 16 sworn statement from FBI Special Agent Jennifer Waterfield.
The Trump administration implemented restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors in December, leading one-third of states to file lawsuits.
This represents the most recent confrontation between an administration claiming transgender healthcare can harm children and advocates arguing it constitutes medically necessary treatment.
Research indicates gender-affirming surgery remains uncommon among American children. Additionally, fewer than 1 in 1,000 U.S. teenagers receive gender-affirming medications.
In February, the country’s largest professional plastic surgery organization advised postponing gender-affirming surgeries until patients reach age 19, departing from guidance provided by several other prominent medical organizations.
Cuban law prohibits gender-affirming surgeries for minors and only permits them for adults through the public healthcare system under strict oversight in designated public hospitals for Cuban nationals. Medical commission authorization is required following comprehensive patient file review. This process frequently requires years due to extensive medical and psychological evaluations needed.
The University of Delaware has announced that its annual fundraising campaign, I Heart UD Giving Day, will take place on April 29.
The university-wide giving initiative will focus on raising funds for Delaware Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation programs. Supporters can participate by making donations to benefit these campus activities and services.
The Blue Hens are encouraging community members and alumni to mark their calendars for the upcoming fundraising event, which serves as a key annual opportunity to support various university programs and initiatives.
SALISBURY, Md. – Salisbury University’s baseball squad, currently ranked 12th nationally, extended their winning streak to five consecutive games Wednesday with a dominant 28-0 shutout victory over St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
The Sea Gulls improved their season record to 25 wins in the mercy rule game that concluded after seven innings at Donnie Williams Sea Gull Baseball Stadium.
The lopsided victory showcased the team’s offensive firepower as they completely overwhelmed the visiting Seahawks in what became a one-sided affair from the opening inning.
San Antonio Spurs guard Keldon Johnson has earned recognition as the NBA’s premier reserve player this season.
The versatile guard appeared in every contest for San Antonio, coming off the bench in all 82 games and joining an exclusive group as just the second NBA player in ten years to accomplish this feat. Johnson also made franchise history by becoming the first Spurs reserve to reach 1,000 points in a single season. Throughout the campaign, San Antonio consistently promoted him as the league’s top bench player.
NBA voters validated that assessment Wednesday evening when Johnson was named Sixth Man of the Year, making him only the second Spurs player to claim this honor alongside Manu Ginobili, who won in 2008. The recognition marks Johnson’s first individual NBA accolade, adding to his gold medal from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics as part of Team USA.
“I started for a long time,” Johnson said on ESPN. “Now, it’s my time to come off the bench. I just continue to analyze the game, come off the bench, go in there and just do my thing.”
Johnson defeated Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Denver’s Tim Hardaway Jr. for the award. Jaquez paced all bench players in scoring and double-figure scoring performances for Miami, while Hardaway connected on a reserve-leading 205 three-pointers and ranked fourth in scoring for Denver.
This marked Hardaway and Jaquez’s ninth-place tie in 2024 voting. Hardaway previously finished fifth in 2021, tenth in 2017, and tied for thirteenth during his 2014 rookie campaign.
The honor caps an extraordinary two-season stretch for Johnson, who has logged 159 games over the past two years exclusively as a reserve. No other NBA player has approached that total without making a single start during this timeframe.
“I wanted to be part of something special here in San Antonio,” Johnson said. “I knew that in order for me to really be the best for our team that coming off the bench was probably my best possibility. At first, it was tough. I had to (control) my ego and put the team first. After that, the sky was the limit.”
This represents the third postseason award announcement and San Antonio’s second honor, marking the first with genuine suspense regarding the winner.
Victor Wembanyama made history Monday as the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year selection in San Antonio franchise history. Tuesday saw Oklahoma City’s reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander capture Clutch Player of the Year honors with 96 of 100 first-place votes.
Thursday will bring the Sportsmanship Award announcement, featuring division representatives Miami’s Bam Adebayo (Southeast), San Antonio’s Harrison Barnes (Southwest), Gilgeous-Alexander (Northwest), Golden State’s Al Horford (Pacific), Indiana’s T.J. McConnell (Central), and Boston’s Derrick White (Atlantic). Players vote for this award rather than the media panel that determines most other honors.
Friday’s Most Improved Player reveal will feature Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Portland’s Deni Avdija, or Detroit’s Jalen Duren.
Additional awards awaiting announcement include Coach of the Year (Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff, San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson, or Boston’s Joe Mazzulla), Rookie of the Year (Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe, Dallas’ Cooper Flagg, or Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel), and MVP (Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama, or Denver’s Nikola Jokic).
CLEVELAND — After Wednesday’s victory over Cleveland, a sparkling championship belt in boxing style hung over Yordan Alvarez’s locker room chair. Once again, he stood as Houston’s premier performer without question.
Currently, no player across baseball is performing at a higher level.
“To be honest with you,” Astros shortstop Carlos Correa stated, “2026 Yordan is the closest thing I’ve seen to Barry Bonds.”
That’s quite a statement.
Alvarez connected on his MLB-best 11th home run of the season, a two-run blast in the opening frame, helping the injury-plagued Astros secure a 2-0 victory over the Guardians and claim two games in the three-game series against last year’s AL Central titleholders.
Though Houston has struggled early this season, Alvarez has maintained exceptional form.
The powerful 6-foot-4 designated hitter tops all major leaguers in home runs, RBIs (26), hits (33), extra-base hits (19), total bases (74), on-base percentage (.466), slugging percentage (.779) and OPS (1.245).
Such dominance explains why Correa draws comparisons to the legendary Bonds.
“Aaron Judge has a 1.200 OPS, but Yordan has done it a different way,” Correa explained. “He’s not swinging and missing much. He’s not striking out a lot. He’s walking a lot, that’s what Barry did.
“Yordan is getting the intentional-walk treatment every time first base is open. I don’t see any other player in the league they do that for.”
In the series conclusion, Alvarez recorded three hits in four plate appearances, pushing his hitting streak to nine consecutive games and his on-base streak to 18 games. He has launched home runs in four of his last six contests, becoming one of the few reliable constants for manager Joe Espada.
“He stays within himself and he knows how important it is for him to do damage,” Espada commented. “He’s a presence and he’s carrying us right now.”
Following Correa’s leadoff double in the first inning against Tanner Bibee, Alvarez drove a curveball from the right-handed pitcher 422 feet beyond the right field fence, providing Houston with a 2-0 advantage that lasted the entire game.
Bibee failed to hit catcher Bo Naylor’s intended location, and Alvarez capitalized on the mistake.
“It was the right pitch in that spot if I threw it where Bo wanted me to throw it,” Bibee acknowledged. “It was supposed to be in the dirt, threw it up and that guy, as good as he is and how hot he is right now, it’s going to happen. Just can’t make the mistake.”
Alvarez recorded singles to right field in his following two plate appearances before being retired on a sharp ground ball to first base in the eighth inning that he believed was foul territory. Alvarez remained in the batter’s box, appearing shocked that he had been retired.
Such has been his season-long dominance.
“At some point you’re expecting him to get out because the game is supposed to be so hard,” Correa observed. “When he’s going that good, you’re like, OK he’s due to get out here. And he just keeps raking. It’s incredible. It’s so much fun.
“I haven’t missed one swing of his all year because he’s must-watch TV.”
Alvarez remains modest about his scorching start to the campaign. Following a 2023 season limited to just 48 games due to injuries, he’s not taking his current success for granted while also recognizing his exceptional performance.
“I just want to find a good pitch and connect on the pitch and things are turning out for me right now,” Alvarez said, who became just the second Astros player alongside Lance Berkman (2002) to hit 11 home runs in the season’s first 26 games. “I’m not surprised with my results. That’s why I work so hard. Every at-bat that I have, I go aggressive.”
Tesla’s financial performance improved significantly during the first quarter as the electric vehicle manufacturer recovered from challenging vehicle sales throughout 2025.
The company reported quarterly earnings of $477 million, representing a 17% increase compared to the same period last year. Tesla posted earnings of 13 cents per share, though when accounting for specific adjustments, the per-share figure reached 41 cents, surpassing analyst predictions of 36 cents.
Total company revenue climbed to $22.39 billion, driven primarily by automotive sales that jumped 16% during the quarter.
Company leader Elon Musk continues to stress that Tesla’s long-term strategy focuses more on autonomous ride services than traditional vehicle sales, along with developing robotic technology for residential and commercial use. The company reported that miles traveled by its robotaxi fleet increased by 100% in the first quarter when compared to the previous quarter.
Tesla plans to launch robotaxi operations in additional metropolitan areas throughout this year. The company has also started manufacturing its Cybercab vehicles, which operate without traditional steering wheels or foot pedals.
Following the earnings announcement, Tesla stock prices increased nearly 4% during extended trading hours.
The wealthy leader of global skiing’s top organization has secured an unexpected path to re-election after his home nations declined to support his campaign.
Johan Eliasch, who holds dual citizenship in Britain and Sweden, will compete for another term as president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation with backing from Georgia, according to Wednesday’s candidate announcement from the organization’s headquarters in Oberhofen, Switzerland.
The revelation ended weeks of uncertainty about which country would sponsor Eliasch’s candidacy for the June 11 leadership vote. His situation became complicated when Britain’s snowsport federation chose to nominate its own chief executive, Victoria Gosling, while Swedish media outlets reported their national federation would not endorse Eliasch, who has faced criticism from various European skiing officials.
The billionaire businessman, who was born in Sweden and owns the Head equipment company that supplies skis to elite athletes like Lindsey Vonn, previously won the FIS leadership role in 2021 with British support. He also competed unsuccessfully for the International Olympic Committee presidency last year as a British representative, losing to Kirsty Coventry. Eliasch has served as an IOC member since 2022.
Federation rules mandate that presidential hopefuls must possess valid citizenship documents from their sponsoring nation.
Questions had swirled around where Eliasch would secure nomination support, and it remains unclear why Georgia has stepped forward as his sponsor country.
Four additional candidates will challenge Eliasch: Dexter Paine representing the United States, Anna Harboe Falkenberg from Denmark, and Alexander Ospelt of Liechtenstein.
An international review panel will evaluate all nominees before the federation distributes the final candidate roster to member organizations on May 20.
The decisive election meeting is scheduled for Belgrade, Serbia in June.
MAIDUGURI, Borno (AP) — Eleven people lost their lives and two others sustained critical injuries when extremist fighters launched a deadly assault on a remote Nigerian village during overnight hours, according to local authorities who spoke Wednesday. The violence represents another chapter in the ongoing security challenges facing Africa’s most populated nation.
Tuesday night’s deadly raid occurred in Pubagu, a settlement located in an isolated region near Sambisa forest within Borno state, which serves as the center of Nigeria’s prolonged battle against extremist insurgency. Community members conducted burial ceremonies for the deceased on Wednesday and blamed the assault on the radical Boko Haram organization.
Local council chairman Mwada Saidu Uba spoke with The Associated Press, explaining that the community had historically been spared from such violence.
“Pubagu is one of the locations in our council area that had never suffered such an attack until yesterday,” he said after the funerals. The two injured were receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, he added.
Ward official Usman Rumirgo reported that the attackers torched multiple residences before departing the location.
Remote farming communities frequently face assaults from extremist organizations and criminal gangs that exploit Nigeria’s expansive countryside and weaknesses in security coverage.
The most notable extremist organizations operating within Nigeria include Boko Haram along with its splinter group that maintains ties to the Islamic State and operates under the name Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP. Additional threats come from the Islamic State-connected Lakurawa organization, plus various criminal networks focused on kidnapping operations and unauthorized mining activities.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared Wednesday that the United States cannot unilaterally establish conditions for the continental trade pact known as USMCA, highlighting challenges that lie ahead of the agreement’s scheduled July review.
The trade arrangement, which originated in the early 1990s, has deeply connected the economies of three North American nations but has encountered difficulties due to President Donald Trump’s frequently shifting tariff strategies.
During a press conference in Ottawa, Carney told journalists that adjusting the current version of the trade deal “will take some time.”
“We understand what some of the Americans would call trade irritants or trade issues are,” Carney stated. Trade irritants refer to policies that generate tension and conflicts in international commerce.
“We have some on our side as well,” he continued. “We will sit down and work through those issues with the broader approach in the negotiations.”
“It’s not a case of the United States dictates the terms. We have the negotiations. We can come to a mutually successful outcome,” Carney emphasized. “It will take some time.”
The Prime Minister’s statements followed a Radio-Canada report claiming that U.S. officials are requiring an “entry fee” for trade discussions with Canada and seeking concessions before talks commence.
When questioned about the radio report, Carney noted that in negotiations “people ask for concessions.” “We have strengths, we have options. We’re diversifying our options.”
Last week, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick criticized Canada’s negotiating stance, alleging that Canada depends too heavily on the American economy and calling it “outrageous” for Canadian provinces to exclude American alcohol from their stores.
Lutnick also condemned Carney for negotiating an agreement with China that reduces tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles from 100% to 6.1%, capped at 49,000 vehicles annually. China is expected to reciprocate by lowering retaliatory tariffs on Canadian farm exports.
A recent Office of the United States Trade Representative report identified several trade friction points, including some Canadian provinces’ refusal to carry American alcoholic beverages and steep tariffs on certain U.S. dairy imports.
Carney has vowed to safeguard Canada’s dairy, poultry and egg sectors during free trade negotiations with the United States.
The U.S. is also challenging Canada’s “Buy Canadian” policy, which prioritizes Canadian goods and workers for projects exceeding 25 million Canadian dollars, approximately $18 million USD.
When asked whether it was problematic that the U.S. hasn’t offered any concessions for negotiations, Carney did not directly respond.
In a 10-minute video released Sunday, Carney argued that Canada’s close economic relationship with the U.S., once considered an asset, has become a liability requiring correction. He noted that Trump’s tariffs have impacted automotive and steel industry workers.
He also discussed his administration’s efforts to bolster Canada’s economy through attracting new investment and establishing trade partnerships with additional nations.
FRISCO, Texas — An unexpected visitor brightened the Dallas Cowboys’ final NFL draft preparations Wednesday when former President Bill Clinton made a surprise appearance at the team’s headquarters.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was conducting his annual pre-draft media session when he spotted Clinton walking into the facility through the glass walls of the interview room.
The reunion between the two Arkansas natives created a memorable interruption as Jones nearly stumbled while rushing off the stage to greet his longtime friend. Clinton entered through a side entrance, drawing all attention to the impromptu meeting.
“He’s been a wonderful, not only president, but a friend over the years,” Jones told the gathered media. “And I’m really happy to have you here today.” Jones, who was born in Los Angeles but worked as an oil and gas entrepreneur in Arkansas before purchasing the Cowboys in 1989, has maintained his friendship with Clinton over the decades.
Clinton, flashing his signature smile, responded by saying, “Have a good draft day,” which led to both men sharing Arkansas football memories.
The media room features a photograph of Clinton welcoming the Cowboys to the White House after one of their 1990s Super Bowl championships, when Jones had recently departed Arkansas for Texas.
Jones recalled Clinton’s impressive memory from their first personal meeting: “And when I said hello to him on a personal basis, he listed, three-deep, every player … on the Arkansas Razorback national championship team. He was a young guy that was following the Hogs feverishly, mainly over the radio. So he’s a good man to have as a fan.”
The former president, who hails from Hope, Arkansas, and at 79 is four years Clinton’s junior, then demonstrated that sharp recall by quizzing Jones about his playing days.
“Tell ’em again the position you played,” Clinton prompted.
“Well, I was a guard. I was a pulling guard,” Jones replied.
“And how much did you weigh?” Clinton continued.
“About 185 pounds,” Jones answered.
Clinton then provided historical context: “And a couple of years before him we had a guard named Wayne Harris who weighed the same thing Jerry did, and he made first-team All-America. They were great guards, and it’s a different world now.”
When Jones mentioned he wouldn’t want to play pulling guard in today’s NFL, where offensive linemen typically exceed 300 pounds, Clinton quipped, “Yeah, you’d be the late Jerry Jones.”
Following their reunion, both Clinton and Jones departed, leaving executive vice president Stephen Jones, head coach Brian Schottenheimer, and scouting director Will McClay to continue the media session for another 25 minutes without the team’s typically omnipresent owner.
Four years after the Trump family launched Truth Social with ambitious promises to compete with major social platforms and streaming services, the company is undergoing major leadership changes amid continued financial struggles.
Trump Media & Technology Group announced Tuesday that longtime CEO Devin Nunes, a former Republican congressman and farmer, is stepping down. Digital media veteran Kevin McGurn will take over leadership of the struggling social media company.
The leadership shake-up comes as Trump Media faces mounting challenges. Since Donald Trump’s reelection victory in November 2024, the company’s stock has plummeted more than 60%, eliminating $6 billion in shareholder value. Investors continue to sell off shares despite the company’s efforts to expand beyond social media.
Trump created the platform in early 2022 following his removal from Twitter and Facebook after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots. The social media venture began amid controversy and regulatory scrutiny from the start.
Federal regulators investigated the publicly traded shell company that merged with Truth Social, resulting in substantial financial penalties for misleading investors. The troubles extended to insider trading charges, with one board member receiving a prison sentence.
The platform’s original purpose became less clear when Trump regained access to Facebook and Twitter. As these platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter), reduced content moderation, Truth Social’s appeal as an alternative decreased significantly.
Today, Truth Social continues struggling to expand its user base beyond Trump’s core political supporters, even though the president uses the platform for major political announcements. Government ethics experts have criticized this practice as creating conflicts of interest with his presidential duties. Digital analytics firm Similarweb reported that Truth Social’s monthly users dropped on both web and mobile platforms compared to the previous year in March.
The company has reported losses exceeding $1 billion over the past two years. Stock prices reflect these financial difficulties, falling from approximately $62 when the company went public in 2024 to single-digit values today.
Facing these challenges, Trump Media has diversified into multiple new sectors. Last August, the company announced a cryptocurrency partnership with Crypto.com, planning to accumulate large amounts of Cronos tokens to build a “digital ecosystem” where users could make payments, earn rewards, and purchase services without traditional currency.
The company also invested heavily in bitcoin, raising $2.5 billion last year to purchase the cryptocurrency, following a strategy similar to MicroStrategy, a software company that transformed into a bitcoin investment firm. However, this approach carries significant risks, as demonstrated by MicroStrategy’s recent performance. Bitcoin values have declined sharply in recent months, causing MicroStrategy’s stock to drop nearly 60% since July.
In December, Trump Media announced another major pivot by merging with a nuclear fusion company. This emerging energy technology could potentially power the data centers required for artificial intelligence development and services, which are driving increased electricity demand across the industry.
This nuclear energy venture has attracted criticism due to heavy government regulation in the sector and Trump’s dual role as both a major Truth Social shareholder and U.S. president. His position gives him authority to influence regulations, laws, and funding that could benefit his companies or harm competitors.
The Trump administration appears actively involved in supporting fusion energy development. The Department of Energy released a roadmap in October outlining government assistance for the “burgeoning fusion private sector industry” to accelerate growth on a “rapid timeline.”
“There’s a huge conflict of interest,” said Richard Painter, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer during the George W. Bush administration. “The United States government is going to get all involved in it.”
New CEO Kevin McGurn brings extensive digital media experience from positions at NBC Universal, Hulu, and DoubleClick, providing business expertise that Nunes lacked during his tenure.
McGurn expressed optimism about the company’s future in Tuesday’s announcement, stating the organization was “poised to take off.”
“In carrying President Trump’s unique, singular vision and message, Truth Social stands for the most powerful brand and voice in history of social media and beyond,” he said.
Despite the leadership change and McGurn’s confident statements, investor skepticism persists. Wednesday afternoon trading saw the stock decline an additional 3.5% to $9.48, even with news of the new CEO appointment.
WASHINGTON — Defense Department officials confirmed Wednesday that Navy Secretary John Phelan has stepped down from his position, marking another significant change in military leadership.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell released a statement on social media confirming that Phelan was “departing the administration, effective immediately.”
Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao has been named as the interim Navy secretary, according to Parnell’s announcement.
The timing of Phelan’s exit is notable, occurring just one day following his participation at the Navy’s yearly conference in Washington, D.C., where he spoke to numerous sailors and defense industry representatives and discussed his priorities with members of the media.
This latest leadership change follows a series of similar departures in recent weeks, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s dismissal of Army’s top commander, Gen. Randy George. Hegseth has removed multiple high-ranking generals, admirals and other defense officials since assuming his role last year. Similar to previous dismissals, Pentagon representatives have not provided specific reasons for Phelan’s exit.
The departure occurs during a critical period as the U.S. Navy maintains a blockade against Iranian ports and continues operations against Tehran-linked vessels globally amid an unstable ceasefire in the Iran conflict.
Prior to President Donald Trump’s nomination of him for the Navy secretary position in late 2024, Phelan lacked both military service experience and previous civilian leadership roles within the armed forces.
Phelan contributed significantly to Trump’s campaign and established the private investment company Rugger Management LLC. His military-related experience primarily came through an advisory role with Spirit of America, a nonprofit organization supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts and Taiwan’s security.
Attempts to contact Phelan’s office for comment were unsuccessful.
Cao previously mounted an unsuccessful 2024 Senate campaign in Virginia against Democratic incumbent Tim Kaine. Trump endorsed Cao during the competitive Republican primary race.
A Navy veteran with 25 years of service including combat deployments, Cao’s personal story includes escaping Vietnam with his family during the 1970s. During his Senate campaign, he drew parallels between Vietnam’s communist government during the Cold War era and President Joe Biden’s administration.
“We are losing our country,” Cao stated in a campaign video that criticized Biden for the criminal charges against Trump and featured images of border crossings and retail thefts. “You know it. But you also know that you can’t say it. We’re forced to say that wrong is right. We’re forced to lie.”
WASHINGTON – Federal authorities have agreed to pay $1.25 million to resolve a legal dispute with Carter Page, a former aide to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign who challenged FBI surveillance conducted during the Russia investigation.
Page filed his legal challenge in 2020, claiming federal agents subjected him to “unlawful spying” while investigating potential coordination between Trump’s campaign and Russian officials to influence the 2016 election. His lawsuit pointed to numerous mistakes and missing information in documents that FBI and Justice Department personnel presented to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in 2016 and 2017 when seeking permission to monitor Page based on suspicions he was working as a Russian operative.
Page strongly rejected any allegations of inappropriate connections to Russia and never faced criminal charges.
Lower courts dismissed Page’s case, with appeals court judges ruling in 2023 that he had filed his complaint beyond the allowable time limit. However, while Page’s appeal was before the Supreme Court, Trump administration officials notified the high court on Wednesday that they had reached an agreement with Page regarding his claims against the federal government. The resolution does not address Page’s separate claims against individual former FBI personnel he also sued.
The Supreme Court filing did not disclose the financial terms, but a source with knowledge of the matter, who requested anonymity to discuss confidential information, confirmed the settlement amount was $1.25 million.
Page’s legal action came after a scathing Justice Department inspector general review that identified substantial flaws in all four surveillance requests. Former FBI and Justice Department executives who approved the monitoring have since stated they would not have authorized it if they had understood the scope of the problems, and the FBI has implemented over 40 reforms designed to enhance the precision and completeness of future applications.
While the warrant application issues were serious, the surveillance of Page represented only a small fraction of the broader investigation into connections between Trump’s campaign and Russia.
Special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation determined that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election to benefit Trump and that the campaign accepted this help. Mueller’s prosecutors concluded they lacked adequate evidence to prove a criminal conspiracy between the campaign and Russian officials.
In March, the Justice Department resolved another case stemming from the Trump-Russia investigation, agreeing to pay approximately $1.2 million to Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser who admitted to lying to federal agents about his communications with a senior Russian official before receiving a presidential pardon.
BOSTON (AP) — Buffalo’s inability to dominate Boston physically on the ice has become a secondary concern compared to their struggles capitalizing on power play opportunities when the Bruins commit penalties.
Through the opening two contests of their playoff matchup with Boston, the Sabres have failed to convert on all nine man-advantage situations, extending a troubling trend that saw them go scoreless on their final 22 power plays during the regular season’s closing seven games. The series stands even at one game apiece as action moves to Boston for Thursday evening’s third game.
“It’s always a concern, for sure,” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff acknowledged, noting his team hasn’t celebrated a power-play goal since March. “I think we’ll have to tweak some things.”
Buffalo entered this series taking exception to comments from Bruins coach Marco Sturm about his team’s physical superiority. Tuesday’s contest featured multiple altercations and accumulated 94 combined penalty minutes, with neither squad backing down from the confrontation.
“It’s a seven-game series so you see those guys all the time and there’s game inside the game, obviously,” Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov explained. “Emotions are really high, everybody wants to win, everybody is competitive on the ice, so sometimes you just ended up in the scrums and the fights like that.”
Ruff hasn’t dismissed the possibility of making a goaltending switch after pulling Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen just 16 seconds into Game 2’s final period following the fourth goal against him — including one scored on a long dump-in from center ice. Relief goaltender Alex Lyon successfully turned away all seven shots he encountered afterward.
While both netminders split starting duties during the regular season, Luukkonen secured the primary role by posting a 12-2-1 record to close the campaign. Lyon missed the season’s final week due to an undisclosed lower-body ailment after compiling a 20-10-4 record.
Though Ruff declined to pin Game 2’s defeat solely on Luukkonen’s inconsistent performance, stating “we win together, we lose together,” he also noted that “(Lyon) may play next game.”
Buffalo’s slow starts have compounded their difficulties, falling behind 2-0 in the opener and 4-0 in Game 2, managing their first goals only in each contest’s final eight minutes. They mounted a successful 4-3 comeback in Game 1 but couldn’t overcome their deficit in the 4-2 Game 2 loss.
“It’s been two games. It’s nothing to freak out about, and we know that,” forward Zach Benson said. “And we know we’ve got to be better, and we will be.”
Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on TNT.
In other playoff action, the Carolina Hurricanes hold a 2-0 series advantage over Ottawa, with the Senators showing strength in faceoff wins (60.7% through two games) and goaltending from Linus Ullmark. Carolina forward Logan Stankoven acknowledged their faceoff struggles, saying “Obviously our percentage isn’t great. I’ve got to try and keep winning as many draws and stay in the battle as much as possible.”
The Colorado Avalanche also lead their series 2-0 against Los Angeles, with the Kings remaining optimistic despite the deficit. “Play the same way we’re playing, just a little harder,” Kings forward Trevor Moore said. “Just try to take the positives and get to LA and play a good game.”
PITTSBURGH — For aspiring NFL players, the journey to draft day can seem never-ending. After years of dedication and weeks of intense evaluations, these young athletes face nerve-wracking days of uncertainty as they await the moment their names are announced.
That wait concludes this weekend as the 2026 draft arrives in Pittsburgh, a city that perfectly symbolizes the NFL’s premier offseason showcase.
Most visitors entering the Steel City navigate through western Pennsylvania’s rolling hills and suburban landscapes before descending into the Fort Pitt tunnel — 3,614 feet of darkness that reveals nothing about what awaits beyond. The journey typically involves heavy traffic regardless of the hour, puzzling even longtime residents.
Getting to downtown Pittsburgh, much like reaching the NFL, requires persistence. However, once you arrive, the payoff can be spectacular as the city unfolds before you, filled with potential — just like each draft candidate’s future.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, who hopes to join the exclusive group of running backs selected in the top 10 over recent years, was impressed during his visit this week.
“Nice views, nice views,” Love commented on Wednesday, just over a day before Thursday evening’s opening round. “When you came out of that little tunnel or whatever, I don’t know what the tunnel’s called, but you kind of just saw the whole city. So that view was really nice.”
Love and 16 other potential first-round selections will experience an even more meaningful sight: walking the red carpet at Point State Park before taking a brief ferry trip across the Allegheny River to Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their ultimate destination will be the draft stage for that career-defining embrace with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
“I’m ready to go somewhere where I can work, whether that’s the worst team, the best team, maybe a team in the middle,” Love stated. “Really doesn’t matter to me.”
Love’s destination remains uncertain. However, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza’s path appears clear.
Everything suggests the Las Vegas Raiders will rush to select the Indiana quarterback with the top pick, though Mendoza won’t meet Goodell in Pittsburgh. The standout signal-caller chose to watch from home rather than participate in the draft’s grand spectacle.
The remainder of the first round remains unpredictable, though defensive players are expected to dominate, with edge rushers Arnell Reese from Ohio State and David Bailey from Texas Tech — both present in Pittsburgh — likely to turn professional as evening falls over Mount Washington.
When asked if his competitive nature drives him to want the first handshake with Goodell, Bailey revealed the blend of instinct and football intelligence that elevated his draft status.
“When you talk about competitiveness in that context, it’s like really nothing you can do,” Bailey explained. “Like I can’t go out there and do any special tricks or say anything that’s going to boost my draft stock. … I feel like it’s time to just sit back and enjoy.”
This marks the end of countless speculation cycles and mock drafts, allowing everyone to return to actual football. The process can be overwhelming.
Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson understands the situation.
While posing in underwear for scouts and performing various physical tests at the NFL combine might seem odd, Tyson accepts the process.
“(Teams) invest a lot of money, so they got to do the research,” Tyson observed. “They got to take every little thing into account. So I don’t blame them for it, to be honest.”
Host cities also must prepare extensively for draft weekend. For locations like Pittsburgh, hosting the draft serves as a prestigious alternative to Super Bowl hosting duties.
The NFL anticipates hundreds of thousands of fans will flood a city not known for abundant open spaces. Pittsburgh’s public schools switched to remote learning Thursday and Friday to reduce bus traffic, while many employers encouraged remote work instead of office attendance.
The draft has transformed dramatically since Pittsburgh last hosted in December 1947 at the Fort Pitt Hotel, then the Steelers’ headquarters. That 32-round event saw quarterback Harry Gilmer selected first overall by Washington, but no ceremonial jersey awaited him.
The 1947 draft received no television coverage and minimal attention. The landscape surrounding the draft has shifted enormously over eight decades.
Pittsburgh sees the draft as an opportunity to highlight the region’s rich football heritage. Nearly two dozen Hall of Famers originated from Western Pennsylvania. The Steelers pass six Lombardi Trophies daily on their way to work, and football at every level remains deeply embedded in local culture.
Wednesday morning featured Love and fellow prospects conducting a youth clinic after a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new turf field at Hazelwood Green Park, approximately one mile down the Monongahela River from the Steelers’ current training facility.
Steelers President Art Rooney II spent years looking out his window at the empty lot, wondering when development would come to an area being transformed by technology and education sectors.
Once the city secured draft hosting rights, progress accelerated rapidly. This reflects Pittsburgh’s broader evolution from the 20th century’s Steel City into today’s innovation center.
The draft will fulfill one dream while launching another for the 257 players selected by Saturday evening’s conclusion.
For the “City of Bridges,” the event provides a platform to demonstrate that while Pittsburgh’s football heritage runs deep, the city connects to much more than first downs and touchdowns.
“I think if you were going to pick a perfect time,” Mayor Corey O’Connor said, “this is the perfect time.”
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The University of Delaware women’s lacrosse squad delivered a dominant performance Wednesday afternoon, crushing Liberty 17-5 to capture the Atlantic Sun Conference Regular Season Championship in their debut year in the league.
Five Blue Hens players scored multiple goals in the lopsided victory, showcasing the team’s offensive depth and firepower. The commanding win secured Delaware’s first ASUN regular season title and marked a successful transition to their new conference home.
The Blue Hens’ impressive inaugural ASUN campaign culminated with this championship-clinching performance on the road in Lynchburg, Virginia. Delaware’s offensive explosion overwhelmed the Liberty defense as the team made history in its first year of Atlantic Sun Conference competition.
SEATTLE — In what may be one of baseball’s strangest defensive plays, Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert’s uniform made an unexpected catch during Wednesday’s game against the Oakland Athletics.
During the opening inning with a runner positioned at third base, Oakland’s Carlos Cortes smashed a hard-hit ball directly toward the right-handed pitcher. The baseball mysteriously became trapped inside Gilbert’s jersey fabric.
Gilbert immediately clutched his midsection and spun around searching for the baseball while Cortes sprinted toward first base, eventually discovering the ball had somehow been snared by his own clothing.
Official scorers awarded Cortes a base hit since the play was ruled dead upon contact, though Nick Kurtz stayed put at third base. Shea Langeliers moved up to second base during the unusual sequence.
Broadcast measurements showed the screaming line drive traveling at 107.8 miles per hour.
Mariners head athletic trainer Kyle Torgerson conducted a quick medical evaluation of Gilbert, who was cleared to continue playing and completed the inning. The pitcher ultimately surrendered two earned runs during the frame on Tyler Soderstrom’s sacrifice fly and Jeff McNeil’s run-scoring single.
Gilbert took the mound again for the following inning without further incident.
State legislators in California, troubled by reports of mistreatment involving immigration detainees at medical facilities, are advancing measures designed to enhance safeguards for patients brought to hospitals by federal immigration officers.
Two pieces of legislation currently progressing through California’s Senate aim to stop immigration enforcement personnel from cutting off detained patients from family contact and blocking access to legal representation. Legislative analyses for both proposals reference investigative reporting by KFF Health News that documented significant challenges faced by relatives and lawyers trying to locate and assist hospitalized individuals held in immigration detention.
The KFF Health News investigation revealed that certain medical facilities have enabled patient isolation through what are termed blackout policies, which may involve registering individuals using false names, excluding their names from hospital directories, and barring staff from alerting patients’ families about their location and medical status.
Legislation introduced by Democratic state Sen. Caroline Menjivar from the San Fernando Valley, designated SB 915, would mostly ban blackout policies for immigration detainees and guarantee their right to have family members and others informed about their location and medical condition. Such policies would only be permitted when healthcare providers determine a patient poses a documented credible threat to themselves or others, with that risk recorded in medical files. The measure would also guarantee patients’ visitation rights.
The proposal addresses documented cases of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers standing guard over patients during medical examinations and physician consultations, meddling in treatment decisions, and pressuring for early discharge to detention centers lacking adequate follow-up medical capabilities.
“These are actions that have no place in health care, and it is a clear violation of the patients’ rights,” Menjivar said.
Menjivar’s legislation would bar agents from entering patient rooms unless they can demonstrate legal authority for their presence. When agents remain present, medical staff would be required to request their departure during examinations and care discussions. Healthcare facility personnel would need to document instances when agents refuse to leave.
SB 1323, introduced by state Sen. Susan Rubio, a Democrat representing the San Gabriel Valley, would mandate that healthcare providers educate staff and appropriate volunteers about responding when patients request family notification, and require posting notices at facility entrances detailing visitation and access procedures. While existing law permits patients to consent to family notification of their hospitalization, Rubio’s measure seeks to ensure staff understand this applies to immigration detainees as well.
The federal Department of Homeland Security, which manages immigration enforcement operations, did not provide comment when contacted.
Both measures passed Senate Health and Judiciary committees on party-line votes and await consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Over 20 immigrant advocacy organizations and healthcare professionals expressed support for enhanced patient protections during a recent committee hearing.
“This state must do everything in its power to protect against these abuses and ensure detainees have the right to contact their loved ones when they are hospitalized and in critical conditions,” said Hector Pereyra, political manager with the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice.
Representatives from the California Hospital Association and California Medical Association expressed concerns to lawmakers that requiring healthcare workers to record agents’ identification numbers and ask them to exit patient rooms could generate confrontations and create safety hazards.
“While we understand that this is an important issue, we want to ensure the bill strikes the right balance and does not create conflicting or unclear obligations for hospitals and their staff and clinicians, particularly in real-time interactions with federal officers,” said Vanessa Gonzalez, a vice president of state advocacy for the hospital association.
KFF Health News documented the case of 43-year-old Julio César Peña, who remained at a Victorville hospital for nearly two weeks before his legal counsel and family discovered his whereabouts. Peña, who suffered from terminal kidney disease, was restrained to his hospital bed, monitored by immigration agents, and instructed not to reveal his location, his wife reported. He subsequently experienced a seizure requiring intubation and rendering him unconscious, yet his family received no notification. Peña passed away on February 25, fewer than two months after being released to return home.
Immigration advocates, healthcare professionals, and legislators worry similar situations are occurring throughout California.
Menjivar explained her legislation “seeks to close the gap between existing law and practice by empowering health care provider entities with the tools to uphold the privacy, health, and visitation rights of a patient brought in under immigration custody.”
SB 915 would prevent hospitals and clinics from permitting immigration officers to make patient treatment decisions or serve as interpreters. Medical facilities would be required to document and verify immigration officers’ identities when feasible, ensure patients have access to communication devices, and educate patients about their rights. Facilities would also need to conduct discharge planning that includes coordination efforts with receiving facilities like detention centers to guarantee continued patient care.
These measures follow legislation enacted last year designed to restrict immigration enforcement at medical facilities, including prohibiting healthcare establishments from admitting federal agents lacking valid search warrants or court orders into private areas. However, that previous law did not cover circumstances involving patients already in immigration detention.
“ICE has instilled fear in our hospitals and has kept us from doing our job,” said SatKartar Khalsa, an emergency medicine resident at a safety net hospital in San Francisco who has treated detained patients and testified in support of SB 915. “This has all led to worse care for our patients and has added another layer of fear among health care workers.”
Germany’s Lufthansa Group announced Tuesday it will eliminate 20,000 short-distance flights through October as ongoing conflict with Iran sends oil prices soaring and raises concerns about potential jet fuel shortages across multiple nations.
The aviation giant said removing these less profitable routes, primarily affecting operations at Frankfurt and Munich airports, will conserve roughly 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel.
Last week, the company permanently closed CityLine, one of its regional subsidiaries, as part of cost-cutting efforts. The airline group indicated that a “planned consolidation” across its European operations will impact Lufthansa Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, SWISS and ITA Airways, along with major hubs in Brussels, Rome, Vienna and Zurich.
Jet fuel costs have more than doubled in certain markets since late February when hostilities began with American and Israeli military actions against Iran. Aviation companies face particular vulnerability to fuel price volatility since jet fuel represents one of their most significant operational costs.
Passengers are already experiencing reduced flight availability on certain routes and increased fees as the busy summer travel season approaches, with numerous carriers implementing higher baggage charges or additional fuel surcharges.
Military action near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway along Iran’s coastline through which approximately 20% of global oil shipments typically flow, has caused worldwide disruption to fuel pricing and availability.
On April 16, the International Energy Agency director estimated that Europe maintains roughly six weeks of remaining jet fuel reserves and warned that airlines would begin removing routes from their schedules without additional supplies.
Lufthansa stated it has obtained sufficient jet fuel “for the coming weeks” and is “pursuing a range of measures” to maintain steady fuel availability through summer months, “including the physical procurement of jet fuel.”
The German carrier joins numerous other airlines reducing their operations.
Aviation analytics company Cirium reports that all except one of the globe’s 20 largest airlines have canceled scheduled May departures across every major region.
Along with Lufthansa, affected carriers include Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air China, British Airways and Air France-KLM, according to Cirium data.
Last week, Swiss-based Edelweiss Air revealed it would discontinue service to Denver and Seattle during summer months while reducing Las Vegas flights through early fall.
Air New Zealand is reducing approximately 4% of its May and June flight schedule.
“Like airlines globally, we’re experiencing jet fuel prices that are more than double what they would usually be,” the carrier stated.
Global jet fuel prices jumped from approximately $99 per barrel in late February to peaks of $209 per barrel in early April.
The Goldey-Beacom Lightning baseball squad encountered a challenging day on the diamond during their yearly visit to face Wilmington University, suffering defeats in both ends of a doubleheader.
The Lightning fell to their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference rivals by scores of 10-4 in the opener and 5-0 in the nightcap, with both contests taking place in New Castle, Delaware.
The disappointing results came even as Goldey-Beacom maintains its position in the NCAA East Region rankings, highlighting the competitive nature of conference play in the CACC.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball squad put together a commanding performance on the diamond, sweeping both ends of a doubleheader behind powerful offensive displays from Calvin and Lilly, who each launched home runs during the twin bill.
The Hawks demonstrated their strength throughout both contests, with complete game efforts from their pitching staff helping to secure the pair of victories. The stellar pitching performances complemented the offensive firepower that Calvin and Lilly provided with their long balls.
This doubleheader sweep represents another solid outing for the UMES softball program as they continue building momentum through their season. The combination of strong pitching and timely hitting proved to be the winning formula for the Hawks in both games.
Listen to the Evening Delmarva Farm Report Update — April 22, 2026
DELMARVA — Rising input costs are reshaping planting decisions across the Corn Belt as farmers pivot from corn to soybeans in search of better profit margins. Iowa farmer Dave Walton is shifting away from corn in favor of soybeans this season, flipping all his corn-on-corn acres to beans and citing better profit potential and lower input expenses. The same cost pressure is hitting Delmarva producers as they finalize their own spring planting plans.
Policy
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins hinted yesterday that federal action on high fertilizer prices could come soon. Testifying before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, Rollins said her team has held daily calls with the White House on the issue, though she didn’t outline specific measures being considered.
Markets
Livestock futures closed lower today. June live cattle dropped $0.47 to settle at $243.07 per hundredweight. August lives fell $0.52 to $239.18. May feeders lost $0.12, closing at $358.42.
On the cash grain side, corn at Laurel Grain Company in Laurel, Delaware is bringing $5.04 a bushel for May delivery. Soybeans there are $11.25.
Forecast
Clear skies are expected tonight with patchy fog developing and a low around 51°F. Thursday looks sunny with a high near 70°F. Dry conditions continue through Friday before rain showers become likely this weekend.
This article is based on the Delmarva Farm Report Update Evening Edition, April 22, 2026. Hosted by Tom Bradley.
NEW YORK — The numbers don’t seem to add up. While Americans grapple with costly fuel and uncertainty about the ongoing Iran conflict, Wall Street keeps climbing to unprecedented heights.
For financial markets, the answer lies in one fundamental principle: corporate profits drive stock values. Companies are currently generating such impressive earnings that investors continue paying premium prices for shares in American businesses.
The journey has been turbulent for many investors who may have considered selling their holdings when the S&P 500 dropped almost 10% from its previous peak last month. However, as it has throughout its entire history, the benchmark index that anchors countless retirement accounts has once again rewarded those who stayed the course. The index reached a new record of 7,137.90 on Wednesday.
Below is an examination of the factors driving this unexpected market resilience:
While stock values fluctuate constantly for countless reasons, the fundamental drivers over time remain consistent: corporate earnings and investor willingness to pay for those profits.
The second element typically varies with interest rate changes and the balance between investor optimism and anxiety.
During the conflict’s early stages, fear dominated and share prices plummeted. Markets worried that sustained oil price increases from the war might trigger devastating inflation across the global economy.
Rising interest rates also pressured stock values as investors feared inflation concerns would prevent the Federal Reserve and other central banks from reducing short-term rates. Lower rates can stimulate economic growth but may also fuel inflation.
Beginning in late March, expectations grew that the United States and Iran might prevent the worst economic outcomes. Both nations have economic incentives for resolution, and for Iranian leadership, ending the conflict could mean political survival.
The ceasefire both countries reached this month remains in effect, though fragile.
This shift from extreme fear is also evident in oil markets. Brent crude, the global benchmark, surged from approximately $70 before hostilities to $119 at peak anxiety levels. Prices have since retreated and hovered around $100 Wednesday.
Attention has centered on the Strait of Hormuz, the critical passage for oil tankers leaving the Persian Gulf. Continued Iranian closure of the strait, combined with ongoing U.S. naval blockades of Iranian vessels, would harm all parties. Global customers would lose oil access while Iran would forfeit crude sales revenue.
“By denying Iran its oil-related revenue, traders may be thinking that the economic war may be more effective in getting concessions from Iran’s regime than was the kinetic war only, and that this will end the war sooner, rather than later,” said Thierry Wizman, a strategist at Macquarie Group.
Wall Street traders are also wagering on potential Federal Reserve rate cuts later this year. While they see much lower odds than before the conflict began, according to CME Group data, they’re no longer concerned about possible rate increases.
With diminished fear, investors have refocused on the primary stock price component: earnings. Those results have been impressive.
More than 15% of S&P 500 companies have already disclosed first-quarter 2026 profits, with the overwhelming majority surpassing analyst projections. This includes diverse firms from Citigroup to J.B. Hunt Transport Services to UnitedHealth Group.
If remaining companies simply meet analyst forecasts, S&P 500 earnings will finish approximately 14% above year-earlier levels, according to FactSet.
These figures encompass a full month of wartime conditions, and while companies express continued caution about potential conflict-related risks, their earnings show minimal impact.
Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan noted last week that “we saw healthy client activity, including solid consumer spending and stable asset quality, indicating a resilient American economy.”
This occurs despite many American families expressing concern about higher gasoline costs and broader price increases from tariffs, as recent surveys indicate.
Analysts have actually increased their profit expectations for S&P 500 firms since the war started. They’re predicting 20% growth acceleration in second-quarter profits, and companies aren’t providing reasons for revision.
Delta Air Lines reported this month that it’s experiencing robust demand from both business and leisure travelers. PepsiCo maintained its 2026 profit outlook last week, which it originally provided before the Iran conflict began, with CEO Ramon Laguarta expressing encouragement about international business resilience. GE Vernova announced Wednesday that AI data center power demand is surging, prompting an increased annual revenue forecast.
Naturally, American stock markets could easily reverse course. Wall Street sentiment might quickly return to fear if U.S.-Iran negotiations collapse and oil markets face potential shortages.
Extended high oil prices would eventually erode corporate profits by increasing business costs and reducing consumer spending power for households and other customers.
A federal appeals court decision this week has strengthened efforts by several states to mandate Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms, marking a significant development in the ongoing debate over religion’s place in education.
The most extensive effort to place the Ten Commandments in every classroom started in Texas last year, where a federal appeals court on Tuesday rejected a legal challenge to the state’s requirement. Although the matter is far from resolved, the decision represents a win for conservative advocates who dismiss claims that such displays promote religion to students or infringe on parental rights, including those of non-Christian families.
The mandate has sparked both support and opposition, energizing school board discussions and leading to official guidance for educators on how to respond to student inquiries. Several teachers have chosen to resign rather than comply with posting the Ten Commandments in their rooms.
Southern Republican legislators have spearheaded this movement. Louisiana led the charge by becoming the first state to enact such a requirement in 2024, with Arkansas and Texas following suit.
Alabama represents the most recent addition, where Republican Governor Kay Ivey this month approved legislation mandating Ten Commandments displays in grades 5-12 public school classrooms where American history is regularly taught, plus shared spaces including cafeterias and libraries.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed his state’s measure, which mandates Ten Commandments postings in all public school classrooms and became effective in September. Since the legislation only obligates districts to display them when donated, conservative organizations and supporters began delivering boxes of posters to schools statewide as the academic year commenced.
An Associated Press review of state legislation using bill-tracking software Plural identified at least 30 proposed measures in current legislative sessions that would mandate displaying the document in schools. Republican lawmakers introduced all these bills, with nearly every one originating in states under GOP control.
Only a handful have received legislative committee approval. Additional bills in various states would either permit displays or mandate instruction incorporating the document.
For several months, a lower court decision prevented approximately twelve Texas school districts from installing the posters. However, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans overturned that ruling in a narrow 9-8 vote, determining the requirement doesn’t violate student or parental rights.
“No child is made to recite the Commandments, believe them, or affirm their divine origin,” the ruling says.
The American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations that contested the Texas law representing parents expressed being “extremely disappointed” with the appeals court’s ruling.
“The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state, and the freedom of families to choose how, when and if to provide their children with religious instruction,” they said in a statement. “This decision tramples those rights.”
In February, the same appeals court authorized Louisiana to implement its own statute. Louisiana’s Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill praised the Texas case outcome, stating it “adopted our entire legal defense.”
Texas’s Ten Commandments requirement represents just one aspect of the broader struggle over religious content in classrooms. In 2024, the state authorized optional biblical curriculum for elementary schools, and a June proposal would incorporate Bible stories into mandatory reading assignments.
In adjacent Oklahoma, the former state education leader mandated that public schools integrate Bible content into lesson plans for grades 5-12, triggering legal action from parents and educators. Many schools simply disregarded the directive.
Last year, Oklahoma’s Supreme Court prevented the state’s attempt to establish the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter school. The case awaits consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The ACLU and other groups challenging the Texas law indicated they plan to appeal the 5th Circuit’s decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Federal health authorities have blocked the release of research that examined whether COVID-19 vaccines were effective at preventing hospitalizations among adults.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Wednesday that officials decided to prevent the study’s publication, pointing to disagreements over the research methodology used.
The blocked research was scheduled to be published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, which serves as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s primary publication.
Researchers typically evaluate COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness by examining patients who end up in hospitals or emergency departments. Scientists determine vaccination status and compare positive COVID-19 test rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
Multiple respected medical journals, including Pediatrics and the New England Journal of Medicine, have published studies using this same research approach after thorough expert review.
The blocked study used identical methods and found that vaccines reduced emergency room visits and hospital admissions among healthy adults by approximately 50 percent during the previous winter, according to The Washington Post, which initially reported the cancellation.
HHS officials declined to specify their exact concerns with the methodology but suggested that previous infections, patient behavior, and variations in healthcare-seeking patterns could influence outcomes.
However, the broader scientific community doesn’t share these worries, and numerous researchers have successfully employed this approach, according to Dr. Fiona Havers, an Atlanta physician who formerly worked at the CDC. She explained that the methodology is designed to account for healthcare-seeking differences, and prior infections shouldn’t significantly impact results given widespread coronavirus exposure among Americans.
While no research design is flawless, HHS officials haven’t suggested an alternative approach “that’s realistic and ethical for getting real-time estimates of how well vaccines are working each year,” Havers stated. She previously directed a CDC hospital surveillance network team focused on COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
Public health advocates previously expressed concerns during President Donald Trump’s initial term that political appointees were attempting to influence MMWR publications.
These worries resurfaced after Trump’s return to office when MMWR publication was briefly halted. While it resumed, the publication has remained significantly reduced from its previous scope.
“Health care professionals rely on the MMWR for timely, objective and fact-based information about the nation’s public health,” stated U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat who raised concerns when CDC communications were previously suspended.
“Muzzling scientists and doctors on how to prevent Americans from being hospitalized can have deadly consequences. The CDC must abandon plans to place a political gag order on this critical research,” Durbin said Wednesday.
Former Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz plans to publish a book next year that draws inspiration from his state’s response to federal immigration enforcement operations and community resistance efforts in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region.
The Minnesota governor’s upcoming book, titled ‘Good Neighbors,’ will be released by W.W. Norton & Company, the publisher announced to The Associated Press on Wednesday.
In a statement, the 62-year-old Democrat reflected on his state’s response to the federal actions. ‘Last winter, Minnesotans from all walks of life showed up for one another with compassion, courage and resilience,’ Walz said.
‘Here in Minnesota, it’s simple — we call it being a good neighbor. I’ve always been fascinated by the ways in which we keep community in America, and how we interweave our lives,’ he added.
Walz gained national recognition in 2024 when Vice President Kamala Harris selected him as her vice presidential running mate for their unsuccessful campaign against President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance. A publisher representative would not confirm whether the book will include details about the presidential campaign, stating that no further information was available beyond the initial announcement.
The governor had been an outspoken opponent of federal immigration enforcement operations, particularly following the deadly shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in January. Minnesota has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, claiming that immigration enforcement activities caused more than $600 million in economic harm to the state.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrapped up an intense week of congressional testimony on Wednesday, facing tough questions about rising measles cases and defending President Trump’s proposed budget that would slash funding to his department by more than 12%.
During multiple hearings before Senate and House committees this week and last, Kennedy found himself defending Trump’s 2027 budget proposal, which increases military spending while reducing Department of Health and Human Services funding. The cuts total more than $100 billion from his agency’s budget.
Lawmakers from both political parties expressed alarm about reduced funding for programs and research initiatives. Kennedy admitted the reductions were “painful” but argued they were essential to tackle the federal government’s unprecedented $39 trillion deficit.
When facing aggressive questioning from Democratic members, Kennedy grew increasingly confrontational, sometimes shouting his responses. He frequently accused Democratic lawmakers of playing politics, fabricating claims, and prioritizing media attention over substantive dialogue.
A major point of contention centered on accountability for declining childhood immunization rates and measles outbreaks that have swept the nation in recent months, putting America’s measles-free status at risk. Kennedy consistently refused to accept blame for these developments.
“It has nothing to do with me,” Kennedy stated Tuesday regarding the nationwide increase in measles cases over the past year. He pointed to rising measles infections globally, including in countries like Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom.
Kennedy, who previously campaigned against vaccines for years before entering government service and once told people to “resist” CDC vaccination schedules for children in 2021, rejected claims that he opposes vaccines. He described himself as “pro-science.”
During the hearings, he attempted to highlight HHS programs unrelated to immunizations, reflecting the administration’s strategy to emphasize less divisive health issues such as proper nutrition.
Kennedy maintained that declining vaccination rates stem from Americans losing confidence in government health recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic. He claimed to be working toward rebuilding that confidence, though polling data indicates trust in federal health agencies has continued dropping during his time in office.
Democratic Representative Kim Schrier from Washington suggested Kennedy’s vaccine positions have created a “spillover effect” leading mothers to refuse vitamin K shots typically given to newborns to prevent brain hemorrhaging.
“I’ve never said anything about vitamin K,” Kennedy responded.
“That’s exactly the point,” Schrier replied.
However, Kennedy did receive praise from Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who credited him with helping manage a serious measles outbreak in his state over the past year.
“We would not be on the right side of this outbreak without your leadership,” Scott told Kennedy.
Whenever Democrats mentioned nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid reductions over ten years, primarily through new work requirements for beneficiaries, Kennedy forcefully disputed characterizing these changes as cuts to Medicaid.
“Only in Washington is it considered a cut,” Kennedy told Democratic Senator Ben Ray Luján from New Mexico on Wednesday.
Kennedy referenced a Congressional Budget Office analysis showing Medicaid spending projected to grow approximately 47% over the coming decade. However, policy experts argue his interpretation of that data is misleading and politically motivated, noting the spending increases reflect normal factors like inflation and population growth.
“This is an old, sort of tired argument that’s been used by conservatives to justify spending cuts by saying, well, if spending is still growing in nominal terms, somehow there wasn’t a cut,” explained Edwin Park, a research professor at Georgetown University. “The federal government is spending nearly a trillion dollars less than it otherwise would have in the absence of the legislation.”
Healthcare affordability emerged as a significant concern, particularly with the 2026 midterm elections approaching. Lawmakers from both parties raised questions about soaring medical and insurance costs.
On Tuesday, Republican Representative Cliff Bentz from Oregon shared his brother’s situation, paying $26,000 annually for health coverage.
“What in the world can I go back to him and say? ‘Hey, the administration is working on trying to drive these prices down?’” Bentz asked Kennedy.
Kennedy highlighted several Trump administration efforts to reduce costs, including the White House’s TrumpRx website offering discounted medications and Trump’s negotiated deals with pharmaceutical companies for favorable pricing.
When senators pressed for details about these agreements, Kennedy promised to share information that wouldn’t compromise proprietary data or trade secrets. Some Democrats demanded more aggressive action.
“Why don’t you do an agreement yourself?” he challenged Democratic Senator Ron Wyden from Oregon. “You’ve had power to do that for 20 years and haven’t done it.”
To achieve the proposed 12% reduction in HHS’s budget exceeding $100 billion, the Trump administration plans to eliminate approximately $5 billion from the National Institutes of Health while cutting numerous other programs, including assistance for low-income households’ energy costs.
Multiple senators questioned Kennedy about the rationale behind various cuts. The NIH reductions particularly sparked bipartisan criticism.
“There’s an argument to be made that we’re handing China our lunch,” said Republican Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina.
Kennedy acknowledged that neither he nor his agency staff supported the cuts, describing them as “painful.”
“There’s a lot of cuts to the agency that nobody wants,” he admitted.
Motorists traveling through the Pike Creek area are experiencing traffic delays today due to ongoing construction activities.
Delaware Department of Transportation reports that Upper Pike Creek Road at its intersection with New Linden Hill Road is experiencing periodic lane restrictions as crews perform construction work.
The lane closures began earlier today and are expected to remain in effect until 4:30 PM this afternoon. Drivers should plan for possible delays and consider alternate routes if traveling through the area.
DelDOT advises motorists to exercise caution when driving through the construction zone and to expect intermittent traffic pattern changes throughout the day.
The U.S. Department of Defense is launching a significant effort to accelerate domestic production of compact attack drones as these affordable unmanned aircraft revolutionize modern military operations.
These small-scale attack drones have emerged as crucial weapons in contemporary conflicts, prompting military leaders to prioritize rapid expansion of manufacturing capabilities for these increasingly vital battlefield tools.
A fatal shooting that claimed the life of a 41-year-old man at a New Castle mobile home community nearly a decade ago continues to puzzle investigators.
Manuel Ramirez was killed on April 22, 2014, when police were called to respond to gunfire at the Mobile Home Village Trailer Park on New Castle Avenue around 7:09 in the evening.
The incident occurred at 3115 New Castle Avenue in New Castle, Delaware, within the trailer park community. Despite years of investigation, authorities have yet to identify the person responsible for Ramirez’s death.
The case represents one of several unsolved homicides that law enforcement continues to actively pursue, hoping that new information or witnesses may eventually come forward to help bring closure to the victim’s family.
The University of Delaware’s rowing program has received national recognition as head coach Asiya Mahmud was selected to lead the Women’s 8+ squad for the upcoming 2026 U-23 World Rowing Championships.
Mahmud will also serve as head coach for the same team during this summer’s World University Games, marking a significant achievement for both the coach and the Blue Hens rowing program.
The appointment highlights the strength and reputation of Delaware’s rowing program under Mahmud’s leadership, as she prepares to guide some of the nation’s top young rowers on the international stage.
A University of Delaware freshman lacrosse player has received national recognition for his outstanding play on the field for the second time this season.
Scott Conte, who plays for the Blue Hens men’s lacrosse team, was selected for the USILA Division I Team of the Week following his impressive showing in the team’s matchup with St. Bonaventure. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association made the announcement on Wednesday.
This marks the second occasion this year that the first-year player has received this prestigious weekly recognition from the national organization.
A Christian broadcasting organization is taking their fight over church political speech restrictions to a federal appeals court after a Texas judge dismissed their initial lawsuit.
Michael Farris, General Counsel for the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) and lead attorney in the NRB v. Bessent case, announced the formal appeal has been submitted to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The original lawsuit was thrown out on March 31 by the District Court for the Eastern District of Texas due to jurisdictional issues under the Anti-Injunction Act.
At the heart of the dispute is the Johnson Amendment, a federal law that prohibits churches and other tax-exempt organizations from publicly supporting or opposing political candidates.
Farris argues that religious organizations should be able to contest speech limitations without first breaking the law. “The Supreme Court has made it clear that no one has to violate a law in order to challenge its limitation on the freedom of speech or religion. The Anti-Injunction Act cannot be construed to force churches to violate the Johnson Amendment in order to challenge its chilling effect on their First Amendment freedoms,” he stated.
The NRB claims in their lawsuit that the Johnson Amendment is applied unevenly, suggesting conservative religious institutions face punishment while liberal churches and nonprofits receive more lenient treatment regarding political involvement.
The Johnson Amendment has remained a contentious issue in legal and political circles, creating ongoing debates about where to draw lines between religious freedom, free speech, and electoral activities for tax-exempt organizations.
The NRB describes itself as a nonpartisan international group representing Christian media professionals who reach millions through various platforms. The organization works to defend free speech protections while maintaining professional standards among its membership.
According to the NRB, the appeals process is expected to extend over several months as the case works its way through the federal court system.
