Iceland’s lawmakers on Thursday approved plans for an August 29 referendum on whether to restart European Union membership negotiations, backing the government’s two-phase strategy that could result in the Nordic nation joining the 27-member bloc within this decade.
The island nation withdrew from EU negotiations in 2013 following four years of discussions when a Eurosceptic administration came to power, but rising living costs and the conflict in Ukraine have reignited public interest in union membership, according to polling data.
Should citizens vote to resume negotiations, the ultimate terms of EU membership would need approval through a second referendum, while a negative vote would halt any efforts to restart discussions, government officials have stated.
Many citizens remain undecided about EU membership and may find reassurance in the two-phase approach, according to Olafur Thordur Hardarson, a professor of political science at the University of Iceland.
“The large proportion that has not finally decided if they want to join or not, many of them, of course, want the (first)referendum because they want to see exactly what terms would be in a potential agreement,” he said.
EU membership for this nation of approximately 400,000 residents would expand the union’s presence deep into the North Atlantic Ocean during a period when U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to control Greenland, an island situated between Iceland and the United States.
“Even though Iceland of course is a very small country, putting Iceland on the EU map would sort of have a symbolic advantage,” Hardarson said.
In Iceland’s 63-member national parliament, the Althingi, 34 lawmakers supported the referendum while 8 opposed it. Fourteen members chose not to vote, and 7 were not present, the parliament’s secretary general reported.
Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir told Reuters in March that she remained hopeful Iceland could achieve EU membership as soon as 2028, anticipating that fisheries and agriculture would present the most challenging negotiation topics.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that he has ordered Israeli military forces to expand their territorial control in Gaza, targeting 70% of the Palestinian enclave where residents are already confined to a narrow coastal area.
Current Israeli military control encompasses approximately 64% of the small coastal territory, which has been devastated by a two-year military campaign that began following Hamas’ 2023 attack on southern Israel.
An October ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States, which has not succeeded in stopping Israeli operations or achieving Hamas’ disarmament, originally established Israeli forces should pull back to a “Yellow Line” marking their territorial boundaries. Military maps showed this line gave Israel authority over roughly 53% of Gaza, leaving Hamas in charge of the remaining areas.
Reuters previously documented that Israel has independently repositioned concrete barriers marking the Yellow Line further into territory previously controlled by Hamas. Military maps from March revealed an expanded restricted zone that experts estimate encompasses about 64% of Gaza’s total area.
In previous public statements, Netanyahu has acknowledged military control over more than 60% of Gaza. During remarks at a conference in a West Bank settlement, the Israeli leader outlined plans for further territorial expansion.
“We were at fifty, we moved to sixty. My directive is to move to — let’s go step by step,” Netanyahu stated Thursday.
“First of all, seventy. Let’s start with that. We’re pressing them (Hamas) from all sides. We’ll deal with the remnants.”
Netanyahu characterizes the territories Israel has captured in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon as “buffer zones” designed to prevent future militant attacks following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led assault that triggered the Gaza conflict.
Palestinians interpret Israel’s expanding Gaza buffer zone as part of a plan for permanent displacement, citing statements from high-ranking ministers, including defense chief Israel Katz, who have expressed support for encouraging “voluntary migration” from Gaza.
The territorial expansion order coincides with intensified Israeli operations in Gaza that officials say are aimed at senior Hamas commanders involved in the 2023 attacks. Tuesday’s strike eliminated Hamas’ armed wing chief, following the killing of his predecessor ten days earlier.
Gaza health authorities report that a Wednesday night strike Israel claimed targeted two Hamas leaders resulted in at least 10 deaths, including five children, with 18 additional injuries.
The attack occurred during Palestinians’ observance of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha, which many Gaza residents celebrated by gathering in tent camps and damaged buildings.
Etidal Al-Za’im described being with her family in their tent during the holiday celebration when debris from the strike on an adjacent building crashed down on them.
“We came out to the sound of a bang, we sat for an hour before we could come out through the (rubble) and find a way out of the tent,” she said.
Health officials report Israeli operations have resulted in more than 900 deaths since the truce began, while Israel reports four soldiers killed by militants during the same timeframe. Israel and Hamas continue to face an impasse in negotiations over a U.S. proposal for Gaza that would require Israeli troop withdrawal and Hamas disarmament.
Another witness to Wednesday’s Israeli strike, identifying himself as Abu Azam, said a “person in Gaza has no safety at all.”
“He could be hit in the street, he could be hit in the house, he could be hit in the hospital, he could be hit on his way to the market,” Abu Azam said.
Two officials from Ocean City, Maryland’s tourism department have achieved the industry’s most prestigious professional certification, according to a announcement from the city’s Department of Tourism & Business Development.
Jessica Waters and Kim Mueller have successfully obtained the Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) designation, which represents the tourism sector’s top individual educational accomplishment and serves as the sole certification program created specifically for destination management professionals.
The achievement was announced on May 28, 2026, highlighting the professional development within Ocean City’s tourism leadership team.
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks will officially launch the 2026 Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail this Friday afternoon at Prigel Family Creamery in Glen Arm, Maryland.
The kickoff event is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET on Friday, May 29, 2026, and media outlets are invited to attend the ceremony.
This marks the 14th consecutive year for the popular summer ice cream program, which has become a cherished tradition for Maryland residents and visitors alike.
Federal authorities have filed insider trading charges against a Google software engineer this week, accusing him of exploiting internal company data to earn more than $1.2 million through bets placed on the prediction market platform Polymarket.
Court documents unsealed in New York reveal the accused is Michele Spagnuolo, a 36-year-old Italian national living in Switzerland who has been employed by Google since 2014. Prosecutors claim that operating under the username “AlphaRaccoon,” Spagnuolo accessed Google’s 2025 “Year in Search” information prior to its public release and used it to place bets on which individuals would become the most searched people of the previous year.
“This week’s charges reinforce a decades-old message: corporate insiders cannot use confidential business information to turn a profit in our markets,” stated Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, on Wednesday. “Insider trading compromises the integrity of our markets, and the American people want this greed-driven conduct investigated and prosecuted.”
According to the criminal complaint, Spagnuolo continued placing fresh Polymarket bets as Google’s internal search statistics changed throughout October and December of last year. The filing indicates that Spagnuolo first bet on Kendrick Lamar — who performed at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show — expecting him to lead search trends. However, when internal Google information revealed that alt-pop artist D4vd was actually generating more searches, he shifted his betting strategy. D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, faces murder charges from last month in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Through Polymarket’s “yes” or “no” betting system, Spagnuolo placed multiple wagers on various people who might appear in Google’s 2025 search trend rankings, according to prosecutors. Following the public release of the search data on December 4, the AlphaRaccoon account collected substantial winnings. Federal investigators later tracked the account’s cryptocurrency transactions.
No legal representative for Spagnuolo has been publicly identified. Google, headquartered in California, confirmed to The Associated Press that the employee has been suspended.
“The employee accessed our marketing material using a tool available to all employees, but using such confidential information to place bets is a serious breach of our policies,” a Google spokesperson stated — noting the company is cooperating with law enforcement and “will take the appropriate action.”
Polymarket also emphasized its cooperation with investigators. A company spokesperson highlighted that Polymarket “is the only prediction platform to date whose cooperation has led to insider trading charges in the United States” — and stressed that blockchain-based trading, which Polymarket employs, is “transparent, traceable, and bad actors leave footprints.”
This case marks the second insider trading prosecution connected to Polymarket activity. Federal prosecutors charged a special forces soldier last month who allegedly earned more than $400,000 through Polymarket bets on former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s political fate. That soldier reportedly used classified intelligence related to a January U.S. military operation in which he participated.
These controversies have highlighted growing concerns about the expanding world of round-the-clock speculative trading platforms online. Prediction markets offer event-based contracts — placing them under different regulatory frameworks than conventional gambling operations. This distinction has sparked debates about consumer safeguards and government oversight authority.
The current administration under President Donald Trump has backed industry operators — even filing lawsuits against states attempting to regulate these platforms. The industry is working to rebuild public confidence through enhanced oversight measures. Polymarket recently updated its terms of service to explicitly prohibit users from trading on contracts where they might have access to confidential information or could affect an event’s outcome.
Spagnuolo faces charges under the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act, along with wire fraud and money laundering violations. If convicted, he could receive several years in federal prison.
Canada’s Prime Minister delivered a speech Thursday advocating for enhanced cooperation with the United States, speaking just weeks before President Donald Trump makes a decision about extending the free trade agreement between the two nations.
Speaking to the Economic Club of New York, the Prime Minister outlined his vision for what he termed a “true partnership” that would reimagine collaboration in sectors facing challenges from worldwide competition.
His comments came in advance of July’s required evaluation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, known as USMCA.
The Canadian leader explained that his country is expanding its trade relationships beyond America, establishing commercial agreements with numerous nations globally.
“Our core objective across these partnerships is to increase our strategic autonomy. Because we live in a world where integration has been weaponised. Because a country that cannot feed, fuel or defend itself is not truly sovereign,” the Prime Minister stated.
Recent actions by Trump, including initiating trade disputes and floating the idea of Canada joining the US as its 51st state, have angered Canadians and helped create political conditions that may help the Prime Minister secure his position after pledging to stand up to Trump.
The Canadian leader has become a voice for an international effort encouraging nations to build alliances as a counterbalance to US influence under Trump’s leadership. He has established an ambitious target for Canada to increase its exports to non-US markets by 100% over the coming ten years, citing how American trade penalties are discouraging business investment.
“Canada Strong will help make America great again. The examples are legion where we should work together and compete with the world together. And to those ends, we have made specific, practical proposals to the US Administration,” the Prime Minister declared.
While the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement has shielded Canada from the most severe effects of Trump’s trade penalties, the agreement faces upcoming review, and important industries including aluminum and steel have suffered significant damage from tariffs.
The Prime Minister highlighted that Canadian aluminum shipments to America represent energy equivalent to ten Hoover dams, arguing it would be illogical to seek replacement sources.
“With America’s growing energy needs, does it make sense to build the Gigawatts needed to replace Canada?” the Prime Minister questioned.
Regarding automotive trade, he emphasized that Canada represents America’s largest customer, stating that “an integrated North American market for production is the best and most durable way to confront intense global competition.”
The Prime Minister also discussed critical minerals, explaining that Canada’s extensive deposits of potash, nickel, copper and uranium position the country as America’s most dependable supplier for ensuring affordable food production, strengthening national security, and meeting surging demand for powering artificial intelligence systems.
“At a time of a global energy crisis, Canada provides the United States with the reliable power and critical minerals that help fuel American growth: 99% of U.S. natural gas imports, 85% of electricity imports and 60% of crude oil imports,” the Prime Minister noted.
He pointed out that Canada purchases more American products than China, Japan and Germany combined, making it America’s top customer.
“We know that, when Canada and the United States have had our differences over the years, we have always — eventually — worked through them, because our shared values and common interests run deep. They run through our economies,” he explained.
Canada’s minister for U.S. trade, Dominic LeBlanc, plans to travel to Washington next week for discussions. LeBlanc has previously cautioned that the trade agreement might face yearly reviews, suggesting that creating uncertainty could be part of the Trump administration’s strategy.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Salisbury University softball player has received national recognition for her outstanding defensive performance during the season.
Sam Flowers was named the premier left fielder across all NCAA Division III programs on Thursday afternoon. The honor came through the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)/Rawlings Gold Glove Award for her position.
The award recognizes the most exceptional defensive player at each position throughout Division III softball nationwide.
ROME (AP) — During a private Vatican meeting on Thursday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson formally requested that Pope Leo XIV return to his birthplace of Chicago for a papal visit in 2027.
Johnson presented a written invitation to the pontiff that referenced Pope John Paul II’s historic Chicago visit and celebration of Mass at Grant Park on Oct. 5, 1979, describing it as “forever remembered as the most spiritually inspiring day in Chicago history.”
“Your Holiness, you were a young priest-in-training at the time. Perhaps you were there. Perhaps you would consider a repeat Papal visit nearly 50 years later to share your own message of hope, unity and service,” Johnson wrote.
The mayor, whose father served as a pastor, specifically asked the pope to celebrate Mass at Grant Park in 2027, emphasizing that Chicago hosts one of the nation’s most significant Catholic communities.
This marks at least the second formal invitation Leo has received to travel to the United States. U.S. Vice President JD Vance extended an invitation to Leo shortly after his papal election last May.
The pontiff was born Robert Prevost in 1955 in Chicago’s South Side Bronzeville area and was raised in nearby suburban Dolton, close to St. Mary of the Assumption, where he worshipped and completed elementary education.
His religious education continued at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago in Hyde Park, and he served as an educator in area Catholic schools.
LIMASSOL, Cyprus (AP) — European Union leadership announced Thursday that protecting maritime trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz following the conclusion of Iran’s conflict will demand an expanded naval presence, including additional European warships and a broader scope for the bloc’s existing Red Sea operation.
The current EU maritime operation in the Red Sea — known as Aspides, derived from the Greek word meaning “shield” — consists of three warships defending commercial vessels against Houthi rebel assaults from Yemen. The Strait of Hormuz, located at the Red Sea’s southern terminus, previously facilitated the passage of approximately one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies before the conflict began.
Following discussions among the bloc’s foreign ministers, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas indicated that Aspides’ operational framework might require modifications based on new demands, potentially including specialized mine-clearing vessels for the strait.
“But it mostly needs more ships,” she stated, revealing that one additional vessel would be deployed to the Aspides mission without elaborating further.
Earlier this year, the EU approved extending Aspides’ authorization through February 2027, allocating an extra 15 million euros ($17.5 million) in financial support.
France and the U.K. are also contemplating establishing their own naval contingent to provide ship escorts through the Strait of Hormuz after fighting ceases.
An EU official revealed ongoing discussions about potentially combining Operation Aspides with the proposed Franco-British fleet, though significant details regarding command structure for such a unified force remain unresolved. The official requested anonymity as they lacked authorization to discuss the ongoing negotiations publicly.
Maritime transportation expenses surged following Iran’s war commencement on Feb. 28, driven by elevated insurance rates. The EU official projected that costs would remain high for at least twelve months after hostilities conclude, observing that routing ships around Africa’s coastline now costs less than Red Sea transit.
Officials are exploring the possibility of providing government-backed guarantees to shipping enterprises to help lower insurance costs.
Multiple musical acts are distancing themselves from a Washington D.C. festival organized by a group connected to President Donald Trump, saying they never agreed to participate despite being publicly announced as performers.
Morris Day and Young MC released social media statements Thursday contradicting Wednesday’s performer announcement from Freedom 250 for “The Great American State Fair” events. Meanwhile, Milli Vanilli vocalist Jodie Rocco informed The Associated Press that neither she, her sister Linda Rocco, nor other band members had been contacted about participating.
“My sister and I were shocked to see our name, ‘Milli Vanilli’, as one of the performers,” Jodie Rocco wrote in an email.
Freedom 250 representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the disputed lineup. The organization, established by Trump in recent months, calls itself a “national, non-partisan organization leading the celebration of our Nation’s 250th birthday.” Trump selected Keith Krach, who previously served as an under secretary of state during his first administration, to lead the group as CEO.
The music industry has frequently clashed with Trump and his allies, with numerous artists including Celine Dion, Elton John and Guns ‘N Roses protesting the unauthorized use of their songs at Trump campaign events.
Young MC questioned the event’s claimed neutrality in an Instagram message, stating “The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event.” He expressed interest in “perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.” Day posted on Instagram that “Contrary to rumor, Morris Day & The Time will not be performing at the ‘GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR.’”
The disputed artists were scheduled for an “I Love the 90s” show on June 26, with Day slated for June 27. Additional announced performers include the Commodores, Flo Rida and Martina McBride. The festival is planned for June 25 through July 10.
However, at least one 90s performer confirmed participation: Vanilla Ice.
“He is proud to help celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary!” a representative for the “Ice Ice Baby” performer told the AP via email. “Everyone is welcome to attend and celebrate USA’s Birthday and our Freedom!”
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minneapolis finds itself in familiar territory once more, grappling with uncertainty after Police Chief Brian O’Hara stepped down following findings that he probably meddled in a misconduct inquiry.
O’Hara came to Minneapolis as an outside hire tasked with transforming the police force following George Floyd’s death in 2020, which resulted in federal and state investigations revealing patterns of excessive force and discriminatory policing. His background included extensive experience in Newark, New Jersey, where he implemented reforms after that city’s department operated under federal oversight due to excessive force violations and unconstitutional practices.
The obstacles facing Minneapolis were evident well before O’Hara took the helm in late 2022. The department’s very existence had been questioned, with more than 43% of residents voting in 2021 to eliminate it entirely as the community struggled with Floyd’s death and the subsequent massive demonstrations and widespread unrest.
Law enforcement specialists had recognized the enormous responsibility awaiting Minneapolis’ incoming police leader, who would need to restore public confidence and revitalize a department whose spirits had fallen so dramatically that officers were leaving in droves.
“I don’t think there was a bigger challenge to any American city than what Minneapolis faced when he arrived,” said Chuck Wexler, executive director of a Washington think tank, the Police Executive Research Forum. “They had gone from 850 to 500 officers, violent crime was significantly up, trust with the community was broken, a police station had burned down and a federal consent decree would face the next chief. Then you had the politics of Minneapolis.”
Taking charge of a major department as an outsider presents significant obstacles, particularly when tasked with transformation and reconstruction, according to Renée Hall, president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives who relocated from Detroit to oversee the Dallas Police Department from 2017 to 2020.
“It’s extremely challenging to walk into an organization, where you don’t even know where the light switches are, where the bathrooms are. And that’s just the basics,” Hall said. “You have to learn the officers, the community, the politics of that particular city, and try to learn and navigate the existing relationships, like unions or officer associations and who is tied to whom and who is fighting for whom.”
Hall explained that external appointments often encounter hostility from internal staff who favored promoting from within. Building community confidence also requires considerable time, she noted.
Following the defeat of the police elimination proposal, O’Hara entered the administration of a strongly progressive city frequently torn by political conflicts between the mayor and City Council, as well as among council members themselves.
These tensions were clearly visible Wednesday during a City Council press conference regarding O’Hara’s departure, which progressive members used to criticize Mayor Jacob Frey, who describes himself as a “pragmatic progressive.”
The resignation “is a symptom of a much larger problem, which is simply that Mayor Frey continues to be unable to effectively manage the Minneapolis Police Department,” said Council member Robin Wonsley, a cornerstone of the council’s progressive bloc.
Frey, who recently advocated for O’Hara’s reappointment, defended his response to allegations about the chief’s potential wrongdoing.
“I don’t make decisions based on rumors and anonymous complaints,” he said in a statement, adding that he would work with the council to find a replacement. “I took action promptly after receiving the investigative report. … Decisions this serious have to be grounded in facts, evidence and completed investigations. Anything less would be irresponsible.”
O’Hara did not return a message seeking comment Wednesday. His attorney, Doug Kelley, released a statement touting successes during O’Hara’s tenure, including diversifying and increasing the department’s ranks, the decreasing violent crime rate and mitigating violent clashes during the immigration crackdown.
“The circumstances of Chief O’Hara’s departure should not define his service,” Kelley wrote. “He was proud to serve Minneapolis, remains grateful to the officers and community partners who did difficult work under extraordinary pressure, and hopes the city continues moving forward. He understandably looks forward to returning to his young family in New Jersey.”
The departure occurred just months after Minneapolis returned to national attention during a federal immigration surge that resulted in three civilians being shot, two fatally. O’Hara faced criticism he hadn’t done enough to stop the crackdown.
Violence plagued the city in 2025, including deadly attacks on state politicians in the Minneapolis suburbs; gunfire that erupted at a popular city picnic spot; and a shooting during Mass at the Church of the Annunciation that left two children dead and more than a dozen people injured. O’Hara called the church attack a “truly unthinkable tragedy.”
Critics say dozens of complaints were filed against O’Hara, from accusations that he was rude to the public to the recent investigation into an ultimately unproven allegation he had a sexual relationship with a city employee. Most of the complaints have not been made public, and 17 complaints are still being investigated. Investigators closed 17 more without any disciplinary actions.
An independent investigator did not find evidence to substantiate the alleged sexual relationship with a city employee, but a second report released this week said O’Hara likely deleted the employee’s contact from his phone during the investigation and that he talked to another employee about the probe despite being told it was not to be discussed.
That recent report led to a written reprimand; Frey told O’Hara he would be disciplined and that he could be terminated. Frey said O’Hara chose to resign instead.
Frey appointed an interim chief Tuesday from inside the department, and he has 30 days to nominate a successor under the city’s charter.
Hawaiian authorities launched an intensive manhunt Thursday for a 36-year-old suspect they consider “armed and extremely dangerous” in connection with three fatal attacks that occurred within a 48-hour period earlier this week.
According to Hawaii Police Chief Reed Mahuna, law enforcement is using “significant resources and personnel” in their efforts to locate Jacob Baker, a Pahoa, Hawaii resident.
The victims — three elderly men aged 69, 69, and 79 — were discovered dead on Monday and Tuesday in the Puna district of Hawaii’s Big Island.
“These are a tragic series of events and our thoughts are with those who are grieving at this time,” Mahuna stated during a Wednesday press conference. “The Hawaii Police Department understands the fear and concerns incidents like this bring to our community.”
While Mahuna refused to share specifics about the ongoing search operation, he emphasized that apprehending Baker represents his department’s “No. 1 priority.”
Law enforcement officials indicated they have not determined a motive but expressed confidence that Baker participated in all three fatal attacks. Mahuna withheld details about how investigators identified Baker as their suspect or what evidence links him to the deaths.
The police chief confirmed that Baker has previous contact with law enforcement but provided no additional details.
The first victim, a 69-year-old man, was discovered around 8 p.m. Monday at a home, found partially submerged in a concrete pond, according to Mahuna. Initially uncertain whether criminal activity was involved, police later determined it was a homicide based on preliminary autopsy findings.
On Tuesday, investigators found a 79-year-old victim with apparent blunt force trauma shortly after 12:30 p.m., Mahuna reported. This attack occurred approximately 400 to 500 feet from the initial homicide location.
The third victim, another 69-year-old man, was found dead with injuries around 10 p.m. Tuesday when officers responded to a welfare check at a property roughly 19 miles from the first two crime scenes, Mahuna said.
Police are requesting public assistance in locating Baker and reporting any suspicious activity in the areas where the homicides occurred, while strongly advising residents not to approach the suspect.
Technology firm Anthropic announced Thursday it will debut an enhanced Claude Opus 4.8 system while simultaneously preparing to make its sophisticated Mythos artificial intelligence models available to all users within the next several weeks.
The Mythos system represents the AI company’s large language model equipped with enhanced cybersecurity functions that have generated worry among business leaders and government officials regarding potential consequences.
The newly formed Detroit professional women’s hockey team announced Thursday that they have selected Josh Sciba, a Michigan native, to serve as their first-ever head coach.
The 41-year-old coach brings extensive experience to the role, having worked for two seasons as an assistant with the New York Sirens in the professional women’s league and also serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team that captured gold in 2026.
Detroit’s general manager Manon Rheaume praised the hiring decision in a statement, saying: “Josh is a highly respected coach with a knowledge of the game and experience at all levels of women’s hockey that set him apart, and his passion for teaching and individual character are qualities I value in a leader. Hockeytown is in his blood, and this is an opportunity I know he is eager to embrace with an understanding of what it means to represent this city and be part of its legacy.”
Before joining the professional ranks, Sciba led the women’s hockey program at Union College as head coach from 2016 through 2024. Prior to that role, he worked as an assistant coach at Colgate for four seasons between 2012 and 2016.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the position, Sciba stated: “I’m incredibly honored and excited for the opportunity to become the Head Coach of PWHL Detroit and beyond grateful for the trust placed in me to help lead the organization from the beginning. This is home and especially meaningful for me and my entire family, knowing Detroit’s rich hockey history and identity firsthand and how much the women’s hockey community has been yearning for this moment. Working alongside Manon, someone who has meant so much to the growth of the sport, is a journey I’m so fortunate to be on, with her passion, leadership, and vision that will make Detroit a destination for players.”
Detroit will join the professional women’s hockey league as one of four new franchises beginning play in the 2026-27 season, alongside teams in Las Vegas, San Jose and Hamilton, Ontario.
The league has experienced significant growth since launching with six original teams in 2023, including Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa and Toronto. Two additional franchises in Vancouver and Seattle joined the competition in 2025.
International financial commitments to battle the escalating Ebola crisis in Africa have dramatically declined by almost 50% since earlier this week, according to the continent’s primary health organization.
The World Health Organization has classified the outbreak of the uncommon Bundibugyo variant of Ebola affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as a global public health emergency.
Latest statistics from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) indicate 1,077 suspected infections and 246 suspected fatalities in Congo. The data also revealed that confirmed cases in Uganda have increased from seven to eight.
During a virtual news briefing on Thursday, Director-General Jean Kaseya revealed that Africa CDC’s international partners had committed nearly $500 million earlier in the week to combat the outbreak. However, that amount has since dropped to approximately $290 million after several contributors withdrew their commitments, though he declined to identify specific donors.
“People are dying! How can we come and say: we commit X million dollars, and the next day they are calling me to say no, it was a mistake?” Kaseya stated.
“We know some big global health institutions are sitting with billions of dollars… How can you come to say: I want you to focus on this development program, and I have money for that, but I don’t have money for Ebola?”
During his remarks to the media, Kaseya commended the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) for their willingness to redirect existing funds to support the emergency response efforts.
Medical officials are working urgently to stop the rapidly expanding outbreak across the African continent, but face challenges including shortages of essential medical supplies and community distrust stemming from previous epidemic experiences.
The crisis has led governments to implement stricter travel controls. The United States has established temporary entry limitations for individuals who visited Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the previous 21 days, including permanent residents.
Kaseya questioned the inclusion of South Sudan in travel restrictions, noting the country has reported no Ebola cases or fatalities.
“We cannot afford to stop this outbreak without resources… and more importantly, we cannot afford to stop this outbreak with travel restrictions that Western countries start to impose to African countries.”
Ebola represents a serious and frequently deadly illness spread through direct exposure to infected body fluids or contaminated materials.
Delaware’s Attorney General Kathy Jennings praised the state’s highest court for backing legislation that permits an electrical substation to be built by Renewable Redevelopment LLC as part of a planned offshore wind development aimed at delivering more affordable and environmentally friendly power to residents.
The Delaware Supreme Court on May 26 confirmed a lower court’s decision supporting the project.
Microsoft plans to announce a collection of internally developed artificial intelligence models at its upcoming developer conference in San Francisco next week, according to a report from the Information published Thursday.
The announcement will take place during the company’s annual “Build” conference and will feature a new coding model designed to enhance its GitHub Copilot platform, the report stated. A source familiar with the plans told the publication that Microsoft also intends to introduce specialized models for transcription, reasoning, speech processing, and image analysis.
When contacted about the report, Microsoft chose not to provide a statement.
Following news of the planned announcement, Microsoft’s stock price rose nearly 3 percent during trading.
The software giant is working to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities as it seeks greater independence from OpenAI, which has been a crucial partner. The relationship between the two companies has evolved in recent months, with both organizations adjusting their partnership agreements to become less dependent on one another.
Currently, Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot development tool relies heavily on AI technology from OpenAI, Anthropic, and competitor Google. Although the platform initially showed promising adoption rates, competing products like Anthropic’s Claude Code have gained significant market share in AI-powered programming assistance.
According to earlier Reuters reporting this month, Microsoft is exploring potential acquisitions of AI startups as part of its strategy to expand beyond its OpenAI collaboration. Industry sources indicated these acquisitions could help the company attract AI expertise and achieve its objective of creating an advanced AI model within the next year.
Investor confidence in Microsoft’s AI strategy has declined this year as questions arise about the company’s early advantages in artificial intelligence. The changing dynamics with OpenAI, combined with strong AI developments from competitors Google and Amazon, have contributed to market uncertainty about Microsoft’s position in the sector.
Drivers in New Castle County should plan alternate routes as a portion of Route 9 will be temporarily shut down for emergency repairs.
The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is notifying drivers that a section of Route 9 must be closed to allow workers to repair a sinkhole that has developed.
Beginning Monday, June 1st at 6:00 am, traffic will be blocked on Route 9 from Bayview Road to Farm Lane while repair crews address a sinkhole that formed above a tide gate structure.
DelDOT officials expect the road closure to remain in effect through Wednesday, June 3rd at 5:00 pm, though work could potentially be completed ahead of schedule.
A businessman and attorney without any political background is making waves in Colombia’s presidential race this Sunday, promising harsh measures against criminal organizations and drug cartels.
Abelardo De La Espriella, who goes by the nickname ‘The Tiger’ among his followers, has positioned himself as the candidate who can fix Colombia’s economic troubles and security issues. Recent polling shows him in second place, trailing leftist opponent Ivan Cepeda.
The candidate criticizes current President Gustavo Petro’s failed efforts to negotiate peace agreements with guerrilla fighters and criminal organizations, arguing these attempts have led to increased drug smuggling and unauthorized gold extraction. He also considers his conservative opponent, Senator Paloma Valencia, as representing the political establishment.
‘Colombia is going through its darkest hours. At the end of the day this is not a battle between Ivan Cepeda and me, it is a battle between totalitarianism and democracy,’ he said in a February interview with Reuters.
‘I will dare to do what needs to be done within the framework of the constitution and the law to save and rebuild Colombia…I am the tiger for that,’ he added.
De La Espriella claims to be funding his own campaign, though Reuters was unable to confirm this independently.
The 47-year-old candidate’s appearance and speaking style have sparked comparisons to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. Like Bukele, De La Espriella wears designer sunglasses and expensive timepieces, sports a well-groomed beard, and advocates for aggressive law enforcement tactics. Bukele’s administration has imprisoned over 90,000 individuals as part of a security initiative that human rights organizations condemn but voters support for reducing murder rates.
Despite never having military service, De La Espriella performs military-style salutes during campaign events and in promotional materials.
While he rejects claims that he’s copying Bukele’s approach, De La Espriella has committed to constructing 10 large-scale detention facilities.
‘In my government there will be no peace processes. Criminals who do not submit will be taken down, as permitted by law,’ he warned.
The candidate was raised in Monteria, a northern Colombian city, where he developed an appreciation for vallenato folk music and has performed as a tenor singer.
De La Espriella is married with four children and owns various business ventures, including liquor companies, a restaurant in Miami, and investments in livestock, construction, and property development.
His legal practice has represented Alex Saab, who faces money laundering charges in the United States related to alleged work for former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as well as individuals connected to corruption cases and paramilitary organizations. De La Espriella maintains that his attorney-client relationships involved no illegal activities.
Guatemala has given the green light for collaborative military operations with the United States on Guatemalan soil to combat drug trafficking organizations, according to a Thursday report from the New York Times citing three sources with knowledge of the discussions.
President Bernardo Arevalo of Guatemala approved airstrikes and additional military actions during a phone conversation with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week, with operations potentially beginning as soon as next month, the publication reported.
The U.S. Defense Department also plans to push Honduras to approve similar joint military actions, the report indicated, noting that the Trump administration is focusing on these two nations as a way to pressure Mexico into accepting collaborative counter-narcotics operations.
The Pentagon declined to speculate about upcoming operations or address operational security matters.
“Under Secretary Hegseth’s leadership, the Department will continue working with trusted partners to defend the Homeland and secure the Western Hemisphere,” Pentagon spokesperson Joel Valdez stated in an email.
According to the Times reporting, the White House’s overarching approach involves establishing American military presence throughout Latin America to create leverage with Mexico.
The White House responded that the “Administration continues to work to carry out the president’s agenda.”
Neither the Guatemalan nor Honduran embassies in the United States immediately provided responses to comment requests, and the Guatemalan government was not immediately available for contact.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has consistently stated that while she supports intelligence sharing and security collaboration, she will not permit U.S. personnel or military forces to conduct operations within Mexican borders.
U.S. President Donald Trump has consistently advocated for expanded use of American military power against Mexican cartels and has warned that the United States might act independently if Washington believes Mexico’s efforts are insufficient.
Academic excellence is taking center stage at Goldey-Beacom College, where athletic programs are demonstrating outstanding performance in the classroom.
Recent data reveals that eight out of 14 athletic teams within the college’s athletics department have achieved record-breaking grade point averages, marking their best academic performance to date.
The impressive academic results highlight the commitment of student-athletes who are successfully balancing their sporting responsibilities with their educational pursuits.
Record-breaking television audiences are tuning in to watch the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs during the opening two rounds, marking the highest viewership numbers in league history within the United States.
Female viewers are leading this unprecedented surge in hockey popularity.
According to TNT Sports, women’s viewership has climbed 66%, while ESPN documented a remarkable 106% jump, with much of this new audience consisting of viewers aged 18 to 34 discovering hockey during its most thrilling season.
“We see the numbers up everywhere,” said ESPN VP of production Linda Schulz. “(Hockey) is a particular challenge because sports fans tend to follow something that they themselves have participated in and hockey is one that is not as commonplace for people to have actually strapped on skates. I approach it with, if I get a new fan coming to hockey, what is going to keep them.”
According to Schulz and other broadcasting leaders, several combined elements are attracting new viewers. These include last year’s successful 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, February’s Olympics where U.S. men’s and women’s teams captured gold medals, exceptional gameplay quality, emerging young stars, and the widespread appeal of hockey romance series “Heated Rivalry” and “Off Campus” that have gained viral attention.
“It’s not any one thing,” said TNT Sports executive VP and chief content officer Craig Barry. “It’s the collective of the planets aligning that has shown dramatic increases in the female audience.”
According to league statistics, playoff games are drawing an average of 1.4 million viewers, representing a 63% increase from the previous year and 24% higher than the former record established in 2024. While some growth stems from Nielsen’s revised viewer measurement methods that have boosted numbers across television, hockey’s viewership trend has been climbing independently of these changes.
This upward trajectory started following the 4 Nations tournament, which NHL commissioner Gary Bettman credited with boosting viewership during the latter part of the 2024-25 season and continuing into playoff action. The Olympics further amplified this momentum, with the Milan Cortina Games generating exceptional ratings.
“The Olympics was a cultural moment,” said NHL chief operating officer Stephen McArdle. “We know that Olympic viewership does appeal to those demographics, to that female demographic, and so I think the Olympic bump that we saw was really in part influenced by that female Olympic audience.”
Determining the exact impact of “Heated Rivalry” proves challenging to quantify. While Schulz, who developed her sports fandom growing up in the Boston region, noted it doesn’t factor into her thinking, both networks and the league acknowledge the discussions surrounding these programs.
“We know that the fictional series are a gateway to our sport,” said McArdle. “We know that it opens doors to an interest in the sport of hockey, and it’s incumbent upon us to make sure that new audiences that are coming through those doors feel welcomed as they come in, and also that we help them find their way through the door.”
Technology plays a crucial role in engaging newcomers, Schulz explained, referencing overhead sky cameras that showcase the game’s speed and intensity, plus adding an on-ice camera operator to document emotional reactions such as players showing disappointment after penalty calls.
“It is incredible how that emotional draw, to me, is the real way to pull in a casual fan,” Schulz said. “It’s that balance of getting the feel of the ice through something like your aerial coverage and the feel of the player or the emotion of the player.”
The league has also embraced TikTok, where McArdle noted that many top-performing videos attracted more female than male viewers. A clip featuring Carolina’s Jordan Martinook losing a skate blade gained particular traction as content that resonated beyond typical highlight reels of goals, saves and body checks.
Social media platforms have successfully attracted younger audiences of both genders, while promotional efforts across ESPN, ABC, TNT, TruTV and HBO Max have encouraged live viewing across multiple platforms.
“That’s why it’s so important to meet them where they are,” Barry said. “That’s why our kind of strategy is put it everywhere in a simulcast capacity, so regardless of where you are consuming and digesting your content, in this particular case, NHL games, it’s there for you.”
Homebuyers across the nation are facing another financial obstacle as mortgage rates have climbed to their highest point in nine months, according to new data released this week.
Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the standard 30-year fixed rate home loan increased to 6.53% from the previous week’s 6.51%. While this represents the highest rate since late August, it still sits below the 6.89% rate from one year ago.
Higher mortgage rates can significantly impact monthly payments for borrowers, potentially adding hundreds of dollars to their costs and limiting how much home they can afford to purchase.
The upward trend in rates has been largely driven by the ongoing conflict with Iran, which has disrupted oil tanker traffic through the Persian Gulf. This disruption has caused crude oil prices to surge, becoming a major factor in rising inflation.
Multiple elements affect mortgage rate movements, including Federal Reserve policy choices, bond market investor sentiment about economic conditions, and inflation projections. Home loan rates typically mirror the movement of 10-year Treasury yields, which serve as a benchmark for lenders when setting rates.
Rising oil price expectations have pushed long-term bond yields upward, which in turn has driven mortgage rates higher.
This week has seen some relief in bond markets as investors express optimism about potential negotiations between the United States and Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore normal oil flow. Thursday’s midday trading showed the 10-year Treasury note yield at 4.46%, down from 4.57% the previous week. This compares to just 3.97% in late February, before the conflict erupted.
Homeowners looking to refinance also face higher costs, as 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 5.87% from 5.85% last week. Freddie Mac noted this rate was 6.03% one year ago.
The 30-year mortgage rate had briefly dropped below 6% in late February for the first time since late 2022, but hasn’t returned to that level since. The current rate represents the highest since August 28, when it reached 6.56%.
Although current long-term mortgage rates remain lower than last year’s levels, the recent uptick has dampened the spring homebuying season’s momentum.
Home sales data shows previously owned properties sold at essentially flat rates last month, following year-over-year declines in the first quarter. This continues a nationwide housing market downturn that began in 2022 when mortgage rates started climbing from their pandemic-era lows.
WASHINGTON — Rock icon Bruce Springsteen has revealed plans for a major protest festival featuring top musical acts, scheduled to take place in the Washington area just weeks before the midterm elections.
The legendary musician, joined by Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, made the announcement Wednesday during a performance at Nationals Park in Washington as part of Springsteen’s Land of Hope and Dreams American tour.
During Wednesday’s show, Springsteen delivered many of his most politically charged songs, including “American Skin (41 Shots)” which addresses a deadly police shooting and “Streets of Minneapolis,” written in response to the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal immigration agents. “The Gestapo tactics of this president and this administration will not stand here,” Springsteen declared.
“This American tragedy can only be stopped by the American people: you. There is no one coming to save us. We’ve got to do it ourselves,” he told the audience. “So join us and let’s fight for the America that we love. Do you hear me, Washington?”
The single-day event, dubbed the Power to the People festival, is scheduled for Oct. 3 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, featuring two stages and being promoted as celebrating “freedom, justice, equality and rock ‘n’ roll.” Part of all ticket revenue will support VoteRiders and HeadCount organizations.
“It’s about the power everyday human beings have when they come together through music, art, community and action,” Morello stated. “We’re honored to bring this incredible lineup to the DC area for a day that celebrates the spirit of activism, creativity, and hope.”
The lineup will also feature Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Brittany Howard, Joan Baez, Dropkick Murphys, Jack Black, Serj Tankian, Killer Mike, Taylor Momsen and the Linda Lindas, among other performers.
The veteran rocker has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, who has responded by calling for boycotts of Springsteen’s concerts, labeling him a “total loser who spews hate.”
During Wednesday’s performance, Springsteen guided the audience in chanting “ICE out!” while urging them to make their voices heard at the White House.
“Our democracy, our constitution, our rule of law are being challenged right now as never before by a reckless, racist, incompetent, treasonous president and his ship of fools administration,” Springsteen proclaimed.
“God bless Renée Good, God bless Renée Good, God bless you and God bless America,” he concluded before performing the evening’s final number, “Chimes of Freedom.”
Democratic party officials from five southern states are pushing for South Carolina to maintain its position as the first state to hold presidential primary voting in 2028, contending that the state provides the most effective initial testing ground for White House hopefuls seeking to forge winning coalitions.
Party leaders from Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia sent correspondence Thursday to Democratic National Committee officials, urging them “to do everything in your power to ensure South Carolina continues to serve as the indispensable first proving ground for Democratic presidential nominees.” The DNC is currently considering which states will vote first in the upcoming presidential primary cycle.
These officials maintain South Carolina deserves the opening slot because it “is not simply a geographic starting point. It is a moral and political compass for our party and our nation.”
The DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee is conducting meetings this week, listening to presentations from twelve states vying to lead the 2028 calendar. Additional southern states competing for early positions include Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
South Carolina chair Christale Spain, scheduled to present her state’s case Thursday afternoon, has expressed confidence that her state has “more to offer than other states do,” highlighting “the role of Black folks.”
“The fight for voting rights is no longer just a courtroom battle, it is an electoral one,” the Democratic chairs wrote in their letter, which was shared with The Associated Press before public release. “And it begins in South Carolina.”
“Any effort to diminish South Carolina’s role in the primary process would be a step backward for the Democratic Party’s stated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” they continued. “It would signal to Southern Democrats and to Black voters in particular, that their loyalty to this party is taken for granted. We refuse to accept that, and we will stand firmly against it.”
In additional correspondence to DNC leadership, Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus Institute — which has collaborated with the South Carolina Democratic Party on multiple presidential debates previously — echoed similar concerns.
“To remove or diminish South Carolina’s standing in the primary calendar would send precisely the wrong message to Black voters and to every voter who has been told their voice does not matter until after the outcome is already decided,” Thompson stated.
South Carolina has maintained one of the nation’s earliest Democratic primary dates for many years. As the initial southern state to conduct its primary, South Carolina has served as the first measure of candidates’ ability to connect with Black voters, who constitute a significant portion of the state’s Democratic electorate.
During 2020, Joe Biden’s success in appealing to these voters — combined with a key endorsement from Rep. Jim Clyburn, the state’s sole congressional Democrat and formerly the highest-ranking Black Democratic legislator in Congress — enabled him to revitalize a struggling primary campaign, achieve a decisive South Carolina victory, and ultimately claim the nomination.
For the 2024 election cycle, Biden spearheaded a DNC initiative to position South Carolina as the party’s first primary state, emphasizing the state’s greater racial diversity compared to Iowa and New Hampshire, the traditional early-voting states with predominantly white populations. New Hampshire rejected the DNC’s proposal and conducted its own early primary before South Carolina, where Biden — despite not campaigning or appearing on the ballot — won decisively through a supporter-organized write-in effort.
Biden, who also secured a comfortable victory in South Carolina’s 2024 primary, advocated for a restructured primary schedule that placed Nevada second. He also promoted moving Michigan’s Democratic primary — representing a large and diverse battleground state — ahead of Super Tuesday, the early March date when numerous states hold primaries and the majority of delegates required for nomination are awarded.
While the official calendar won’t be finalized until later this summer, potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates have been actively visiting South Carolina for several months.
Louisiana faces a deadline to create new congressional district boundaries after the U.S. Supreme Court determined its current map constitutes illegal racial gerrymandering. State legislators are now grappling with how to accomplish this redistricting task.
On Thursday, the House examined a proposal that varies from legislation the Senate has already approved. However, both plans from the GOP-controlled legislative chambers would remove a majority-Black district that was central to the Supreme Court’s decision. Each proposal would also create opportunities for Republicans to gain another seat in the upcoming midterm elections.
“We drew the map to improve Republican strength,” state Rep. Beau Beaullieu said while opening Thursday’s debate.
Following the Supreme Court’s late April decision, multiple Southern states have moved quickly to take advantage of a diminished federal Voting Rights Act to redraw their congressional boundaries. This represents the most recent escalation in an intense nationwide redistricting fight leading up to November’s elections, encouraged by President Donald Trump.
Currently, Republicans are prevailing in the redistricting competition. However, this advantage doesn’t guarantee they will control the U.S. House after November. Democrats require only a small number of additional seats to gain chamber control. Trump is dealing with unfavorable approval numbers. Additionally, midterm elections historically result in congressional losses for the sitting president’s party.
In 2022, Louisiana’s Republican-controlled Legislature overturned Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards’ veto to implement new congressional boundaries based on 2020 census data. Under those district lines, five Republicans and one Democrat secured victories in 2022. However, federal courts ruled the map violated the Voting Rights Act by failing to create a second district with a majority-Black population.
The Legislature addressed this in 2024 by establishing a second majority-Black district that extended over 200 miles (321 kilometers) northwest from Baton Rouge to Shreveport. This configuration led to the election of Democratic U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields. Yet this map also faced legal challenges, and the Supreme Court overturned it as an unlawful racial gerrymander.
Republican Gov. Jeff Landry has delayed the state’s May 16 congressional primary until later in the summer to provide time for another redistricting effort. The state House and Senate are attempting to reach agreement on a plan before their session concludes on Monday.
Beaullieu explained that Republicans rejected a map designed to capture all six of the state’s U.S. House seats because it would have necessitated incorporating more Democratic voters into Republican-held districts, potentially creating problems by threatening the reelection chances of House Speaker Mike Johnson or Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
Louisiana legislative committees have received extensive public testimony from citizens opposing the Republican redistricting proposals.
On Wednesday, Democratic state House leaders from Georgia and Texas joined their Louisiana counterparts to demonstrate regional unity and opposition to Republican redistricting initiatives.
Georgia House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley characterized Louisiana’s attempt to eliminate one of its two majority-Black districts as regression for Black Americans across the South.
Historically, “the government was used as a weapon against our community. It used the law, it used courts, it used maps to make sure that people who look like me would never have real representation, that we would never be heard, that we would be present but never powerful,” said Hugley, who is Black. She continued, “Republicans are redrawing voting maps to lock in one-party control.”
Democratic state Rep. Edmond Jordan, who chairs the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, indicated the congressional district dispute would return to the courts once lawmakers approve a new map.
“We are going to continue to fight for the African Americans, not only of this state but throughout the whole country,” Jordan said.
Since the Supreme Court’s ruling one month ago, several Southern states have already taken redistricting action.
Florida’s Republican-controlled legislature approved new congressional districts within hours of the ruling, finishing a redrawing process that was already underway in anticipation of the decision. A state judge this week refused to prevent the use of those districts, which could provide Republicans with up to four additional seats in the midterm elections.
Tennessee enacted new U.S. House districts one week after the ruling, dividing a majority-Black district centered in Memphis as part of a Republican effort to secure an additional seat.
Alabama also tried to modify its congressional districts, though a federal judicial panel this week stopped a Republican-drawn map that it found intentionally discriminates against Black people. The state’s Republican attorney general has requested that the U.S. Supreme Court allow the map to be used this year. Republican Gov. Kay Ivey also extended a deadline to certify candidates for an Aug. 11 special congressional primary from Friday to next Wednesday, hoping the Supreme Court will render a decision by then.
Despite pressure from Trump, South Carolina’s Senate this week chose against congressional redistricting. Some senators argued it was too late to implement changes since in-person early voting had already begun. Other Republican lawmakers expressed concerns that the plan might backfire by enabling Democrats to win more seats.
Mexican diplomatic offices across the United States are facing potential closure following a State Department evaluation that has sparked concern among immigrant communities nationwide.
The Los Angeles Mexican consulate alone assists thousands of citizens weekly with birth registrations, passport applications, and increasingly, legal assistance for family members caught up in current immigration enforcement actions since President Donald Trump’s second term commenced.
While all 53 Mexican diplomatic offices throughout the U.S. deliver essential services to Mexican nationals — similar to how nine American consulates in Mexico serve U.S. citizens there — federal officials have begun an assessment that could lead to an undisclosed number of closures.
The State Department has not provided specific reasoning for the evaluation, though it occurs during intensified immigration crackdowns, challenging bilateral disputes, and conservative allegations that these diplomatic offices have meddled in American politics while promoting northward migration.
Azucena Aviles, a 33-year-old mother who traveled over an hour to the Los Angeles facility this month for passport services, emphasized the importance of consular assistance, particularly in California where nearly 13 million residents claim Mexican heritage, including approximately 1.7 million without legal status.
“It wouldn’t be fair if they messed with the Mexican people, especially with our support systems, which come from the Mexican consulate and which, in some way, help or protect our fellow Mexicans,” she said.
Trump has intensified pressure on Mexico, raising concerns about human rights, national sovereignty, and regional diplomacy.
However, his administration has offered only general explanations for initiating the evaluation.
“Department of State is constantly reviewing all aspects of American foreign relations to ensure they are in line with the President’s America First foreign policy agenda and advance American interests,” Dylan Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, wrote in an email.
The review might connect to the Trump administration’s immigration initiatives targeting deportations of undocumented individuals. Mexicans represent the largest group among such people — approximately 4.3 million according to the Pew Research Center.
Bilateral tensions could also influence the decision, as Trump escalates pressure on Mexico before crucial free trade discussions vital to both economies, adopting more aggressive policies toward America’s southern neighbor and even threatening military action against Mexican cartels.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has avoided direct confrontations with Trump, instead pursuing diplomatic solutions including dispatching senior officials to Washington and maintaining positive relations through cartel crackdowns. Sheinbaum and her predecessor have also assisted in reducing migration to the U.S. and accelerating deportations of other Latin American migrants.
Yet Sheinbaum has taken stronger positions regarding Mexican deaths in U.S. immigration facilities, calling them “unacceptable” and stating detention conditions were “incompatible with human rights standards and the protection of life.” She directed Mexican consulates to conduct daily detention center visits ensuring citizens face safe conditions.
Diplomatic relations deteriorated recently after U.S. indictments of several Mexican officials on drug trafficking charges, and two CIA officers died during an anti-narcotics operation in northern Mexico — American involvement that Sheinbaum said her government hadn’t authorized. The drug raid raised uncomfortable questions in Mexico about U.S. involvement in domestic security operations. Years of reciprocal tariffs between both countries have also increased tensions.
Foreign consulate reviews typically signal “a bilateral relationship is in a very, very rocky moment,” said Arturo Sarukhan, a former Mexican ambassador to the U.S. For Mexico, it arrives at “the worst moment of the U.S.-Mexico relations” in decades, considering current disagreements, he noted.
Adding strain is a theory promoted by Peter Schweizer, a writer popular among Trump supporters who claims Mexican consulates interfere in U.S. politics and encourage migration. Experts say while some Mexican consulate officials may have attempted influencing domestic politics, no evidence exists of U.S. election interference.
Responding to the State Department review, Sheinbaum called the notion that Mexican consulates are “playing politics in the United States is completely false.” She stated consulates everywhere exist to “always protect” citizens.
Sarukhan also said while consulates defend Mexican citizens’ rights, no evidence supports claims of U.S. election interference.
Regardless of motivations behind the consulate evaluation, it has generated anxiety.
During a weekly public session at the Los Angeles consulate, an unnamed woman whose husband was in U.S. immigration detention requested help finding legal representation, demonstrating crucial services consulates provide citizens.
An elderly man mentioned hearing about the review and inquired about potential closures.
Carlos González Gutiérrez, Mexico’s senior diplomat in Los Angeles, responded that, as Sheinbaum indicated, there would be “no reason whatsoever” for the U.S. to close a Mexican consulate.
Closing consulates “would have significant, devastating effects for Mexican immigrants,” especially in remote areas, Ariel Ruiz Soto, a senior policy analyst for the Migration Policy Institute, told The Associated Press.
Daily, consular officials visit the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in downtown Los Angeles to identify and interview detained Mexican nationals.
González Gutiérrez, 62, opens each weekly public session by reporting how many detained Mexicans consular officials have interviewed since last June’s Los Angeles immigration crackdown. At the May 11 meeting, the number reached 1,940. Nearly half maintained deep U.S. connections, he said. About 46% have been deported, 35% have U.S.-born children, 69% entered through official ports, 6% overstayed visas, and 2.5% sought asylum. Most were men working in construction, agriculture, landscaping and service industries.
He also challenged claims that Mexican consulates interfere in U.S. politics.
“We are guests of this country’s government, just as U.S. consuls are guests of the Mexican government. In that sense, we are neither activists nor spies,” said González Gutiérrez, who has served similar roles at other Mexican consulates in the U.S. “We carry out our work openly, within a pluralistic and democratic society.”
The Trump administration has launched federal court challenges against four states that have refused to provide undercover license plates to federal immigration enforcement agents, marking another battleground in ongoing tensions between the White House and states led by Democratic officials.
Federal prosecutors filed separate legal actions on Wednesday targeting Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington state, claiming these jurisdictions have created unconstitutional barriers that hamper law enforcement operations and put federal agents at risk.
“By denying undercover license plates to DHS components, including ICE, while issuing them to their own state agencies, these governors are pursuing discriminatory and obstructionist policies against federal law enforcement,” said acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in a statement.
“These actions undermine federal immigration enforcement, allow dangerous criminals to escape justice, and terrorize American communities,” Blanche added.
The federal lawsuits were submitted to U.S. district courts in each affected state. The legal filings accuse the four state administrations of attempting “to obstruct the Federal Government’s immigration enforcement efforts, even though control over immigration and the nation’s borders is an exclusive federal power.”
Federal attorneys also contend in their court papers that the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause prevents state governments from interfering with federal law enforcement activities.
A spokesperson for Massachusetts Attorney General Joy Campbell said the state’s lawyers are “reviewing the complaint and will defend the RMV policy to the greatest extent possible.”
Representatives from other states have supported their policies but had not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the federal legal action.
The federal government maintains that its agents “frequently investigate and apprehend violent criminals, including cartel members, gang members, sex offenders, human traffickers, and other violent offenders” and argues that making those officers easily recognizable exposes them to greater harassment and potential violence.
The legal challenge follows previous exchanges between federal prosecutors and state leadership. The federal government had earlier sent correspondence to state officials requiring them to explain their policies.
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey responded to the Justice Department last week, supporting his state’s approach and challenging the federal agency’s claim that it has interfered with enforcement operations.
“Rather, the program reflects a legitimate and constitutional policy choice by the SOS not to allow its resources to be commandeered by the federal government for use in civil immigration enforcement activities that have, in Maine and elsewhere, resulted in multiple incidents of abusive and unconstitutional conduct by DHS officials,” Frey wrote.
Shenna Bellows, Maine’s secretary of state, announced a pause on confidential license plates in January, after federal authorities ramped up their immigration enforcement activities in the state. Bellows said at the time that the state wanted to be “assured that Maine plates will not be used for lawless purposes.”
The federal suit against Maine argues that the state “has issued confidential license plates to law enforcement agencies for many years” and that “such plates are explicitly authorized under Maine law.” The state’s review this year, the suit argues, resulted in unlawful state regulation of the federal government by requiring federal applicants for state license plates to attest that federal vehicles that obtained confidential plates would not be used for civil immigration enforcement. The suit also states that Maine did not impose commensurate requirements on state or local agencies applying for the plates, making the program discriminatory against the federal government.
Bellows said last week that she anticipated the lawsuit.
“When ICE asked for confidential license plates, I said no. We don’t have secret police in a democracy, and covert civil immigration enforcement is not something Maine will facilitate. If the DOJ wants to sue us over that, we’ll see them in court,” Bellows said in a May 22 statement.
The Trump administration’s arguments on the license plates are similar to its defense of federal agents wearing masks on their deployments to American cities. That became a flashpoint in an extended government shutdown over Department of Homeland Security funding, as Democrats on Capitol Hill demanded key changes to how Trump’s mass deportation plans were carried out after masked federal agents killed two U.S. citizen protesters in Minnesota.
The White House and DHS have maintained the agency’s mask policy, and the administration already has won a federal court order blocking a California law that barred law enforcement officials from covering their faces in the state.
Additionally, the administration has been at odds with so-called sanctuary cities where local law enforcement does not assist federal authorities with immigration enforcement. And Blanche has instructed the Justice Department’s Civil Division to identify all state and local laws, policies, and practices that could impede what the administration describes as “lawful federal operations.”
BRUSSELS, May 28 (Reuters) – The European Commission commended Bulgaria’s advancement in creating an independent anti-corruption agency on Thursday, while emphasizing the nation must sustain its reform efforts to secure the remaining EU pandemic recovery funds before the August 2026 cutoff date.
Bulgaria was allocated €6.2 billion ($7.2 billion) in grants through the EU’s recovery program, but the funding depends on completing various reforms, including creating the anti-corruption agency and transitioning energy production toward renewable sources.
The country has already collected €3.3 billion in EU funding, though achieving the remaining benchmarks and objectives has been challenging due to five parliamentary elections held over the past three years.
“We all know that there is the deadline in August 2026. So, the goal is to unlock resources by then. For this, we must maintain momentum on reforms,” European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen stated following discussions with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev.
“I very much welcome that the legislative process is already well under way. Your government is therefore delivering on this significant milestone,” she stated, highlighting that Bulgaria could receive €370 million from the EU upon completing the reform.
She additionally mentioned that enhancing the profitable segment of the state-owned Bulgarian Energy Holding, particularly its clean energy production division, would represent a significant advancement for Bulgaria’s energy infrastructure.
“In total, there are 1.2 billion euros in the plan for clean energy investments in Bulgaria,” she stated.
Beyond the recovery fund, the EU stands prepared to provide Bulgaria with €3.2 billion in affordable loans through its SAFE program designed to strengthen defense capabilities of EU nations, particularly those on the bloc’s eastern border that could face potential Russian aggression.
“We will support Bulgaria with more than €3.2 billion under SAFE as we just discussed. And we are ready to sign our loan agreement with Bulgaria at any time,” von der Leyen stated.
The European Commission is developing a strategy to encourage government agencies to purchase semiconductors manufactured by European startups, as part of efforts to decrease the continent’s dependence on American and East Asian suppliers, according to a document obtained by Reuters.
The initiative, called Chips Act 2.0, builds upon the initial semiconductor legislation enacted three years ago, which has not met its objectives of bringing advanced manufacturing to Europe and increasing the region’s global semiconductor market presence to 20% by 2030.
On June 3, EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen will present specifics of this new effort to advance and manage essential technologies and services, a strategy largely motivated by conflicts with the United States and China and their control over these sectors. Currently, Europe produces approximately 10% of the world’s semiconductors.
The original legislation concentrated on supply-side initiatives, while the new version will emphasize demand-side approaches, according to the EU document.
“Through Demand Accelerators, the Chips Act 2.0 will also aim to boost the use of EU-designed and EU-made chips by linking suppliers with users via offtake agreements and a demand forum,” the document said.
“To stimulate demand and support EU-based start-ups and scale-ups, the Chips Act 2.0 will deploy public innovation procurement, as a strategic tool,” the paper said.
The Commission has also suggested expediting environmental clearances for semiconductor manufacturing facilities.
Argentine tennis player Francisco Cerundolo was battling through his own French Open match Thursday when spectators began yelling news from an adjacent court – his younger brother was pulling off a massive upset against the world’s top-ranked player Jannik Sinner.
During breaks in play, fans shouted to the 25th-seeded Francisco that his brother was winning as Juan Manuel Cerundolo staged an incredible comeback against the four-time Grand Slam champion.
“‘Your brother is winning, your brother is winning,’” Francisco recalled hearing from the crowd during towel breaks while Juan Manuel was mounting his stunning rally against Sinner.
Francisco managed to overcome his own deficit, defeating French player Hugo Gaston 2-6 6-4 6-2 6-1 to advance to the third round. Meanwhile, Juan Manuel completed a remarkable turnaround from two sets down to defeat Sinner 3-6 2-6 7-5 6-1 6-1.
The loss snapped Sinner’s 30-match winning streak and dashed his hopes for a first French Open championship and career Grand Slam.
The Italian player had entered the tournament in Paris as the heavy favorite following Masters victories at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome this season. However, the top seed appeared to struggle physically after holding a 5-1 advantage in the third set.
Speaking in a Spanish-language interview with ESPN after his own third-round advancement, Francisco said he slowly pieced together what was happening on the neighboring court.
“I had no idea,” Francisco explained. “I was suffering in my own match and people kept telling me, ‘Your brother won, your brother won.’”
“And I was thinking, ‘Damn it, now I have to win too because I can’t fail now.’”
Francisco, who holds two career victories over Sinner, said he initially believed Juan Manuel was headed for elimination after family members had divided their attention between courts earlier in the day.
“I looked up and my family still wasn’t there,” he said. “I asked what happened and they told me he was two sets to one down. I said, ‘Okay, good, he’s fighting.’”
Juan Manuel, currently ranked 56th globally, turned the match around after Sinner began struggling physically late in the third set and deteriorated significantly from that point forward.
Francisco said the brothers plan to celebrate together after both reached the French Open third round for the first time in their careers.
“It’s more than a dream,” he said. “A huge pride for all the family.”
A property management software company based in Utah has submitted paperwork for a public stock offering on Thursday, showcasing impressive financial gains that may indicate technology firms are preparing to return to the initial public offering marketplace.
The Lehi-based company posted profits of $23.3 million with total revenues reaching $143.5 million during the first quarter ending March 31, marking substantial growth from the previous year’s figures of $13.9 million in profits and $116.6 million in revenues.
This public offering submission could serve as an important gauge for how willing investors are to support software company stock launches, given that the technology sector has been notably missing from IPO activity this year due to concerns about artificial intelligence disruption.
Another technology firm backed by asset manager investment also resubmitted its IPO paperwork in April, after previously withdrawing its offering attempt when software stocks experienced significant declines.
“Technology has been the missing pillar of the 2026 IPO market, largely due to the Q1 software selloff, but the start of a rebound now looks imminent based on these filings from Entrata and Liftoff,” said Matt Kennedy, senior strategist at Renaissance Capital, a provider of IPO-focused research and ETFs.
“Investors will still scrutinize the extent to which AI could disrupt these businesses, so they’d better have a convincing answer to that question.”
The company’s technology platform enables property managers and tenants to complete various activities including monitoring maintenance requests, overseeing financial matters, and handling digital payment transactions. The business concentrates on the United States apartment housing market and has provided services to 2.5 million housing units as of March 31.
Established in 2003, the company’s primary financial supporters include investment companies Silver Lake, TPP Capital Advisors, and Dragoneer Investment Group.
During 2025, the firm obtained $200 million in minority funding from asset manager investment at a company valuation of $4.3 billion.
Major financial institutions Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan and Barclays are serving as the lead underwriters for the offering. The company plans to trade on the New York Stock Exchange using the ticker symbol “ENT.”
Cheniere Energy Partners announced Thursday that it has entered into an agreement with Bechtel Energy to handle engineering, procurement and construction work for the initial phase of expanding its Sabine Pass LNG facility located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.
Key project details include:
• The existing Sabine Pass LNG facility currently operates natural gas liquefaction equipment capable of producing more than 30 million tonnes annually of LNG.
• This facility enables the United States to ship its plentiful shale gas resources from the Permian and Haynesville regions overseas, strengthening America’s trade position while offering allied nations an option beyond Russian or Middle Eastern gas supplies.
• The initial development phase will add Train 7, along with a boil-off gas re-liquefaction system and supporting infrastructure connected to the current Sabine Pass LNG facility.
• Cheniere anticipates making a final investment decision for the first phase sometime in early 2027.
• The company has also provided Bechtel with a limited notice to proceed, enabling preliminary engineering and procurement activities to get underway.
• The first phase is projected to have a total production capacity exceeding 6 mtpa of LNG.
Authorities are looking into a gunfire incident that took place Tuesday morning at a Georgetown residence on Lawson Road.
Troopers were called to the 24000 block of Lawson Road in Georgetown around 9:10 a.m. on May 26, 2026, following reports that a home had been hit by bullets. Initial findings indicate that an unidentified gunman discharged several rounds at the house. Three occupants were present during the shooting, but none sustained injuries.
The Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit with Delaware State Police is continuing their probe into this case. Investigators are requesting that anyone with pertinent details reach out to Detective J. O’Neil at (302) 752-3810. Tips can also be submitted through a private message to the Delaware State Police Facebook page or by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Those who have been victims or witnesses of criminal activity, or families who have experienced sudden loss and require support, can access help through the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit and Delaware Victim Center. This assistance is available around the clock via their toll-free number at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). The Victim Services Unit can also be reached by email at [email protected].
Delaware State Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a deadly shooting that took place in Seaford last week.
Authorities apprehended 19-year-old Darrin West of Seaford, Delaware on May 27, 2026, in Maryland with help from the Salisbury Police Department and the Maryland State Police. West remains in custody in Maryland while awaiting extradition back to Delaware.
Once returned to Delaware, West will face several serious charges including:
Murder 1st Degree (Felony)
Attempt to Commit Robbery 1st Degree (Felony)
Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
Conspiracy 1st Degree (Felony)
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit remains actively involved in the ongoing investigation. Investigators are requesting anyone who may have information regarding this case to reach out to Detective B. McDerby at (302) 741-2821. Tips can also be submitted through a private message to the Delaware State Police Facebook page or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.
For those affected by crime or sudden loss, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit and Delaware Victim Center provide round-the-clock support through their toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). Support can also be accessed by emailing [email protected].
Delaware State University has announced that Dr. Akwasi Osei has been granted the title of Professor Emeritus.
The emeritus designation is an honorary title bestowed upon distinguished faculty members who have made significant contributions to their academic institution.
WASHINGTON – The Treasury Department delivered a sharp warning to Oman on Thursday, cautioning the nation against any participation in establishing toll charges for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with officials promising sanctions against countries that support such measures.
“The United States Government will not tolerate any effort to impose a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a post on X.
“Oman, in particular, should know that the U.S. Treasury will aggressively target any actors involved – directly or indirectly – in facilitating tolls for the Strait and any willing partners will be penalized,” Bessent added.
The warning comes as tensions continue over control of the critical shipping lane that serves as a vital passage for global maritime trade.
Two major American dairy organizations have renewed their push for federal trade action against Canada following the release of a new government report on dairy trade practices. The National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council are urging the U.S. Trade Representative to utilize the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement review process to tackle Canada’s problematic nonfat milk solids export policies.
The organizations’ statement comes after yesterday’s publication of the U.S. International Trade Commission’s Section 332 report titled “Nonfat Milk Solids: Competitive Conditions for the United States and Major Foreign Suppliers.”
According to the dairy groups, the report validates concerns they have raised for years about Canadian milk production quotas that “aim to match domestic supply and demand for butterfat lead to a level of raw milk production that results in a domestic structural surplus of [nonfat milk solids] components.” The study further indicates that Canada’s government-controlled milk pricing system “unlinks its relatively high farmgate price of milk from the price that [nonfat milk solids] processors pay for milk components in Canada using regulated ‘price discrimination.’”
These Canadian practices described in the report formed the foundation for the dairy organizations’ collaboration with the first Trump administration to obtain commitments during USMCA negotiations. Canada agreed to restrict its artificially low-priced skim milk powder and milk protein concentrate exports, establishing annual limits above which these exports face surcharges to protect U.S. producers from being undercut domestically and internationally.
Although the report recognizes that Canada has so far kept its exports of formally classified nonfat milk solids within limits, it also documents a significant rise in Canadian exports of items listed under tariff codes for “blended dairy products” and “protein isolates” that escape USMCA oversight. The study shows that protein isolate exports under these codes totaled merely 76 metric tons from 2013 to 2015. Following USMCA implementation, protein isolate volumes surged dramatically to exceed 32,000 metric tons between 2022 and 2024. Though the tariff classification isn’t limited to dairy proteins, the commission estimates most exports were dairy-derived.
The commission’s report indicates these dairy products are coming into the United States from recently built and expanded processing facilities in British Columbia and Manitoba. The study states that “in addition to access to cost-competitive sources of [nonfat milk solids] components, these facilities received grants and loans from national and provincial governments.”
During July 2025 testimony before the commission as part of the investigation, representatives Jaime Castaneda and William Loux from the dairy organizations highlighted the harmful impact of Canada’s combined pricing and trade policies on American dairy farmers and processors. Castaneda stated, “it is absurd that Canadian dairy producers receive one of the highest farmgate milk prices in the world by a wide margin, yet their nonfat milk solids end up on the global market at prices below our cost of production.” Loux commented, “Canada’s actions distort markets and undermine fair competition … This information is critical to bring substantive results for U.S. dairy producers and processors, including during the upcoming USMCA review process.”
The testimony supported detailed written comments the organizations filed during the investigation and coordination efforts among members to showcase the scope of the problem. The groups plan to continue working with the U.S. Trade Representative to use the report’s findings and ensure Canadian efforts to bypass their dairy protein export obligations are fully addressed during the ongoing USMCA joint review process.
MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. — Michigan’s Democratic governor has definitively ended speculation surrounding a possible 2028 White House run, announcing Thursday that she will not pursue the presidency after her term concludes at year’s end.
Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan had been considered by many within her party as a potential presidential candidate following her strong electoral performances in a key swing state that Republican Donald Trump has won in two presidential elections. Despite months of speculation, she had previously given only vague responses regarding her future political plans.
During a Thursday interview with Fox 2 Detroit, she provided her most definitive statement to date.
“I think there will be a robust group of people running for president. I will not be one of them in 2028,” Whitmer said.
The governor made these remarks while attending Michigan’s yearly Mackinac policy conference, where she was scheduled to receive recognition and speak later in the day.
Previously, she had indicated plans to take time considering her next political steps.
“I don’t know that I’ll put my name on the ballot again. I’m just not sure,” Whitmer said at an April breakfast in Detroit. “But I also am 54 years old. I got a lot of gas in the tank.”
The Mackinac conference has emerged as a center for presidential political discussions, with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin — both viewed as potential 2028 candidates — also participating in the event.
The nation’s highest court delivered a Thursday decision favoring a Black Mississippi death row prisoner who argued racial discrimination tainted his jury selection process.
In a narrow 5-4 decision, the justices supported Terry Pitchford, who received a death sentence for his involvement in a grocery store owner’s murder.
The jury that decided Pitchford’s fate included just one Black member, after a now-retired prosecutor with a documented pattern of excluding Black jurors for discriminatory reasons removed four other Black potential jurors.
This case bears striking similarities to another Black Mississippi death row prisoner whose conviction the Supreme Court reversed seven years earlier.
Four decades ago, the Supreme Court established in Batson v. Kentucky that prosecutors cannot remove jurors based on race, creating a framework for trial judges to assess discrimination claims and evaluate prosecutors’ race-neutral justifications.
The central question in Pitchford’s appeal concerned whether his defense team adequately challenged Judge Joseph Loper’s decisions and whether the state Supreme Court reasonably determined they had failed to do so.
The Supreme Court previously overturned Curtis Flowers’ death sentence and conviction in 2019, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh citing a “relentless, determined effort to rid the jury of Black individuals.” Doug Evans prosecuted that case as well, while Loper oversaw Flowers’ final two trials out of six total.
Pitchford, currently 40 years old, was just 18 when he and an accomplice planned to rob the Crossroads Grocery near Grenada in northern Mississippi. His companion fatally shot store owner Reuben Britt three times but escaped the death penalty due to being under 18. Pitchford faced capital murder charges and received a death sentence.
This legal battle has wound through the court system for two decades. In 2023, U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills threw out Pitchford’s conviction, determining that the trial judge failed to provide adequate opportunity for Pitchford’s attorneys to challenge the prosecution’s improper dismissal of Black jurors.
Mills indicated that Evans’ conduct in previous cases influenced his decision. However, a unanimous three-judge panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later reversed that ruling.
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng announced Thursday that it anticipates second-quarter revenue will fall short of market predictions, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing the electric vehicle industry in China due to weakening demand and intense market competition.
Car sales within China have declined for seven consecutive months through April, with industry analysts predicting that electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid sales growth will likely decelerate in 2026 following several years of rapid market expansion.
Despite these challenges, Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers are focusing on sophisticated driver-assistance technology, feature-packed vehicles, and expanded product offerings to weather the current market downturn.
Key highlights from Xpeng’s first-quarter financial results include:
• The company anticipates total revenue ranging from 19.60 billion yuan ($2.89 billion) to 20.80 billion yuan during the second quarter, marking a year-over-year increase of 7.3% to 13.8%.
• This projection falls below the analyst consensus estimate of 21.71 billion yuan, according to LSEG data compilation.
• The company delivered 62,682 vehicles during the first quarter, representing a 33.3% decline from the 94,008 units delivered in the corresponding period last year. Xpeng anticipates delivering between 100,000 and 106,000 vehicles in the June quarter.
“Kickstarted by the successful launch of the GX, Xpeng will deliver four new models this year, positioning us for a robust sales growth trajectory,” CEO Xiaopeng He said.
• The company’s U.S.-traded shares, which have dropped nearly 19% year-to-date through the previous close, showed slight gains in early morning trading.
• Xpeng reported a first-quarter net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of 1.78 billion yuan, expanding from a 664 million yuan loss in the same quarter last year and contrasting with a 383.2 million yuan profit recorded in the preceding quarter.
An artificial intelligence chip company called Groq is seeking to secure as much as $650 million in new funding from its current investors, according to a Thursday report from Axios. This fundraising effort follows the company’s December agreement with Nvidia worth $17 billion in licensing arrangements.
The company has been changing its business strategy, moving away from hardware production and instead concentrating on AI inferencing services. This specialized field involves helping trained artificial intelligence models process and respond to requests from users.
According to the Axios report, Groq’s current investors have already received financial returns, with additional cash payments expected to be distributed soon as part of the Nvidia agreement.
The publication reported that investors are being invited to join what’s being called Groq 2.0, with current backers Disruptive and Infinitum prepared to guarantee the full $650 million funding round if other investors don’t fully participate.
Existing shareholders will first receive their remaining cash distributions before being given the chance to invest in the restructured company, Axios reported.
When Reuters reached out to Groq for comment, the company did not provide an immediate response.
In March, two sources with knowledge of the situation told Reuters that Nvidia is developing a modified version of its Groq AI chips specifically designed for sale in the Chinese market.
The director of Israel’s airport authority announced Thursday that Ben-Gurion International Airport is functioning at severely reduced capacity due to American military aircraft operations taking up significant space and resources at the facility.
Sharon Kedmi, who leads the Israel Airports Authority, spoke with Kan’s Reshet Bet radio and explained that military operations are restricting 70% of normal airport functions at the country’s primary aviation hub located near Tel Aviv.
“We are only utilizing one-third of the airport’s operational capacity,” Kedmi stated. “We are at the limit of our capabilities. There will be flights that we will announce in the coming days that are being cancelled.”
According to Kedmi, international airlines won’t be resuming operations anytime soon, and approximately 3 million travelers may face flight cancellations. Currently, numerous American tanker aircraft are stationed at the airport.
The financial impact has been substantial, with the airport authority reporting losses of 700 million shekels ($248 million) over the past two months. Kedmi warned that continued disruptions could result in losses reaching into the billions of shekels.
While projections initially called for 18 million passengers to travel through the facility, Kedmi noted that “right now it looks like we won’t exceed 15 million.”
“We have no information when the U.S. military’s activities at the airport will end. We are in a constant state of flux,” Kedmi explained.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem directed inquiries to the State Department, which has not yet provided a response.
Reports from earlier this month indicated that Civil Aviation Authority head Shmuel Zakay had raised similar concerns about American military aircraft disrupting civilian operations, preventing foreign carriers from returning and driving up ticket prices.
Zakay reportedly told the Transportation Minister that “Ben-Gurion has turned into a military airfield with limited civilian activity,” and expressed concerns about negative effects on domestic airlines.
News outlets have reported that when the Iran conflict began, Israeli carriers relocated aircraft to other countries, and not all planes have been brought back to the airport.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Treasury Department announced Thursday it is eliminating 76 individuals, ships and organizations from its sanctions blacklist, describing the entries as outdated in an effort designed to enhance enforcement against more complex and dangerous targets.
According to the department, businesses had expressed concerns about having to dedicate substantial resources to screening low-risk targets. Some of these targets included financial networks that no longer operate, or individuals who had passed away.
“Treasury is exploring ways to relieve that burden while helping to prioritize more impactful activities to implement sanctions, including scrutinizing for sanctions evasion,” the department stated in an announcement regarding the removal of entities from the Specially Designated Nationals list.
Sanctions targeting nations including Venezuela, Iran, Syria and Russia have expanded significantly in recent years. The Treasury Department reported that annual new additions to the list jumped from 880 in 2017 to over 3,000 in 2024.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday it has approved new regulations designed to make the process of resolving payment disagreements between healthcare providers and insurance companies more efficient and affordable.
The updated regulations are connected to federal legislation that prohibits unexpected medical charges from healthcare providers who are not covered by a patient’s insurance plan. The goal is to eliminate inappropriate disputes while reducing expenses for both medical providers and insurance companies.
“The No Surprises Act protects patients from unexpected medical bills while creating an arbitration process to resolve certain types of payment disputes between payers and providers, and this rule makes significant improvements to the arbitration,” said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz.
When healthcare providers and insurance companies cannot reach agreement on payment amounts for services provided outside a patient’s insurance network, they can use the Federal Independent Dispute Resolution process for arbitration.
According to the agency, the new regulations will dramatically reduce administrative costs from $115 down to $15 per party for each dispute, which could encourage more participation in the process.
The updated rules also allow for greater flexibility in handling multiple related claims together as a group, which the department says will lower costs and accelerate decision-making.
Insurance companies will now be required to use uniform claim codes when discussing services provided outside their networks, which will help healthcare providers quickly identify whether a claim is eligible for the dispute resolution process and reduce inappropriate filings, according to the department.
The regulations establish a new unified system for managing disputes that will be implemented gradually starting this year.
The federal legislation was enacted in 2020 to shield patients from unexpected billing situations, which typically occurred when patients received care at hospitals covered by their insurance but were later charged by physicians who were not included in the same insurance network as the hospital.
After months of growing drought concerns across portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, this week’s U.S. Drought Monitor update shows meaningful improvement in several areas following widespread soaking rainfall and cooler temperatures.
A highly active weather pattern during the past week delivered multiple rounds of heavy rain from the southern Plains through the Mid-Atlantic states. Across parts of Maryland, West Virginia, and southern Pennsylvania, many communities received between 2 to 4 inches of rainfall, with isolated areas picking up even higher totals.
The beneficial rainfall came as a strong cold front pushed through the eastern United States, ending an early season heat wave and replacing it with a much cooler and unsettled weather pattern. The combination of steady stratiform rain and convective downpours helped improve soil moisture conditions and increase streamflows across much of the region.
As a result, the latest drought monitor introduced widespread drought reductions across portions of the Mid-Atlantic. Areas of Maryland, West Virginia, and southern Pennsylvania saw notable improvements, especially in locations where rainfall totals exceeded 3 inches during the week.
Despite the recent improvement, experts caution that long term drought impacts have not fully disappeared. Groundwater supplies and reservoir levels remain below normal in some locations after months of persistent dryness. While short term drought indicators such as soil moisture and recent precipitation trends have improved significantly, longer term indicators continue to show lingering deficits.
Because of this, drought classifications across parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland were adjusted from both short and long term drought to primarily long term drought concerns. This reflects improving near surface conditions while acknowledging that deeper hydrological impacts remain in place.
Further north across New England, modest improvements were observed in portions of Maine and Vermont due to improving groundwater conditions. However, drier weather in southeastern New England led to some worsening conditions across parts of Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts.
Across the broader eastern United States, the same storm system also brought widespread drought relief to portions of the Southeast. Heavy rainfall totals ranging from 2 to 6 inches fell across parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle, leading to additional drought reductions in those regions as well.
Looking ahead, forecasters expect a quieter weather pattern to settle over the Mid-Atlantic heading into early June. While additional scattered rainfall opportunities may develop next week, no major widespread flooding or drought busting rainfall events are currently anticipated.
Even with recent improvements, drought recovery is often a slow process. Hydrologists and agricultural experts will continue monitoring groundwater recharge, reservoir recovery, and longer term precipitation trends throughout the summer season.
WASHINGTON — The nation’s economic expansion decelerated during the opening quarter of the year, with the gross domestic product advancing at an annualized pace of 1.6 percent. Consumer purchasing patterns remained consistent and corporate capital expenditures showed strength, but reduced government expenditures and negative trade impacts limited overall progress. This growth rate fell short of certain analyst projections, indicating measured economic activity without signs of overheating. Such moderate performance may reduce expectations for aggressive Federal Reserve interest rate increases, prompting financial markets to monitor future developments carefully.
In related economic news, a critical measure of price increases surged in April to its peak in three years, representing another indication that escalating gasoline costs and elevated grocery expenses are straining household budgets. Price pressures climbed to 3.8% in April when measured against the previous year, the Commerce Department announced Thursday, rising from March’s 3.5% and marking the steepest increase since May 2023. Monthly price growth registered 0.4%, declining from March’s 0.7% jump. The data revealed widespread price increases beyond fuel costs, suggesting inflation may continue and create challenges for congressional Republicans during this year’s midterm elections.
Additionally, initial unemployment benefit applications increased last week among Americans, though job losses continue at minimal levels despite economic concerns related to the Iran war. Thursday’s Labor Department figures showed jobless claims reached 215,000, climbing from the previous week’s 210,000. The four-week rolling average, which eliminates weekly fluctuations, increased by approximately 6,300 to 209,000. Weekly unemployment benefit filings — an indicator of workforce reductions — have remained within a narrow band of primarily 200,000 to 250,000 since the nation’s economy recovered from a short but severe pandemic-induced recession in 2020.
NEW YORK — When Carson Benge wasn’t finding success at the plate, the first-year outfielder decided his scruffy facial hair might be the culprit — leading to a major league grooming choice.
“I haven’t really been getting a ton of hits, so I just shaved it off and it worked,” Benge explained Wednesday evening following his delivery of two crucial singles for the New York Mets.
Whether it’s related to his grooming habits or not, the 23-year-old Benge has emerged as one of the limited positive developments for the cellar-dwelling Mets this year.
Following an initial stretch where he managed only a .136 batting average with two extra-base hits and three RBIs across his opening 21 major league appearances, he’s now posting a batting average above .300 with 17 RBIs and 19 runs scored over 32 contests since April 23. This month alone, Benge provided the decisive hit in three overtime victories within a six-day period.
“He’s always aggressive. He has a really good swing and he knows it,” star teammate Juan Soto said. “He’s squaring balls most of the time and that’s really cool to see.”
Benge’s major league introduction on opening day in March was memorable, featuring a home run, two walks and a stolen base during a victory against Pittsburgh at Citi Field. However, he subsequently appeared overwhelmed in the batter’s box.
Rather than get discouraged, he made adjustments. Benge has simplified his approach to hitting and shortened his swing — particularly when facing two strikes. His development was especially noticeable Wednesday during a 4-2 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds that broke New York’s five-game skid.
Facing two outs in the fifth inning, the left-handed batter recovered from a 0-2 deficit against lefty starter Andrew Abbott and connected on an up-and-in fastball toward center field on the eighth pitch for an RBI single that broke a 1-for-20 drought and put the Mets ahead 3-1.
“Just fight,” Benge said. “Fight for every pitch. Not give them anything. Try to be a tough out. That’s all you can do.”
During the seventh inning with two outs, he again fell behind 0-2 and produced another RBI single to center on a 98 mph up-and-in fastball from right-handed reliever Zach Maxwell to extend the lead to 4-2.
“It’s really good to see,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Because that’s a pitch that he struggled (with) early on. And he just continues to get better. He continues to find a way. That wasn’t an easy at-bat there. It’s two of them. Left on left — it was also pretty impressive. I mean, you’ve got to give him credit. He’s not going to back down. He’s going to continue to work. He’s going to continue to show up.”
When asked about his improvement against high fastballs in the strike zone, Benge offered his explanation.
“Just trying to stay short, put it in play. Not trying to do too much with them, and things have been working out,” he said. “Getting reps, playing every day is definitely nice, and building that confidence up is really good.”
Due to five-time All-Star Francisco Lindor being on the injured list, Benge is now hitting in the leadoff spot for the Mets (23-33) after starting the season lower in the batting order.
While his season statistics remain humble at .247 with three homers and 20 RBIs, Benge has made remarkable progress quickly: He was selected 19th overall in 2024 from Oklahoma State and earned the starting right-field position during spring training despite having only 24 games of Triple-A experience the previous year.
“The one thing that I like about him is you can never really tell whether he’s 0 for 8 the past couple of days or he’s just coming off a couple of games where he either hit a walk-off or had a game like this,” Mendoza said Wednesday evening. “He’s going to show up the next day and he’s going to be the same person and he’s going to give you his best. So, it’s pretty impressive for a player his age.”
Benge’s athletic ability has never been in doubt. He also pitched at Oklahoma State, and he’s demonstrated his strong throwing arm in right field on multiple occasions while making several spectacular catches as well.
The expensive Mets began this season anticipating a championship run, but Benge’s quick development and the promotion of 21-year-old center fielder A.J. Ewing from the minors are offering optimism for what lies ahead.
“There’s something special,” rookie pitcher Jonah Tong said. “I don’t even think you guys have seen the half of it yet. Being in the clubhouse with them for so long, just seeing the guys they are and what they do day in and day out, it’s really exciting. And they’re going to be staples in New York for a very long time.”
PARIS (AP) — French lawmakers in the National Assembly have unanimously approved legislation to formally eliminate a centuries-old slavery regulation that remained buried in the country’s legal code.
The chamber voted 254-0 on Thursday to pass the measure removing Code Noir from French law, sending the proposal to the Senate where backers anticipate approval. The timing of the upper chamber’s vote remains uncertain.
King Louis XIV enacted Code Noir — known as Black Code — at Versailles Palace in 1685 to establish regulations governing enslaved people throughout France’s colonial territories.
French philosopher Louis Sala‑Molins characterized it as “the most monstrous legal text of modern times.”
The law’s 60 provisions initially applied to French Caribbean territories including Martinique, Guadeloupe and Saint-Domingue, which is now Haiti, before expanding to cover French Guiana, Louisiana, and the Indian Ocean territories of Réunion and Mauritius.
Historical records show France transported approximately 1.4 million enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean, ranking third among European nations in the slave trade behind Portugal and Britain.
The majority labored in sugar cane fields and processing facilities where syrup was cooked over open flames, along with coffee, cotton and indigo production.
Conditions proved so lethal that mortality rates exceeded births, leading plantation owners to continuously import new groups of enslaved Africans to replace those who died.
By 1789, Saint-Domingue — present-day Haiti — contained approximately 500,000 enslaved individuals, surpassing all other Caribbean colonies. The territory generated much of the globe’s sugar and coffee output and gained recognition as the world’s wealthiest colony.
While Code Noir lost its enforcement power when France ended slavery in 1848, lawmakers never officially removed it from legal records.
Article 44 classified enslaved people as “movable property.”
Owners held the right to purchase, sell, use as collateral, or bequeath them to heirs — similar to real estate or household items.
Article 28 stated enslaved individuals could “own nothing that does not belong to their master.”
All wages earned and gifts received became the owner’s possession.
Enslaved people lacked legal identity.
Beginning in 1839, colonial authorities assigned each enslaved person a numerical identifier and registration code.
Freed individuals received surnames only after emancipation.
Article 38 established penalties for escape attempts.
First-time offenders faced ear removal and shoulder branding with a fleur-de-lis — the French royal emblem.
Second attempts resulted in severed leg tendons and additional branding.
Third attempts carried the death penalty.
Article 33 mandated execution for any enslaved person who struck an owner, spouse or children with sufficient force to cause visible injury or bleeding — or struck them in the face.
The provision declared such individuals “shall be punished by death.”
Before addressing enslaved people, the code’s opening article mandated the expulsion of all Jewish residents from French colonies within three months.
It labeled them “declared enemies of the Christian name.”
Articles 2 and 3 required baptism and Catholic upbringing for all enslaved people.
Public practice of other faiths was prohibited.
Children inherited their mother’s legal status.
Offspring of enslaved women were born into bondage — regardless of the father’s free status.
Enslavement began at birth.
Code Noir allocated children food portions equal to half an adult’s ration.
Several provisions appeared designed to “protect” enslaved individuals.
Owners were supposed to provide food and clothing, avoid torture, and refrain from separating husbands, wives and young children through sales.
Historians note these protections were routinely disregarded.
Owners who murdered enslaved people rarely faced punishment.
Drivers traveling northbound on Coastal Highway should expect delays today due to an active construction zone. DelDOT reports that the right lane is currently blocked on Route 1 North in the stretch between James Street and Delaware Avenue.
The lane restriction is expected to be lifted by 4 PM this afternoon. Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when driving through the work zone.
A source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that the New York Giants have modified starting left tackle Andrew Thomas’ contract, transforming base salary into a roster bonus to generate $6.46 million in salary cap relief.
The individual requested anonymity since the team has not made the contract adjustment public.
This contract modification occurs during ongoing offseason workouts while No. 5 draft selection Arvell Reese remains without a signed rookie deal. All other drafted players, including No. 10 selection Francis “Sisi” Mauigoa, have completed their contracts.
According to the NFL Players Association’s public records, the Giants currently possess slightly less than $12 million in available salary cap room. Since Reese’s upcoming contract will likely consume a significant portion of those funds, additional financial adjustments may be necessary before the September season opener.
The 27-year-old Thomas ranks among the franchise’s top earners and serves as the cornerstone of an offensive line that demonstrated notable progress last season compared to prior years. New coach John Harbaugh indicated that Thomas is managing foot and shoulder ailments, prompting the coaching staff to restrict his participation during organized team activities.
“They have a nice ramp-up planned for me,” Thomas commented last week. “Just a precautionary thing. Obviously, what we care about is September, being ready, so I’ve been trusting that. It’s definitely tough sometimes because I want to push it and I want to get better, but I’m trying to trust the process to make sure I’m ready to go when it counts.”
Thomas underwent surgical repair for a Lisfranc injury in his right foot during October 2024 and sat out the season’s opening two contests before returning September 21. A hamstring issue sidelined him for the final two games, though currently he’s managing an ongoing shoulder condition.
“Something that I’ve been dealing with,” Thomas explained. “I think I’m in a good place.”
ADEN, Yemen (AP) — Yemen’s former president Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi passed away Thursday at 80 years old, ending a life marked by leading a divided nation through civil conflict and humanitarian crisis while governing primarily from foreign soil for nearly a decade before relinquishing power in 2022.
According to state television in Yemen, Hadi’s death occurred at his home in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, though additional circumstances were not provided.
Rashad al-Alimi, who heads the Presidential Leadership Council that serves as the governing body for Yemen’s internationally recognized administration, praised Hadi’s commitment to the Yemeni people’s “right to a just state, freedom and human dignity.”
“He led the battle to defend the republican system,” al-Alimi posted on X.
Officials declared a three-day period of mourning with flags to be displayed at half-mast.
Hadi assumed the presidency in 2012 following the departure of long-serving leader Ali Abdullah Saleh amid Arab Spring demonstrations. With backing from the United States and Gulf nations, Hadi won a single-candidate election designed to shepherd Yemen through democratic transformation.
However, his administration quickly faced mounting turmoil.
In his early presidential term, Hadi attempted sweeping governmental changes, including bringing together the nation’s disparate military groups under unified command.
Critics charged him with showing preference to Yemen’s eastern petroleum-rich regions while neglecting the mountainous interior areas controlled by Houthis, the Iranian-supported faction.
Additional threats emerged from Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, widely regarded as among the terrorist network’s most lethal offshoots. The organization executed an attack in Sanaa during 2012 that claimed more than 100 lives.
The pivotal crisis of Hadi’s tenure occurred in 2014 when Houthi militants advanced southward from their northern territories and seized Sanaa as public frustration mounted over economic difficulties and governmental chaos.
Aided by forces supporting former President Saleh, Houthi troops occupied Yemen’s presidential compound in January 2015. Hadi stepped down and fled to Aden, though he subsequently reversed his resignation as a Saudi-led military alliance joined the fighting in March 2015 attempting to reinstall Hadi’s administration.
Despite maintaining international recognition as president, much of the actual governance was shaped by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the coalition’s primary members.
His power eroded further as fractures developed within the anti-Houthi partnership.
Relations with the UAE deteriorated after Hadi removed senior Emirati-supported officials, including Aidarous al-Zubaidi, who commanded the separatist Southern Transitional Council, or STC.
The STC ultimately gained control of Aden and portions of southern Yemen, restricting Hadi’s government to exile in Riyadh and isolated eastern territories.
Though the STC avoided directly calling for Hadi’s ouster, it declined to subordinate its military units to his authority and charged his administration with embracing Islamist groups connected to the Islah party, Yemen’s affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood. The STC was dissolved earlier this year.
Hadi’s remaining time in office was spent largely away from public attention in the Saudi capital. In April 2022, following announcement of a U.N.-mediated truce, he handed authority to al-Alimi, who took charge of the newly established presidential council supported by Saudi Arabia.
Born September 1, 1945, in Yemen’s coastal Abyan province during the period when the country’s southern region remained under British control, Mansour Hadi came from the prominent Al-Fadl tribe, among the south’s largest and most established clans.
Following his education, Hadi entered military service, completing training at Britain’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. His initial military assignments took him to Egypt and Russia before his return to Yemen.
Hadi held senior military rank when civil conflict began in 1986, stemming from disputes between competing factions within Southern Yemen’s governing Socialist party. He aligned with President Ali Nasser Mohammed, accompanying him in escape to northern Yemen, which remained a separate nation at that time.
Following Yemen’s unification in 1990, Hadi received promotion to general rank and later to defense minister under then-President Saleh. As recognition for commanding successful military operations against southern independence movements in 1994, Saleh named Hadi as vice president of the unified republic.
Hadi leaves behind his spouse, Hala, and six children. Memorial service details have not been announced.
Democratic candidates in Michigan are working to maintain control of an available U.S. Senate position while their party attempts to regain congressional power in Washington. However, internal disagreements must be resolved first.
Three leading contenders for the nomination will participate in a debate Thursday during the state party’s yearly policy gathering on August 4th. This represents a significant early chance for the candidates to highlight their differences to voters statewide.
As primary elections conclude nationwide, Michigan’s competitive race has become viewed as an indicator of the party’s direction heading into November’s general election and future campaigns.
Taking the stage will be U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, and former public health official Abdul El-Sayed. Their Republican opponent is Mike Rogers, a former congressman who lost the 2024 Senate race to Democrat Elissa Slotkin. Democrat Gary Peters is not seeking a third Senate term this year. No Michigan Republican has been elected to the U.S. Senate since 1994.
A difficult primary battle for a crucial Senate position was not what Democrats had hoped for.
Thursday’s debate will highlight the philosophical splits that have challenged Democrats since presidential nominee Kamala Harris and the party experienced major defeats in 2024.
Stevens, serving her fourth congressional term representing an area near Detroit, is viewed as the more centrist, establishment-backed option. She has received support from senators in competitive states, including Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada. Stevens has described herself as a “staunchly pro-Israel Democrat.”
El-Sayed has positioned himself as the progressive choice, receiving early support from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. El-Sayed has advocated for “Medicare for All” and increased taxes on wealthy individuals, while characterizing Israel’s actions in Gaza as a “genocide.” He has faced criticism, including from party members, for appearing with controversial streamer Hasan Piker.
McMorrow won her first Michigan Senate election in 2018 and received national recognition for speeches criticizing Republicans. She has established herself between her two primary competitors. She has questioned the Democratic establishment and stated she would not back New York’s Chuck Schumer for Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate again.
Rogers was defeated by then-U.S. Rep. Slotkin by less than 20,000 votes in a state that Republican Donald Trump won while securing a second presidential term.
Rogers will not have the advantage of Trump leading the ticket this time. However, Rogers enters the general election with his own benefits, including facing no primary opposition.
During a Wednesday phone conversation, Rogers recognized the previous campaign’s challenges, noting that the financial disadvantage following a difficult primary “made it really difficult” to succeed in the general election.
However, he emphasized this year presents different circumstances.
“This is a change election. People want to talk about Washington. This is about Michigan,” Rogers said.
Focusing on local issues may prove challenging in a race influenced by national concerns like tariffs and gas prices, both significantly affecting Michigan. External spending is anticipated to reach nine figures. The Republicans’ U.S. Senate campaign organization has allocated $45 million for advertisements, while Democrats have committed $20 million.
“They’re going to spend a lot of money trying to make you not like me. We’re going to spend our money trying to tell people what we’re going to do for them and make their lives in our state better,” Rogers said.
VIRGILINA—After recent rainfall brought some relief to Virginia’s parched farmland, agricultural producers are cautiously hopeful that this growing season might still be rescued, while state farming officials urge those hit by harsh spring weather conditions to explore federal disaster relief programs.
Farmers across numerous Virginia counties have been granted drought disaster designations through U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and the Farm Service Agency, as the entire state remains under severe-to-extreme drought conditions. Multiple disaster relief programs are now accessible to qualifying producers, featuring emergency lending and additional recovery assistance.
Carl Daniel, Halifax County Farm Bureau president who cultivates corn, soybean and tobacco while also raising beef cattle, described the recent precipitation as “a blessing.”
Although many farmers in Southside Virginia are delaying crop planting beyond typical schedules, “we think there is still hope,” Daniel explained. “The rain has been sporadic. Some areas only got an inch-and-a-half while others up to 5 inches. But any rain is good in a drought situation!”
Nevertheless, grasslands and grazing areas are “taking a beating,” according to Virginia Farm Bureau Federation state board member Bruce Slagle, who serves farmers throughout the region.
“Some farmers are still feeding their hay supplies from last fall, while not making more,” Slagle noted. “Normally, you’re rolling hay now for next winter. What little hay is out there—they might be feeding it already. But I think the rain is going to help them out a lot.”
VFBF Vice President Robert J. Mills Jr. has managed to cut some hay this season at Briar View Farms in Pittsylvania County.
“But our first cutting is less than 30% of our usual yield,” Mills reported. “The rest dried up.”
Dry pasture conditions have forced others into difficult financial decisions.
“We have cattle farmers in Halifax selling young calves, so there’s enough pasture for the others to have,” Daniel noted. “And people are already looking for hay to feed.”
However, farmers adapt when weather conditions turn unfavorable. Mills explained that tobacco planting schedules can be adjusted based on the variety selected.
“This is the first time in our career that we’ve ever planted tobacco in June,” Mills said. “If we have more rain and crop progresses throughout the season, we’ll be OK. But if we have another drought mid-season, it’s going to stall the crop. Delayed maturity puts it in the frost window.”
Mills reported that only approximately 25% of corn has been planted countywide due to drought conditions, including merely 12 acres of their 200-acre cornfield, while late frost forced some producers to completely replant their corn and soybean crops.
Producers affected by the late April freeze may qualify for FSA physical loss loans designed to help repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property. The farmers.gov Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet and Loan Assistance Tool can help determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center or call Virginia FSA at 804-287-1500.
BLACKSBURG—Safety experts are issuing warnings to outdoor enthusiasts planning to use utility terrain vehicles this spring and summer, emphasizing that these powerful machines can pose serious risks despite their rugged design and versatility.
While UTVs provide access to countless recreational activities including trail exploration, hunting expeditions, cargo transport, and camping adventures—offering automobile-like familiarity and protection—this sense of security can lead operators to become dangerously overconfident.
“UTVs can be dangerous machines,” warned Curt Porterfield, assistant director of facilities and safety for the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “Many folks don’t respect the machine enough to know its dangerous capabilities.”
Statistics reveal a troubling trend: fatalities involving off-highway vehicles nationwide rose 32% between 2018 and 2020, with Virginia recording 37 deaths from OHV-related accidents. Emergency departments across the country treated approximately 100,900 injuries linked to OHVs each year from 2018-2022, according to 2024 data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
According to Porterfield, the primary factors behind UTV accidents and injuries include excessive speed, steep terrain, “too much weight in the wrong place at the wrong time,” and poor machine maintenance.
The growing market for affordable used UTVs is contributing to rising accident rates.
“These private sale machines are often repaired to operate mechanically but may not be brought up to the necessary safety standards,” he explained. “Not addressing essential safety repairs in a used machine and accepting the risk is a common mistake.”
Additional frequent errors include allowing operators under 16 years old to drive UTVs, or operating these vehicles while impaired by drugs or alcohol.
When shopping for a UTV, buyers should carefully evaluate the vehicle’s capabilities and intended applications, considering who will operate it and where it will be used.
The majority of UTV models come with rollover protective structures installed. Owners should refrain from removing ROPS and other built-in safety equipment unless specifically designed for removal.
“Read the operator’s manual in its entirety, establish a relationship with your dealer and ask questions about your machine,” Porterfield recommended.
Pre-ride preparations:
Conduct thorough equipment checks. Regular cleaning and upkeep help identify potential mechanical problems.
Visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website to confirm any recalls have been resolved.
Review the operator’s manual for cargo capacity limits.
Verify all passengers have appropriate clothing and safety gear.
Stock emergency supplies including first aid and trauma kits, warning devices, backup communication equipment, and recovery straps.
Research local and state regulations for land and roadway usage.
During UTV operation:
Use seatbelts and limit passengers to available restraint systems. Minimize young children as passengers when possible and avoid transporting infants.
Survey riding locations at reduced speeds to identify hazardous areas.
Stick to established paths and trails, avoiding paved roadways.
Maintain regular contact with others when riding solo.
Assess ground conditions, load weight, passenger count, and velocity when navigating slopes. Generally, target inclines below 15 degrees.
When using UTVs without ROPS, avoid seatbelt use to enable quick exit during potential rollover situations.
Restrict towing activities and hitch usage, understanding weight restrictions for any attachments.
Porterfield recommends comprehensive training for all UTV operators and suggests utilizing educational materials from the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association at rohva.org/learn-to-drive.
Additional information appears in Virginia Farm Bureau’s Cultivate magazine. Media inquiries can be directed to Porterfield at 540-231-8759.
After several rounds of unsettled weather across the Mid-Atlantic in recent weeks, a much calmer and more comfortable stretch of weather is now expected across Delmarva heading into the start of meteorological summer.
A cold front moving through the region early Thursday morning is bringing a few lingering showers to portions of southern Delaware and South Jersey. Those showers are expected to quickly move offshore around daybreak as drier air pushes into the region from the northwest.
Behind the front, high pressure will build into the Mid-Atlantic and dominate the weather pattern through much of the upcoming week. The result will be several days of tranquil conditions featuring comfortable humidity levels, cooler overnight temperatures, and seasonable daytime highs mainly in the middle to upper 70s.
While the overall pattern remains quiet, breezy northwest winds are expected at times. Wind gusts Thursday afternoon could reach 20 to 30 mph, especially closer to the coastline and open areas. Another dry cold front is forecast to move through Friday night, which may bring another round of gusty winds for Saturday with gusts potentially reaching 25 to 35 mph. Despite the breezy conditions, no widespread rainfall or severe weather is expected with the frontal passage.
We are also monitoring the development of a large scale “Omega Block” weather pattern across the central United States. This pattern tends to slow down weather systems and promote more stable conditions. Delmarva will remain on the eastern side of this blocking pattern, helping keep temperatures slightly below normal through the weekend while also limiting any major storm development.
Looking ahead into next week, forecast confidence becomes lower as a disturbance may attempt to cut off near the East Coast. This could eventually introduce a more unsettled pattern with increased cloud cover or scattered showers at times. However, current indications suggest the risk for any hazardous or impactful weather remains very low.
ARLINGTON, Va., May 28, 2026 – Federal transportation regulators have given conditional approval to a major railroad merger application, following established merger guidelines set by the Surface Transportation Board.
The Board announced today it has conditionally approved the revised merger proposal between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Corporation, though the companies must provide additional documentation before final clearance.
Based on the Board’s ruling, both railroad companies have until July 27, 2026, to submit supplementary materials addressing several key areas including competitive improvements, shipper access concerns, service reliability plans, gateway and equipment supply matters, market projections, potential merger consequences, passenger rail considerations, and technical documentation issues. Due to these additional information requirements, regulators have not yet established a timeline for the review process.
The National Grain and Feed Association issued a response to the federal decision:
“As the process moves forward, the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) will continue to examine the application and gather feedback and perspectives from its members to help determine what position, if any, it will take in this matter. NGFA has consistently maintained that any agreement must deliver tangible benefits for rail customers and the agricultural supply chain. NGFA looks forward to future engagement with the Surface Transportation Board and the applicants in this matter.”
The United Nations is moving forward with plans to eliminate senior leadership roles during the coming two years as part of sweeping organizational changes, the Secretary-General announced Thursday.
Antonio Guterres, who will complete his decade-long tenure as U.N. chief by the end of 2026, is pushing for significant reform and budget reductions while the organization faces a financial emergency caused in part by outstanding dues, including from top contributor the United States.
The Secretary-General has praised major achievements in the ‘UN80’ reform initiative thus far, pointing to reductions in the 2026 budget and the relocation of more than 2,000 positions from high-cost cities such as Geneva and New York to more affordable locations.
However, additional steps are necessary, he informed the General Assembly in New York, emphasizing that member nations hold the power to drive change.
“Genuine reform requires tough choices. This is no time for complacency, self-interest, or foot-dragging,” he said.
The 2027 budget will feature efforts to eliminate organizational layers and begin reducing senior-level positions, with continued cuts planned for 2028, Guterres explained, though he did not provide specific details. Job transfers to less expensive locations will also continue, he noted.
Budget documents show that U.N. cost-reduction plans for 2026 implemented much smaller reductions to senior staff compared to lower-level employees, despite a growing number of high-level positions in recent years.
Numerous senior roles are informally designated for major powers who fiercely protect them as sources of status and power.
Guterres called on nations to pursue more aggressive reforms, stating that “bureaucratic inertia and defensiveness” were blocking some changes, including combining or shutting down U.N. agencies.
“At this stage, the overall direction and scale of UN80 lie in the hands of Member States to determine,” he said.
The United States, which owes the organization approximately $4 billion and has announced intentions to leave many U.N. organizations, has consistently demanded a more effective United Nations concentrated on peace and security matters.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed support for reform objectives this week. “Overlapping bodies and mandates in the U.N. system should be streamlined, resources be better integrated and a culture of efficiency be promoted,” he told reporters in New York.
Several of the five contenders seeking to succeed Guterres as secretary-general have also indicated the necessity to reform or reinvent multilateralism.
PARIS – The French Open witnessed a major upset on Thursday as tournament favorite Jannik Sinner suffered a shocking second-round elimination, losing to Juan Manuel Cerundolo 3-6 2-6 7-5 6-1 6-1 after dealing with physical difficulties during their match.
The Italian player had entered the tournament as the top contender for the championship, having captured recent claycourt victories in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome. With defending titlist Carlos Alcaraz sidelined due to injury and Novak Djokovic still finding his rhythm, expectations were high for Sinner’s first French Open crown and potential career Grand Slam.
However, Cerundolo completely changed the narrative in a stunning turnaround that sent waves of surprise throughout Roland Garros, maintaining his composure while last year’s finalist faltered just as victory seemed within reach.
With afternoon temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius for the first time during the tournament, Sinner had dominated early play, capturing the opening set with a single service break. The 24-year-old Italian appeared to be cruising toward an easy victory.
Though Cerundolo showed some fight late in the second set, the 56th-ranked player from Argentina faced an uphill battle after Sinner delivered a powerful forehand winner to claim a commanding two-set advantage, having dropped just five games total.
The four-time Grand Slam winner used an ice towel during the break and increased pressure on his unseeded rival in the third set, building a 5-1 lead before encountering difficulties and stopping play while serving at 5-4.
Following a five-minute medical timeout away from the court, Sinner returned but was immediately broken to even the score at 5-5, then lost the following two games to surrender the set to Cerundolo, who recognized his opportunity for a massive upset.
With his condition still compromised, Sinner easily gave up the fourth set and suffered an early break in the final set, allowing Cerundolo to capitalize fully and eliminate the tournament’s top seed from the Grand Slam event.
Two senior athletes from Salisbury University’s women’s lacrosse program have earned spots in a prestigious national showcase event. The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association announced Wednesday morning that seniors Alexandra Parker and Natalie Held will participate in the 2025 Division III Senior All-Star Game.
The honor recognizes the top graduating players from Division III women’s lacrosse programs across the country. The showcase event is scheduled for Saturday, May 31st at 12:30 p.m. ET and will be held on Tierney Field at USA Lacrosse Headquarters in Sparks, Maryland.
The selection represents a significant achievement for both players and highlights the strength of Salisbury University’s women’s lacrosse program. The announcement was made from Northborough, Massachusetts.
BEDFORD—A Bedford County farmer has discovered a natural farming technique that transforms decomposing organic materials into what he calls liquid gold for his crops.
In February, Jay Faucher opened four large 60-gallon containers filled with fermenting organic matter on his 38-acre farm. The mixture slowly breaks down into a potent liquid fertilizer known as JADAM, which gets diluted and sprayed across his vegetables and pastures.
JADAM, which translates to “people that resemble nature” in Korean, was developed by Dr. Youngsang Cho in 1991. The natural farming approach transforms organic materials like compost, forest fungi, weeds, straw and plant clippings into a concentrated fertilizing solution and natural crop protection.
The fermented liquid gives off a distinctive aroma that combines beer, damp hay and wild mushrooms.
“That smell means it’s ready,” Faucher explained. “See the bubbles? That is alive, baby! This tub was a real thick goo last fall. Now it’s full of liquid.”
The process uses sealed containers where microorganisms work without oxygen. Once exposed to air, these microbes die off and make way for beneficial soil organisms to flourish.
Faucher creates two different versions of the nutrient-dense mixture.
The first type serves as a liquid fertilizer made from aged plant materials fermented in water, designed to feed soil and plants while mimicking natural soil development.
“It’s like you’re creating a soil biome,” Faucher described.
The second variety combines cooked potatoes, sea salt and forest soil to produce a powerful blend of native microorganisms that improves soil health while providing natural pest and disease control.
According to Cho’s 2017 presentation, rising costs for fuel, energy, chemicals and labor are pressuring farms everywhere. He believes JADAM can cut chemical expenses down to “pennies an acre.”
“I don’t care what you plant in the ground,” Faucher said. “With JADAM, it’ll pop up. But I wish I would have known how to control it better last season.”
Faucher treated his entire property with diluted JADAM, covering rows of beans, chiles, corn, peppers, pumpkins and tomatoes.
“I could not believe the size of my golden russet potatoes!” he exclaimed.
But he discovered that applying JADAM everywhere created unexpected problems.
“The vegetation took over everything,” he admitted. “I was killing myself with the weed eater! So, this season I’m just going to spray each individual row.”
JADAM practitioners exchange advice and experiences through various social media communities. The complete article appears in the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s spring Cultivate magazine.
For more information, contact Faucher at 540-425-4203.
Yoselin Sanchez has lived with constant pain from cervical scoliosis since birth. Though few things provide relief from her discomfort, she’s discovered methods to take her mind off the pain.
Her routine includes yoga and free flow dance. During work hours, she often plays house music set to 432 hertz, a frequency that’s lower than standard concert tuning.
“Music is medicine. Sound is medicine,” explained Sanchez, who works in telehealth services for a California healthcare management organization. “It helps me focus and be engaged with the patient I’m assisting, and it also helps me relax.”
Songs recorded at 432 hertz (cycles per second) are gaining popularity across social media and streaming platforms, where listeners can discover growing collections of tracks and playlists featuring this alternative tuning. The selection ranges from meditation soundscapes to reggae tracks by Ziggy Marley.
Supporters claim 432 hertz connects with the natural world. Some attribute healing qualities to this frequency or believe it can lower blood pressure. However, solid scientific research hasn’t validated these assertions.
“There are frequencies going on right now that are higher than what we can hear and lower than what can hear. And they’re not special because they’re one of the billions and billions of frequencies that we’re receiving right now,” explained Susan Rogers, a professor emeritus at Berklee College of Music who served as Prince’s sound engineer in the 1980s. “To set one aside and say that it is the frequency of the universe is, as far as the science community is concerned, nonsense.”
For Sanchez, whether the pain relief and emotional benefits she connects to 432 hertz music have scientific backing doesn’t matter.
“When it comes to music, it could activate different feelings in people, the vibrations of it. It’s not like a one-size-fits-all,” she explained.
Across musical history, when people performed together, they matched their instruments to the same pitch for harmonious sound. Vocalists and instrumentalists typically selected a musical note — usually the A above middle C on a piano — as their reference point.
The “432 Hz” music style gets its name from its tuning method, where the A above middle C gets adjusted to vibrate at 432 hertz rather than the conventional 440 hertz. This lower frequency is audible, creating slightly deeper notes. Some listeners believe this adjustment creates a warmer, more balanced sound that connects with human physiology and nature.
Most orchestras and performers today tune to 440 hertz. However, this wasn’t historically standard.
Before the 19th century, musicians tuned according to regional practices that differed between countries, noted Fanny Gribenski, a music historian at New York University. “For most of music history, people are just singing within their own vocal range,” she added.
Over time, orchestras and ensembles began tuning to higher frequencies, causing some composers to worry that singers wouldn’t be able to perform historical pieces, Gribenski explained.
“The idea that it should be mainly a lower frequency than the ones that were in use at the time is really the cultural concern for protecting music from the past, protecting the voices of singers,” she said.
Meanwhile, as global travel expanded, the need for universal tuning standards increased. In 1939, delegates from several European nations and the U.S. established 440 hertz as the worldwide standard.
Musicians kept experimenting with pitch in subsequent decades. During the 1980s and ’90s, sound engineers would sometimes accelerate or decelerate recorded tracks to create brighter or slower sounds, departing from 440 hertz, Rogers noted.
However, Rogers questions whether retuning entire bands or orchestras to 432 hertz would enhance their sound, since contemporary instruments were built to sound optimal at 440 hertz.
“Some of those instruments might sound a little sweeter, but it’s likely that most won’t,” she said.
Higher pitch typically creates more brilliance or additional power in certain instruments, Gribenski noted. For listeners who prefer lower 432 hertz music, “I wonder if there is a sense of deceleration, slowing down slightly, and also taking one step down from the bright sounds of modernity,” she said.
People who work with 432 hertz soundtracks give various explanations for their preference.
Amelia Beamer, who manages marketing at Andrews Apothecary, the North Carolina pharmacy her parents operate, believes taking work breaks to hear 432 hertz music helps manage her attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. She’s observed improved focus when she listens before beginning projects.
Beamer follows a pattern of working 25 minutes, taking five-minute listening breaks, then returning to her tasks. She also explores other frequencies, including 528 hertz music.
“It definitely helps me feel more grounded and more centered,” Beamer said about 432 hertz music. “It helps me slow down and to take some intentional space and time for myself.”
Diana Wolf Torres, who produces videos and writes a newsletter about robots, regularly experiences migraines and has noise sensitivity. When a neighbor’s gardener operates a leaf blower, she struggles to block it out. Playing 432 hertz music or sounds like white noise through noise-canceling headphones provides relief.
“I just want to be there and get it done and feel like I’m doing my best writing possible, and anything that keeps me in the zone is a fantastic tool,” Torres said.
Torres doesn’t believe there’s scientific basis or unique properties in 432 hertz music but thinks “maybe some people find this lower tuning more soothing.” She pointed out that most people can’t verify if music marked as 432 hertz on social platforms is correctly labeled.
“What does it matter? If you’re getting an effect, are you really going to check the resonance? Do you care?” Torres asked.
Sanchez, the telehealth professional, also enjoys music set to other alternative frequencies, including 528 hertz and 963 hertz.
“It’s something worth exploring and finding out for yourself whether it has any benefits or not,” Sanchez said. “For me, I find that grounding is beneficial to my overall wellbeing, so I see how it helps my livelihood.”
BUNAI, Congo (AP) — Emergency medical equipment was delivered to the epicenter of Congo’s deadly Ebola crisis on Thursday, as healthcare teams continue battling severe shortages, community resistance, and violent threats in an unstable area.
A white cargo aircraft touched down Thursday morning in Bunia, a northeastern community at the outbreak’s center, carrying protective masks, gloves, boots, and medicines provided by the European Union. U.N. forklifts loaded multiple crates onto waiting transport vehicles.
Associated Press journalists witnessed vacant emergency treatment facilities in Bunia, while medical staff in the neighboring community of Bambu were observed using outdated protective masks when caring for individuals suspected of having Ebola.
Health facilities in Ituri province have faced at least three documented attacks as community members objected to strict health measures that conflicted with traditional burial customs, increasing risks for medical personnel.
Additional EU shipments are scheduled to arrive in waves over the coming eight days, according to Jérôme Kouachi, who oversees emergency operations for UNICEF in Congo.
World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced Thursday his departure for Congo to personally observe efforts to control the Bundibugyo virus, which currently has no authorized treatment or prevention vaccine. WHO has classified this outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern to accelerate assistance.
Congo’s government has verified over 1,000 suspected infections, including a minimum of 220 fatalities, since officially announcing the outbreak on May 15. However, the virus had been circulating undetected for weeks, and WHO believes the actual scope far exceeds reported numbers.
The infection has crossed into Uganda, which has documented seven cases and one death. Wednesday brought news from the Congolese government that the first patient to overcome the virus had been discharged from a medical facility.
“We are trying to catch up,” Congo Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner stated earlier this week. “It is a race against the clock.”
Ground-level response efforts have encountered numerous obstacles, including bureaucratic delays at customs, inadequate storage space, deteriorated transportation routes, and poor communication networks, humanitarian organizations reported Thursday.
Tedros issued a ceasefire appeal Wednesday for an area where armed factions have conducted brutal attacks for decades. “We cannot build community trust or isolate the sick while bombs are falling,” he stated.
Located in Congo’s northeastern region near Uganda’s border, Ituri province has endured assaults by the Allied Democratic Force, a rebel organization linked to the Islamic State group, along with a coalition of ethnic militias. In early May, the ADF murdered at least 40 civilians and destroyed multiple homes in Ituri.
The disease has spread to two Congolese provinces south of Ituri — North Kivu and South Kivu, where the Rwanda-supported M23 rebel group controls numerous strategic cities, including Goma and Bukavu. The rebels have documented two cases. The area’s primary airport in Goma, which serves as a humanitarian operations hub, has remained shuttered since January 2025, when M23 captured the city.
The ongoing conflict has created one of the globe’s most severe humanitarian disasters, displacing at least 7 million people throughout eastern Congo.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors have launched a perjury probe targeting E. Jean Carroll, the advice columnist who alleges Donald Trump sexually assaulted her at a Manhattan department store three decades ago, a source with knowledge of the matter revealed.
The source, who was not permitted to speak publicly about the active investigation, disclosed the inquiry on condition of anonymity. Chicago-based federal prosecutors are spearheading the perjury probe, while acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has recused himself due to his previous role as Trump’s personal attorney, the source explained.
Carroll’s legal team did not respond immediately to Associated Press requests for comment Thursday.
This marks another in a string of probes launched by the Trump administration Justice Department targeting individuals viewed as presidential opponents. These moves, which include last month’s indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, have sparked concern among Democrats and former officials who worry about the politicization of an agency designed to operate independently from White House influence.
According to Carroll’s account, what began as a playful, accidental meeting with Trump in 1996 at Bergdorf Goodman’s Fifth Avenue location turned violent. She alleges Trump pushed her against a dressing room wall, yanked down her tights and sexually assaulted her. Trump has dismissed these claims as a “made-up scam.”
In 2023, a jury determined Trump was liable for sexually abusing Carroll in 1996, ordering him to pay $5 million in damages. A separate jury the next year awarded Carroll $83.3 million in a defamation lawsuit stemming from Trump’s social media posts attacking her.
A recent court filing indicated Trump can postpone payment of the award pending U.S. Supreme Court review or rejection of his appeal. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted Trump’s legal team’s request to delay payment to Carroll, though it mandated he post a $7.4 million bond to cover potential additional interest costs, as Carroll’s attorney had requested.
CNN initially reported on the Carroll investigation.
WASHINGTON — Weekly applications for unemployment benefits saw a modest increase, though job losses continue to stay at historically low levels even as the Iran war creates economic uncertainty.
Thursday’s report from the Labor Department showed that unemployment benefit filings climbed to 215,000, marking an increase from the previous week’s total of 210,000. The rolling four-week average, which helps eliminate weekly fluctuations, increased by nearly 6,300 to reach 209,000.
“Initial claims are still impressively low, near historic lows,” Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Economics, wrote in a commentary. “The uptick from last week to this week is trivial in a labor market of 159 million workers.″
Weekly unemployment benefit applications — which serve as an indicator of job cuts — have remained steady within a low band of primarily 200,000 to 250,000 per week ever since the U.S. economy recovered from a short but severe pandemic recession in 2020.
Americans receiving unemployment assistance increased by 15,000 to reach 1.79 million during the week ending May 16.
The consistently low claim numbers indicate that most American businesses have avoided resorting to workforce reductions. However, while companies aren’t eliminating positions, they also haven’t been creating many new ones. During the previous year, businesses, nonprofits and government agencies created less than 10,000 positions monthly, representing the weakest job growth outside of recession periods since 2002.
Monthly job growth has shown some improvement this year — reaching an average of 76,000 positions per month between January and April. This compares to employers creating 122,000 jobs monthly in 2024 and averaging close to 400,000 monthly from 2021 through 2023 during the economy’s strong recovery from COVID-19 restrictions.
However, the United States currently requires fewer new positions to prevent unemployment rates from climbing. President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and continuing Baby Boomer retirements means that the monthly “break-even rate″ for new hiring could be as minimal as zero. The unemployment rate — standing at 4.3% in April — has actually stayed low by historical measures.
The Iran war has created uncertainty for economic forecasts as elevated energy costs pressure both consumers and businesses. Iran responded to U.S. and Israeli attacks by launching economic warfare — shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil travels, and triggering the largest worldwide oil supply disruption in history. As a result, American gasoline prices have jumped to an average of $4.43 per gallon from an average $2.98 per gallon before the conflict began, according to AAA.
WASHINGTON — An important inflation measure reached its peak level in three years during April, providing fresh evidence that climbing gasoline and grocery prices are putting financial pressure on American households.
The Commerce Department reported Thursday that inflation climbed to 3.8% in April when measured against the same period last year, rising from March’s 3.5% and marking the steepest increase since May 2023. Month-to-month, costs increased 0.4%, which represents a slowdown from March’s 0.7% surge.
The data revealed that numerous products beyond gasoline have experienced price increases, suggesting that inflation may continue and create challenges for congressional Republicans during this year’s midterm elections. The inflation rate also remains well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal, potentially leading Fed officials to avoid reducing their primary short-term interest rate this year. Several officials have indicated their next action might involve raising rates instead of lowering them.
When removing the unpredictable food and energy sectors, core inflation increased to 3.3% in April from the prior month’s 3.2%. This represents the steepest core measurement since November 2023. However, the report contained one encouraging element: Core prices advanced only 0.2% from March to April.
Rising costs are also diminishing consumers’ purchasing power, as incomes remained flat between March and April. When accounting for inflation, incomes actually decreased by 0.1% during the month.
A Baptist pastor who serves as a state representative in northern Ohio is championing legislation known as the American Heritage Act that draws inspiration from Charlie Kirk’s educational philosophy.
The proposed legislation would allow educators to teach about the beneficial influence of Judeo-Christian principles throughout American history. The three-term lawmaker, Republican state Rep. Gary Click, represents constituents in northern Ohio and maintains his pastoral duties alongside his legislative responsibilities.
Critics of the proposed measure contend that it would present a biased perspective on historical events rather than providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the nation’s past.
The bill specifically focuses on permitting instruction regarding how Judeo-Christian values have positively shaped the development of the United States throughout its history.
Federal health advisors are scheduled to convene Thursday to determine the composition of COVID-19 vaccines for the upcoming 2026-2027 immunization period, with a focus on whether shots should target the prevalent XFG variant.
The Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee will hold the meeting and vote, with staff expressing worries about insufficient data on currently spreading virus strains.
The advisory committee will meet with its membership unchanged by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., indicating standard procedures continue following various vaccine policy changes under the health secretary.
Vaccine oversight has been in uncertainty for the past year after a court halted decisions from the CDC’s advisory panel regarding childhood vaccine recommendations, including COVID shots. The court ruled that Kennedy had not appropriately selected the panel members.
According to briefing materials published before Thursday’s session, the FDA stated that tracking COVID-19’s development has grown more challenging due to decreased virus monitoring, reduced genetic sequencing, and slower data sharing from state and local health agencies.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID tracking system shows this information gap, with weekly reports currently unavailable because of insufficient genetic sequencing submissions. The latest available data, now four weeks old, indicated XFG variants represented more than half of American cases during the four-week period ending April 11.
Jill Roberts, associate professor at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, explained that the decline in genetic sequencing stems from both the reduction of government monitoring personnel and decreased university research funding.
For the current 2025-26 period, the FDA had suggested COVID vaccines should focus on LP.8.1, which is a subtype of the JN.1 strain.
Although COVID variants continue evolving from the JN.1 strain, additional subtypes including NB.1.8.1 have appeared since May of last year, according to the FDA’s briefing materials.
Earlier this month, the World Health Organization advised vaccine producers to focus on the single-strain LP.8.1 variant or other presently spreading variants like XFG or NB.1.8.1.
The United States has authorized four COVID vaccines: Moderna’s mNEXSPIKE and Spikevax, Pfizer-BioNTech’s Comirnaty, with three using mRNA technology, plus Novavax-Sanofi’s protein-based vaccine that requires more time to produce.
Motorists traveling on W Newport Pike are dealing with lane restrictions today due to ongoing construction work in the area.
The eastbound right lane is currently closed between Adelphia Avenue and Westmont Avenue, with the restriction expected to remain in place until 5:00 PM this evening.
Drivers are advised to plan for potential delays and consider alternate routes if possible during the affected hours.
WASHINGTON – Manufacturing orders for essential business equipment took an unexpected downturn in April, despite continued strong investment in artificial intelligence technology driving demand across multiple sectors.
The Commerce Department’s Census Bureau reported Thursday that non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft – a key indicator of business investment – declined 1.1% last month. This followed a revised 3.9% increase in March.
The April decrease caught economists off guard, as Reuters polling had predicted a 0.4% rise following what was initially reported as a 3.4% March increase. These core equipment orders had also surged in February, contributing to double-digit equipment spending growth during the first quarter.
Companies continue expanding their artificial intelligence investments, driving up demand for information processing equipment and related technology products.
This AI investment trend is helping support manufacturing activity and offsetting challenges from disrupted supply chains caused by the U.S.-backed conflict with Iran, along with rising costs for commodities including oil and aluminum. Certain manufacturing sectors continue facing impacts from import tariffs.
Computer and electronic product orders decreased 0.7% in April. However, several categories saw growth, including electrical equipment, appliances, components, machinery, primary metals, and fabricated metal products. Core capital goods shipments increased 0.4% during the month, following a 1.3% March gain.
Overall durable goods orders – covering products from household appliances to aircraft designed to last at least three years – jumped 7.9% last month after a 1.3% March increase.
Aircraft orders drove much of this growth, with non-defense aircraft and parts orders surging 165.9%. Boeing’s website showed the company received 136 orders in April, mostly for higher-priced aircraft models, compared to 33 orders the previous month.
Israeli forces conducted an attack on Thursday targeting a structure in the southern outskirts of Lebanon’s capital, marking the first such operation near Beirut in several weeks during an ongoing ceasefire that has not prevented combat between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Military officials from Israel confirmed they executed a targeted operation in Beirut without providing further specifics.
According to two Israeli security sources, the operation aimed at Ali al-Husseini, identified by them as the leader of the missile unit within the Imam Hussein Division, a group that Israeli authorities claim has ties to Hezbollah and Iran.
Neither Hezbollah nor Iran provided immediate responses regarding the attack. A security source from Lebanon reported that the operation involved two precision-guided missiles directed at a structure in the southern outskirts of Beirut.
The operation further weakened an already deteriorating ceasefire that Washington announced on April 16, designed to end the conflict between Israel and Iran-supported Hezbollah that began on March 2.
Combat between these long-standing adversaries has persisted, primarily focused in southern Lebanon. Except for an attack on Beirut’s southern outskirts in early May that resulted in the death of a Hezbollah commander, the capital and surrounding areas had avoided fresh attacks during the truce period.
According to Israeli officials, military forces had refrained from conducting operations in Beirut for three weeks following requests from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. However, Israeli surveillance aircraft continue to operate over Beirut daily.
The two Israeli security sources indicated that Thursday’s operation followed what they termed “very intense dialogue” with the Trump administration over recent days.
Significant Israeli attacks struck communities and villages in southern Lebanon overnight and continuing into Thursday, after Israel designated a new section of the region “a combat zone.”
Israeli military authorities instructed residents to evacuate any communities south of the Zahrani River, located approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Israel’s border with Lebanon.
Combined with a border area under military occupation, Israel’s evacuation directives over the past three months cover roughly 2,000 square kilometers of Lebanon – approximately one-fifth of the nation’s total area.
An Israeli attack Thursday morning resulted in six deaths, including two children and their parents, near the southern community of Adloun, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
A separate attack on the port city of Sidon claimed five lives, including two women. Sidon sits outside the area marked as a combat zone by Israeli forces, and the attack occurred without advance warning.
Taghrida Ramadan, a resident of Sidon, spoke to Reuters about being awakened from sleep by the strike that hit a building opposite her home.
“We looked around and found the rubble on us – stones from the strike, because it was nearby and directly facing us,” Ramadan said. Though her residence sustained damage, her family members avoided serious harm.
A later Israeli attack on Thursday killed two Syrian citizens, including a child, in the city of Tyre, which sits within the zone Israel ordered evacuated.
Motorists traveling along Hardscrabble Road should expect delays this evening as intermittent lane restrictions continue affecting traffic flow.
The closures are impacting the stretch of Route 20 from James Road (Road 478) to County Seat Highway (Route 9), with restrictions expected to remain in place until 7 PM today.
Drivers are advised to plan for additional travel time or consider alternate routes to avoid potential delays in the area.
Motorists traveling on Route 1 southbound should expect to see cleanup crews working in the median area between Middletown and Smyrna through 4:30 PM today.
The debris removal work is currently underway in the median strip of the highway. Drivers are advised to use caution while passing through the work zone.
The cleanup operation is expected to wrap up by late afternoon.
Motorists traveling on Summit Bridge Road should expect to see cleanup crews working along the roadway through this afternoon.
A trash removal operation is currently underway on Route 896 in both the northbound and southbound lanes. The work is taking place on the shoulder and in the median strip between the Pulaski Highway intersection and Red Lion Road.
The cleanup operation is scheduled to continue until 4:30 p.m. today. Drivers in the area may encounter slower traffic or lane restrictions while crews complete their work.
A Salisbury University baseball player has reached the pinnacle of collegiate recognition after being selected for national honors.
Aidan Brinsfield, a right-handed pitcher for the Salisbury University baseball squad, has been named to the Third-Team All-American roster by D3baseball.com. The organization made the announcement Thursday morning, recognizing Brinsfield’s outstanding performance throughout the season.
The honor represents the culmination of Brinsfield’s development as one of the top pitchers in college baseball. His selection places him among the nation’s most elite collegiate players at his position.
Fatal overdoses from illegal substances continue their downward trajectory nationwide, though certain western regions are bucking this positive trend with rising death rates, according to recent findings.
Public health experts point to several systematic improvements in addiction treatment that are contributing to the overall decline. One major factor is the expanded availability of naloxone, commonly referred to as Narcan, which can reverse the effects of an overdose.
The overdose-reversing medication has become increasingly accessible to communities across the country, with researchers crediting this widespread distribution as a key element in dramatically cutting overdose fatalities nationwide.
Despite the encouraging national statistics, health officials note that some western areas are still grappling with increases in drug-related deaths, creating a complex picture of the ongoing addiction crisis.
The mixed results highlight the importance of continued efforts to address substance abuse through both treatment programs and harm reduction strategies like naloxone distribution.
The European Union has prohibited applications that digitally strip clothing from photographs as part of its continuing efforts to combat online pornography and the sexual exploitation of minors. These programs enable users to manipulate innocent photographs of regular individuals, creating fake nude images that appear to show the person without clothing, which are then distributed across the internet. Minors are especially vulnerable to this type of exploitation. Supporters are calling for United States regulators to implement comparable measures.
New research conducted by academics at four universities reveals concerning bias patterns in artificial intelligence responses to religious inquiries. The collaborative study involving researchers from BYU, Baylor, Notre Dame and Yeshiva University discovered that AI chatbots consistently show preference for Catholic perspectives when addressing questions about faith and spirituality.
The research uncovered an additional troubling trend: these AI systems frequently block religious content completely, including situations where individuals experiencing personal crises or significant life challenges explicitly request spiritual guidance. Religious leaders across various denominations are now cautioning their congregations about relying on artificial intelligence for faith-based counsel.
Religious leaders across the nation are pressing Congress to dramatically increase federal funding for house of worship security as incidents targeting faith communities continue to rise. Pastors, rabbis and imams are requesting lawmakers allocate one billion dollars to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides financial assistance to religious organizations seeking to enhance their safety measures. The federal program helps cover costs for security improvements including bulletproof glass installations, surveillance camera systems, and other protective equipment for religious buildings. Many smaller faith communities lack the financial resources to implement these crucial safety upgrades without federal assistance, making the grant program essential for protecting congregations nationwide.
Motorists traveling on N James Street should expect delays due to ongoing construction work that has closed the right lane.
The lane closure affects northbound traffic on N James Street in the area between E Justis Street and McMichaels Court. Construction crews are working in the area, requiring the temporary lane restriction.
According to traffic officials, the right lane closure is expected to remain in effect until 3 PM today. Drivers are advised to use caution when traveling through the work zone and allow extra time for their commute.
Fertitta, the entertainment company behind Las Vegas’ Golden Nugget casino and restaurant chains including Rainforest Cafe and Morton’s, is purchasing Caesars Entertainment in a nearly $6 billion deal.
The casino company gained legendary status following the 1966 launch of Caesar’s Palace on the Las Vegas Strip, though the business traces its origins to 1930s Reno, Nevada.
Under the acquisition terms, Fertitta Entertainment will provide $5.7 billion in cash while assuming nearly $12 billion of Caesars’ existing debt, bringing the complete transaction value to approximately $17.6 billion.
The purchase agreement includes a provision allowing Caesars to solicit alternative offers until July 11.
Shareholders of Caesars will receive $31 per share in cash, representing a 49% increase above the stock price before acquisition discussions surfaced in February.
Caesars Entertainment Inc. stock, which has climbed 15% since merger speculation began, gained nearly 2% in pre-market trading Thursday.
American military forces executed additional defensive operations against Iran following President Trump’s declaration that Iran is “negotiating on fumes” and his assertion that the upcoming November midterm elections won’t pressure him into hastily reaching an agreement to resolve the conflict that has stretched nearly three months.
Additionally, a federal court judge refused to stop Trump’s executive directive establishing a federal voter registry and restricting mail-in voting, paving the way for potentially major modifications to American election procedures just ahead of this year’s midterm contests.
Here are the latest developments:
A federal court judge refused to stop Trump’s executive directive establishing a federal voter registry and restricting mail-in voting, paving the way for potentially major modifications to American election procedures just ahead of this year’s midterm contests.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington, D.C., a Trump appointee, on Wednesday evening denied the petition from Democrats and civil rights organizations who had contended that Trump’s directive would likely be deemed unconstitutional since states and Congress, rather than the president, possess authority to establish election procedures. Nichols sided with the Trump administration’s argument that it was premature to issue the directive since implementation had not yet begun.
The court challenge to the provision now moves to Boston, where voting rights organizations have filed a separate federal lawsuit challenging the executive directive.
The American military reported that Kuwait had intercepted missiles fired by Iran late Wednesday evening, describing the Iranian assault on one of America’s key Persian Gulf allies as an “egregious ceasefire violation.”
The assault on Kuwait represented the most recent escalation threatening the fragile ceasefire established last month between America and Iran.
Kuwait had previously confirmed an attack on its territory, while Iran announced it had responded following strikes earlier this week on an American base in an unnamed Gulf state.
The Iranian attack followed earlier weekly American strikes on Iranian missile launch facilities, minelaying vessels and attack drones that officials said presented threats near the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.
The American military on Wednesday attacked another vessel suspected of drug transportation in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in two fatalities.
U.S. Southern Command shared video on social media displaying a boat floating on water before being hit by an explosion. The final moments of the footage show smoke and flames emerging from the vessel.
One day prior, American forces had launched an attack on an alleged drug vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing one person and leaving two survivors. Southern Command reported it “immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard to activate the Search and Rescue system for the survivors.”
The Trump administration’s strategy of destroying suspected drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters, including the eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea, has continued since early September and resulted in at least 196 total deaths. The military has not presented evidence that any of the vessels contained drugs.
The Trump administration has quietly directed federal prosecutors in Miami to refrain from pursuing criminal investigations into Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez, a long-standing target of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, according to current and former U.S. law enforcement officials, marking the latest indication of improving relations between the White House and the oil-rich nation.
It remains uncertain whether prosecutors had connected Rodríguez to any crimes or whether investigators were approaching an indictment. A Justice Department spokesperson stated in an email, “There was never an investigation into her to shut down.”
However, DEA documents obtained by The Associated Press earlier this year demonstrate she repeatedly appeared on federal law enforcement’s radar dating back to at least 2018, though she has never faced criminal charges in the U.S. like several other high-ranking Venezuelan officials.
The instruction to suspend scrutiny of Rodríguez was intended to prevent disrupting the administration’s efforts to stabilize Venezuela following the capture of her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, among other factors, the official stated. It remained unclear whether the White House, which referred comment to the Justice Department, participated in the decision.
Global markets fell Thursday following additional operations that the American military described as defensive strikes against Iran.
Oil prices rose more than $2 per barrel after having dropped significantly the previous day.
In early European trading, Germany’s DAX remained nearly flat at 25,175.63 and the CAC 40 in Paris declined 0.4% to 8,172.84. Britain’s FTSE 100 dropped 0.9% to 10,416.62.
The futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.1%.
On Wednesday, American stocks reached new records after oil prices fell more than 4%, reducing pressure on consumers and businesses globally.
American forces executed additional defensive operations against Iran on Wednesday following Trump’s assertion that Iran is “negotiating on fumes” and his insistence that November’s midterm elections won’t pressure him into hastily reaching an agreement to end the nearly three-month conflict.
U.S. Central Command forces destroyed four Iranian one-way attack drones that presented a threat around the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. officials who were not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.
The American military also attacked an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was preparing to launch a fifth drone, the officials reported.
Information about the operations became available after Trump, during a Cabinet meeting earlier Wednesday, expressed confidence that his administration was making progress on resolving the conflict, even though negotiations remain highly uncertain.
Astronomy enthusiasts should prepare for an extraordinary celestial display this weekend featuring a blue micromoon — combining the rarity of a blue moon with the year’s most distant and tiniest-appearing full moon.
Adding to the spectacle, the bright star Antares will create a photobombing effect during Sunday’s event, delivering a triple celestial treat.
Blue moons happen approximately every two to three years whenever a month contains two complete lunar cycles. This month’s initial full moon occurred on May 1.
Due to the moon’s elliptical orbital path, this weekend’s full moon will sit unusually far from our planet at 252,360 miles (406,135 kilometers), causing it to look somewhat smaller and less bright. This contrasts with a supermoon, which occurs when the full moon moves closer than normal. The latest supermoon, by comparison, was positioned at only 225,130 miles (362,312 kilometers) from Earth.
Gianluca Masi from the Virtual Telescope Project, who plans to broadcast the event live from Italy, explained that Sunday’s micromoon will look roughly 6% smaller and 10% less luminous than a typical full moon — “differences that are subtle enough to likely go unnoticed by most observers.”
The spectacle will be particularly exciting for viewers south of the equator throughout the Pacific region.
Observers in Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, eastern Australia, portions of Antarctica and several other islands will witness Antares briefly disappear as the blue micromoon moves across it.
This red supergiant star sits 550 light-years from Earth and carries the nickname “heart of scorpion” within the Scorpius constellation. One light-year equals nearly 6 trillion miles (9.7 trillion kilometers).
People watching from other global locations won’t see this vanishing effect, but will still observe Antares shining steadily next to the full moon.
Despite its name, this blue moon won’t display turquoise, sapphire or any other color. The designation simply describes the unusual event of experiencing two full moons within a single month.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Television comedian Conan O’Brien will address Harvard University’s graduating class during Thursday’s commencement ceremony, as the prestigious institution continues facing legal challenges from the Trump administration.
Federal officials filed a lawsuit against Harvard in March, claiming the university’s leadership has not adequately confronted antisemitism on its campus. This legal action follows a previous court ruling that favored Harvard and required the administration to restore billions in funding cuts.
The federal government had previously eliminated over $2.6 billion from Harvard’s research budget, terminated government contracts and tried to prevent the institution from welcoming international students. University officials maintained they were being unlawfully punished for declining to embrace the Trump administration’s positions.
Recent Harvard graduation ceremonies have taken on increasingly political overtones, largely due to these continuing conflicts with federal authorities.
During last year’s ceremony, students applauded speakers who stressed the importance of preserving a diverse international student population and defending truth against administration attacks. The previous year saw graduates exit the ceremony while chanting “Free, free Palestine” following weeks of campus demonstrations concerning the Gaza conflict. Other attendees responded with chants of “Let them walk, let them walk” after the university announced that some students involved in protest encampments would not receive their diplomas with fellow graduates.
For this year’s ceremony, Harvard graduate students who are currently on strike have declared plans to protest outside commencement due to stalled contract negotiations with university administration. The more than 4,000 graduate student workers are seeking improved compensation, an independent system for addressing harassment and discrimination issues, and contract protections for international and disabled employees, along with additional demands.
A Washington federal judge has refused to stop President Donald Trump’s executive order that would establish a federal voter registry and restrict mail-in voting, allowing the controversial directive to proceed as midterm elections approach.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, who was appointed by Trump, turned down the emergency request late Wednesday from Democrats and civil rights organizations. The groups had contended that Trump’s directive would likely violate the Constitution since states and Congress, rather than the president, hold authority over election procedures. Nichols sided with the Trump administration’s argument that it was premature to block the order since no implementation has begun.
“The Court recognizes that the Postal Service may ultimately issue a final rule that directly affects Plaintiffs or their members, or that the Government may develop State Citizenship Lists that omit specific individuals due to particularized flaws,” Nichols wrote. “Plaintiffs may, of course, renew their motions if and when those future actions occur. Until then, however, Plaintiffs cannot show that preliminary injunctive relief is warranted.”
The court fight now moves to Boston, where voting rights advocates have filed another federal lawsuit challenging the executive order.
Trump signed the directive in March following congressional stalling of a voting reform bill he had backed. The order would establish a federal registry of qualified voters and instruct the U.S. Postal Service to mail ballots exclusively to individuals on that registry. Election administrators have warned the plan could lead to widespread problems and potential misuse.
Following his 2020 election defeat to Democrat Joe Biden, Trump has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims about mail voting fraud and initiated a federal probe into that election, despite numerous audits and reviews, including Republican-led ones, confirming no significant fraud occurred. Trump has also expressed intentions to “take over” election oversight in Democratic regions.
Democrats and civil rights advocates had pressed Nichols for an immediate restraining order, citing the ongoing primary season and states’ preparations for November midterm contests.
This marks Trump’s second executive directive aimed at election reform. His first election order, signed early in his second term, remains blocked by several federal judges. That initial directive sought to mandate documentary citizenship proof for voter registration, along with additional requirements.
Competition continued Thursday for the fifth day of action at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, with highlights from matches played and scheduled throughout the day.
At 11:30 GMT, Italy’s 10th-seeded Flavio Cobolli secured his spot in the third round by defeating China’s Wu Yibing with straight-set scores of 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. This marks Cobolli’s second consecutive year reaching the third round at the tournament.
Earlier at 11:15 GMT, 16th-seeded Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, overcame Donna Vekic with scores of 7-6(1), 6-4. Osaka’s victory sets up a third-round meeting against 17th-seeded Iva Jovic.
Competition began at 9:09 GMT under pleasant weather conditions at Roland Garros, with temperatures starting around 27 degrees Celsius and forecasted to climb to approximately 32 degrees throughout the day.
The day’s featured matches included world number one and top-seeded Jannik Sinner opening play on Court Philippe Chatrier against Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo in second-round action. Women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka was also scheduled to compete later against France’s Elsa Jacquemot.
The complete order of play for Thursday included matches across three main courts, with Court Philippe Chatrier beginning at 10:00 GMT and Courts Suzanne Lenglen and Simonne Mathieu starting at 9:00 GMT. Notable scheduled matches featured top-seeded players including Coco Gauff facing Egypt’s Mayar Sherif and Ben Shelton taking on Belgium’s Raphael Collignon.
MOSCOW, May 28 – Moscow’s foreign ministry challenged European nations on Thursday to provide evidence supporting accusations that Russia is disrupting GPS signals across the continent.
An official from Lithuania stated Tuesday that Russia has the capability to interfere with GPS signals as far as 450 kilometers (280 miles) into European territory from its Kaliningrad territory, thanks to significantly enhanced technological capacity.
European countries have repeatedly blamed Russia for electronic disruption activities following the 2022 Ukraine invasion, though President Vladimir Putin’s administration has consistently rejected these claims, instead pointing to Western disinformation campaigns.
“Let them first present at least some evidence,” foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told reporters when asked about the allegations.
“Then something can be discussed, something can be talked about. So far, these are just words, and you can’t take their word for it.”
In the previous year, a Spanish military aircraft carrying Defence Minister Margarita Robles encountered GPS interference while flying near Kaliningrad, and an aircraft transporting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen experienced signal jamming during a flight to Bulgaria.
VATICAN CITY – In a significant theological shift, Pope Leo has formally rejected a foundational Catholic teaching that has guided church thinking on warfare for more than 1,500 years, according to a new papal document released this week.
The pontiff’s abandonment of the ‘just war’ doctrine came in his inaugural major encyclical published Monday, which also called for worldwide oversight of artificial intelligence systems and delivered the church’s most direct acknowledgment of its historical involvement in the Atlantic slave trade.
“The ‘just war’ theory which has all too often been used to justify any kind of war, is now outdated,” Pope Leo stated in the document titled “Magnifica Humanitas” (Magnificent Humanity).
“Humanity possesses far more effective and capable tools for promoting human life and resolving conflicts, such as dialogue, diplomacy and forgiveness,” the pope wrote.
Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, a papal confidant who attended Monday’s Vatican unveiling, explained to Reuters that the pontiff worries about world leaders misappropriating the doctrine to validate military actions.
“We have to make clear that the just war theory was always meant to be a restraint, not a permission slip which sadly some are misusing to justify their decisions to go to war rather than seek the ways of peace,” Cupich stated.
The papal declaration comes amid tensions with the Trump administration, particularly after Pope Leo criticized the Iran conflict. The pontiff has recently adopted stronger language and drawn criticism from President Donald Trump.
Trump administration figures, including Catholic Vice President JD Vance, have referenced the just war principles to defend the Iran military campaign. Following an April social media post from the pope’s account stating God “is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword,” Vance responded at a Georgia gathering, suggesting the pontiff should “be careful when he talks about matters of theology.”
British scholar Anna Rowlands, who participated in Monday’s Vatican presentation, told Reuters that Pope Leo is addressing concerns about “a new age of changing conflict, now increasingly tech driven.”
“It is a strong statement about the need for (just war theory) to be placed in a renewed wider context of criteria for building peace and resolving conflict,” Rowlands said regarding the pope’s outdated theory declaration.
The warfare doctrine traces back to St. Augustine of Hippo, an influential early church leader who inspired Pope Leo’s priestly vocation. The pontiff belongs to the Augustinian religious community based on the saint’s principles.
Augustine, who passed away in 430 AD, established specific standards for determining legitimate warfare. He argued conflicts should aim only to restore peace and never stem from cruel motivations.
These Augustinian guidelines continue as fundamental curriculum at global military institutions, including West Point, the Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy in America.
Some Iran war opponents have also cited Augustine’s framework to challenge the conflict, which began with coordinated U.S.-Israeli surprise attacks on Iran February 28. Washington Cardinal Robert McElroy declared the war “morally illegitimate” in April, referencing Augustine’s teachings.
Marie Dennis, former head of the global Catholic peace organization Pax Christi, said Pope Leo’s document “exposes the fiction of a ‘just war’ with the truth about a culture of power that is normalizing war.”
“Pope Leo joins millions of others around the world, including in the U.S., who see hope in the proven effectiveness of nonviolent strategies for protecting democracy, transforming conflict, and legitimate defense,” Dennis concluded.
Casino giant Caesars Entertainment announced Thursday it has agreed to be acquired by a company owned by hospitality billionaire Tilman Fertitta in a massive $17.6 billion transaction that will expand his entertainment holdings.
The acquisition will make the prominent Las Vegas Strip casino company a private entity and includes approximately $11.9 billion in debt that will be taken on, according to the announcement.
Stock prices for the casino company jumped 2.5% during premarket hours and have climbed roughly 16% since news of the potential deal first emerged in February.
Fertitta, who serves as the U.S. ambassador to Italy and San Marino and heads Fertitta Entertainment, has proposed paying $31 for each share — representing almost a 50% increase over the stock price before the deal became public knowledge.
Key leadership, including CEO Tom Reeg and CFO Bret Yunker, are anticipated to remain in their positions. The agreement features a “go-shop” provision lasting until July 11, giving Caesars the opportunity to explore and discuss other potential offers.
Fertitta Entertainment, which operates the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casinos along with the Houston Rockets basketball franchise, had previously contacted Caesars in 2018 regarding a possible merger with his gaming operations, according to earlier reports.
His restaurant and hospitality business encompasses more than 600 locations spanning 36 states and over 15 nations, featuring popular dining chains like Rainforest Café and Bubba Gump Shrimp.
Caesars merged with competitor Eldorado Resorts in 2020, creating one of America’s largest casino and entertainment corporations — a transaction initiated after activist investor and billionaire Carl Icahn acquired shares and advocated for a company sale.
The company operates more than 50 gaming facilities throughout North America, including properties like Caesars Palace, Harrah’s and Eldorado. It also manages retail and digital sports betting platforms.
Caesars is experiencing increased challenges as declining Las Vegas tourism — its primary revenue source — reduces income from its resorts, hotels and gaming venues, while its digital betting division lags behind major competitors like FanDuel and DraftKings amid intensifying market competition from prediction platforms.
TOKYO, May 28 – Officials from Japan and the Philippines announced Thursday their intention to negotiate a classified information sharing agreement that would facilitate increased military equipment transfers from Tokyo to Manila, potentially including warships.
The two nations have been strengthening their defense and security relationship as they respond to China’s increasing assertiveness throughout the South China Sea region and near Taiwan. Japan has recently eliminated long-standing limitations on combat equipment exports, a policy shift that is expected to benefit the Philippines.
“In order to respond to the increasingly severe strategic environment in the region, we will continue to deepen cooperation with the Philippines,” Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated during a press conference in Tokyo alongside Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The leaders agreed to upgrade their relationship to a “Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership.”
Under a new defense equipment cooperation framework, Japan is exploring the possibility of supplying naval destroyers and patrol aircraft to Manila.
The closer relationship with Japan aligns with Marcos’ efforts to strengthen security partnerships with the United States and its allies as the Philippines faces ongoing confrontations with Chinese vessels in contested waters.
Takaichi and Marcos also reached an agreement on energy security cooperation, including an initiative by Takaichi to assist Asian nations in better managing energy disruptions following the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Motorists traveling southbound on Interstate 95 should expect to see cleanup crews working along the roadway today as a litter removal operation takes place on the shoulder.
The cleanup work spans from the Maryland state line down to the Newark toll plaza and is scheduled to run until 4 PM this afternoon.
Drivers are advised to use caution when passing through the area where crews are working.
Motorists traveling on Interstate 95 southbound should be aware of ongoing litter removal activities taking place along the highway’s shoulder today.
The cleanup operation extends from the Maryland border down to the Newark toll plaza, with crews expected to wrap up their work by 4 PM this afternoon.
Drivers in the area may notice the maintenance crews working along the roadway shoulder during their commute.
A federal judge in Washington D.C. has refused to issue a temporary injunction against President Trump’s executive order targeting mail-in voting restrictions. The judicial decision allows the executive order to remain in effect for now.
The executive order, which President Trump signed in the White House’s Oval Office in March, seeks to impose limitations on voting by mail procedures. The order has faced legal challenges since its implementation.
While this particular judge declined to block the order temporarily, legal proceedings continue as another judge is expected to potentially issue a ruling on the executive order in the near future.
A construction project is causing traffic disruptions on a busy stretch of Route 9 in New Castle County today.
The right shoulder is blocked to traffic on southbound Route 9 at the intersection with Wrangle Hill Road between Clinton Street and Clarks Corner Road. The closure is scheduled to remain in effect until 3 p.m.
Drivers using this corridor should allow extra time for their commute and exercise caution when traveling through the work zone.
Motorists traveling on N Star Road are encountering intermittent lane restrictions today as construction crews continue their work along a section of the roadway.
The temporary lane closures are affecting the stretch of N Star Road located between Planet Road and Cox Road. According to traffic officials, these restrictions are expected to remain in place until 5 PM today.
Drivers are advised to plan for potential delays and consider alternate routes if possible while the construction activity continues in the area.
MILAN (AP) — Law enforcement officials in Italy have confiscated assets valued at more than 200 million euros ($232 million) connected to the drug trafficking operations of deceased crime boss Matteo Messina Denaro, according to anti-mafia prosecutors who announced Thursday that the action represents a significant strike against the Sicilian Mafia’s efforts to reconstruct its economic strength.
Among the confiscated items were over 12 kilograms (26 pounds) of gold bars, substantial amounts of cash, high-end timepieces and approximately 20 upscale properties, law enforcement officials revealed during a press briefing.
Messina Denaro passed away in a correctional facility medical unit roughly nine months following his capture in January 2023, bringing to an end three decades of evading authorities. He had been convicted in absentia for his role in numerous killings, including his participation in orchestrating two 1992 bombings that claimed the lives of prominent anti-Mafia prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino.
During the probe into drug trafficking proceeds spanning multiple decades, officials detained three individuals and mandated the confiscation of assets, enterprises and financial interests exceeding 200 million euros in value.
Over 150 Italian financial police personnel conducted operations within Italy and internationally, spanning locations such as Andorra, Gibraltar, the Cayman Islands, Switzerland, Lebanon, Monaco and Spain.
Giovanni Melillo, Italy’s national anti-mafia prosecutor, stated the confiscations represent part of a comprehensive campaign to destroy the Sicilian Mafia’s financial foundation and stop it from reconstructing criminal operations with worldwide economic and social reach, including the use of threats and intimidation.
European Union officials have imposed a hefty 200 million euro ($232 million) penalty on the Chinese e-commerce platform Temu following an investigation that revealed the company failed to safeguard shoppers from dangerous merchandise including harmful toys and risky electronic devices.
The punishment from the 27-country European Union comes after initial research last year showed Temu was putting customers at significant risk by allowing items such as infant toys and small electronic gadgets that violated EU safety standards to be sold through its marketplace.
Officials issued the financial penalty using authority granted under the Digital Services Act, a comprehensive set of regulations that mandates online marketplaces take greater responsibility for protecting users from dangerous content and questionable merchandise, with substantial fines as enforcement.
In response, Temu stated it disagreed with the ruling and viewed the penalty as “disproportionate.”
“The decision relates to the commission’s first DSA evaluation of Temu in 2024 and does not reflect the current state of our systems,” the company said.
“Temu engaged constructively with the Commission throughout the process and has since taken further steps to strengthen risk assessment, platform governance, and user protection,” it said in a statement.
The marketplace has gained popularity by offering inexpensive merchandise ranging from apparel to household items delivered from Chinese vendors. The service has attracted 92 million European users and operates under PDD Holdings Inc., the same company that runs the well-known Chinese shopping website Pinduoduo.
European Commission officials determined that Temu failed to properly identify, examine and evaluate the systematic dangers posed by prohibited merchandise available through its platform and the potential damage to European customers.
Regulators conducted a “mystery shopping exercise” that discovered numerous “non-compliant” items, including multiple electronic device chargers that couldn’t pass fundamental safety evaluations. They also discovered an extremely high proportion of infant toys that created safety hazards, either due to chemical content exceeding permitted levels or detachable components that could create choking dangers.
The commission emphasized that inadequate risk evaluation represents an especially severe violation of the region’s digital regulations.
“Risk assessments are not box‐ticking exercises,” European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkunnen said.
“Temu’s risk assessment underestimates concrete risks, lacks specificity, is not grounded in solid evidence, and is not comprehensive,” she said in a prepared statement. “It leaves regulators, users, and the public in the dark about the true scale of potential harm posed by illegal products sold on Temu. Now it is time for Temu to comply with the law.”
Temu must provide an “action plan” to address the issues by the end of August. The company could face additional ongoing penalties if it doesn’t meet compliance requirements.
Authorities in Switzerland say a knife-wielding attacker injured three people at a railway station Thursday morning before law enforcement took him into custody.
The incident occurred just after 8:30 a.m. at the station in Winterthur, according to a statement from Zurich regional police. Officials report the suspect is a 31-year-old Swiss citizen, though investigators have not yet determined what motivated the attack.
Emergency responders transported the three injured individuals to area hospitals. The victims, all Swiss nationals aged 28, 43, and 52, sustained wounds of undisclosed severity.
Winterthur, home to approximately 123,000 people, sits in northeastern Switzerland close to Zurich, the nation’s largest metropolitan area.
SEOUL, South Korea — A 68-year-old Chinese political activist remains in South Korean custody following a dangerous sea journey in a small rubber boat, marking his fourth known attempt to flee his homeland in hopes of reuniting with family members abroad.
Dong Guangping was discovered Monday evening aboard a 3.3-meter (10.8-foot) inflatable vessel near a western South Korean island, where coast guard officials detained him for suspected immigration law violations.
Coast guard authorities requested a formal arrest warrant, but a local court rejected the request Thursday, stating it was “difficult to recognize sufficient grounds and necessity” for his detention. Officials announced later Thursday they would transfer him to immigration authorities while continuing their investigation.
The activist’s future remains uncertain. Authorities may seek another arrest warrant or file charges without keeping him in custody. Should Dong request refugee protection, the Justice Ministry indicated it would evaluate his application.
Although evidence of political persecution in China could strengthen his refugee claim, experts point out that South Korea has approved fewer than 2% of refugee applications in recent years.
The former Chinese police officer has faced multiple detentions in his home country due to his political activities. He served three years in prison starting in 2001 for “inciting subversion of state power” and was jailed for more than eight months following a 2014 arrest for taking part in a memorial commemorating victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, based on previous Amnesty International reports.
During Thursday’s court appearance, he informed reporters of his desire to travel to Canada through South Korea to join his wife and daughters, who have already established residence there, according to South Korean news outlets.
His previous escape efforts included fleeing to Thailand and Vietnam, where officials sent him back to China. Dong also made an unsuccessful attempt to swim to a Taiwanese island.
Chinese Canadian activist Sheng Xue commended Dong’s courage in a Wednesday post on X. She revealed that Dong had discussed the boat escape plan with her, though she considered it extremely risky. She said she reconnected with Dong via Messenger after his arrival in South Korea.
“Dong Guangping said that when he reached Korean waters, he was already in a state of unconsciousness. He hadn’t slept for over 50 hours and had been blown by sea winds for over 30 hours,” she said.
Coast guard officials handling the case reported no serious health concerns when Dong was apprehended. They said he informed investigators he departed from Weihai city in China’s eastern Shandong province but has declined to answer most other inquiries.
When questioned about Dong’s situation during a regular briefing Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded that she was “not familiar with that.”
South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il told reporters Thursday that Dong’s case would probably be processed according to domestic law, while directing additional questions to Justice Ministry immigration officials.
The Canadian Embassy in Seoul acknowledged awareness of reports regarding Dong but stated it could not provide additional commentary.
While rare, Dong is not the first Chinese activist to reach South Korea by watercraft. In 2023, Kwon Pyong, another Chinese dissident, arrived in South Korea on a jet ski, claiming he was fleeing persecution for ridiculing China’s communist government. He was initially held in South Korea but later reportedly relocated to the United States to pursue asylum.
