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Officials in Israel confirmed Wednesday the identity of a young woman who died during a Hezbollah missile attack in the country’s northern region, as ongoing rocket barrages continue to injure civilians nationwide.

Twenty-seven-year-old Nuriel Dubin lost her life when a missile struck Mahanayim Junction on Tuesday. Emergency responders from Magen David Adom discovered her body upon reaching the attack site. Medical personnel transported two additional victims to hospitals, including one man who suffered head wounds from flying debris.

Local officials from Margaliot in the Upper Galilee region reported that Dubin leaves behind her parents Yoram and Shoshana, siblings Aviram and Sapir, and her fiancé Yadid. According to municipal statements, she dedicated her career to working with young people as both a youth counselor and preschool caregiver while also fulfilling duties as a reserve combat soldier. The couple had recently become engaged in September 2025 and were making preparations for their September 2026 wedding ceremony.

Warning sirens continued blaring throughout northern Israel following the deadly attack, alerting residents to additional incoming projectiles. Two civilians in Safed suffered minor cuts from flying glass fragments when rockets impacted their area.

Southern Israel also experienced violence when debris from an intercepted Iranian missile wounded Dr. Asra Abu Rafa, a physician in his thirties who works at Soroka Medical Center. The incident occurred near his residence in the Bedouin community of Alsira, close to Nevatim, where the missile was shot down. Medical officials reported his wife and baby daughter remained in stable condition.

Hospital staff at Soroka Medical Center provided care for 17 individuals experiencing acute anxiety reactions related to the attacks.

First responders maintained their efforts addressing rocket and missile damage throughout various locations, delivering medical assistance to injured persons in both the northern and southern territories.

JERUSALEM (AP) — A recently unsealed court document reveals that an Israeli judge has terminated an investigation into a Palestinian teenager’s death in custody, ruling that while the 17-year-old clearly suffered from starvation, investigators cannot definitively establish what killed him.

The decision offers new details about Israel’s approach to the controversial case involving Walid Ahmad, who Palestinian authorities say became the youngest Palestinian to die while in Israeli custody.

Ahmad’s family described him as being in good health before his arrest. He spent half a year at Israel’s Megiddo detention facility before collapsing this past March. While his autopsy failed to pinpoint one specific cause of death, an Israeli physician who witnessed the examination reported that starvation appeared to be the primary factor.

The unsealed decision, initially reported by Israeli newspaper Haaretz and later shared with The Associated Press, shows that Judge Ehud Kaplan ordered the investigation’s closure in December despite the autopsy results. Kaplan determined that proof of Ahmad’s starvation was insufficient to establish the cause of death.

“The fact that he was apparently starved cannot be hidden and should not be hidden,” Judge Kaplan stated in the ruling. “But I cannot determine based on the findings of the expert report that there is a causal connection between his poor physical condition and his death, and therefore I cannot determine that the death was caused by a crime.”

The judge continued: “Given this state of affairs, the investigation into his death is exhausted.”

Under Israeli law, judges may oversee investigations when detainees die in custody. These judicial officials can examine evidence to determine death causes and investigate potential wrongdoing. When evidence of misconduct emerges, judges can pursue criminal charges or, as happened with Ahmad’s case, halt the investigation entirely.

Haaretz obtained access to the ruling after successfully petitioning to have a gag order removed from the case. Most details of the decision remain confidential beyond the judge’s conclusion.

This situation has drawn attention to how Israel handles Palestinian prisoners, especially minors, within its correctional system.

According to his family, Ahmad was taken from his residence in the occupied West Bank community of Silwad during an early morning operation in September 2024, accused of hurling rocks at military personnel. His attorney, Firas al-Jabrini, reported that Israeli officials rejected multiple requests to meet with Ahmad before his death. Ahmad’s father, Khalid Ahmad, said his son was awaiting another court appearance when he died.

Dr. Daniel Solomon, the Israeli physician who observed the autopsy, documented that Ahmad suffered from severe malnutrition and displayed symptoms of colon inflammation and scabies. Solomon indicated that Ahmad likely had colitis, a medical condition causing frequent diarrhea that can sometimes be fatal.

Solomon’s findings also referenced prison medical records showing Ahmad had complained about insufficient food portions for several months.

Human rights organizations have documented extensive mistreatment, including inadequate nutrition and water supplies, at Israeli detention facilities since the October 7, 2023 start of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Former prisoners have described to the AP deplorable conditions including physical violence, extreme overcrowding, limited healthcare, scabies outbreaks, and unsanitary environments.

Israeli rights organization B’Tselem reported that as of late September, Israel’s Prison Service held 350 Palestinian minors on what officials termed “security” charges, based on government statistics. An additional 110 Palestinian youth were detained for unauthorized presence in Israel.

Neither Israel’s prison service nor police responded to requests for comment.

The prison service maintains it follows legal requirements and provides all inmates with fundamental rights.

Ahmad’s father informed the AP that Israeli authorities continue to hold his son’s remains. The family has filed court papers seeking the body’s return.

“What is happening in Israeli prisons is a real tragedy, as there is no value for life,” he told the AP in April 2025.

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Eleven people died when armed militants launched an ambush against Nigerian security personnel who were responding to an emergency call in the country’s northwest Kebbi state, government officials reported Wednesday.

The deadly assault took place late Tuesday in Kebbi’s Shanga council area, where security forces were being sent to address intelligence warnings of an imminent attack, state government spokesperson Yahaya Sarki confirmed. Nine soldiers, one police officer, and one civilian were killed in the violence.

Additional soldiers sustained injuries during the confrontation in Giron Masa village, Sarki reported, while sharing images showing destroyed vehicles on a dirt road cutting through forested terrain.

State Governor Nasir Idris made a hospital visit to see the wounded troops and acknowledged the significant casualties from the incident. “Those that lost their lives, the government of Kebbi state will do everything to assist the families,” he stated.

This deadly encounter represents another episode in the ongoing violence plaguing Nigeria’s conflict-torn northwestern territories, where militant organizations regularly assault government security personnel and isolated rural settlements in regions where official authority remains weak.

While no organization has taken credit for Tuesday’s violence, local residents believe the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP), locally called Lakurawa, may be responsible. This group has intensified its deadly operations recently in border states including Kebbi and Sokoto, which share a porous frontier with Niger Republic.

U.S. forces conducted a strike against Lakurawa inside Nigeria during December, working alongside Nigerian military units. The American intervention followed President Donald Trump’s accusations that Christians were being systematically killed in Nigeria.

Nigerian defense officials have previously stated that Lakurawa originated in neighboring Niger and expanded its Nigerian border operations after a 2023 military takeover in Niger damaged diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Two civilians died Wednesday when Ukrainian drones targeted Russia’s Belgorod region along the border, according to local authorities.

Regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced on Telegram that the strikes claimed the lives of an 18-year-old man riding a motorcycle in a border village and a woman traveling in her vehicle in the nearby town of Graivoron.

The Belgorod area has repeatedly come under attack from Ukrainian forces throughout the ongoing four-year conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Just last week, Ukrainian artillery fire on a public facility in Belgorod city resulted in four deaths.

MILAN (AP) — Wednesday marked the resignation of Italy’s tourism minister following mounting pressure from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after voters decisively rejected her judicial reform proposal.

Daniela Santanchè’s exit signals potential weakness within Italy’s right-wing administration, which has held power for three and a half years, after Monday’s referendum results delivered a crushing blow to a cornerstone policy initiative.

Following the departure of two justice ministry officials in response to the overwhelming voter rejection, Meloni had pressed for Santanchè’s resignation. The prime minister issued a Tuesday statement expressing hope that Santanchè would step down “in the same spirit of institutional sensitivity.”

A prominent figure within Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, Santanchè has faced political challenges due to ongoing legal proceedings and investigations, including charges related to fraudulent accounting and alleged fraud schemes. She maintains her innocence regarding all accusations.

Although her legal troubles persisted, Santanchè weathered a 2023 no-confidence vote and maintained Meloni’s backing until recently.

In her resignation letter to Meloni, Santanchè stated she would “obey” the prime minister’s request while referencing a tense Tuesday exchange following the resignation demand. She rejected being labeled “a scapegoat” for the referendum failure, noting the measure succeeded in her home region of Lombardy and local district.

“I won’t hide from you a degree of bitterness over how my ministerial journey has ended, but in my life I am accustomed to paying my own debts — and often those of others,” Santanchè wrote.

Meloni’s coalition had promoted the judicial reforms as essential progress toward modernizing Italy’s court system, which faces criticism for delays, excessive bureaucracy, and susceptibility to political manipulation.

However, opponents contended the proposed changes would dangerously consolidate executive power. Opposition groups, civic organizations, and legal professionals formed a coalition opposing the reform, arguing it threatened institutional oversight mechanisms.

The referendum’s failure following a campaign so closely linked to Meloni’s authority has sparked concerns about her governing coalition’s unity and long-term viability.

A pre-dawn explosion at a Mexican oil refinery has claimed five lives and triggered widespread environmental damage along the Gulf coast, raising serious concerns about the impact on local communities and marine wildlife.

Guillermo Risso, who leads the community council in Puerto Ceiba, witnessed the dramatic blast at the Olmeca refinery on March 17. “It was an explosion, the entire refinery lit up,” Risso explained. “We saw flames and were alarmed,” he added, describing how the bright flash initially made him think the entire facility was burning.

According to Pemex, Mexico’s national oil company that operates the refinery, the deadly incident occurred when oil-contaminated water spilled from the facility onto a nearby roadway and ignited when a vehicle drove through it.

The company reported that by Sunday, cleanup crews had recovered 549 cubic meters of petroleum products from critical areas around the refinery site in Tabasco state. Workers also placed protective barriers along Rio Seco, the waterway that flows around the facility and feeds into the expansive Mecoacan lagoon where local residents harvest oysters.

Environmental scientist Alvaro Hernandez expressed concern about the spill’s potential reach. “The currents are deceptive, and it is possible that uncontrolled waste could reach the lagoon,” Hernandez warned.

Despite contamination fears, Hernandez observed that affected fishermen intend to continue selling their seafood during the approaching Easter season, as they cannot afford the financial impact of halting operations during this crisis.

This disaster represents the most severe incident yet at the troubled Olmeca facility, which has struggled with production shortfalls, cost overruns, and missed operational deadlines since opening.

The refinery incident follows another oil spill discovered earlier in March along the Tabasco and Veracruz coastlines. President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that investigators have not yet determined which company caused that earlier environmental disaster, though officials initially suspected it originated from an offshore oil tanker.

Environmental regulators have not released damage assessments for the affected coastal areas from either spill incident.

The Olmeca refinery was designed to process 340,000 barrels daily, though it has not achieved that capacity as the government continues gradually increasing production levels. The facility represents a key component of Mexico’s strategy to expand domestic oil processing and reduce dependence on imported refined products, primarily from the United States.

The Gulf of Mexico Reef Corridor Network, representing fishing organizations, indigenous communities, and environmental advocates, recently documented oil contamination along beaches near Tuxpan and Cazones in northern Veracruz.

The organization reported finding at least seven sea turtles, two dolphins, two manatees, and one pelican affected by petroleum contamination, with most of the animals found dead.

The spills have also damaged red, black, and white mangrove forests in Laguna del Ostion, Veracruz. This critical habitat supports hairy crabs and endangered blue crabs, along with migrating bird species and river otters.

Officials in Zimbabwe announced Wednesday that fifteen of their citizens have died after falling victim to deceptive recruitment schemes that led them into combat in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, while authorities across Africa sound alarms about similar fraudulent operations targeting their populations.

Speaking to media in Harare, Information Minister Zhemu Soda revealed that diplomatic efforts are underway to bring home 66 additional Zimbabweans who remain alive in the war zone.

The southern African nation joins South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria in reporting cases where their citizens were deceived into traveling to Russia under false pretenses, only to find themselves forced into military service in the ongoing four-year conflict.

According to Soda, Zimbabwean victims fell prey to dishonest employment agencies that used social media as their main recruitment tool, offering enticing job opportunities.

The minister described a consistent scheme where targets received promises of high-paying positions and secure work environments, but instead had their travel documents seized and were forced into battle.

“They receive little to no training and are placed in life-threatening situations. When they are injured, killed or captured, the recruiters vanish, leaving families in Zimbabwe with no information, no support and no one to hold accountable. In many cases, the promised remuneration is never paid,” Soda stated.

Despite maintaining strong ties with Russia, Zimbabwe is now pursuing the return of survivors and working to recover the remains of those who perished, the minister explained.

This development mirrors a broader pattern across the African continent, where governments report their citizens being drawn into the deadly conflict through misleading recruitment campaigns. The war has claimed nearly 2 million lives, according to January findings from the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank.

South African authorities questioned eleven men who returned in February after allegedly being recruited under the guise of security training, with officials later confirming two South African deaths and multiple injuries among participants.

Intelligence sources in Kenya indicate approximately 1,000 Kenyans were recruited with job promises before being deployed to Ukrainian battlefields, with dozens wounded, missing, or still engaged in combat, and at least one confirmed fatality.

Ukrainian authorities estimate over 1,700 Africans may have been recruited to serve Russian forces, with additional cases involving Nigerian citizens and others from across the continent.

Associated Press investigations from 2024 revealed recruitment networks targeting workers throughout Africa and Asia via social media ads and private agencies, advertising work-study opportunities or civilian employment that transformed into military obligations. Multiple recruits reported passport confiscation and forced combat deployment with minimal preparation.

LONDON — Six accomplished female writers have been selected as finalists for a significant British literary honor created to address gender disparities in the publishing world.

The Women’s Prize for Nonfiction announced its shortlist Wednesday, featuring works that explore themes from wartime survival to artistic healing. The winner will receive 30,000 pounds, equivalent to approximately $40,000.

Two of the nominated works focus on hotels serving as sanctuaries and danger zones during conflicts. Canadian journalist Lyse Doucet earned recognition for “The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A People’s History of Afghanistan,” while British author Jane Rogoyska was selected for “Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War.”

The competition also includes Indian writer Arundhati Roy’s personal memoir “Mother Mary Comes to Me” and Turkish author Ece Temelkuran’s examination of displacement titled “Nation of Strangers: Rebuilding Home in the 21st Century.”

Rounding out the finalists are two British authors exploring artistic themes: Daisy Fancourt’s “Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health” and Judith Mackrell’s “Artists, Siblings, Visionaries: The Lives and Loves of Gwen and Augustus John.”

Labour Party politician Thangam Debbonaire, serving as the judging panel’s chair, praised the selected works. “These books are an urgent antidote to mis- and dis-information, written with high standards of scholarship,” she stated. “They offer rich and original insights, in what often feels like a fragmented and uncertain world.”

The literary honor serves as a companion to the established Women’s Prize for Fiction, which has operated for 31 years. This nonfiction category welcomes female English-language authors worldwide across all nonfiction categories and launched in 2024.

The award’s creation responded to concerning industry statistics showing British men purchase more nonfiction books than women and dominate high-profile nonfiction publishing. Research from 2022 revealed that women authored just 26.5% of nonfiction books reviewed in British newspapers, while male authors consistently won major nonfiction literary prizes.

British physician Rachel Clarke claimed last year’s inaugural award for “The Story of a Heart,” examining the human elements of organ donation.

Both the fiction and nonfiction prize recipients will be revealed during a June 11 ceremony in London.

BOGOTA, Colombia — Medical examiners in Colombia continued their work Wednesday to confirm the identities of 69 military and police personnel who perished when their transport aircraft went down in the nation’s southwestern region, as officials launch a full investigation into what caused the fatal crash.

Outside Bogota’s forensic facility, Alfridis Julio anxiously awaited word about his 19-year-old son, soldier Kaleth Julio Severiche, whose name appeared on the casualty list from Monday’s tragedy in Putomayo province, though his body has yet to be positively identified. The young man had been heading home for family leave when disaster struck.

“My head is spinning. I don’t know what to do but wait,” Julio told The Associated Press.

The military Hercules C-130 transport went down moments after departing Puerto Leguízamo airport at 9:40 a.m. Monday morning. According to Colombia’s Aerospace Force, the aircraft crashed approximately one minute into flight, coming down about 1.8 kilometers from the departure runway.

Community members were first to reach the crash site, capturing video that showed thick black smoke and fire engulfing the wreckage. Several local residents assisted in evacuating survivors to nearby hospitals using motorcycles for transport.

After initial confusion about casualty numbers and passenger counts, the Defense Ministry confirmed Tuesday that 67 military personnel and two police officers died in the incident. All remains were transported to the capital for forensic examination.

The aircraft, designated FAC 1016, came to Colombia through a 2020 U.S. cooperation program that provided three used Hercules planes to the South American nation.

Records show the aircraft underwent comprehensive maintenance in 2023, including engine inspections and replacement of critical systems components.

Colombia’s Air Force has launched a crash investigation, though officials have not announced when findings might be released.

Investigators plan to analyze information from the plane’s dual flight recorders, which contain vital data about the aircraft’s altitude, velocity, and cockpit communications during the final moments.

MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Wednesday that her nation will maintain its partnership with Cuban medical professionals, even as other countries throughout the Americas have terminated similar arrangements due to increasing pressure from the United States.

“It’s a bilateral agreement that helps Mexico a lot,” Sheinbaum stated during her morning press conference when questioned about whether she would maintain the partnership or yield to Trump administration pressure.

The Mexican leader’s backing of the Cuban medical initiative occurs while President Donald Trump has imposed severe restrictions on Cuba, effectively blocking the island’s oil imports and working to isolate the Caribbean nation in an attempt to force governmental change. The United States has campaigned to terminate these medical missions, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterizing them as “forced labor” and “a form of human trafficking.”

Several Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Honduras and Jamaica, have suddenly terminated these missions and returned Cuban medical professionals to their homeland.

Cuba’s strategy of sending doctors abroad — typically highly trained professionals skilled at providing healthcare with limited resources — serves as a diplomatic tool, though it has faced longstanding criticism from U.S. officials. Nevertheless, Cuban medical professionals have served crucial roles in underserved rural regions throughout Latin America, including the Amazon basin and portions of Central America that lack fundamental medical infrastructure.

During Wednesday’s briefing, Sheinbaum championed the initiative and emphasized that “we can’t forget” the assistance Cuban doctors provided during the COVID-19 crisis and in remote areas nationwide. The exact number of Cuban medical professionals currently serving in Mexico remains uncertain.

“It’s hard to get Mexican doctors and specialists to go out to many rural areas where we need medical specialists, and the Cubans are willing to work there,” she explained.

Sheinbaum’s support for the initiative seems to contradict Trump administration objectives, occurring while the Mexican president navigates a delicate relationship with Washington amid Trump’s threats of military intervention against Mexican drug cartels.

Mexico has historically been a strong ally of Cuba since the Cuban revolution. For many years, it has provided oil deliveries to Cuba to help prevent a more severe energy shortage on the island. However, Sheinbaum’s administration stopped these oil shipments after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on any country supplying oil to Cuba. As an alternative, Mexico’s government has provided humanitarian aid to Cuba and explored other forms of assistance.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is set to leave the hospital Friday and resume house arrest while serving a 27-year prison term for his role in a coup attempt, according to his physician.

Speaking to reporters in Brazil’s capital on Wednesday, Dr. Brasil Caiado confirmed that Bolsonaro’s medical condition has stabilized enough for him to return home, barring any unexpected developments.

The former leader, age 71, has remained hospitalized since March 13 while receiving treatment for pneumonia, adding to a series of medical issues that began when he suffered a stabbing attack in 2018 prior to winning the presidency.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes granted permission Tuesday for Bolsonaro to complete his sentence at his residence, citing health concerns following his hospital release. However, the justice noted he would reassess this arrangement within three months.

Under the court’s ruling, Bolsonaro must wear electronic monitoring equipment and cannot access mobile phones. Law enforcement will maintain surveillance of his home in a secured residential area, where demonstrations are prohibited. His contact will be limited strictly to medical professionals and immediate family.

Italy’s Tourism Minister Daniela Santanche stepped down from her position Wednesday after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni publicly called for her departure amid ongoing legal troubles.

“Dear Giorgia, As you have officially requested, I hereby tender my resignation from the role of minister that you had wished to entrust to me, and which I believe I carried out to the best of my abilities,” Santanche stated in her resignation letter.

The departure follows Meloni’s efforts to distance herself from controversial officials after a damaging referendum loss on judicial reforms. On Tuesday, the prime minister successfully obtained resignations from two other scandal-plagued officials before turning her attention to Santanche, who has faced persistent allegations of financial misconduct.

Initially, Santanche, who belongs to Meloni’s right-wing Brothers of Italy party, pushed back against the unprecedented public request from the government leader. Under Italy’s constitutional framework, prime ministers cannot directly dismiss cabinet members.

However, she ultimately agreed to step down, saying she was leaving “only in response to a request (from) the leader of my party” and rejected being made a scapegoat for the referendum loss “which was certainly not my fault.”

“Having said this, I have no difficulty saying ‘I obey’ and doing what you ask of me,” she continued.

Following the referendum setback, media reports indicated Meloni declared she would no longer shield compromised political allies.

Santanche, recognized for her bold public persona, has been entangled in extended legal battles while previously refusing opposition demands for her resignation.

She currently faces trial on false accounting charges related to the Visibilia publishing company she previously controlled. Additionally, prosecutors are pursuing her indictment for alleged benefit fraud at the same firm during the COVID-19 crisis.

Her legal troubles extend further back, with investigations into two alleged fraudulent bankruptcy cases involving a bio-food company where she served as chairwoman.

The resignation came as center-left opposition parties prepared a no-confidence vote scheduled for next week, which could have created significant political embarrassment for Meloni. News of Santanche’s departure prompted applause in the lower legislative chamber.

“I will not hide from you a certain bitterness over the outcome of my ministerial path, but in my life I have grown used to paying my own debts, and often those of others as well,” Santanche remarked.

A groundbreaking fashion exhibition has debuted at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, showcasing the innovative and surrealist creations of the Italian fashion house Schiaparelli, featuring everything from collaborative pieces with Salvador Dalí to stunning celebrity red carpet moments including Ariana Grande’s Oscar gown.

The comprehensive display chronicles 100 years of artistic innovation and craftsmanship at the prestigious couture brand, spanning from founder Elsa Schiaparelli’s pioneering work alongside prominent artists in 1930s Paris through to today’s creative director Daniel Roseberry, who continues drawing worldwide acclaim by creating sculptural masterpieces for celebrities including Margot Robbie.

Museum director Tristram Hunt announced Wednesday that “‘Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art’ will celebrate one of the most ingenious and daring designers in fashion history.”

Among the exhibition’s most notable pieces from the 400-item collection is Dalí’s iconic Lobster Telephone from 1938, presented alongside the matching “Lobster Dress” – an elegant white silk creation decorated with a striking red lobster that Schiaparelli developed with the renowned surrealist painter. This particular garment gained historical significance when worn by Wallis Simpson, the American woman for whom King Edward VIII gave up his throne.

Another remarkable Dalí partnership produced the “Skeleton dress,” featuring black fabric with three-dimensional quilted details that mirror human bone structure.

Exhibition curator Rosalind McKever explained to The Associated Press: “You cannot imagine how shocking this would have been in 1938 when it was first shown. It is a kind of punk look.”

The display also includes an elegant evening coat adorned with pink silk roses, created through Schiaparelli’s collaboration with French artist Jean Cocteau, who passed away in 1963.

McKever noted that Coco Chanel, a rival designer of the era, once referred to Schiaparelli as “that Italian artist who’s making clothes.” However, McKever added, “Schiaparelli would have taken that as a compliment because she was so integrated in this artistic community. She even said, ‘For me, dress designing is not a profession, but an art.’”

The fashion pioneer launched her initial Parisian venture in 1927, creating functional everyday clothing including trouser suits – a revolutionary option for women during that period – alongside more imaginative and playful pieces such as leopard fur footwear.

Her client roster grew to include legendary figures like Mae West and Marlene Dietrich, with the latter particularly favoring Schiaparelli’s precisely tailored pantsuit designs.

Though the original designer stepped back from the industry in the 1950s and passed away in 1973, contemporary designer Roseberry has embraced the responsibility of continuing Schiaparelli’s innovative spirit and haute couture theatricality for today’s fashion world.

Among the exhibition’s most striking contemporary pieces is a ruby-encrusted red gown that Grande wore during her “Wicked” medley performance at last year’s Academy Awards ceremony. The elaborate ballgown features an actual ruby slipper emerging from the dress’s back panel as homage to “The Wizard of Oz.”

Additional displays feature glittering showcases containing jewelry, buttons, and fragrance bottles, each crafted with artistic attention to detail.

The exhibition launched Saturday and will remain open through November 8.

TAPACHULA, Mexico — Roughly 500 migrants walked through southern Mexico on Wednesday, demanding faster processing of immigration documents and requesting permission to relocate to regions with better job opportunities.

The demonstration began Tuesday evening when the group departed from Tapachula, a city located close to the Guatemala border, aiming to draw attention to their circumstances and secure authorization to seek employment in other areas while their legal status remains under review.

The border city of Tapachula has historically functioned as a gathering point for migrant populations. Recent months have brought an increase in third-country nationals, especially Cubans who were deported during the Trump administration, though Mexican officials have not yet published official statistics on these new arrivals.

Although walking demonstrations occur regularly in this area, they no longer aim to reach the United States. Throughout the previous year, similar groups consisting of several hundred migrants have generally broken up within a few days without venturing beyond Mexico’s southern region.

“Without papers, there are no opportunities. We migrants feel like prisoners in Tapachula,” said Joandri Velázquez Zaragoza, a 40-year-old Cuban national who supports a wife and two children back home, where a worsening crisis is marked by widespread power outages and food shortages.

The evangelical pastor, who also works as a mason, reached Tapachula in August 2024. He initially pursued an asylum appointment in the United States through the CBP One mobile application but was denied. After the program ended with the Trump administration’s return to office, he applied for asylum in Mexico, but both his initial request and his appeal were turned down.

The demonstration proceeded under surveillance from the National Guard, the National Migration Institute, and local law enforcement, with no attempts made to halt their progress. Coinciding with the march’s start, Mexican officials announced a fresh agreement designed to enhance job opportunities for people traveling through southern states including Campeche, Chiapas, Tabasco and Quintana Roo.

The Southern Border Monitoring Collective, an alliance of civil society organizations, issued a warning this week that travelers are being charged as much as 40,000 Mexican pesos (approximately $2,300) for documentation that should be provided at no cost. The group also criticized the growing militarization of Mexico’s southern border and the Northern Triangle, arguing that enhanced security protocols have escalated dangers and mistreatment of migrants.

Earlier this week on Monday, Mexican officials found 229 migrants confined inside a truck in Veracruz. The vehicle had been impounded at a police lot after being reported stolen, but authorities only discovered the people inside when the migrants started calling for assistance.

NEW YORK (TV Delmarva) — In an overwhelming vote Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly approved a measure labeling the enslavement of Africans as humanity’s most severe crime and demanding reparations to address past injustices.

The measure also demands the immediate return of cultural artifacts — such as art pieces, monuments, museum collections, historical documents and national records — back to their home countries at no cost.

The final tally in the 193-nation assembly was 123 in favor, 3 opposed, and 52 countries abstaining. The United States, Israel, and Argentina cast the only votes against the measure.

While General Assembly measures lack the legal force of Security Council decisions, they serve as significant indicators of global sentiment.

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, who played a central role in crafting the resolution, addressed the assembly prior to voting. “Today, we come together in solemn solidarity to affirm truth and pursue a route to healing and reparative justice,” Mahama stated.

“The adoption of this resolution serves as a safeguard against forgetting,” he continued. “Let it be recorded that when history beckoned, we did what was right for the memory of the millions who suffered the indignity of slavery.”

Britain’s acting UN representative James Kariuki acknowledged that the legacy of slavery and “its devastating consequences and long-lasting impacts” must never be forgotten.

He emphasized that Western countries remain dedicated to confronting persistent root causes today, including racial discrimination, racism, xenophobia and intolerance. Kariuki noted that “the scourge of modern slavery” — encompassing trafficking, forced labor, sexual exploitation and forced criminality — also requires attention.

The resolution “unequivocally condemns the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans, slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as the most inhumane and enduring injustice against humanity.”

Through this approval, the General Assembly recognizes the significance of confronting slavery’s historical wrongs “in a manner that promotes justice, human rights, dignity and healing.”

The measure urges UN member countries to participate in discussions “on reparatory justice, including a full and formal apology, measures of restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, guarantees of non-repetition and changes to laws, programs and services to address racism and systemic discrimination.”

It also encourages voluntary donations to support education about the transatlantic slave trade and requests the African Union, Caribbean Community and Organization of American States to work with UN agencies and other countries “on reparatory justice and reconciliation.”

CARACAS, Venezuela — At a Saudi-sponsored investment conference in Miami on Wednesday, Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez made a compelling case for long-term investment opportunities in her nation’s energy sector, highlighting recent reforms designed to attract foreign capital to the country’s oil industry.

Speaking virtually to the Miami conference from Venezuela, Rodríguez outlined an overhauled petroleum sector that now welcomes private investment, international dispute resolution, and external oversight—changes implemented in the roughly three months since U.S. forces apprehended her predecessor Nicolás Maduro and Washington began executing a staged recovery plan for the struggling nation. Notably absent from her remarks was any reference to Maduro, as she concentrated on convincing prospective investors that Venezuela now offers secure investment opportunities due to recent industry restructuring.

Rodríguez forecasted that the nation would experience double-digit economic expansion this year and through the next two years, establishing conditions “where investors know that, regardless of political changes or restrictive circumstances, there is security, that Venezuela has laws that allow for the safe return of their investments.”

“We are in a process of stabilization, implementing the reforms needed for a productive environment and to attract investments that will diversify the engines of the Venezuelan economy,” she stated during her presentation, which was delivered completely in Spanish.

The South American nation possesses the globe’s most extensive oil reserves and previously leveraged them to fuel what was formerly Latin America’s most robust economy. However, widespread corruption, poor management, and U.S. economic penalties caused output to drop dramatically from the 3.5 million barrels daily produced in 1999, when Maduro’s political mentor Hugo Chávez assumed leadership, to fewer than 400,000 barrels daily by 2020.

During 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department under the initial Trump presidency effectively banned Venezuela from international oil markets by imposing sanctions on the government-controlled Petróleos de Venezuela S.A., or PDVSA, as part of measures targeting Maduro’s administration for corrupt practices. This action compelled the government to market its remaining petroleum production at reduced prices—approximately 40% under market value—to purchasers including China. Venezuela even began accepting payment in Russian rubles, trade goods, or digital currencies.

The nation presently generates roughly one million barrels daily.

During Wednesday’s presentation, Rodríguez emphasized Venezuela’s minimal production expenses and flexibility in negotiations.

“When we consider a barrel of oil, its production cost, 64% of that barrel has room for negotiation with the investor regarding royalty reductions, income tax reductions, and most importantly, the dividends the investor receives,” she explained. “If there is a large investment, obviously the return will be higher on that 64%.”

Rodríguez assumed office following Maduro’s and his wife’s apprehension on January 3 in Venezuela’s capital city, Caracas, before being transported to New York to face drug trafficking allegations. Both individuals have entered not guilty pleas and are scheduled for a court appearance Thursday.

Upon taking leadership, Rodríguez, facing Trump administration pressure, rapidly restructured petroleum industry regulations. New legislation now permits private enterprises to control oil production and marketing, eliminating PDVSA’s exclusive authority over these operations and pricing decisions. The law also establishes independent arbitration for conflicts, replacing the previous requirement that disputes be resolved exclusively through Venezuelan courts, which remain under ruling party influence.

In response, the U.S. Treasury Department has relaxed sanctions. Last week, it issued comprehensive authorization permitting PDVSA to directly market Venezuelan oil to American companies and international markets, representing a dramatic policy reversal after years of largely prohibiting transactions with Venezuela’s government and energy sector.

Skeletal remains discovered beneath a church floor in the Netherlands could belong to the real-life French soldier who inspired one of literature’s most famous characters, according to archaeologists and church officials who announced the finding Wednesday.

The bones were uncovered in February when floor tiles at St Peter and Paul Church in Maastricht began sinking, revealing a burial site directly in front of the altar. The discovery has launched an intensive DNA investigation to determine if these are the long-lost remains of Charles de Batz de Castelmore d’Artagnan.

Archaeologist Wim Dijkman described the significance of the potential discovery to Reuters: “This has truly become a top-level investigation, in which we want to be absolutely certain — or as certain as possible — whether it is the famous musketeer, who was killed here near Maastricht.”

While many know d’Artagnan as the fictional hero of Alexandre Dumas’ 1844 masterpiece “The Three Musketeers,” the character was based on an actual 17th-century military officer. The historical d’Artagnan served under France’s “Sun King” Louis XIV and rose to become captain-lieutenant of the royal musketeers.

His life ended abruptly on June 25, 1673, when enemy fire struck him in the throat during France’s siege of the Dutch city of Maastricht in the Franco-Dutch War. The church where the remains were found sits close to where French forces had established their military camp during the siege.

Researchers are now comparing DNA extracted from the skeleton’s jawbone with genetic material from known descendants of the musketeer’s family line. The church had long been considered a likely burial location for the fallen soldier.

Several pieces of evidence support the theory that these bones belong to the famous musketeer. Investigators found a coin dated to 1660 and fragments of what appears to be a lead musket ball at the burial site.

Church Deacon Jos Valke pointed to historical records indicating d’Artagnan received burial in sacred ground, noting the location’s significance. “Well, under an altar – it couldn’t be much holier than that,” Valke explained.

The deacon acknowledged that while the evidence appears promising, definitive proof remains elusive. “When you add it all up, then, it seems plausible to us. But of course nothing is certain yet,” he stated.

The practical challenges of the era also support the theory that d’Artagnan was buried locally rather than transported back to France. Despite his heroic status, moving his body to Paris during the summer months would have presented significant logistical difficulties in an age before refrigeration.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced Wednesday the appointment of seasoned diplomat Jean Arnault to serve as his special representative in efforts to resolve the escalating Middle East crisis.

Speaking to reporters at UN headquarters in New York, Guterres expressed grave concern about the expanding conflict, warning that the “world is staring down the barrel of a wider war.”

The UN chief revealed he has maintained regular communication with regional leaders and international partners, noting that multiple peace and dialogue initiatives are currently in progress.

Guterres emphasized the urgency of these diplomatic efforts, particularly highlighting how the extended blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is severely hampering the transport of oil, natural gas, and fertilizer during a crucial period for global agricultural planting.

“It is time to stop climbing the escalation ladder – and start climbing the diplomatic ladder,” Guterres declared during his New York address.

The Secretary-General confirmed that UN mediators have made their services available, with Arnault committed to doing “everything possible” to advance peace initiatives.

According to UN records, Arnault brings over three decades of international diplomatic experience specializing in peace negotiations and conflict mediation, having served in UN operations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

His latest role came in 2021 when Guterres appointed him as special envoy for Afghanistan and related regional matters.

The ongoing conflict’s impact extends beyond the immediate region, as interrupted fertilizer deliveries and rising energy costs threaten to trigger another wave of food price increases in vulnerable countries, potentially reversing years of recovery from previous global crises, according to UN and international experts.

A recent UN World Food Programme assessment cautioned that tens of millions additional people could experience severe food insecurity if the Iran conflict persists through June.

Guterres noted that Gulf nations serve as key sources of raw materials needed for nitrogen-based fertilizers that are essential for developing countries’ agricultural needs.

“Without fertilizers today, we might have hunger tomorrow,” the Secretary-General warned.

LONDON — Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared Wednesday that political parties across the nation will no longer be permitted to receive cryptocurrency contributions, warning that questionable financing presents a serious threat to democratic processes.

During his weekly appearance before Parliament, Starmer emphasized his administration’s commitment to safeguarding Britain’s political system from external manipulation. “We will act decisively to protect our democracy,” he stated, announcing “a moratorium on all political donations made through cryptocurrencies” during the Prime Minister’s Questions period.

The prohibition will significantly impact Reform UK, the hard-right organization headed by Nigel Farage, which stands among Britain’s rare political groups that welcomes digital currency contributions.

Additionally, the government established a yearly limit of 100,000 pounds ($134,000) for contributions from British citizens residing overseas. Electoral Commission data shows Reform received 12 million pounds over the previous year from Christopher Harborne, a British entrepreneur operating from Thailand.

Richard Tice, Reform UK’s deputy leader, accused the administration of attempting “to stop the incredible progress of Reform.”

Despite controlling merely eight seats out of 650 in the House of Commons, the party maintains a consistent lead over both Starmer’s Labour Party and the Conservative opposition in polling data.

Speaking to GB News, Tice argued that “cryptocurrencies are a perfectly legitimate way of investing, of earning within the law.”

While Britain maintains rigorous spending restrictions for political campaigns, parties may receive unlimited contributions provided donors are registered U.K. voters or domestically registered businesses.

Philip Rycroft, a former high-ranking government official, released a report Wednesday warning that anonymous digital currency donations might serve as a conduit for “foreign money into the political system in the U.K.”

The government commissioned Rycroft’s investigation into overseas financial interference last December following multiple notable incidents, including the imprisonment of ex-Reform UK representative Nathan Gill for accepting payments to deliver pro-Russian speeches in the European Parliament.

Rycroft noted that “the number of donations made in cryptoassets is currently unknown” and recommended a temporary prohibition on cryptocurrency contributions until regulatory frameworks align with technological advances.

While Parliament must approve Starmer’s proposed modifications, the government indicated the restrictions will take effect retroactively from Wednesday.

Starmer’s center-left administration has previously implemented additional measures designed to fortify democratic institutions, including stricter corporate contribution regulations for political organizations and reducing the minimum voting age to 16 from 18.

TORONTO — Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered sharp criticism Wednesday against Air Canada’s chief executive for offering condolences exclusively in English following Sunday’s fatal aviation accident in New York, calling the approach lacking in both empathy and sound judgment.

Michael Rousseau, who leads Air Canada, will be required to appear before Parliament’s committee on official languages following his release of a four-minute online sympathy message that contained just two French phrases — “bonjour” and “merci.”

The crash at LaGuardia Airport claimed the lives of two pilots, including Antoine Forest, a French-speaking resident of Quebec.

Forest and his colleague Mackenzie Gunther perished when their Air Canada Jazz aircraft struck a fire truck during landing procedures Sunday night at LaGuardia.

The airline operates from its main offices in Montreal, Quebec, a predominantly French-speaking province. Rousseau has faced previous criticism for his limited French communication. His sympathy message was delivered entirely in English with French text displayed below.

“We proudly live in a bilingual country. There are two official languages here and Air Canada has a special responsibility whatever the situation to communicate whatever the situation in both official languages,” Carney said.

“I am extremely disappointed by the message released by the CEO of Air Canada. It shows a lack of compassion, and we will be closely following his comments before the official languages committee as well as the comments coming from the board of Air Canada.”

Language rights in Quebec have remained a sensitive issue dating back to the 1760s when British forces conquered the territory formerly known as New France. Approximately 80% of Quebec residents speak French as their primary language.

Air Canada representatives have not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

The Commissioner of Official Languages office has documented hundreds of formal complaints regarding Rousseau’s video statement.

“I don’t want to make political hay over what remains a tragedy with people still in hospital, but this isn’t the first time that he’s been told to speak French and he should know better,” said Marc Miller, the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly noted that many of those affected by the tragedy and their relatives are French speakers, describing Rousseau’s approach as lacking in understanding. “It is a question of moral leadership,” Joly said.

According to Carney, Canadian authorities remain in ongoing coordination with U.S. officials to investigate the circumstances surrounding the airport collision.

The United States announced Wednesday it will pay up to $3 million and provide potential relocation assistance to anyone who provides information about how Haiti’s two largest criminal organizations fund their operations.

Federal authorities are seeking details about the financial networks of the Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif crime syndicates, both of which have been classified as terrorist organizations by Washington. These powerful alliances unite hundreds of individual gangs operating throughout Haiti’s capital and extending into the country’s agricultural heartland and central regions.

This bounty represents a new strategy for U.S. officials, who previously focused rewards on capturing specific gang leaders rather than dismantling their funding sources.

Despite ongoing operations by Haitian law enforcement, supported by a United Nations-backed international force that arrived three years ago and assistance from a U.S. private military contractor, authorities have stepped up their campaign against armed criminal groups that now dominate most of the capital city. However, no major gang leader has been successfully captured.

Haiti’s criminal organizations have evolved significantly in recent years, becoming far less reliant on financial backing from the country’s wealthy elite as they have solidified their grip on the capital and expanded operations into countryside areas.

Law enforcement officials say these groups generate revenue through multiple illegal activities, including operating roadblocks and checkpoints, demanding protection money from businesses and residents, conducting thousands of kidnappings for ransom, and trafficking weapons, narcotics, and human organs. They also steal vehicles, seize buildings, and take crops from farmers.

The ongoing gang violence has forced more than 1.4 million Haitians from their homes, worsening an already severe food crisis throughout the nation. Since 2021, nearly 20,000 people have been violently killed in Haiti, with the death count rising each year.

United Nations investigators report that most gang-related killings involve firearms that are smuggled illegally into Haiti, with many weapons believed to enter through ports in Florida and Georgia.

MEXICO CITY, March 25 – Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Wednesday that her nation will continue its medical partnership with Cuba, despite mounting pressure from the United States that has led other countries to abandon similar arrangements.

Several Central American and Caribbean nations including Honduras, Guatemala, Jamaica and Guyana have recently terminated their medical cooperation agreements with Cuba. The United States has criticized these programs as exploitative, though the participating nations have disputed this characterization, emphasizing that their rural communities depend heavily on healthcare services delivered by Cuban medical professionals.

The announcement highlights Mexico’s willingness to maintain its healthcare collaboration with Cuba even as regional partners distance themselves from the program under American diplomatic pressure.

MEXICO CITY – Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Wednesday that her nation will maintain its backing for Michelle Bachelet’s campaign to become the next United Nations Secretary-General, despite Chile’s decision to withdraw support for its former president just one day earlier.

During her regular press briefing, Sheinbaum revealed she plans to have a telephone conversation soon with Bachelet, who previously served twice as Chile’s president. The nomination was originally put forth jointly by Mexico, Brazil, and Chile before right-wing President Jose Antonio Kast took office earlier this month.

“We believe that Bachelet is the ideal person to lead the United Nations, and we will continue to support her,” Sheinbaum declared during the news conference.

On Tuesday, Bachelet announced her intention to press forward with her candidacy, relying on continued backing from Mexico and Brazil. Brazil has not yet issued a statement regarding Chile’s withdrawal of support.

Sheinbaum praised Bachelet’s qualifications, stating: “She is a woman who seeks peace in the world, who has a vision for building rights, for the peaceful resolution of conflicts, for rebuilding the U.N. as an organization dedicated to resolving international conflicts, and establishing a bill of rights for all the people in the world.”

Chile announced Tuesday it would remain neutral and refrain from endorsing any candidate after pulling its support for Bachelet. President Kast has criticized his predecessor, left-wing leader Gabriel Boric, for initially backing Bachelet’s campaign.

Bachelet made history as Chile’s first woman president and is currently considered among the leading contenders to replace current Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Her extensive UN experience includes serving as the organization’s high commissioner for human rights from 2018 to 2022 and as executive director of UN Women between 2010 and 2013.