Drivers using northbound Interstate 95 should expect delays as construction work has forced the closure of the left lane between exits 7 and 8.
The lane restriction is currently in place and will continue until 5 a.m., according to traffic officials.
Motorists are advised to plan for extra travel time and use caution when approaching the work zone area.
Canada’s petroleum-wealthy Alberta province has announced plans for an October public vote regarding potential separation from Canada, though the province’s top official clarified Thursday that the ballot won’t directly address independence.
Danielle Smith explained that citizens would instead decide whether the time has come for a binding referendum on departing Canada.
“I want to be clear. I support Alberta remaining in Canada, and this is how I would vote on separation in a provincial referendum. It is also the position of my government,” Smith stated during broadcast comments.
The ballot measure will ask whether Alberta should continue as part of Canada or pursue constitutional legal measures toward conducting a binding independence referendum.
Even a “yes” result in such a binding vote would not automatically create independence. Federal government negotiations would be required. According to a 1998 Supreme Court decision, provinces lack authority to withdraw from Canada unilaterally.
Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, observed that Smith has publicly rejected independence, leading some to draw parallels with Britain’s former Prime Minister David Cameron before the Brexit referendum, which he supported as a method to handle a vocal party faction despite opposing U.K. departure from the European Union.
“Politically Smith seems committed to do so to appease supporters of her own party who want a referendum. If she doesn’t follow suit, she might face a potentially perilous mutiny within her partisan ranks,” Béland stated.
Thursday morning saw three United Conservative Party of Alberta caucus members approve a committee motion requesting Smith and her cabinet schedule the referendum for Oct. 19.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s federal Liberal government had not immediately responded to Smith’s declaration.
Carney has been collaborating with Smith on Pacific coast oil pipeline construction aimed at satisfying many Albertans.
“As part of his emphasis on economic development in the aftermath of the trade war between Canada and the U.S., Mark Carney is clearly more favorable to pipeline building and the energy industry than his predecessor Justin Trudeau,” Béland noted.
Béland predicted referendum failure.
“Support for Alberta independence is slightly below 30% and the percentage of people truly committed to the cause is below 20% according to polling data so the odds of a ‘yes’ vote appear to be very low right now but campaigns matter,” he explained.
Opposition Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre previously stated that he and all Conservative Parliament members would advocate for Alberta’s continued Canadian membership during any referendum campaign.
Federal weather experts are predicting a calmer Atlantic hurricane season this year, crediting a strengthening El Nino weather pattern that typically suppresses storm development in the region.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its seasonal prediction Thursday, indicating a 55% probability of below-normal hurricane activity. Weather officials anticipate eight to 14 named storms this season, with three to six reaching hurricane strength and one to three becoming major hurricanes.
Typical hurricane seasons produce 14 named storms, with seven reaching hurricane status and three becoming major hurricanes with winds exceeding 110 mph.
Eighteen additional forecasting organizations from private companies and universities have issued similar predictions, with most calling for reduced activity during the summer and fall months. These independent forecasts project an average of 12 named storms, with only five becoming hurricanes and two reaching major hurricane classification. These predictions also suggest the Accumulated Cyclone Energy index will register at 80% of typical levels.
Colorado State University, which began hurricane seasonal predictions in 1984, expects the lowest storm activity since 2015, when the strongest El Nino in 75 years occurred. The university’s hurricane specialist Phil Klotzbach indicated their forecast may be revised downward in June.
This prediction comes after nine of the past 10 Atlantic hurricane seasons exceeded normal activity levels or reached hyperactive status, Klotzbach noted. Last season began slowly but intensified later, generating a near-record three Category 5 hurricanes, including Melissa, which caused extensive damage to Jamaica and Cuba, according to Columbia University climate scientist and tropical weather specialist Suzana Camargo.
Global economic losses from tropical storms have climbed dramatically, rising from an average of $11.4 billion annually in the 1980s to $109.7 billion per year over the last decade, with three-quarters of the damage occurring in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean regions, according to insurance company Munich Re.
Weather experts note that hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones represent the same meteorological phenomenon, with different names used across various global regions.
“We should expect a less active year than certainly what we’ve seen recently, and perhaps significantly so below average,” said University at Albany atmospheric scientist Kristen Corbosiero. “But again, it only takes one to cause real devastation and destruction in the mainland U.S. or even in Hawaii.”
The primary factor driving these predictions is “the elephant in the room” – the developing El Nino, Camargo explained.
El Nino represents a natural, cyclical warming of central Pacific waters that disrupts global weather patterns, particularly during winter months. Researchers have documented for decades the relationship between El Nino conditions and reduced Atlantic hurricane activity, while simultaneously increasing storm frequency and intensity in the central and eastern Pacific. Many forecasters this year are predicting a strong, superstrong or potentially record-breaking El Nino. During La Nina conditions – El Nino’s cooler counterpart – the Atlantic typically experiences increased storm activity.
NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs stated Thursday that there’s a 98% probability of El Nino conditions this summer, with an 80% chance of moderate to strong intensity.
Historical data shows that Atlantic hurricane seasons during strong or very strong El Nino events produce two-thirds the number of named storms and half the hurricanes compared to the 1991-2020 average, based on Associated Press analysis of storm and El Nino records.
El Nino conditions inhibit Atlantic storm development through multiple mechanisms, particularly through crosswinds occurring one to seven miles above the surface “which can basically blow apart the thunderstorms that make up” a hurricane, Corbosiero explained.
“A stronger than normal wind shear tends to tilt storms as they try to develop,” said University at Albany atmospheric scientist Brian Tang. “It pushes dry air into storms. And prevents storms from developing in the first place. And if they do develop, it also prevents them from intensifying.”
While El Nino reduces both frequency and intensity of weaker storms, once systems reach hurricane status with 74 mph winds, “they can be kind of like a self-feeding entity” and become less susceptible to El Nino’s wind shear effects, explained Matthew Rosencrans, lead hurricane season forecaster with NOAA’s National Weather Service.
Peak season forecasts indicate strong westerly wind shear in the main development region where the largest and longest-lasting hurricanes typically form off Africa before moving west across the Atlantic, Klotzbach noted. El Nino conditions typically reduce these types of storms.
During the 15 strongest El Nino years since 1950, 37 named storms, 11 hurricanes and three major hurricanes made landfall on the continental United States. In contrast, during the 15 coldest La Nina years, 61 named storms, 31 hurricanes and 10 major hurricanes struck America’s Gulf and Atlantic coastlines, according to Klotzbach. He noted that El Nino primarily reduces Atlantic coast impacts while having less influence on Gulf coast landfalls.
Beyond El Nino, dry African conditions and Atlantic water temperatures only slightly above normal also contribute to forecasts of reduced seasonal activity, Rosencrans said.
El Nino and La Nina patterns create opposite effects on Pacific storms compared to Atlantic systems, leading experts to anticipate increased Pacific activity. Jacobs predicted a 70% chance of above-normal eastern Pacific hurricane activity.
NOAA forecasts 15 to 22 named Pacific storms with nine to 14 becoming hurricanes and five to nine reaching major hurricane status. Normal Pacific activity includes 15 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes. Rosencrans explained that central Pacific storm development typically shifts closer to Hawaii during El Nino periods.
Eastern Pacific storms near Baja Mexico typically “go west, affect the fishies and little else,” Corbosiero said. However, they occasionally turn east or north, causing significant damage like Hurricane Otis in 2023, which devastated Mexico, or 1992’s Hurricane Lester, which brought heavy rainfall to the U.S. Southwest.
Hawaii’s small island chain in the vast Pacific remains vulnerable to storm threats. In 1992, an El Nino year with minimal Atlantic activity (though Miami suffered devastation from Hurricane Andrew), Hawaii was struck by Hurricane Iniki.
Moving westward toward Asia and India, “your odds of any storm forming becoming a super typhoon go up significantly in El Nino,” Klotzbach said.
The eastern Pacific hurricane season began May 15, while the Atlantic season starts June 1, with both concluding November 30.
El Nino conditions can extend hurricane seasons, explained John Bravender, a weather service meteorologist in Honolulu. “With the warmer waters across the area, not only can hurricanes maintain their strength at higher latitudes, but also longer through the year,” he said.
Hawaii is preparing for potential hurricane impacts while parts of the state continue recovering from recent consecutive storms that caused catastrophic flooding, Gov. Josh Green said.
An Australian mining company announced Friday its intention to raise roughly A$350 million ($250 million) through a stock offering to finance development of its major rare earth mining venture, with backing from the investment firm owned by Australia’s wealthiest individual.
Arafura Rare Earths revealed the fundraising strategy one day following approval for its $1.6 billion Northern Territory mining operation, which is expected to become Australia’s third-largest rare earth facility by 2030.
The company will release an initial batch of shares valued at approximately A$175.5 million, priced at A$0.260 each, marking a 16.1% reduction from Thursday’s closing price. A second round of shares worth A$174.5 million awaits shareholder authorization.
Hancock Prospecting, the investment company belonging to Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart and currently Arafura’s biggest investor, has pledged approximately A$85 million toward the stock offering.
Following the completion of this fundraising effort, Hancock’s ownership percentage in Arafura is expected to increase from its current 15.5% to about 17.5%.
According to Arafura, the money raised will completely cover the equity portion needed for the Nolans project’s development.
The mining operation has already obtained financing commitments from export credit organizations in the United States, Canada, Germany and South Korea, along with international trading companies and manufacturers, as Western nations increase efforts to reduce dependence on China, the world’s leading rare earth producer.
The company reported securing approximately 93% of its binding sales target for neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide through recent supply contracts and export credit agency backing.
Australia aims to become the primary rare earth supplier for its international partners, with Arafura scheduled to provide 500 metric tons of NdPr to the nation’s strategic mineral stockpile, expected to begin operations by year’s end.
Additionally, Arafura announced a separate share purchase program targeting up to A$25 million from individual investors.
Trading of the company’s shares has been temporarily suspended.
North Carolina officials have initiated legal proceedings against Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer Vinfast, alleging the company has not honored its commitments to construct an electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facility within state borders, according to Attorney General Jeff Jackson.
The legal action, announced Thursday, claims that Vinfast has ceased all construction activities at the designated site for more than twelve months.
The Vietnamese automaker had previously received authorization to develop the manufacturing plant, with obligations to generate 7,500 employment opportunities and commit over $3 billion in investment to North Carolina, the attorney general’s office stated.
“Vinfast has defaulted on its agreements with the State, and Vinfast’s continued inaction all but guarantees imminent further default,” the statement declared.
Representatives from Vinfast did not provide an immediate response when contacted for comment by Reuters.
Financial markets across Asia posted gains Friday as the US dollar maintained strength near six-week peaks, with investors maintaining cautious optimism about potential progress in diplomatic discussions between the United States and Iran, despite ongoing disagreements on major issues.
Market participants continue to monitor the potential for disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping channel for global energy transport, which has driven oil costs higher and altered worldwide interest rate projections due to inflation worries.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated there had been “some good signs” in negotiations aimed at resolving the nearly three-month conflict in the Middle East, though disagreements persist regarding Tehran’s uranium stockpile and oversight of the shipping corridor.
Equity markets showed positive movement, with MSCI’s comprehensive Asia-Pacific stock index excluding Japan climbing 0.3%, positioning for a slight weekly gain. Japan’s Nikkei index advanced 2%.
Futures contracts for US equities increased 0.2% while European futures climbed 0.8%.
Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone, noted that market developments appear to be moving toward more concrete outcomes that traders can evaluate with increased certainty.
“Although confidence levels are still not especially high,” Weston cautioned.
Energy prices gained ground in Friday’s early session following sharp declines, as mixed signals from negotiations continue to create uncertainty for investors. Crude costs remain significantly elevated compared to pre-conflict levels and are anticipated to stay high even with a potential agreement.
Brent crude futures climbed 2% to $104.71 per barrel but were tracking toward a 6% weekly decline. US West Texas Intermediate futures increased 1.66% to $98.01.
Extended energy supply disruptions from the prolonged conflict pose risks of broader price increases globally, prompting traders to anticipate interest rate increases in both developed and emerging economies.
Current market pricing reflects potential rate increases from the US Federal Reserve before year-end, contrasting with pre-conflict expectations of two rate reductions.
“We’re seeing an unusually strong linkage between oil prices and global rates, reflecting how broad-based and borderless this shock has become,” said Mitch Reznick, Head of Fixed Income at Federated Hermes.
“What initially appeared to be a shift in inflation expectations is now feeding directly into realised inflation, reinforcing the view that central banks will need to keep policy tighter for longer to restore price stability.”
These developments have pushed Treasury yields higher and strengthened the dollar, which also gains from safe-haven investment flows. The euro traded at $1.1614 in early activity, near Thursday’s six-week low, heading for a 1% monthly decline.
Measured against a currency basket, the dollar stood at 99.247. The Japanese yen traded at 159.11 per US dollar.
Friday’s economic data revealed Japan’s core inflation decelerated to a four-year low in April, creating uncertainty about the Bank of Japan’s future rate adjustment strategy.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. was removed from Thursday’s matchup against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning after experiencing discomfort in his left thumb.
Team officials announced on social media that Acuna’s removal was “as a precaution with pain in his left thumb.”
Before Eli White took his place in right field, Acuna had delivered a solid performance, going 2-for-3 at the plate including a two-run single that helped Atlanta establish a commanding 6-2 advantage over Miami.
The performance extended Acuna’s strong return to action, bringing his totals to 4-for-11 (.364) with five runs scored across three contests since rejoining the active roster on Monday. The five-time All-Star had been sidelined for 14 games due to a left hamstring injury.
Through 37 appearances this season, the 28-year-old Venezuela native has compiled a .261/.370/.384 slash line with two home runs, 11 RBIs and seven stolen bases. His .754 OPS represents the second-lowest mark of his nine-year career — only surpassed by his 2024 season that concluded in May following a torn ACL in his left knee.
Four major nations are preparing to hold a high-level diplomatic summit in India’s capital next week, according to an announcement from Japan’s foreign ministry on Friday.
The foreign ministers from the United States, Japan, Australia and India are scheduled to gather in New Delhi on May 26 for what’s known as a ‘Quad’ meeting between the four countries.
Japan’s foreign ministry confirmed that the nation’s chief diplomat, Toshimitsu Motegi, will make a three-day trip to India beginning Monday to participate in the diplomatic session.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to arrive in India on Saturday, following his attendance at NATO foreign ministers’ discussions in Sweden, according to the U.S. State Department.
A vehicle accident has resulted in lane closures on southbound Route 495 near Fox Point State Park, according to traffic officials.
Two right lanes are currently blocked due to the crash, which is impacting traffic flow in the area. Motorists traveling on this stretch of highway should expect delays and consider alternate routes if possible.
Authorities have not yet provided information about the cause of the accident or whether any injuries occurred. The timeline for reopening the affected lanes has not been announced.
Drivers are advised to exercise caution when traveling through the area and to allow extra time for their commute.
Current NFL Most Valuable Player Matthew Stafford has finalized a one-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Rams that will keep him with the franchise through the 2027 season.
The team made the announcement Thursday but did not disclose financial terms immediately. According to ESPN’s reporting, the 2027 contract is valued at $55 million with the possibility of reaching $60 million, representing an increase from his current season’s compensation.
This agreement suggests the 38-year-old quarterback is seriously considering remaining with Los Angeles beyond 2026. This development is significant given Stafford’s previously stated approach of evaluating his career on an annual basis since capturing the Super Bowl title in February 2022, and his decision to return for the coming season was only announced when he received his MVP award in February.
The organization caught many by surprise when they selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall selection in last month’s draft, temporarily raising questions about Stafford’s future role — until head coach Sean McVay clearly stated that Stafford remains the team’s starting quarterback for however long he chooses to continue playing.
“Whenever that time comes for (Simpson) to get an opportunity to be Matthew’s successor will be on Matthew’s terms,” McVay said at the time. “I didn’t want that to ever be misunderstood. … It is Matthew’s football team.”
Stafford just completed one of his finest professional seasons, earning his first MVP recognition while narrowly defeating New England’s Drake Maye in the balloting. He led the league with 4,707 passing yards and achieved a personal best with 46 touchdown passes while throwing only eight interceptions, then guided the Rams through two playoff road wins to reach the NFC championship contest.
The coming season marks Stafford’s 18th year in professional football and his sixth campaign with Los Angeles, who obtained him through a trade with Detroit in 2021. Stafford ranks sixth all-time in NFL passing yards with 64,516 and sits seventh in touchdown passes with 423, trailing Philip Rivers by just two.
Los Angeles enters the season among the top Super Bowl contenders despite using their first-round selection on a quarterback who appears unlikely to see significant playing time for at least two seasons. Simpson has expressed enthusiasm about developing under Stafford’s guidance, describing it as “a perfect situation” for a quarterback who started just one season with the Crimson Tide.
The team’s organized team activities are scheduled to begin next week.
This year’s Super Bowl will take place at the Rams’ home venue, SoFi Stadium, occurring one week following Stafford’s 39th birthday. He previously guided the Rams to their championship victory in a Super Bowl held at SoFi.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — During her yearly state address on Thursday, Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González announced plans to increase electrical generation capacity across the U.S. territory as ongoing blackouts continue to anger residents throughout the island.
The governor explained that a competitive selection process for adding 3,000 megawatts of new power generation is currently in progress, with the contract expected to be finalized by the end of summer. She also revealed that approximately 1,000 megawatts will come online in the coming months as workers repair and upgrade existing power facilities.
González explained that every 100 megawatts can supply electricity to 60,000 households.
“With more megawatts in the system, we can reduce outages,” she said.
The island’s electrical infrastructure was devastated when Hurricane Maria struck as a Category 4 hurricane in September 2017, though the system was already deteriorating due to insufficient upkeep and funding.
The governor announced that workers have begun installing Tesla battery systems using over $700 million in federal funding, noting these units should help decrease power interruptions with their 430 megawatts of energy storage capability.
Additionally, 244 megawatts worth of backup power plants designed to operate during peak usage periods have been delivered to the island, she stated.
González has received significant criticism for supporting the Trump administration’s decision to reallocate $350 million in federal money initially designated for rooftop solar panels and battery systems for 12,000 low-income Puerto Rican families, funds now being used for the island’s deteriorating electrical grid.
The governor also stated her continued support for converting power facilities to natural gas operations.
“I want to reduce the cost of power in Puerto Rico,” she said.
Last year, the island ranked fifth nationally for highest average electricity costs, trailing only Hawaii, California, Connecticut and Rhode Island, based on U.S. Energy Administration Information data.
González repeated her commitment to terminate a multimillion-dollar agreement with Luma, a private corporation managing power transmission and distribution in Puerto Rico that has faced widespread criticism as blackouts continue.
In response, Luma issued a statement saying “the improvements to the transmission and distribution network are evident.”
The company added: “As long as the outstanding funds remain available, the reconstruction and modernization work across the island will continue.”
Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority continues working to reorganize over $9 billion in outstanding debt.
González also recognized “serious problems” affecting the island’s water systems, as increasing numbers of communities experience extended periods without service.
“I don’t intend to console anyone,” she said while requesting patience and noting that rebuilding projects are ongoing.
After the nearly two-hour speech, the governor, who belongs to the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, received criticism from opposition politicians.
Pablo José Hernández, Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress and a member of the Popular Democratic Party, released a video statement following the address declaring that Puerto Ricans are not alone, “that your feelings of frustration, dissatisfaction, and anger are justified.”
The United Nations issued sharp criticism Thursday regarding a recently enacted Afghan Taliban regulation concerning marital separation that contains allowances for child marriage, stating the measure deepens bias against women and girls.
Taliban officials dismissed these criticisms, asserting the regulation adheres to Islamic principles and maintaining that forced marriages of girls are already prohibited in the country.
Afghanistan’s justice ministry released Decree No. 18 “on judicial separation of spouses” last week, establishing guidelines for married couples seeking separation.
The regulation’s most disputed elements include language stating that when a girl who has reached puberty remains silent, this can be viewed as marriage approval. The decree also contains sections addressing separation for girls who have reached puberty and are wed, which “implies that child marriage is permitted,” according to a statement from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
“This undermines the principle of free and full consent and failing to safeguard the best interests of the child,” it said.
The regulation specifies that marriages may be declared void “if a father or grandfather has given a minor girl or boy without any dowry, not enough dowry or obscene embezzlement.” Additionally, it states that a girl married off by her father or grandfather to a man who “has not treated her with kindness or is well-known for his bad choices…has the right to approach the court to cancel the marriage contract upon reaching puberty.”
Yet when a woman requests divorce from her spouse and he refuses, “then in this case, there are no witnesses with the girl, the husband’s word is valid,” according to the new regulation. Witnesses are unnecessary if she presents her request directly to a judge.
Afghan women and girls currently endure extensive discrimination, with regulations controlling their dress and conduct. Educational opportunities beyond elementary school are forbidden, along with most employment and nearly all recreational pursuits, including fitness centers, beauty establishments, and public recreational areas.
“Decree No. 18 is part of a broader and deeply concerning trajectory in which the rights of Afghan women and girls are being eroded,” said Georgette Gagnon, the U.N.’s Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and officer in charge of UNAMA.
Although the regulation permits women to leave their spouses, the process is significantly more difficult for women than men.
The measure “operates in a deeply unequal framework: while men retain the unilateral right to divorce, women must pursue complex and restrictive judicial avenues to separate from a spouse,” UNAMA said. “This situation reinforces structural discrimination and limits women’s autonomy in matters fundamental to their dignity, safety, and well-being.”
Following their takeover of Afghanistan after the disorderly departure of U.S.-supported forces in 2021, the Taliban declared certain limited women’s rights, releasing a decree that granted women inheritance rights and marriage refusal options. Nevertheless, “successive decrees have undermined these protections,” UNAMA stated.
The numerous limitations established by the government “have deprived millions of Afghan women and girls of their right to education, weakened economic participation, and deepened poverty, with long-term consequences for Afghanistan’s development,” it continued.
“The objections from those who contradict the religion of Islam are not new and we should not pay attention to them,” Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Afghan government, told the RTA state broadcaster in an interview.
Mujahid observed that Afghanistan’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has previously issued a decree prohibiting forced marriage of girls. Afghan judicial systems and the nation’s ministry of vice and virtue have examined thousands of such instances within the past year, he stated, “which shows the Islamic Emirate’s concern for women’s rights.”
WASHINGTON – The United States imposed financial sanctions Thursday on nine officials accused of blocking peace efforts in Lebanon and preventing the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah organization.
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control stated these officials operate throughout Lebanon’s legislative, military, and security agencies, working to maintain Hezbollah’s control over important Lebanese government institutions.
“Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and must be fully disarmed,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated. The group, established in 1982 by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, has been classified as a terrorist organization by the United States and Gulf Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia.
American officials blame the organization for suicide attacks in 1983 that resulted in 241 U.S. military deaths and demolished the U.S. Marine headquarters in Beirut, as well as a French military compound, killing 58 French paratroopers. The U.S. also attributes a 1983 suicide bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut to Hezbollah.
AMERICA FOCUSES ON HEZBOLLAH’S FUNDING
Last week, Israel and Lebanon extended their ceasefire agreement by 45 days, continuing to reduce tensions from a conflict in southern Lebanon that escalated months ago following U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott announced the department will offer up to $10 million for intelligence that helps disrupt the militant organization’s financial operations.
“This is only the beginning. Anyone still shielding or collaborating with this terrorist organization, or otherwise undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty, should understand that they will be held accountable,” Pigott stated.
“A stable, secure, and independent Lebanon requires the full disarmament of Hezbollah and the restoration of the Lebanese government’s exclusive authority over security matters throughout the country.”
The Treasury Department identified the following individuals as targets of Thursday’s sanctions:
– Mohamed Abdel-Mottaleb Fanich, who directs Hezbollah’s executive council.
– Hassan Nizammeddine Fadlallah, a parliamentary member representing Hezbollah since 2005, who collaborated with Al Nour Radio and Al Manar TV, both previously sanctioned by the U.S.
– Ibrahim al-Moussawi, who directs Hezbollah’s media operations and serves as the group’s parliamentary representative.
– Hussein Al-Hajj Hassan, who has served as Hezbollah’s parliamentary representative since 1996.
– Mohammad Reza Sheibani, Iran’s ambassador designate to Lebanon, whom Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry declared persona non grata after withdrawing approval of his appointment and ordering his departure from Beirut.
– Ahmad Asaad Baalbaki and Ali Ahmad Safawi, both security leaders within the Amal Movement, a political partner and security collaborator of Hezbollah. Safawi commands the Lebanese Amal militia in southern Lebanon and directed its forces in combined Hizballah-Amal military operations against Israel.
– Brigadier General Khattar Nasser Eldin, director of the Lebanese General Directorate for General Security, for sharing intelligence with Hezbollah.
– Colonel Samir Hamadi, a high-ranking Lebanese intelligence officer.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popsoi on Thursday, expressing that Beijing values its relationship with the Eastern European nation and wants to strengthen their partnership, according to a Friday statement from China’s foreign ministry.
The diplomatic meeting took place shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin completed a ceremonial 24-hour state visit to Beijing, where he held talks with President Xi Jinping. During Putin’s visit, the two leaders agreed to enhance cooperation and provide greater mutual support.
According to the Chinese foreign ministry’s official summary of Thursday’s discussions, the representatives from both nations also discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This marks the first time a Moldovan foreign minister has visited China in nearly eight years.
China has refrained from criticizing Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and avoids using the term “invasion” when referring to the conflict. Instead, Beijing advocates for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, a stance Wang repeated during his conversation with Popsoi, the statement indicated.
Moldova shares a border with Ukraine and has publicly denounced Russia’s military offensive. The country has experienced long-standing tensions with Moscow regarding the breakaway region of Transdniestria, which declared independence while Moldova was still part of the Soviet Union and maintains pro-Russian leadership.
Approximately 1,500 Russian military personnel remain stationed in the disputed territory, with Moscow characterizing their role as peacekeeping forces. The region continues to receive significant financial and political support from Russia.
Moldova’s current administration, which has set a goal of joining the European Union by 2030, views both the separatist region and the Russian military deployment as tools Moscow uses to influence the country’s domestic policies.
“Wang said China cherishes the traditional friendship between the two countries, and stands ready to work with Moldova to further cement mutual trust,” according to the ministry’s official statement.
Congressional lawmakers are once again pushing to eliminate the biannual ritual of changing clocks, with a House committee advancing legislation Thursday that would make daylight saving time permanent across the nation.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the Sunshine Protection Act by an overwhelming 48-1 margin. The legislation would likely be incorporated into a broader five-year transportation package.
Advocates for ending the clock changes point to research showing the time shifts disrupt sleep patterns, lead to increased workplace accidents, and contribute to more vehicle collisions. They argue that extended evening daylight during winter months would also stimulate economic growth.
President Donald Trump endorsed the committee’s action on social media, stating it’s “time that people can stop worrying about the ‘Clock,’ not to mention all of the work and money that is spent on this ridiculous, twice yearly production.”
The legislation now moves to the full House for consideration before heading to the Senate, where it encounters resistance from some lawmakers including Republican Tom Cotton and others.
Cotton has argued the change would create unreasonably late winter sunrises and force students to walk to school in darkness across much of the nation. The proposed law includes provisions allowing individual states to withdraw from the system.
Representative Vern Buchanan, who has championed this initiative annually since 2018, has reintroduced the proposal once more. The concept enjoys strong support in the lawmaker’s home state of Florida, where it would extend evening recreational time for golf and outdoor sports.
The Senate previously passed similar legislation unanimously in March 2022, but the House never brought that version to a vote.
Representative Frank Pallone, a New Jersey Democrat, expressed support for permanent daylight saving time as “better for safety and will boost New Jersey’s tourism industry. Let’s stop changing the clocks twice a year.”
The current daylight saving system, which moves clocks forward one hour during summer months, has been standard practice across nearly the entire United States since the 1960s.
The nation previously experimented with year-round daylight saving during World War Two and again in 1974 as an energy conservation measure. However, the 1974 implementation proved highly unpopular with the public and was reversed within the same year.
Federal authorities have detained Adys Lastres Morera, whose brother serves as executive president of GAESA, a massive network of military-controlled enterprises in Cuba, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday.
Morera had been living in the United States as a permanent resident since 2023, but is now being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while facing deportation proceedings, ICE officials confirmed in a separate announcement.
Officials stated that Morera’s continued presence creates a security risk for the United States and works against American foreign policy objectives.
Cuban officials seldom discuss GAESA publicly, an organization whose full name translates to ‘business administration group’ from its Spanish acronym Grupo de Administración Empresarial.
The island nation has maintained that such secrecy is essential to counter American trade and financial restrictions that significantly hinder Cuba’s international business operations.
Attempts to contact Morera’s representatives for a response were unsuccessful.
LA CROSSE, Wis. – Salisbury University’s track and field teams celebrated exceptional achievements on the opening day of the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, with two standout performances at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.
Mia Hill captured First Team All-American recognition in the long jump competition, marking a significant milestone for the Sea Gulls program. The championships are being held at The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Adding to the team’s success, Kai Smith secured his place in the 200-meter finals following his preliminary race performance during Thursday afternoon’s events.
The strong showing from both athletes highlights the competitive strength of Salisbury University’s track and field programs as they continue competition at the national championships.
SpaceX canceled Thursday’s planned launch of its twelfth Starship rocket from Texas, announcing the company will make another attempt on Friday.
The launch was called off on May 21, with the space company providing no immediate details about the reason for the delay.
Semiconductor equipment manufacturer Lam Research is working to integrate artificial intelligence and advanced sensing technology into its manufacturing tools while planning expansion across the United States, according to the company’s chief executive.
The California-based company, which provides equipment to major chipmakers including Micron Technology and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, has seen its stock price surge over 75% this year due to strong demand for AI chip manufacturing equipment.
During a Thursday interview, Lam CEO Tim Archer outlined the company’s two-year strategy to enhance its tools with additional sensors that collect data for AI analysis. This technology would help identify production issues and inefficiencies earlier in the manufacturing process, enabling customers to produce higher-quality chips with fewer defects on silicon wafers.
Archer shared these details while hosting a venture capital competition at the company’s Fremont, California headquarters, where Lam awarded $250,000 to startup Lightfinder.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology spinout has developed technology to miniaturize chip measurement tools, making them small and affordable enough to integrate directly into existing manufacturing equipment rather than requiring separate processing steps.
“The more data you collect from the machine itself, or from the wafer, the better your models can be about predicting what’s happening and starting to really react to problems in the system,” Archer said. “What AI is allowing us to do … is basically identify conditions in the system that we didn’t know were a problem before.”
The CEO also verified that Lam will establish an additional facility in the Phoenix area to serve customers like TSMC, while increasing investments at its California headquarters where manufacturing operations continue.
According to December reporting by the Phoenix Business Journal, Lam purchased a 148,000-square-foot building near TSMC’s large-scale factories for more than $45 million, though specific plans for the facility remain undisclosed.
“Clearly, we see Arizona as a place that we need to be from the standpoint of supporting (customers),” Archer said. “I think you’ll very soon see more investment coming here in the Fremont area.”
SpaceX came tantalizingly close to launching its massive Starship rocket Thursday evening, with the countdown halting just 30 seconds before liftoff due to a series of technical malfunctions.
The towering 407-foot (124-meter) spacecraft was ready to embark on a test mission from Texas that would take it on a path spanning half the globe. However, complications arose with the newly constructed launch pad at Starbase near the Mexican border, forcing engineers to call off the attempt when time ran out.
Company CEO Elon Musk later explained that a hydraulic pin responsible for keeping the launch tower’s arm secured failed to withdraw properly. He indicated that if engineers can resolve the issue promptly, the company will try again Friday.
The failed launch attempt occurred just one day following Musk’s announcement that his aerospace company plans to go public.
The spacecraft carries 20 simulated Starlink satellites that were scheduled for deployment before the vehicle’s planned controlled descent into the Indian Ocean, concluding what was intended to be an hour-long mission. This marks the 12th test flight planned for a Starship and the first attempt since last fall.
NASA has designated this newest iteration of Starship as the vehicle that will transport astronauts to the lunar surface in the coming years.
CONCORD, N.C. — Racing legend Kyle Busch, who captured two Cup Series championships and accumulated more victories than any driver in NASCAR’s three national series combined, has passed away at the age of 41.
A joint announcement released Thursday by the Busch Family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR confirmed the driver’s death following his hospitalization. Officials did not disclose the specific cause of death.
Earlier Thursday, Busch’s family had revealed he was receiving treatment for a “severe illness,” just three days ahead of his scheduled participation in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The Las Vegas native was the younger sibling of Kurt Busch, who has been inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
“Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch,” the statement said. “A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans.”
The announcement continued, noting that “throughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records in national series wins, won championships at NASCAR’s highest level and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series. His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.’”
This development follows an incident 11 days earlier when Busch contacted his pit crew during the closing stages of a Cup Series event at Watkins Glen, requesting medical attention for what he described as needing a “shot” after completing the race. Television coverage indicated Busch had been battling sinus congestion that worsened due to the intense physical demands and elevation variations of the New York road course.
Despite his condition, Busch managed an eighth-place finish in that competition.
Most recently, Busch participated in last weekend’s Dover events, claiming victory in the Trucks Series race for Spire Motorsports while placing 17th in the NASCAR All-Star race.
“Absolute shock. Very hard to process,” veteran NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski posted on social media.
NASCAR driver and former teammate Denny Hamlin posted on social media: “Absolutely cannot comprehend this news. We just need to think of his family during this time. We love you KB.”
A controversial figure nicknamed “Rowdy” and “Wild Thing” due to his post-race altercations, ongoing rivalries with fellow competitors and occasionally unpredictable conduct, the versatile Busch made his Cup Series debut in 2005, earning Rookie of the Year honors.
He subsequently claimed championships in 2015 and 2019 while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing.
The Nevada driver achieved unprecedented dominance across NASCAR’s three premier divisions, amassing 234 combined victories in Cup, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Trucks Series competition. His tally included 63 Cup triumphs, 102 O’Reilly Auto Parts victories and 69 Trucks wins — the latter two representing series records.
Early in his career, Busch was released by Hendrick Motorsports to create roster space for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“Kyle and I had a really challenging existence for many years,” Earnhardt said in a statement. “But we luckily took the time to figure out our differences and that was something he instigated with a conversation in his bus around how we each managed our racing teams. I was super eager for us to get on better terms. But it was he who made the effort for that to be possible.”
Busch subsequently joined Joe Gibbs Racing, where he achieved the majority of his career accomplishments. However, he departed after the 2022 season due to sponsorship issues and signed with Richard Childress Racing, where he faced challenges returning to victory lane.
His recent performance struggles contributed to tensions with former JGR teammate Hamlin, who appeared to question Busch’s prospects on the Actions Detrimental podcast. Hamlin said, “If you’re expecting Kyle Busch to just go back to Victory Lane on a regular basis, you are kidding yourselves.”
Though Hamlin later clarified his remarks were observational rather than critical, Busch took offense and threatened to make Hamlin’s racing experience “hell” on the track.
During last month’s Kansas race, while running multiple laps behind, Busch followed through on his warning by aggressively defending his position against race leader Hamlin rather than yielding. This tactic disrupted Hamlin’s momentum during a critical race phase, ultimately contributing to Tyler Reddick’s victory as Hamlin’s performance declined.
Following his Dover Trucks victory last week amid improved performance, Busch appeared to reference the Hamlin controversy, remarking “I guess I just remembered how to drive.”
When asked after his Dover triumph about his career victory goals, Busch reflected on the uncertainty of racing.
“You take whatever you can get, man,” Busch said. “You never know when the last one is going to be, so cherish them all — trust me.”
This tragic loss represents another devastating blow to the NASCAR community. Last December, former driver Greg Biffle, his wife and two children and three others died in a plane crash in Statesville, North Carolina.
News of Busch’s passing emerged after IndyCar teams had concluded media day activities at Gasoline Alley for the Indianapolis 500. As information circulated along Main Street in Speedway, Indiana, near Indianapolis Motor Speedway, racing enthusiasts from both IndyCar and NASCAR expressed their grief.
NASCAR leadership confirmed to The Associated Press that Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 will proceed as scheduled.
Competitors are anticipated to arrive at Charlotte Motorsports Speedway in Concord on Friday, with practice sessions and qualifying rounds beginning Saturday. Earlier Thursday, RCR announced that Austin Hill would substitute for Busch in the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.
Busch leaves behind his wife Samantha and children Brexton and Lennix.
Japan’s core inflation rate dropped to its lowest level in four years during April, reaching 1.4% compared to the same period last year, according to government data released Friday. The decline was primarily attributed to government subsidies for educational expenses.
Economic experts anticipate price increases will pick up speed in the months ahead as higher oil prices and supply chain problems stemming from Middle East tensions push companies to increase costs across various product categories.
The core consumer price index, which excludes unpredictable fresh food prices, came in below market predictions of 1.7%. This represented a decrease from March’s 1.8% rate and marked the smallest annual increase recorded since March 2022.
An additional measurement that removes both volatile food and fuel prices showed a 1.9% yearly increase in April, down from March’s 2.4% rise. The Bank of Japan closely monitors this particular metric as it better reflects price changes driven by consumer demand.
These inflation figures will be among the key considerations when the BOJ convenes for its next policy meeting, where financial experts widely anticipate the central bank will increase its short-term interest rate from 0.75% to 1%.
Financial markets have experienced volatility following the Iran war’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for approximately 20% of worldwide oil and gas shipments. This has pushed crude oil prices higher and strengthened the dollar against the yen.
The conflict has created challenges for the BOJ’s interest rate strategy by increasing inflationary pressures while simultaneously impacting an economy that depends heavily on Middle Eastern fuel imports.
Wholesale price inflation, which typically signals future consumer price trends, increased at its fastest rate in three years during April as the Iran conflict elevated costs for oil and chemical products. This development strengthens arguments for an upcoming interest rate increase.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office filed legal action Thursday against the messaging platform WhatsApp and its parent corporation Meta Platforms Inc, claiming the companies deceived users regarding the security and extent of WhatsApp’s encryption technology. A Meta representative has disputed these claims.
Court documents filed in Harrison County assert that WhatsApp and Meta provide false assurances to users about message encryption while maintaining access to nearly all private conversations on the messaging platform.
“WhatsApp markets its services as secure and encrypted, but it does not deliver on those promises,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement.
Meta representative Andy Stone responded on social media that the lawsuit contains false claims and that WhatsApp cannot access users’ encrypted conversations.
The legal action requests a court directive preventing Meta and WhatsApp from accessing Texas residents’ WhatsApp communications without permission, along with financial penalties.
Texas’ complaint references media coverage of a federal probe into allegations that Meta could access unencrypted WhatsApp communications and a whistleblower complaint filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The case was brought under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which serves as the state’s primary consumer protection statute.
Paxton’s office has pursued multiple comparable data privacy cases against major technology firms, including Google, which agreed in May 2025 to pay $1.375 billion to resolve allegations of user data privacy violations.
On May 11, Paxton’s office initiated legal proceedings against Netflix, accusing the streaming service of surveillance activities targeting children and other users by gathering their information without permission and creating an addictive platform design.
Netflix has rejected these accusations and stated the lawsuit relies on inaccurate and misleading information.
Brazil’s administration plans to announce Friday that it will broaden spending restrictions across government departments to comply with annual budget limits, according to Finance Minister Dario Durigan, who made the statement Thursday.
Current spending restrictions total 1.6 billion reais ($320 million). Officials have set the release of their twice-monthly revenue and spending report for 3 p.m. local time (1800 GMT) Friday.
During a CNN Brasil interview, Durigan explained that while spending limitations will grow, officials won’t need to implement a complete spending freeze — an action taken when economic officials believe the annual fiscal goal might be missed.
“We are moving toward an increase in the block, so the government is cutting into its own flesh,” the minister said.
Durigan noted that federal income has matched projections, but emphasized the administration should maintain steady progress toward fiscal stability, including measures to control growing expenditures.
Officials aim for a primary surplus of 0.25% of GDP this year, allowing for variation of 0.25% either way. In March, they projected a primary surplus of 3.5 billion reais, approximately 0% of GDP, for the current year.
($1 = 5.0055 reais)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams faces an uncertain future in the Western Conference finals as team medical staff monitor his recurring left hamstring injury on a daily basis, according to ESPN’s Thursday report.
The 25-year-old player is receiving ongoing treatment for his second hamstring setback in the same leg within a month’s time. During Wednesday’s matchup, Williams began the game but managed just seven minutes on the court, contributing four points, one rebound and two steals before departing due to left hamstring tightness. The Thunder secured a 122-113 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at home, tying the best-of-seven series at one game apiece.
In the series opener on Monday, Williams delivered a strong performance with 26 points, seven rebounds and three assists across 37 minutes of play. However, the visiting Spurs prevailed 122-115 in double overtime against the host Thunder. Prior to that appearance, Williams had been absent from six consecutive playoff contests due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.
The Thunder guard made the trip with his team on Thursday ahead of Friday’s Game 3 in San Antonio. ESPN indicates he will likely receive a questionable designation when the official injury report becomes available.
Following his participation in the opening two games of a first-round series sweep against the Phoenix Suns, Williams was unavailable for all four contests during the Thunder’s sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Williams earned All-Star recognition in 2025 and posted regular season averages of 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists across 33 games, all as a starter. He missed the season’s first 19 games while recovering from right wrist surgery performed during the offseason. A right hamstring strain also troubled him during the regular season.
Throughout his playoff career spanning 37 games, Williams has maintained averages of 20.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists. His postseason highlight came with a 40-point performance in Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, helping the Thunder capture the championship in seven games.
The New York Giants face uncertainty about when star wide receiver Malik Nabers will return to action following his knee injury, according to head coach John Harbaugh on Thursday.
Speaking after the team’s third OTA practice, Harbaugh expressed hope that Nabers could rejoin the squad during training camp and be available for their September 13 season opener at home against the Dallas Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football,” though he acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the recovery.
The 22-year-old receiver suffered a torn right ACL in September and received a complete meniscus repair on October 28. During the offseason, he required an additional procedure to clear away scar tissue that was creating stiffness in the joint.
“He’s in the middle of it. It’s such a hard thing. It’s an ACL, and whatever else he had in that knee,” Harbaugh explained. “Not a simple knee (injury), you know? So he’s in the slog of it, the grind of it, I would say. So, he’s fighting through it, and he’s here every day working hard at it.”
The coach emphasized the difficulty in making predictions about Nabers’ return, stating: “Just impossible to predict. I mean, the goal is to start the season and get out there sometime in training camp. That’d be the goal, and we’ll see what happens.”
Harbaugh maintained a flexible approach regarding the team’s preparation, saying: “If (Nabers is) out there, great. (If) he’s not out there, great. We’ll be ready to go either way. But I know he’s fighting like crazy to do his best to be out there, and he’s with the guys every day.”
Nabers had a remarkable rookie season in 2024, setting a franchise record with 109 catches for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns across 15 games, earning a Pro Bowl selection. Before his injury last season, he had recorded 18 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns in four games.
The Giants have restructured their receiving corps during the offseason. They parted ways with Wan’Dale Robinson, who signed with the Tennessee Titans, while bringing in Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III. The team also selected Malachi Fields in the third round of the draft, with all three new additions participating in OTAs.
“I’m excited about those guys,” Harbaugh said regarding veterans Mooney and Austin. “They’re pros, starters, established starters in the NFL, and they look good.”
The team is also managing another injury situation, as receiver Darius Slayton remains out following core muscle surgery.
“He had a sports hernia thing,” Harbaugh noted. “That’s one of those deals you just got to — you can try to nurse it through and he nursed it through last year, I guess. And so I think we all agreed just get it fixed and he’ll be 100% for the start of training camp.”
NEWARK, Del. – The Blue Hens women’s basketball team has secured the services of Milena Bigovic, according to an announcement made Thursday by head coach Sarah Jenkins.
The University of Delaware women’s basketball program confirmed the addition of Bigovic to their roster as they continue building their team.
A food manufacturer based in Lynn, Massachusetts has issued an urgent recall for soup products sold at Whole Foods Market due to potential undeclared allergens.
Kettle Cuisine is pulling 24-ounce containers of Whole Foods Market Kitchen Minestrone Soup from store shelves after discovering the product may contain shrimp that is not listed among the ingredients.
Health officials warn that individuals with allergies to crustacean shellfish face the possibility of severe or potentially fatal allergic reactions if they eat the affected soup product.
Customers who purchased this product and have shellfish allergies should not consume it and are advised to discard it immediately or return it to the store.
A food manufacturer has announced a voluntary product recall affecting pancake mix sold nationwide due to potential allergen contamination.
Hometown Food Company, working alongside Element Food Solutions, announced on May 20, 2026, that they are pulling a specific production batch of Birch Benders 12oz Sweet Potato Pancake Mix from store shelves. The Chicago-based company says the product may contain egg ingredients that are not listed on the packaging.
The recall targets only one lot code of the pancake mix product. Consumers who suffer from egg allergies or have severe reactions to egg products could face serious health consequences if they consume the affected pancake mix.
The company described the recall as limited in scope and emphasized that it was initiated voluntarily as a precautionary measure to protect consumer safety.
Motorists traveling northbound on Route 9 should expect delays as construction crews have closed the right lane between South Little Creek Road and Port Mahon Road.
The lane restriction is scheduled to remain in place until 6 PM today as work continues in the area.
Drivers are advised to use caution when approaching the construction zone and allow extra travel time for their commute.
Florida state officials have agreed to pay nearly $500,000 to a wildlife researcher who lost her job after posting critical comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk on social media following his assassination.
Brittney Brown, who worked as a biologist, was terminated by the state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission last September after sharing a meme on her personal Instagram that suggested Kirk was indifferent to school shootings. She pursued legal action demanding her position back, explaining that finding alternative employment proved difficult since the state commission regulates her field of expertise in avian conservation.
On Thursday, Brown finalized a settlement worth $485,000 with commission leadership, which includes back wages, compensation for damages, and legal fees. As part of the agreement, she has committed to not pursuing future positions with the agency.
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.
Brown joined numerous employees across public and private organizations who faced termination following remarks about Kirk’s shooting death at a university in Utah. Multiple legal challenges regarding these dismissals remain active in courts.
Prior to his assassination, Kirk and his organization, Turning Point USA, mobilized conservative young voters and contributed to President Donald Trump securing a second presidential term.
Following the September 10 shooting incident, Kirk’s followers searched social media platforms for content they interpreted as celebrating his death. Public figures including Laura Loomer vowed to damage the professional lives of those who made jokes about the killing, while the conservative social media presence Libs of TikTok revealed personal information and employment details of many who posted to its millions of followers.
After Libs of TikTok featured Brown’s post, her employment was terminated the following day, her legal filing states. Brown noted that someone informed Libs of TikTok about her dismissal approximately 10 minutes after it occurred and before any public announcement.
In an unusual case in Tennessee, authorities detained a former police officer for 37 days over a Facebook comment making light of Kirk’s assassination. Tennessee state officials agreed this Wednesday to pay $835,000 to resolve a lawsuit brought by Larry Bushart. During his incarceration, Bushart lost his post-retirement position and was unable to attend his granddaughter’s birth before prosecutors ultimately dismissed the felony charges, according to his legal complaint.
Prior to her dismissal, Brown had served with Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for approximately seven years, conducting research on coastal and marine birds in the panhandle region, court records show.
Carrie McNamara, representing the ACLU of Florida, described Brown’s settlement as “a hard-won vindication” that demonstrates to Florida authorities they cannot retaliate against speech they find objectionable.
“The First Amendment does not disappear when someone accepts a government job,” McNamara said.
Melissa Tucker, who supervised Brown as Habitat and Species Conservation Director, had asserted that Brown’s social media activity prompted hundreds of formal complaints and created substantial workplace disruption. Legal proceedings later showed the agency actually received approximately 50 complaints.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued sanctions against Tucker for overstating the complaint volume and failing to correct the misrepresentation.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the United States will deploy an additional 5,000 military personnel to Poland, creating widespread uncertainty after weeks of contradictory statements from his administration regarding plans to decrease rather than expand American military presence across Europe.
The announcement on social media has generated additional confusion for European allies who have already been caught off guard by shifting policies, as the administration has criticized NATO nations for not contributing enough to their own defense and for insufficient support during the Iran conflict.
“Based on the successful Election of the now President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, who I was proud to Endorse, and our relationship with him, I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
In recent weeks, both Trump and Pentagon officials had announced plans to withdraw at least 5,000 personnel from Germany following criticism from Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who stated the U.S. was being “humiliated” by Iranian leadership and condemned what he described as strategic failures in the conflict.
Earlier this month, Trump informed reporters that the U.S. would be “cutting a lot further than 5,000.”
Last week, approximately 4,000 soldiers from the Army’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division had their Poland deployment canceled. The Associated Press confirmed this cancellation was part of efforts to implement Trump’s directive to reduce European troop levels. A separate deployment to Germany involving long-range missile specialists was also suspended.
Lawmakers from both major political parties have condemned these reductions, arguing they send problematic messages to both allies and Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing four-year conflict in Ukraine.
Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska testified during a congressional hearing that Polish officials told him they were “blindsided.” He described the decision as “reprehensible” and called it “an embarrassment to our country what we just did to Poland.”
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated Tuesday that this represented “a temporary delay” for U.S. forces heading to Poland, which he described as a “model U.S. ally.” He explained this resulted from reducing assigned brigade combat teams in Europe from four to three, noting the Pentagon must still determine final troop positioning.
Questions remain about whether the brigade will eventually deploy to Poland, if extra troops beyond the rotational deployment might be added, or if troop reductions will occur in different European locations. Pentagon officials directed inquiries to the White House, which has not yet provided clarification.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Defense Undersecretary Elbridge Colby both conducted discussions with Polish officials this week. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed satisfaction Wednesday with “Washington’s declaration that Poland will be treated as it deserves.”
On Tuesday, U.S. General Alexus Grynkewich, who commands both American and NATO forces in Europe, told Brussels reporters that “it will be 5,000 troops coming out of Europe.”
Trump’s statement coincided with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s travel to Sweden for meetings with NATO counterparts, who have been questioning the administration’s European troop reduction policies.
“There seems to be no process to deliberating policies like troop withdrawals and deployments at the top,” said Ian Kelly, a former career diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to Georgia during both the Obama and first Trump administrations and currently teaches international relations at Northwestern University in Illinois.
Kelly suggested Rubio faces challenges explaining Trump’s policy reversals to Europeans seeking stability and predictability, regardless of potential disagreements.
“These are not well thought out decisions,” Kelly observed. “These are impulsive decisions based on Trump’s whims or what his advisors think are Trump’s whims.”
WASHINGTON — A previously popular proposal to establish a Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum on the National Mall fell apart Thursday when Republicans modified the legislation to exclude transgender individuals from museum displays.
The House voted down the measure 204-216, creating uncertainty about future efforts to move forward. The altered legislation also prohibited showcasing a “diversity” of perspectives and granted President Donald Trump final authority over the museum’s placement.
“It was a simple bill. You kind of ruined it with your trans obsession and your culture wars,” Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, a Democrat from New Mexico and chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, said earlier in the week.
However, Republicans contended that Democrats were overreacting to the modifications and now blocking progress on the long-desired women’s museum in the nation’s capital.
Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, the bill’s chief sponsor, called it “a disgrace” that Democrats would obstruct the bill’s approval.
“Perhaps the party that is opposing a women’s history museum on the National Mall because they want to have transgender exhibits — maybe they are the ones who are trans obsessed,” Malliotakis said.
In the end, several Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the measure. The floor came to a halt as GOP leadership scrambled to find support within their own party.
Among Republican opponents, some conservatives objected to having any museum dedicated specifically to women.
“We say we need to unite this country, but then we isolate every group,” said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., who was among several from the conservative Freedom Caucus who voted against it.
These developments endanger the lengthy campaign to establish a women-focused museum in Washington. Earlier authorization for the museum passed during Trump’s first presidency in 2020, and this recent legislation would have secured its National Mall location. Trump has shown interest in transforming the capital’s cultural landmarks, from the Kennedy Center to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Early this year, the bill had attracted approximately 230 co-sponsors, demonstrating unusual bipartisan cooperation in the divided House, where Republicans maintain a narrow majority. However, due to the bill’s revisions, the Democratic Women’s Caucus rejected the final version, and Democratic leadership urged opposition.
“A museum about women, fought for and supported by women, should not be controlled by one man,” the leaders of the women’s caucus said in a statement. “Republicans traded the representation of women for Trump’s gain and ego. It’s as embarrassing as it is disappointing.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson argued the modifications shouldn’t be contentious, but his attempt to advance the bill with only Republican support despite Democratic objections was unsuccessful.
“Why are they backing out? Simply because the bill reinforces an objective truth that a museum for women, get ready, should showcase only women,” said Johnson, R-La.
On Thursday, Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., said she brought her young daughter, Augusta, to the chamber to witness history in the making.
“Biological women deserve to have their stories told,” Cammack said, holding her child during her speech.
But Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, said the Republicans abandoned the bipartisan bill for one preferred by Trump’s White House.
Originally presented as progress toward securing the museum’s location, the legislation underwent several revisions during a committee vote last month.
One modification established a mission statement declaring, “The Museum shall be dedicated to preserving, researching, and presenting the history, achievements, and lived experiences of biological women in the United States.”
It also includes a restriction stating, “The Museum may not identify, present, describe, or otherwise depict any biological male as a female.”
Another revision specified the museum’s location on the mall — near 14th Street Southwest and Jefferson Drive, “except that the President may designate an alternative site for the Museum within 180 days of the date of the enactment of this subsection.”
Democrats argued this provision grants Trump power to determine the museum’s final location. “And we do not agree with that,” said Leger Fernandez.
Republicans maintained the provision serves as a backup plan if issues arise with the proposed site to keep the museum project moving forward.
A final change this week eliminated the word “diversity,” instead directing the museum’s organizing council to ensure a “range” of political viewpoints and experiences.
“I just think it’s ridiculous that we are arguing over this,” said Malliotakis.
She suggested it troubles Democrats that Trump will be the one to break ground on the museum, “but that’s the reality.”
A data center company based in Singapore has successfully completed a $575 million financing arrangement to support its growth plans throughout Asia-Pacific regions, the firm announced on Friday.
The Singapore company, which operates with backing from U.S.-based investor Stonepeak, stated this represents its inaugural holding company loan of this magnitude.
According to the company’s announcement, the financing will support continued expansion efforts in South Korea, Japan, India and Southeast Asia as demand increases for hyperscale and AI-ready data center infrastructure throughout these markets.
Multiple major financial institutions served as lead arrangers and bookrunners for the deal, including Clifford Capital, Deutsche Bank, MUFG, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp and Standard Chartered. BNP Paribas and Stonepeak Credit also participated as lead arrangers, the company reported.
The data center operator noted that most of the participating financial institutions have previously provided financing to the company.
The loan agreement includes provisions that would permit conversion to a sustainability-linked loan structure, pending agreement on specific sustainability performance benchmarks, according to the company.
MUFG, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp and Standard Chartered will serve as coordinators for any future sustainability-linked loan arrangements, the firm added.
Leaders from the United Auto Workers union are pushing for enhanced worker protections and wage requirements as the United States prepares for upcoming trade negotiations with Canada and Mexico.
During a Thursday media presentation, UAW President Shawn Fain and other union officials outlined their priorities for the upcoming trade agreement discussions. Official negotiations regarding modifications to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement are anticipated to begin between the U.S. and Mexico in the coming week.
The Detroit-based labor organization stated that the U.S. government should withdraw from the trade agreement with these nations if worker-friendly trade provisions are not included.
“There’s no future for the working class that doesn’t address the free trade disaster,” Fain stated during the media webinar while wearing a “Kill NAFTA” T-shirt, referring to the previous free trade deal between the three countries.
The union is advocating for the expansion and enforcement of Mexico’s labor laws, wage increases in Mexico, and improved health and safety standards.
The UAW has historically considered free trade agreements as harmful to blue-collar employment in America, as corporations have moved jobs to regions with lower costs over recent decades.
An updated USMCA might incorporate stricter U.S. content requirements for vehicles entering the country without tariffs. According to a recent Boston Consulting Group analysis, such rule modifications could result in increased expenses, greater complexity, and restrictions on market access, with the report specifically noting that repealing current provisions could generate $33 billion in tariff-related costs.
Earlier this month, automotive trade organizations encouraged the administration to maintain the existing agreement. The nations face a July 1 deadline for reviewing the USMCA.
House Republican leadership made a surprising decision Thursday to postpone a planned vote on legislation that would require President Donald Trump to get congressional approval before continuing military operations against Iran.
The voting session was supposed to happen Thursday afternoon before lawmakers departed Washington for the Memorial Day break. However, leadership pushed the vote back to early June following the recess.
Earlier this year, the House had rejected three similar war powers measures in tight votes, with Republicans showing nearly unanimous opposition. This demonstrated strong party support for both the Iran military actions and the president.
However, the voting margins had grown tighter over time – the most recent resolution was defeated in a tie vote – as weeks have elapsed since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28. Thursday’s proposal appeared positioned to succeed, given anticipated Republican defections and several member absences.
“We had the votes without question, and they knew it,” Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told reporters after the vote was canceled.
Democrats and some Republicans have urged Trump to seek congressional authorization for military force, pointing to constitutional provisions that give Congress, rather than the president, the power to declare war. They have raised concerns that Trump may have committed the nation to an extended conflict without articulating a clear strategic plan.
Most Republicans and the White House maintain that Trump’s military actions are lawful and fall within his commander-in-chief authority to protect the United States through limited operations against immediate threats.
Republicans maintain slim control in both chambers of Congress.
Earlier this week, the Senate moved forward with a comparable war powers resolution in an unusual challenge to Trump. The procedural vote to advance the measure passed 50 to 47, with four Republicans joining nearly all Senate Democrats in support. Three Republicans were absent for that vote.
President Donald Trump will conduct a swearing-in ceremony for Kevin Warsh as the new Federal Reserve chairman this Friday at the White House, according to an announcement from the Trump administration on Thursday.
The confirmation of Warsh occurred on May 13 through a vote that largely followed party lines. Warsh will be replacing Jerome H. Powell in the top position at the nation’s central bank, although Powell will continue serving as a board member through 2028.
At 56 years old, Warsh will hold the chairman position for four years and serve as a Fed governor for 14 years. Trump chose Warsh as a counterforce to additional interest rate increases. Warsh has consistently advocated for reducing rates while also cutting back the Fed’s balance sheet.
Warsh assumes leadership while other board members are considering raising rates to combat inflation linked to Trump’s military conflict in Iran. According to meeting minutes released on Wednesday, most Fed policymakers during their April 28-29 gathering believed “some policy firming would likely become appropriate” should inflation continue to exceed the central bank’s 2% goal.
Oil markets saw significant gains Friday morning as traders expressed pessimism about the likelihood of diplomatic progress between Washington and Tehran, with negotiations remaining stalled over disagreements about Iran’s nuclear material reserves and maritime passage restrictions.
An Iranian official speaking to Reuters indicated that while no agreement has been finalized with Washington, the distance between the two sides has decreased. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged there had been “some good signs” in talks but any toll system in the strait would be unacceptable.
West Texas Intermediate crude contracts surged to a peak of $98.00 per barrel during morning trading, ultimately settling $1.20 higher at $97.55, representing a 1.3% increase as of 2228 GMT. The previous day saw prices drop approximately 2%, ending at their weakest point in almost two weeks.
Despite Friday’s gains, the oil benchmark remained on track for a weekly decline exceeding 7%.
A traffic collision has resulted in the closure of two left lanes on southbound Interstate 495 at Edgemoor, creating potential delays for commuters in the area.
The incident is currently blocking traffic flow in the left portion of the highway, though other lanes remain open to vehicles. Drivers traveling through this section of I-495 should anticipate slower speeds and possible backups while emergency responders and cleanup crews work at the scene.
Motorists are advised to use caution when approaching the area and may want to consider alternative routes to avoid potential delays.
SALISBURY, Md. – Weather concerns have prompted officials to adjust the schedule for an upcoming NCAA Super Regional baseball matchup, moving the first pitch one hour earlier than originally planned.
The game between Salisbury University’s seventh-ranked baseball squad and the 21st-ranked UChicago team will now commence at 11 a.m. on Friday at Donnie Williams Sea Gull Baseball Stadium. Officials cite potential severe weather conditions expected throughout the weekend as the reason for the scheduling change.
The earlier start time represents a one-hour adjustment from the previously announced game time as organizers work to avoid anticipated inclement weather that could affect play.
Motorists traveling on Route 9 southbound should expect delays this morning as construction crews have closed the shoulder between Heron Circle and Carroll Drive.
The shoulder closure, which began earlier today, is scheduled to remain in place until 10 AM according to traffic officials.
Drivers are advised to use caution when traveling through the construction zone and allow extra time for their commute during the morning hours.
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Major streaming platforms operating in Canada will now be required to dedicate 15% of their earnings from Canadian subscribers to support domestic content production, according to an announcement Thursday from the nation’s federal broadcast regulator.
The new mandate represents a threefold increase from the previous 5% requirement that the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, CRTC, established in 2024. U.S.-based streaming giants including Apple, Amazon and Spotify are currently fighting that original mandate in court.
The CRTC’s ruling comes as part of implementing the Online Streaming Act, legislation that the United States has flagged as a trade concern in advance of upcoming trade discussions with Canada.
Meanwhile, traditional Canadian broadcasters will see their contribution obligations reduced from the current range of 30% to 45% down to 25%.
“The total contributions are expected to stabilize the funding at more than $2 billion in support of Canadian and Indigenous content, such as French-language content and news,” the regulator said in a press release.
The CRTC has also outlined specific guidelines governing how both streaming services and traditional broadcasters must allocate these funds, including mandatory contributions to production funds and direct investment in Canadian programming.
While streaming platforms can direct most of their required contributions toward content creation, the CRTC has established spending restrictions for the largest operators.
Streaming services earning more than $100 million Canadian ($73 million) annually from Canadian subscribers must allocate 30% of their spending toward collaborative projects with Canadian broadcasters and independent content creators.
These new contribution mandates will affect streaming platforms and broadcasters generating at least $25 million Canadian ($18 million) in yearly Canadian broadcasting income.
The CRTC is additionally creating a specialized fund to support particular television channels, including CPAC, the Canadian service that provides direct coverage of political events.
A public dispute between California’s governor and a major petroleum corporation has escalated, with the Democratic governor’s administration telling motorists to steer clear of Chevron gas stations during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
The governor’s office took to social media Thursday with advice for consumers, stating: “Pro tip: unbranded gas comes from the same refineries, storage tanks, and pipelines, and it meets the same state standards to keep your engine running clean. Big Oil is already making billions off Trump’s Iran War; don’t let them rip you off even more by overpaying for the brand name.”
The administration referenced research conducted by a division of the state’s energy commission, which regulates the petroleum industry, showing Chevron’s prices exceeded unbranded options by 60 to 80 cents per gallon on average.
This public criticism comes after Chevron began displaying notices at California filling stations that point to state environmental policies as the cause of elevated fuel costs. Gas prices in California reached $6.14 per gallon Thursday, exceeding the national average by approximately $1.58, data from the American Automobile Association shows. California imposes roughly 70 cents in taxes per gallon, the nation’s highest rate according to state energy officials.
The company’s posted messages declare: “California politicians are choosing foreign oil and fuels over local jobs and lower costs.” The notices include a QR code linking to a Chevron website encouraging people to “speak up for affordable, reliable energy.”
While the exact timing of when these signs appeared remains unclear, company representative Ross Allen explained they’re part of an educational initiative Chevron began three years ago to highlight how California policies affect pricing.
“We’ve been very vocal about the importance of customer education in California so that our drivers and our consumers understand where their tax dollars are going,” Allen stated.
Allen noted that California hosts hundreds of Chevron stations, with most operating independently and establishing their own pricing structures.
The Memorial Day period traditionally marks one of the year’s heaviest travel weekends.
Fuel costs have risen across the country since the Iran conflict started, creating a worldwide energy shortage. Crude oil prices, gasoline’s primary component, have increased during the war because the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway in the Persian Gulf that typically handles one-fifth of global crude oil shipments, has been effectively blocked. Oil vessels remain stuck there, unable to complete deliveries.
The governor, who frequently highlights California’s role as a worldwide environmental leader, has enacted legislation in recent years targeting oil company earnings and attempting to lower gasoline costs.
In 2023, he approved legislation empowering the state’s energy commission to fine oil companies for excessive profits, announcing the state had “finally beat big oil.” However, regulators decided last year to delay plans for penalizing companies until 2030, focusing instead on alternative consumer protection measures.
This delay occurred after two oil refineries representing about 18% of the state’s refining capacity announced closure plans, sparking renewed discussion about how the state’s aggressive environmental policies affect prices.
The governor signed additional legislation in 2024 granting the commission power to mandate that refineries maintain specific fuel reserves. This aims to prevent sudden price spikes when refineries shut down for routine maintenance, though this regulation has also encountered delays.
AUSTIN, Texas — State regulators have revoked the nursing credentials of a Camp Mystic co-director, delivering harsh criticism for her response during last year’s devastating flood that claimed the lives of 25 girls and two teenage counselors.
The disciplinary action represents one of Texas’ initial moves against the family that owns and runs the all-girls Christian camp following the July 4 disaster. Camp Mystic recently called off plans to resume operations this summer amid fierce opposition from grieving families.
Mary Liz Eastland, who held nursing credentials and worked as the camp’s medical officer, had previously testified in court proceedings that she made no attempt to reach children and staff located in the camp’s lower areas as early morning flooding intensified along the Guadalupe River. Her father-in-law, Richard Eastland, who owned Camp Mystic, also perished in the flood.
Permitting Mary Liz Eastland to continue her nursing practice would create a “continuing and imminent threat to public welfare,” stated an order executed Tuesday by Kristin Benton, who heads the Texas Board of Nursing.
The document alleges Eastland “abandoned the campers and staff when the camp site began to flood … by evacuating herself and her children to higher ground without providing any assistance or direction to all of the other campers and staff.”
Eastland disputes these conclusions and plans to challenge the suspension, according to Camp Mystic attorney Joshua Fiveson. He criticized the board for revoking her license with minimal advance notice of proceedings and without gathering testimony or completing a thorough investigation.
“This is a sad day for Mrs. Eastland as well as every licensed nurse in Texas,” Fiveson stated. “This was an exercise in premature punishment.”
The board’s order indicates a final determination regarding her license will be made within two months.
Following the disaster, the Eastland family has faced mounting criticism from bereaved families and Texas legislators. Multiple families have initiated legal proceedings against the Eastlands, who spent months pursuing reopening plans before eventually abandoning them.
Legislative hearings in April revealed the camp’s inadequate flood emergency protocols, dependence on insufficiently trained personnel, and lost opportunities to move children away from riverside cabins.
During those hearings, Mary Liz Eastland detailed her actions that evening when she and her children departed their residence to join her mother-in-law. She described water flooding into the house and breaking a window to escape. The family managed to reach higher ground.
She and other personnel assembled survivors for attendance verification, comparing names with cabin lists. She testified that rising floodwaters prevented her from reaching the campers positioned nearest to the Guadalupe River.
Eastland also faced questioning about why she failed, as the camp’s chief medical officer, to contact or notify other medical personnel to assist campers before the catastrophe occurred. When asked whether additional staff could have aided in camp evacuation efforts, she responded, “Maybe so.”
Miami Marlins left-handed pitching prospect Robby Snelling is scheduled for Tommy John surgery on Friday to fix the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow, team officials announced Thursday.
According to MLB Pipeline, Snelling ranks as the organization’s second-best prospect and will be sidelined for the remainder of this season plus an undetermined portion of next year. The team moved him to the 60-day injured list Thursday.
The procedure will take place in Dallas with Dr. Keith Meister performing the operation. Miami officials said they will announce the expected recovery timeline following the surgery. Snelling met with Meister on Thursday.
“Disappointing for him, us,” Miami manager Clayton McCullough told reporters. “That’s an unfortunate part of our industry. Guys go down. So Robby will have the surgery. We’ll have more what the timeline and return to play will look like after that. We just keep going, and Robby will come back from this a stronger person.”
The young pitcher was pulled from his scheduled May 14 appearance against the Minnesota Twins after feeling discomfort during a bullpen workout on May 12. Medical tests initially showed a UCL sprain, but additional evaluation confirmed the need for surgical intervention.
This setback occurred shortly after Snelling’s major league debut on May 8 versus the Washington Nationals. In that contest, he allowed three runs on five hits across five innings during a 3-2 defeat to Washington, issuing four walks while recording two strikeouts.
Miami acquired Snelling as part of a four-prospect package from the San Diego Padres in a six-player transaction last July that centered around left-hander Tanner Scott.
The team called up another player from that same trade, third baseman Graham Pauley, before Thursday’s matchup with the Atlanta Braves.
The 25-year-old Pauley hit .173 with one home run and nine RBIs across 28 games with Miami this season. Over three years, he has appeared in 103 games between the Padres and Marlins organizations.
Additionally, Miami moved infielder Leo Jimenez to the 7-day concussion list. The 25-year-old has posted a .227 batting average with one RBI through 18 games.
Top-rated basketball prospect Kameron Mercer revealed Thursday that he will attend the University of Cincinnati to play for the Bearcats while also moving up his graduation timeline to join the Class of 2027.
The 6-foot-5 sophomore guard helped guide Princeton High School to an Ohio state title this past season and intends to complete his studies a year ahead of schedule to team up with Cincinnati’s new head coach Jerrod Calhoun.
“I’m looking forward to doubling up work and being ready,” Mercer said on a Zoom call while on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” on Thursday. “I’ll be supporting the Bearcats from the sideline.”
According to 247Sports rankings, Mercer previously held the No. 16 position nationally in the Class of 2028, but following his reclassification now sits as a four-star prospect at No. 33 overall in the country, third among shooting guards, and second in Ohio for the Class of 2027 based on the 247Sports Composite.
ESPN had previously placed Mercer at No. 7 in the Class of 2028 prior to his grade reclassification and noted that he represents the highest-ranked recruit to choose Cincinnati since their recruiting records began in 2007, marking the program’s first five-star commitment since Lance Stephenson in 2009.
“Growing up in Cincinnati, it means a lot to me to play here,” said Mercer, who also had Ohio State as a finalist.
Cincinnati’s coaching staff initially extended a scholarship offer to Mercer during his eighth-grade year under previous head coach Wes Miller and his assistants. Coach Calhoun renewed that offer, and Mercer returned to campus earlier this month for additional time with the new coaching staff.
“I think our connection grew as soon as I stepped foot on campus,” Mercer said. “(Calhoun) has a little different aura to him. I loved all my other visits, but I think Coach Calhoun, there’s just something about him that I can’t explain. It’s a little different.”
The recruit praised the coaching staff’s direct communication style and genuine approach.
“They genuinely care and they kept it straight with me,” he said. “They didn’t tell me I was just this great player. Just told me what I needed to work on and what I could do from now on to be ready. I love the staff and I know I’ve only known them for maybe a month or a month and a half, but they’re just so real with me. They keep everything real and I love coaches who are straightforward.”
During Princeton’s championship season, Mercer posted averages of 14.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.4 steals per contest. He also earned a gold medal representing the United States Under-16 national team at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup last summer, contributing 5.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game as a bench player across six contests.
WASHINGTON – The head of the Department of Homeland Security has renewed warnings that federal authorities may halt international passenger and cargo processing at major airports located in cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement policies, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who first issued this warning publicly in April amid budget negotiations, reiterated the threat during private discussions with travel industry leaders last week. Sources indicate that airports in Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Newark, Seattle and San Francisco could face suspension of international operations if their cities continue resisting the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies.
The warning comes as federal officials clash with so-called “sanctuary cities” that have declined to assist with the current administration’s immigration crackdown efforts. The Atlantic previously reported on Mullin’s remarks to travel executives.
SpaceX plans to conduct the 12th uncrewed test flight of its Starship rocket on Thursday, marking the first launch of a redesigned vehicle that plays a crucial role in Elon Musk’s lunar and Mars exploration goals, as well as the company’s upcoming public stock offering.
The rocket system consists of SpaceX’s Super Heavy booster paired with the Starship upper-stage vehicle, engineered for complete reusability and designed to transport both crew members and cargo.
This inaugural flight of the Starship V3, equipped with new capabilities to support future lunar and Martian missions, represents a critical evaluation for the spacecraft as SpaceX prepares for its stock market launch with a target valuation of $1.75 trillion.
Here’s a chronological overview of Starship test flights:
FIRST TEST FLIGHT – APRIL 20, 2023
The rocket detonated just minutes following takeoff from South Texas, failing to accomplish multiple mission targets.
Although the two-stage vehicle reached less than half the distance to space’s edge, ascending to approximately 25 miles (40.23 km), the mission achieved its primary objective of launching the new rocket from the pad despite several engine malfunctions.
SECOND TEST FLIGHT – NOVEMBER 18, 2023
The rocket launched from the Starbase facility near Boca Chica, Texas, but encountered failure in space shortly after takeoff.
While the Super Heavy first-stage booster successfully separated from the main Starship, it detonated over the Gulf of Mexico moments later. The upper stage was subsequently lost during the flight.
THIRD TEST FLIGHT – MARCH 14, 2024
The rocket nearly completed its entire test mission on the third try, traveling further than previous attempts, but broke apart during its Earth return.
Communication with the spacecraft ceased moments after live video footage from an onboard camera revealed a reddish glow surrounding the silver vehicle due to re-entry heat.
FOURTH TEST FLIGHT – JUNE 6, 2024
The spacecraft endured a blazing, high-speed return from space and accomplished a groundbreaking controlled ocean landing in the Indian Ocean, representing significant progress for a vehicle built to return from orbit.
While descending, protective tiles and metal fragments separated from the craft, and portions of its steering flaps sustained severe damage, though they continued functioning sufficiently for the ocean landing.
FIFTH TEST FLIGHT – OCTOBER 13, 2024
The company’s launch tower successfully captured the massive first-stage booster using enormous mechanical arms as it returned to the Texas launch site for the first time.
This capture represented a major advancement for SpaceX’s testing program for a rocket designed to transport heavier payloads to orbit, carry astronauts to the moon for NASA, and eventually journey to Mars.
SIXTH TEST FLIGHT – NOVEMBER 19, 2024
The company conducted its sixth test flight, enhancing the upper stage’s space capabilities, but abandoned an attempt to catch the booster at the launch site while then U.S. President-elect Donald Trump observed in person.
The Super Heavy booster instead landed in the Gulf of Mexico after SpaceX redirected it from the launch tower, suggesting the vehicle failed to meet the requirements for a catch attempt.
SEVENTH TEST FLIGHT – JANUARY 16, 2025
A rocket detonated in space above the Bahamas approximately eight minutes post-launch, creating fields of burning debris that streaked across the sky over the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The vehicle featured multiple new onboard systems flying for the first time and carried the initial batch of simulated satellites intended for space deployment.
Both the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Turks and Caicos Islands officials initiated investigations into the rocket test.
EIGHTH TEST FLIGHT – MARCH 6, 2025
The upper stage detonated in space minutes after launching from Texas, causing the FAA to temporarily suspend flights at Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and Orlando airports due to “space launch debris.”
The FAA opened a mishap investigation into the event. Musk described the explosion as “a minor setback.”
MAY 22
The FAA authorized Starship to resume flights following the March incident, permitting SpaceX to proceed with another Texas launch.
However, the agency extended the Aircraft Hazard Area along the rocket’s flight path from 885 nautical miles to 1,600 nautical miles, reaching eastward from the South Texas coastline through the Straits of Florida and encompassing the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands.
NINTH TEST FLIGHT – MAY 27, 2025
The rocket launched into space from Texas but lost control approximately midway through its mission, failing to achieve several key test objectives.
SpaceX also lost communication with the 232-foot Super Heavy booster during its descent before it crashed into the ocean, rather than executing the controlled splashdown the company had intended.
The upper stage achieved suborbital space but started spinning uncontrollably roughly 30 minutes into the mission, after SpaceX cancelled a planned release of eight mock Starlink satellites when the vehicle’s Pez dispenser-like mechanism malfunctioned.
TENTH TEST FLIGHT – AUGUST 26, 2025
The spacecraft successfully released its first group of mock Starlink satellites in space and evaluated new heat shield tiles during re-entry, reaching development goals that had been postponed by recent failures.
Approximately 30 minutes into the mission, the craft’s Pez-like deployment system ejected eight dummy Starlink satellites, representing a crucial test for a rocket that SpaceX intends to use in its satellite launch operations.
ELEVENTH TEST FLIGHT – OCTOBER 13, 2025
The company launched its 11th rocket from Texas and successfully landed it in the Indian Ocean, marking the final flight before testing commenced on a new version of the massive rocket equipped with additional features for lunar and Martian missions.
After propelling the upper stage into space, Super Heavy returned for a gentle splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico seven minutes after liftoff, evaluating a landing engine setup before the booster’s destruction.
TWELFTH TEST FLIGHT – EXPECTED ON MAY 21, 2026
The upcoming test flight is anticipated to be the inaugural launch of Starship V3 and its enhanced Super Heavy booster, as well as the first mission from a new launch pad constructed for the more powerful rocket.
Key improvements include a redesign of the booster’s 33 Raptor engines to generate increased thrust from a lighter configuration.
Iranian authorities are displaying propaganda materials throughout Tehran that emphasize national solidarity and triumph against international powers, coming just months after violently suppressing demonstrations and amid ongoing economic struggles affecting citizens.
The campaign features images of Revolutionary Guardsmen and the blocked Strait of Hormuz, while officials organize military-style group weddings and weapons training in religious buildings to showcase national defiance.
The current messaging differs from previous revolutionary religious content by focusing on nationalist elements designed to appeal beyond core supporters.
“The old ideology of the Islamic Republic no longer really had much traction within the society. And therefore there was a need to draw on other elements of Iranian identity that could mobilize masses,” said Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group.
Whether this approach will succeed with a deeply disillusioned public remains uncertain, according to Vaez and other experts.
Despite Iran’s ability to resist U.S. and Israeli military strikes and force U.S. President Donald Trump into negotiations by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial international oil passage, the country confronts severe domestic challenges.
The nation’s economy, already struggling before current conflicts, faces potential collapse while increasing government crackdowns reveal officials’ concerns about possible renewed civil unrest.
Against this challenging environment, authorities continue using traditional Iranian propaganda themes of national resistance and Western antagonism while reducing emphasis on some historical revolutionary imagery.
Traditional Shi’ite Muslim martyrdom symbols, prominent for decades, have partially been replaced by Persian national and historical figures previously rejected by the Islamic Republic as representing monarchist history.
Additionally, state television broadcasts of government-organized demonstrations now include interviews with women not wearing headscarves, content previously forbidden in Iranian media.
“It’s an attempt to show that everything is normal in Iran, we’re all united and we don’t butcher our own people,” said Ali Ansari, professor of modern history at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
“It’ll work to some extent with waverers in the middle but most Iranians don’t believe it really.”
Iran’s achievement in blocking the Strait of Hormuz has become central to both international propaganda efforts targeting Trump and domestic messaging campaigns.
One display shows Revolutionary Guardsmen with a fishing net capturing U.S. vessels and aircraft. Another depicts fabric stretched across Trump’s face in the strait’s distinctive outline.
These images continue Iran’s tradition of celebrating national heroism while condemning the United States, including a famous mural depicting the Statue of Liberty with a skull face.
However, departing from past practices, a large Tehran poster features Rais Ali Delvari, a guerrilla fighter against British occupation of Iran’s Gulf region one hundred years ago, standing with a Revolutionary Guards commander to block the strait with raised hands.
“These banners showing national heroes are for wartime purposes. After that they will come back against us and the repression will begin,” said Narges, 67, a retired government employee in Shiraz who asked not to give her family name.
Iranian political sources report that power has shifted dramatically during wartime from religious leaders to Revolutionary Guards commanders, completing a gradual transition occurring over years.
“The direction of travel when it gets to the narratives that the regime is putting out there is actually indicative of the transformation that the regime is undergoing. It is moving from a theocratic system into a military one,” said Vaez.
Pictures of the Iranian national football team saluting and new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei with an oversized Iranian flag reinforce the patriotic messaging.
Infrastructure attacks and Trump’s threats of “civilisational erasure” have enhanced the effectiveness of these strategies, Vaez explained.
“These have all helped the Iranian regime to portray this war, not as a war against the Islamic Republic, but a war against Iran as a state,” he said.
Officials have organized almost nightly demonstrations during the conflict to maintain street-level support, though both government supporters and critics question their effectiveness.
“It’s all a game, a performance meant to show the world that people are with the system. Instead of these displays they should fix the economic situation,” said Arshia, 23, a recent French-language graduate from Yazd.
For Mohammed, 26, a hardline student in Tabriz, the patriotic sentiment felt genuine, but he expressed anger about unveiled women participating alongside unrelated men in rallies. “This is not what the revolution was for,” he said.
A recent mass wedding featured couples displayed in Revolutionary Guards vehicles decorated with balloons and machine guns, positioned next to ballistic missile replicas painted bright flamingo pink.
State television broadcast weapons training in mosques, where military instructors taught men and women to disassemble and operate assault rifles.
Such imagery might serve the dual purpose of warning Iranian dissidents that authorities maintain heavily armed backing, Ansari suggested.
“It goes to the heart of the fact that the regime is not as secure as it’s pretending to be. They’re presenting to their own people that this is a regime that is tough,” he said.
MIAMI — Miami Marlins southpaw Robby Snelling is scheduled for surgery Friday to fix the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, bringing his rookie campaign to an early close following just a single big league appearance.
The organization’s second-ranked prospect received his call-up from Triple-A Jacksonville this month and took the mound for his major league debut against Washington on May 8, surrendering three runs on five hits and issuing four walks across five innings in a losing effort. Following a bullpen session, he experienced discomfort in his left elbow, and subsequent MRI imaging showed a sprained UCL.
After being examined Thursday in Dallas by Dr. Keith Meister, surgery was recommended, according to the team. Officials said a recovery timetable will be provided after Friday’s procedure.
“Disappointing for him and us,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “That’s an unfortunate part of our industry. Guys go down. We just keep going, and Robby will come back from this a stronger person.”
McCullough indicated the Marlins will experiment with various pitchers to occupy the fifth rotation slot, citing Braxton Garrett, who was sent down to Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday, and Tyler Phillips, who has surrendered four earned runs while recording 27 strikeouts across 30 relief innings this season.
“We have some others in Jacksonville that have thrown the ball well and (can) potentially get that opportunity,” he said. “We have ways here with the group we have that we can cover those games. So I think that we’ll just continue to kick the tires on what we think is best. And guys will have chances to step into that spot and have a chance to perform here.”
Snelling was transferred to the 60-day injured list as part of several roster adjustments before Thursday’s series conclusion against the Atlanta Braves.
Additionally Thursday, the Marlins obtained outfielder Rece Hinds through a trade with Cincinnati for right-hander Zach McCambley. Hinds was assigned to Triple-A Jacksonville.
Miami also brought up infielder Graham Pauley from Triple-A Jacksonville and put infielder Leo Jiménez on the seven-day concussion injured list.
DELMARVA — Crop prices continued their slide Thursday as favorable planting weather across the corn belt pushed both soybeans and corn lower. Market analysts say total planted acreage may exceed the USDA’s March projections.
Meanwhile, export sales showed some bright spots. Corn exports from the previous harvest came in significantly higher than typical during the week ending May 14, with Japan and South Korea leading the purchase activity according to the USDA. Soybeans also improved after several weeks of hitting seasonal lows.
July corn closed at $4.63, down 3 cents. November soybeans settled at $11.87, off 4 cents. July wheat finished at $6.32, down a penny.
On the cash side, corn at Laurel Grain Company in Laurel, Delaware is bringing $5.07 a bushel for July delivery. Soybeans there are $11.35 for July.
A federal court ruling is bringing more certainty to the H-2-A guest worker program. An agricultural employer organization says reforms to wage calculations will continue following a decision that rejected a preliminary injunction request.
Rain showers are likely through tonight with temperatures dropping to 54°F. Friday brings more rain showers with a high of 62°F and east winds 10 to 15 miles per hour. Rain continues into the weekend, which could slow fieldwork across Delmarva.
This article is based on the Delmarva Farm Report Update Evening Edition, May 21, 2026. Hosted by Tom Bradley.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The final moments of a distant star have been captured in breathtaking detail, creating one of the most beautiful cosmic images ever recorded.
Using the Gemini North Telescope positioned on Mauna Kea, Hawaii’s highest mountain, astronomers photographed this stellar death in stunning clarity. The National Science Foundation’s NOIRLab, which manages the telescope, made the photograph public on Thursday.
The subject is actually a pair of stars located 1,500 light-years from our planet, commonly called the Crystal Ball Nebula due to the pale, round gas cloud that surrounds it. One light-year equals nearly 6 trillion miles.
This gaseous envelope develops when a star expels its exterior material during its final stages. The remaining stellar center then superheats this cloud to temperatures reaching tens of thousands of degrees, creating its ghostly luminescence.
Researchers think that one of the two stars in this planetary nebula system — which was originally larger than our sun — has completed its life cycle.
The nebula, officially designated NGC 1514, was observed by Gemini North during the previous year, with the full-color image processing finished just last week.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — While scalp and facial massages have long been enjoyable parts of salon visits, dedicated head spas are now emerging nationwide to provide intensive cranial and facial relaxation treatments.
“Usually when you receive a massage, the attention goes to your back, but I always wanted more focus on my head, particularly my face and neck,” explains Karena Kong, who regularly visits Nen Head Spa in San Francisco. “When I discovered they offer 90 minutes dedicated entirely to head, face, and shoulder massage, I realized it’s an excellent way to concentrate on the areas I really want treated.”
These head spa concepts trace back to Japan, where they developed from ancient practices blending massage techniques with herbal treatments. Contemporary versions started becoming popular in Japanese salons during the 1990s before expanding across Asia and eventually reaching America.
Standard treatments run 60 to 90 minutes and commonly start with scalp examination, then proceed through thorough cleansing, exfoliation, steam treatments, and comprehensive head, face and neck massage. Numerous establishments incorporate essential oils, treatment masks, and aromatherapy within tranquil environments featuring subdued lighting and gentle music.
“The central element involves having your hair thoroughly washed,” explained Peter Tham, who owns Nen Head Spa, where head massage services run approximately $100 per hour. “The sensation of having your head cleansed, particularly during hot, humid weather, provides tremendous relief. When you add facial, scalp, neck and shoulder massage, it addresses areas where many people, especially those working at computers daily, experience significant tension.”
Certain head spas promote health and medical benefits from their treatments, claiming they provide stress reduction or help with scalp conditions, hair loss, or even alopecia, an autoimmune condition. Medical professionals warn that individuals with skin or hair problems should consult dermatologists or other qualified physicians for proper evaluation and potential treatment.
“It’s crucial to distinguish between services performed for health purposes or relaxation versus consulting a medical professional, a dermatologist, when experiencing hair loss,” stated Zakia Rahman, a dermatology professor at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Rahman has observed the growing trend of head spas and considers them generally acceptable as supplements to actual medical care when necessary — and for those who enjoy the experience.
At Sunday Headspa in San Francisco, every appointment begins with technicians examining hair follicles using magnification tools and evaluating their health. Clients then receive intensive cleansing, explained Jolly Mac, the facility’s coordinator.
Many customers initially experienced head spa treatments while in Asia and seek comparable services, which begin around $200 hourly.
Customer Crystle Vitari first tried a head spa during a trip to South Korea and describes it as “rejuvenating” and calming.
“I consistently fall asleep and nap during sessions because it’s incredibly relaxing,” she noted.
A major social media company has reached an agreement to settle what was considered the first significant lawsuit among hundreds filed by school districts across the country demanding payment for expenses related to student mental health problems they blame on social media dependency.
The legal action filed by a small, rural Kentucky school district was scheduled for trial in federal court in Oakland, California next month. Court officials and legal teams chose it as a test case from among 1,200 comparable lawsuits to gauge how their legal strategies would perform with a jury. The agreement only covers the Breathitt County School District.
Meta finalized its settlement with the district on Thursday, after other companies named in the lawsuit — TikTok, Snap and Google’s YouTube — reached their own agreements earlier in the week.
Officials did not reveal the monetary details of the settlements. The school district had requested over $60 million to establish a 15-year initiative they claimed would address mental health and educational problems linked to social media use.
Lawyers representing the plaintiffs stated that their “focus remains on pursuing justice for the remaining 1,200 school districts who have filed cases.”
This agreement comes after Meta and YouTube suffered courtroom defeats in social media harm cases in California and New Mexico earlier this year.
In March, a Los Angeles trial resulted in Meta and YouTube being held responsible for creating addictive platform features. The complainant, identified only as KGM, argued she developed a social media addiction as a minor that worsened her mental health problems. The jury ruled in her favor and granted approximately $6 million in compensation.
Additionally, in New Mexico, a jury concluded that Meta damages children’s mental health and safety, breaking state regulations.
Two federal judges delivered significant setbacks Thursday to the Justice Department’s nationwide campaign to obtain comprehensive voter registration records from states across the country.
In Wisconsin, U.S. District Judge James Pederson determined that voter registration databases don’t qualify as records subject to requests under the Civil Rights Act of 1960, contradicting arguments made by the current administration. Meanwhile in Maine, Chief U.S. District Judge Lance Walker characterized the federal government’s legal argument as “half-hearted” before approving the state’s request to throw out the case.
These decisions continue a pattern of courtroom losses for the current administration’s efforts to obtain state voter information. Beyond Maine and Wisconsin, similar federal demands have been struck down by judges in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon and Rhode Island. In Georgia, a judge threw out a Justice Department case because it was filed in an incorrect jurisdiction, forcing federal attorneys to restart their legal action in a different location.
The Justice Department has initiated legal action against no fewer than 30 states plus the District of Columbia in pursuit of comprehensive voter databases. These records contain sensitive personal details including birth dates, home addresses, driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers.
“This represents a massive victory for voter privacy and a rejection of federal overreach,” stated Bianca Shaw, who serves as state director of Common Cause Wisconsin.
“The decision ensures voters are protected from an unauthorized national database that would have been a goldmine for hackers and a tool for intimidation,” she said in a statement. “Our elections remain safe, secure, and in the hands of Wisconsinites where they belong.”
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat and opponent who is running for governor, said the ruling affirms that states and not the federal government are in charge of elections and voting. The current administration has sought the voter data since last year in Maine and elsewhere.
“Let me be clear — the current administration and the DOJ may continue to try to interfere with free and fair elections run by the states. We will not let them,” Bellows said in a statement.
Justice Department representatives did not provide immediate responses to requests for comment regarding the court decisions or potential appeals.
In Wisconsin, Common Cause, the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans, Forward Latino and three individual voters joined the case to oppose the federal government’s efforts to access state voter databases.
Doug Poland, who directs litigation for Law Forward, a Wisconsin-based liberal law firm, described the current administration’s actions as “thinly-masked efforts to manipulate and subvert future elections.”
“The court recognized this as an illegal attempt to gather and weaponize data on Americans, dressed up in the language of voting rights enforcement,” he said.
Judge Walker, who received his appointment from the current president, determined in Maine that election oversight remains a state responsibility.
“Under our Constitution, states are the primary regulators and administrators of elections for federal office, unless Congress passes legislation that preempts that framework,” Walker wrote.
Pederson, the Wisconsin judge, received his appointment from former President Barack Obama.
A woman who previously dated a member of the musical group Why Don’t We now faces serious criminal charges for allegedly attempting to arrange his murder through a hired killer found on the dark web, according to authorities. The alleged scheme was reportedly connected to an ongoing custody battle involving their 7-year-old child.
Gabriela Gonzalez, age 24 and known for her substantial social media presence, received charges on Tuesday including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder in the supposed plan targeting Jack Avery, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Two additional suspects face identical charges: Francisco Gonzalez, her 59-year-old father, and Kai Cordrey, her 26-year-old boyfriend at the time.
“This is a case where the defendants are accused of going to great lengths to find someone to commit murder,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a news release.
According to Hochman, the charges resulted from an extensive investigation that began with the FBI before being transferred to the district attorney’s office.
In a Thursday Instagram message, Avery expressed gratitude to prosecutors and law enforcement for their assistance and stated his priority remains “being the best father I can be.”
According to prosecutors, Gonzalez allegedly enlisted Cordrey’s assistance to locate someone willing to kill Avery during the period spanning 2020 to 2021. Authorities claim that in April 2021, her father provided Cordrey with $10,000 as initial payment for the scheme. Prosecutors allege that two months afterward, Cordrey received an additional $4,000 from Francisco Gonzalez when the supposed assassin demanded more compensation.
In September 2021, an undercover law enforcement agent pretending to be a contract killer engaged in conversations with Cordrey regarding the murder-for-hire scheme. Authorities say Cordrey identified Avery as the intended victim and discussed both payment arrangements and requirements for proof of death with the undercover officer.
Gabriela Gonzalez, whose Instagram account boasts more than 450,000 followers, remained in custody at a Los Angeles-area detention center on Thursday with bail set at $2 million. Her legal representative, Elliot Zarabi, did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Francisco Gonzalez was taken into custody in Florida and is currently waiting for extradition proceedings. He was being held Thursday at a Seminole County jail facility in Florida. Information about legal representation for him on these charges was not available.
According to Los Angeles County jail documentation, Cordrey was arrested on Thursday. Jail records did not indicate whether he had secured legal counsel.
All three suspects could receive life imprisonment if found guilty of the charges.
The musical group Why Don’t We put out their first album in 2018, featuring the track “8 Letters,” followed by a second album three years afterward. The band has since split up, and Avery independently released the song “XOXOX” this year.
Wall Street wrapped up Thursday’s volatile trading session with gains, as investor sentiment improved on hopes that a peace agreement between the United States and Iran may be within reach. Market participants also analyzed Nvidia’s latest earnings results while anticipating major public stock offerings from SpaceX and OpenAI.
The market’s performance comes amid what analysts describe as extreme concentration in U.S. stock ownership, coinciding with Wall Street’s artificial intelligence surge and record-low worker participation in national economic output.
SpaceX and OpenAI are moving forward with plans to become publicly traded companies, marking another significant development in the trillion-dollar technology and AI narrative that has propelled Wall Street and international markets to record levels this year. Based on anticipated IPO valuations, these companies could reach market caps approaching $2 trillion and $1 trillion respectively.
While both companies are capitalizing on the current AI enthusiasm, questions remain about whether investors might face losses given the substantial amount of new stock entering the market. OpenAI, which Deutsche Bank has nicknamed “ChatIPO” due to its creation of ChatGPT, isn’t projected to achieve profitability for several years. The outcome of these offerings could influence market sentiment for the remainder of the year.
In Thursday’s trading results, the Dow Jones gained 0.6% while the S&P 500 rose 0.2%. International markets showed mixed performance, with South Korea surging 9% and Japan’s Nikkei advancing 3%, while Chinese markets declined 2%. European and UK markets remained relatively unchanged.
Individual stock movements included notable gains for Japan’s SoftBank, which jumped 20%, and Samsung, which climbed 9%. Ralph Lauren increased 14% and IBM rose 12%, while Intuit dropped 20% and Walmart fell 7%.
Currency markets remained largely stable, with the dollar and major currencies showing minimal movement. Among emerging markets, India’s rupee strengthened 0.5% while Korea’s won weakened by the same amount.
Bond markets saw long-term U.S. yields decline while short-term rates increased slightly, causing the yield curve to flatten. A 10-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities auction produced mixed results.
Commodity markets experienced declines, with oil dropping 2% and gasoline futures falling 8% for the week, marking their steepest decline since September. Wheat futures decreased 2% after reaching two-year highs earlier this week, while gold remained unchanged.
Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities yields have reached significant levels, with the 30-year TIPS yield touching 2.90% this week – the highest since 2008. The 5-year yield reached 1.70% and the 10-year yield hit 2.20%, both representing one-year highs.
Market analysts are questioning whether current bond yields have risen enough to pose challenges for equity markets. JPMorgan’s Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou noted that while stocks appear expensive compared to bonds from a long-term perspective, markets haven’t yet reached the excessive levels seen in the late 1990s. “There is currently more limited room before a further rise in real bond yields starts becoming a problem for the equity market,” he stated.
Looking ahead to Friday, investors will monitor Middle East developments along with economic data releases including Japan’s April inflation figures, Germany’s consumer sentiment and business conditions reports, UK retail sales data, Canadian economic indicators, and U.S. consumer sentiment measurements. A Federal Reserve Governor is also scheduled to speak.
A groundbreaking five-year clinical study has demonstrated that a dual-drug approach to treating melanoma significantly lowered the chances of the cancer spreading throughout the body by 59%, according to trial results released Thursday.
Researchers examined the effectiveness of pairing Moderna’s investigational personalized cancer vaccine, intismeran autogene, with Merck’s established immunotherapy drug Keytruda in melanoma patients who had undergone surgical treatment. The clinical trial aimed to evaluate whether this treatment combination could stop the cancer from coming back and included 157 participants enrolled between 2019 and 2021.
The five-year survival outcomes revealed striking differences between treatment approaches. Patients receiving both medications together achieved a 92.2% overall survival rate, compared to just 71.3% for those treated with Keytruda by itself.
These latest findings build upon previous research demonstrating that the dual therapy reduced the likelihood of cancer return or patient death by 49% over five years, matching earlier three-year results published in 2023.
Currently, researchers are conducting an advanced-stage clinical trial to evaluate whether intismeran could serve as a primary treatment option when paired with Keytruda for melanoma patients. Scientists are also investigating the vaccine’s effectiveness against lung cancer and other malignancies to determine its ability to prevent cancer recurrence.
The experimental vaccine intismeran autogene works by utilizing each patient’s unique tumor genetic profile to educate the immune system to identify and eliminate cancerous cells.
During the study period, seven participants in both treatment groups passed away, with most deaths attributed to cancer. Researchers noted that the safety characteristics of intismeran autogene remained unchanged from previous evaluations.
Melanoma represents the most prevalent cancer type across the United States. According to projections from the American Academy of Dermatology Association, medical professionals expect to diagnose 234,680 new melanoma cases throughout the country in 2026.
Researchers plan to share these study results at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference taking place in Chicago during the upcoming week.
Victoria Mboko, the tournament’s top seed, dominated her first-serve opportunities by winning 24 of 29 points (82.8%) en route to defeating seventh-seeded Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-4 in a matchup between two Canadian players at the Internationaux de Strasbourg tournament in France on Thursday.
Service struggles plagued both competitors throughout the match, with Mboko recording five double faults while Fernandez committed eight. Mboko’s next opponent in the semifinals will be Jaqueline Cristian from Romania, who defeated Australia’s Daria Kasatkina in a three-set battle 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2.
In other semifinal action, Emma Navarro staged a comeback to defeat China’s Shuai Zhang 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2. Navarro will square off against compatriot Ann Li, who secured her first clay-court semifinal appearance by defeating Czech eighth seed Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 7-5.
At the Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem tournament in Rabat, Morocco, Croatia’s sixth-seeded Petra Marcinko dominated her first-serve points, winning 30 of 38 (78.9%) in a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Spain’s second-seeded Jessica Bouzas Maneiro to advance to the semifinals.
After falling behind 3-1 in the second set, Marcinko mounted a comeback by claiming five of the following six games to secure the match. Her semifinal opponent will be Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann, who survived three match points to defeat Morocco’s home favorite Yasmine Kabbaj 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (6).
The other semifinal will feature Hungary’s seventh-seeded Panna Udvardy against Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina. Udvardy advanced with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Colombia’s Camila Osorio, while Kalinina eliminated Hungarian fifth seed Anna Bondar 6-4, 7-5.
Federal prosecutors in Chicago have dismissed all remaining criminal charges against four individuals who were arrested during protests at an immigration detention facility in Illinois last year.
Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros informed a federal judge on Wednesday that his office was dropping charges against Kat Abughazaleh, a former journalist who recently lost a Democratic primary race for a U.S. House seat, Andre Martin, Michael Rabbitt and Brian Straw. The charges were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they cannot be brought again, according to a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office.
The four defendants were facing misdemeanor charges for impeding a federal officer after prosecutors previously dropped a felony conspiracy charge against them last month. A trial was set to begin Tuesday, May 26, for the incident at the Broadview facility, which had become a focal point during President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement campaign.
The defendants were part of what became known as the “Broadview Six,” which included two other individuals — Catherine Sharp and Joselyn Walsh — whose cases were already dismissed by prosecutors earlier this year.
“I am relieved to be exonerated today, but I want to state clearly that fighting these unjust federal charges over the past seven months was never just about me or my co-defendants in this case,” Straw, a shareholder at U.S. law firm Greenberg Traurig and a member of the Village Board for Chicago suburb Oak Park, said in a statement.
Terence Campbell and Valerie Davenport, attorneys for Martin, said in a statement that their client and his codefendants have been “living under the threat of going to prison simply for exercising their First Amendment rights as decent, honorable citizens and seeking to protect their fellow human beings.”
A spokesperson for the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment further. Boutros said last month that his office was “constantly evaluating the facts and law in our Operation Midway Blitz cases, as well as new information when it is brought to our attention.”
According to prosecutors, Abughazaleh and the others surrounded a government vehicle operated by a federal agent during a September 26 protest, blocking its entry into the Broadview facility. They allegedly struck and pushed the vehicle, carved the word “pig” into its surface, and damaged a rear windshield wiper.
The Trump administration’s enforcement effort, known as Operation Midway Blitz, resulted in thousands of arrests as federal immigration officers confronted protesters from September through December. Officers shot two people, including one fatally, and made threats to shoot others, according to body-camera video.
Officers regularly used tear gas, pepper balls and rubber bullets against protesters gathered outside the Broadview immigration detention center during almost daily demonstrations and throughout various Chicago neighborhoods. An independent commission established by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker last month suggested that local prosecutors should investigate federal agents for potential misconduct.
This month, Illinois State Police announced they were investigating the death of Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, who was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in suburban Chicago.
In another collapsed case, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office dropped charges on November 20 against Marimar Martinez, who was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent after she allegedly attempted to strike agents with her vehicle. Martinez, a U.S. citizen and Montessori school teacher in Oak Park, was indicted on October 5 on charges of impeding a federal officer with a deadly weapon.
In January, a Chicago jury found Juan Espinoza Martinez not guilty of charges that the Justice Department had brought against him for allegedly planning an attack on a high-profile Border Patrol official.
Two major beauty companies have walked away from merger discussions that would have created one of the world’s largest luxury cosmetics empires. American beauty giant Estee Lauder and Spain’s Puig announced Thursday they have called off talks about joining forces.
The potential deal, first revealed in March, would have formed a $40 billion premium beauty conglomerate combining prestigious brands including Tom Ford, Carolina Herrera, Rabanne, Jean Paul Gaultier and Clinique.
These negotiations came several months after France’s L’Oreal secured a $4.7 billion agreement to purchase the beauty division from Gucci-owner Kering, as companies pursue expansion opportunities while facing slower demand following years of post-pandemic growth.
Wall Street responded positively to the news, with Estee Lauder’s stock price jumping approximately 12% in after-hours trading Thursday.
The American company stated it remains committed to implementing its Beauty Reimagined strategy, a recovery initiative led by CEO Stephane de La Faverie designed to reverse three consecutive years of declining sales and shrinking market position.
“We have one of the most powerful portfolios of prestige beauty brands in the world… and we believe we are uniquely positioned to drive sustainable long-term growth globally,” he said in a statement.
Estee Lauder’s brand collection features Bobbi Brown cosmetics, La Mer skincare products, and fragrance lines Le Labo, Jo Malone and Kilian Paris.
RBC Capital Markets analyst Nik Modi expressed relief about the terminated discussions. “We are relieved to hear that the talks… have been terminated,” Modi commented, noting that integration challenges from such a combination would have created prolonged uncertainty for investors.
Earlier this month, Estee Lauder increased its yearly earnings projection and announced plans to eliminate up to 3,000 additional positions worldwide as part of an expanded restructuring effort, while Puig disclosed weaker sales performance for the first quarter in late April.
Delaware transportation officials have implemented a temporary speed reduction on Interstate 495, lowering the limit to 55 miles per hour due to hazardous wet weather conditions affecting the roadway.
The Delaware Department of Transportation announced the precautionary measure as rain continues to create slippery and potentially dangerous driving conditions along the interstate corridor.
Motorists traveling on I-495 are advised to reduce their speed and exercise additional caution while the wet weather persists. The temporary speed limit adjustment is designed to help prevent accidents and ensure driver safety during the challenging road conditions.
The speed restriction will remain in place until weather conditions improve and normal driving conditions return to the interstate.
Salisbury, Md. — Officials with the City of Salisbury have announced they are moving a live concert by Great Train Robbery from its original May 22 date to Friday, June 12, citing weather-related concerns. The performance will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Pohanka Riverwalk Amphitheatre.
City officials said the date change is part of their continued commitment to providing safe and enjoyable community events for all who attend.
The concert at the Pohanka Riverwalk Amphitheatre comes at no cost to the public and welcomes families, giving both locals and out-of-town guests a chance to enjoy live entertainment in Downtown Salisbury.
Those planning to attend should consider bringing their own lawn chairs and arriving with time to spare to visit nearby restaurants and shops in the downtown area either before or after the show, helping support local merchants and contributing to the area’s downtown energy.
Those seeking more information can check the City of Salisbury’s official communication outlets and social media accounts for updates.
Motorists traveling on southbound Route 9 should expect delays this afternoon due to ongoing roadwork in the area.
A flagging operation is currently active on St. Augustine Road between Sixth Street and Belts Road, with traffic control measures in place to manage the flow of vehicles through the work zone.
The flagging activity is scheduled to continue until 3 PM today. Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when passing through the area.
Thousands of family members and friends gathered to welcome home the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford following an extended deployment that lasted nearly a year at sea.
The homecoming celebration was designed as part of efforts to help sailors navigate the challenging adjustment period that follows months of separation from their loved ones.
Pat Gentile felt anxious about her first day back at work without wearing a wig as her hair slowly returned following cancer treatment. During this vulnerable time in her recovery journey, a chance meeting with someone she didn’t know at a local convenience store provided the encouragement she needed to feel more confident about her appearance.
A Brazilian father whose son died in the 2009 Flight 447 disaster says true justice has not been achieved, even after a Paris appeals court convicted Airbus and Air France of manslaughter on Thursday in France’s deadliest aviation accident.
Both Airbus and Air France announced they will challenge Thursday’s decision, which could extend the legal proceedings for several more years.
Nelson Faria Marinho, a Brazilian citizen who heads a victims’ association and lost his son when the aircraft went down, expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s decision despite the guilty verdicts.
The Paris appeals court determined both companies were guilty of manslaughter in connection with the disaster and imposed the highest possible penalty of 225,000 euros (roughly $260,000) on each firm, according to Daniele Lamy, who leads another victims’ group.
Lamy, whose son Eric perished in the crash, attended both the original proceedings and this appeal trial, and praised Thursday’s outcome.
However, Marinho expressed his desire to see individual executives from both companies face jail time, though the legal case has focused on corporate rather than individual culpability.
“I’ve lost my father, my mothers, brothers. It hurts a lot, but it is impossible to translate into words the pain of losing a child,” Marinho said, speaking from his home office surrounded by newspaper articles and photographs documenting his lengthy fight for accountability.
The A330-200 aircraft vanished from radar during a storm over the Atlantic Ocean on June 1, 2009, carrying 216 passengers and 12 crew members. Recovery teams needed two years to locate the aircraft and its flight data recorders on the ocean bottom, more than 13,000 feet (approximately 4,000 meters) below the surface.
A previous Associated Press investigation revealed that Airbus had been aware of issues with the specific type of pitot tubes installed on the crashed aircraft since at least 2002, yet did not replace them until after the accident occurred.
Prosecutors alleged that Air France failed to provide proper training for situations involving the freezing of external sensors known as pitot tubes, despite known dangers. Airbus faced accusations of inadequately alerting airlines and flight crews about pitot tube malfunctions and failing to ensure adequate training to reduce associated risks.
The tragedy prompted regulatory changes regarding airspeed sensors and modifications to pilot training protocols.
Official investigators determined that several elements contributed to the catastrophe, including crew errors and the freezing of pitot tubes.
A lower court cleared both Airbus and Air France of manslaughter charges in 2023, causing significant distress among families who lost relatives in the accident.
Air France expressed regret over Thursday’s conviction and acknowledged that pursuing an appeal would extend an already protracted legal process, especially for victims’ families and loved ones, while noting that the company’s criminal responsibility had been previously rejected.
Airbus announced plans to file an appeal with France’s supreme court to enable a review of the legal questions presented in this matter.
A French pilots’ union welcomed the decision. The National Union of Airline Pilots stated it would be “unacceptable to place responsibility for the outcome of this accident solely on the pilots, without taking into account all of the systemic failures that led to the disaster.”
Victims’ attorney Alain Jakubowicz became emotional while addressing reporters outside the courthouse.
The verdict demonstrates “there is no fight that it is unwinnable,” he told French television. “Even when we are simply passengers, we can make global giants bend.”
In Rio, Marinho’s spouse Maria Eva explained that the anguish of losing one of her five children continues to feel fresh, though her faith has provided comfort during her mourning.
“This trail of destruction left many hearts wounded,” she said from her living room, which displays a representation of the Eiffel Tower. “But as long as there is life there is hope.”
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Members of Colorado’s Democratic Party delivered a stinging rebuke to their own governor, formally censuring Gov. Jared Polis after he shortened the prison term of Tina Peters, a former election official who promoted conspiracy theories supporting President Donald Trump’s unfounded allegations of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.
Wednesday’s censure vote passed by an overwhelming margin, with approximately 90% of the state party’s roughly 700 Central Committee members supporting the measure. The action bars Polis, who is serving his final year due to term limits, from serving as a distinguished guest, keynote speaker, or official party representative at Democratic events.
Peters, age 70, previously worked as a county clerk before receiving a nine-year prison sentence following her 2024 conviction for orchestrating a plan to duplicate her county’s election computer system.
Following Polis’s decision to commute her sentence on Friday, Peters is now scheduled for release on June 1.
Trump has publicly supported Peters’ situation. The Colorado Democratic Party released a statement calling the sentence reduction a “dangerous and disappointing” precedent during a time when democratic institutions and voting rights face threats across the country.
“It sends a message to future bad actors that election tampering has consequences, unless you’re friends with the president,” the statement said.
Roughly 700 party members, including sitting and former elected officials, signed a petition demanding the party condemn Polis. The censure vote occurred during a scheduled virtual meeting of the party’s Central Committee.
A Colorado appeals court upheld Peters’ conviction in April while ordering a new sentencing hearing, determining the original judge improperly penalized her for making public statements about election fraud.
When commuting the sentence, Polis wrote to Peters acknowledging she merited incarceration but had received an “extremely unusual and lengthy” punishment for someone with no prior convictions and no violent offenses.
Following the censure vote, he stood by his decision.
“The governor made this decision based on the facts of the case and what he believed was the right thing to do. Sometimes the right thing isn’t the popular thing with everybody. Democracy is strongest when disagreement is met with debate and dialogue, not censorship,” Polis spokesperson Eric Maruyama said in an emailed statement Thursday.
Peters expressed gratitude to Polis and offered an apology for her actions in a statement released after her sentence was commuted.
Peters secretly brought in an outside computer specialist, who was connected to MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, to duplicate her county’s Dominion Voting Systems election server during a scheduled system update in 2021. She later appeared with Lindell at a “cybersymposium” that claimed it would present evidence of election manipulation, and images from the upgrade process, including security passwords, were published online.
WASHINGTON — The Democratic National Committee finally published its delayed analysis of the 2024 election on Thursday, but the document arrived with prominent red warnings on every page questioning its credibility.
“This document reflects the views of the author, not the DNC,” stated the disclaimer. “The DNC was not provided with the underlying sourcing, interviews, or supporting data for many of the assertions contained herein and therefore cannot independently verify the claims presented.”
The unusual warning accompanies a document that has generated significant internal controversy. DNC chair Ken Martin initially pledged to make the analysis public, then reversed course, stating he wanted to avoid distracting from midterm elections.
Following months of internal debate, Martin made the report available Thursday, explaining the delay by characterizing the work as poorly executed.
The 192-page analysis contains several notable gaps, steering clear of some of the campaign’s most significant challenges.
The document fails to examine President Joe Biden’s choice to seek reelection at age 81, despite widespread questions about his age. Biden withdrew following a poor debate showing, with Harris quickly selected as his replacement.
While Harris emerged as the apparent successor after serving as Biden’s vice president, the analysis doesn’t tackle concerns that the nomination process moved too quickly or lacked proper deliberation.
Significantly, the Middle East conflict receives no attention — the words “Gaza” and “Israel” are absent from the entire text. Democratic divisions over the war diminished support for Harris among voters frustrated with the Biden administration’s backing of Israel.
The analysis determined that the Biden White House failed to “position or prepare the vice president” for mounting an effective campaign.
Only after Biden announced his July exit did campaign pollsters rush to gather fresh data on three crucial areas — “one on the Vice President’s biography and record, one on her vision and plan, and another on attacks and responses.”
Researchers also found Harris lacked responses to a critical vulnerability: The Trump campaign’s anti-transgender messaging. The analysis emphasized that pollsters believed the Democratic candidate was “boxed” in by Republicans’ “very effective” commercial featuring Harris’ past support for taxpayer-funded gender-affirming surgeries for prison inmates.
“Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you,” the advertisement stated.
The report concluded: “If the Vice President would not change her position — and she did not — then there was nothing which would have worked as a response.”
Harris’ campaign has faced extensive post-election criticism. Some Democrats believe she devoted excessive time to courting Republicans like Liz Cheney, while others argue she failed to develop compelling economic messaging.
The analysis offers different reasoning, arguing insufficient effort went toward portraying Trump as unfit for office.
“There was a decision in the 2024 Democratic leadership not to engage in negative advertising at the scale required,” the document states. “The Trump campaign and supportive Super PACs went full throttle against Vice President Harris, but there was not sufficient or similar negative firepower directed at Trump by Democrats.”
Later, the analysis states, “Democrats made a mistake by assuming voters were already aware of Trump’s various weaknesses.
“The idea Trump’s negatives were ‘baked in’ is a major failure of analysis and reality,” the report says.
DNC officials appeared to reject these findings, inserting comments such as “no evidence provided; contradicts claims elsewhere in report” and “no sourcing or evidence provided.”
The document faulted Harris’ appeals to important voter groups while making several critical references to “identity politics.” The analysis expresses particular alarm about Latino voters.
“Democrats can no longer assume Latino voters, especially younger Latino men, are a reliable part of their base,” the report says. “The party needs a complete rethink of its Latino outreach strategy, moving beyond traditional approaches like Spanish-language ads and late-cycle surrogates.”
The analysis cites successful Democratic statewide campaigns in Arizona, Nevada and North Carolina, demonstrating that “economic messaging, and addressing cost-of-living concerns resonate more than identity politics.”
The document also noted Democratic struggles with male voters.
“Male voters require direct engagement. The gender gap can be narrowed,” the report says. “Deploy male messengers, address economic concerns, and don’t assume identity politics will hold male voters of color.”
Harris also lacked solutions for the party’s rural voter problem.
“Harris wrote off rural America, assuming urban/suburban margins would compensate. The math doesn’t work,” the report says. “You can’t lose rural areas by overwhelming margins and make it up elsewhere when rural voters are a significant share of the electorate. If Democrats are to reclaim leadership in the Heartland or the South, candidates must perform well in rural turf. Show up, listen, and then do it again.”
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The international official monitoring the Gaza ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States called on the UN Security Council Thursday to utilize all available resources to pressure Hamas into giving up its weapons, cautioning that continued acts of violence threaten to collapse the fragile truce.
Nickolay Mladenov, high representative of the Board of Peace, an international organization created by President Donald Trump, emphasized that Israel must also fulfill its ceasefire commitments, highlighting Palestinian deaths and limitations on humanitarian assistance.
Hamas and Israel face a choice between “a deteriorating status quo” or a fresh start for Palestinians currently enduring “desperate conditions,” he stated. “There is no third option. There never was, and the people of Gaza should not be made to wait while some pretend that there is.”
Mladenov elaborated on the Board of Peace’s initial assessment, which identified the primary barrier to complete ceasefire implementation as “Hamas’ refusal to accept verified decommissioning, relinquish coercive control, and permit a genuine civilian transition in Gaza.”
Hamas issued a statement condemning the assessment and argued it overlooked Israel’s failure to meet ceasefire requirements.
The Palestinian militant organization, responsible for the Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel that triggered the Gaza conflict, has attempted to connect any weapons removal to Israeli military withdrawals. Israel’s forces have increased their presence in Gaza following the truce and now occupy approximately 60% of the region.
Mladenov, an experienced Bulgarian diplomat, indicated that should Israel and Hamas reject the implementation plan for Trump’s peace proposal, the Board of Peace would explore methods to deliver humanitarian assistance and support territorial recovery.
Without action, he warned, Gaza would stay fragmented, with Hamas maintaining administrative and military authority over 2 million Palestinians confined to less than half the Gaza Strip, likely remaining surrounded by debris, dependent on aid, and without prospects for rebuilding or their children’s future.
“This is a version of the future that Israelis, Palestinians and the region should all fear and all mobilize to avoid,” Mladenov stated.
He explained that weapons removal “will be gradual, sequenced and time-bound against an agreed timetable” — noting that arms from Hamas and other Palestinian armed factions would go to Gaza’s transitional government rather than Israel.
The implementation plan merits the Security Council’s “clear, consistent and unequivocal support,” he declared.
“I ask the council to use every means at its disposal to urge Hamas to accept the roadmap without further delay, and Israel to uphold its obligations under the ceasefire,” Mladenov stated. “Diplomacy must continue, cannot be used as an excuse for delay while 2 million people wait in desperate conditions.”
The leader of the University of Georgia is pushing back against proposals to dramatically expand the College Football Playoff system to include 24 teams.
Jere Morehead, who has served as the university’s president since July 2013, made his position clear in comments to The Athletic on Thursday: “A 24-team playoff is a mistake.”
As Southeastern Conference officials prepare for their upcoming meetings in Destin, Florida next week, Morehead expressed concerns that the Big Ten conference hasn’t fully considered what such a major expansion would mean for college football’s future.
“It’s going to devalue big games during the regular season,” Morehead explained. “I think it (would) devalue Georgia-Alabama or Georgia-Oklahoma (this) year. So I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Instead of jumping directly from the current 12-team format to 24 teams, Morehead suggested a more gradual approach would be wiser.
“I was OK with going to 16. I thought that was a good number. But 24 scares me, particularly jumping from 12 to 24. If we went to 16 and tried that for a few years, see how it goes, and then we can evaluate whether we should go to 24. And from my standpoint, I would just stay at 12 then, if we can’t get an agreement on 16,” he said.
Morehead indicated he would follow the lead of SEC commissioner Greg Sankey on this issue, saying the commissioner’s opinion carries the most weight with him.
“As long as commissioner Sankey is at 16, I think we’ll be at 16,” Morehead stated, “because I think there’s great respect for his position on any issue.”
The Big Ten’s 24-team proposal has gained support from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12, and independent Notre Dame.
However, Morehead worries about how such an extensive playoff system might hurt regular season attendance and viewership.
“I think there’s a lot of concern about what 24 is going to do to the regular season,” he explained. “You know, we depend on these sellout home games, the high ratings that we get for our football games during the season. If those become devalued and if those ratings drop because people see it like the NBA, that these games don’t matter anymore, then that affects our situation, in terms of being able to negotiate the next television contract. That’s concerning to me.”
“And I’m not sure that the Big Ten has really thought through the long-term implications of what this is going to do to the regular season,” Morehead concluded.
Prison officials in Tennessee called off a scheduled execution Thursday evening after medical staff could not successfully establish the required intravenous access for lethal injection procedures.
The state’s governor later issued a one-year postponement of the death sentence for Tony Carruthers, 57, who received capital punishment following his conviction for the kidnapping and killing of three individuals in 1994.
Medical personnel brought Carruthers into the death chamber at the maximum-security facility in Nashville, where they spent over an hour attempting to set up the necessary IV access before abandoning the procedure and returning the inmate to his holding cell, as witnessed by an Associated Press journalist covering the event.
While staff successfully inserted a primary IV line, they encountered difficulties establishing the secondary access point mandated under the state’s execution procedures, the Tennessee Department of Correction explained in their official statement.
“I am granting Tony Von Carruthers a temporary reprieve from execution for one year,” the governor announced in his official statement.
This incident marks Carruthers as the seventh condemned individual in the United States to escape execution due to failed lethal injection procedures, according to statistics from the anti-death penalty organization Reprieve.
“Lethal injection is touted as a humane, ‘medical’ method of execution. Bloody and prolonged execution attempts like this one expose the gruesome reality,” stated Matt Wells, who serves as Reprieve’s U.S. deputy director.
The State Department announced Thursday that its decision to take Francesca Albanese, a United Nations expert on Palestinian territories, off its sanctions list represents a temporary action rather than a shift in policy.
Albanese was placed under U.S. sanctions in July 2025 due to what officials described as her attempts to encourage the International Criminal Court to pursue action against American and Israeli officials, businesses, and executives.
A federal judge issued a temporary block on these sanctions earlier this month, determining that the Trump administration likely infringed upon her constitutional right to free speech by implementing the penalties following her public criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, where Israel is a U.S. ally.
“The Government has appealed the court’s order,” the State Department said in a statement.
“In the event the D.C. Circuit stays or overturns that order, the Government intends to restore Ms. Albanese’s name to the SDN List,” the department added, referring to the Specially Designated Nationals list.
The Federal Trade Commission announced Thursday that it has imposed financial penalties on Cox Media Group and two partner companies for making deceptive statements about their ability to monitor consumer conversations through artificial intelligence technology.
According to the federal agency, Cox Media Group misled potential advertising clients in 2023 by claiming it could deploy AI and voice-processing systems to “identify buyers based on casual conversations in real time.”
The commission also found that Cox incorrectly informed clients that consumers had given permission for their voice data to be collected and utilized for marketing purposes.
In promotional materials on its website, the company described its alleged capabilities to potential customers by stating: “Creepy? Sure. Great for marketing? Definitely,” according to FTC findings.
As part of the settlement, Cox Media Group has agreed to pay $880,000 in penalties. Two smaller marketing companies that collaborated with Cox – MindSift and 1010 Digital Works – will each pay $25,000.
Cox Media Group operates radio and television broadcasting stations across multiple states and maintains a digital marketing division that specializes in streaming and online advertising.
In response to the allegations, Cox stated that it had depended on promotional materials supplied by an external vendor regarding that vendor’s technology, which the company has since discontinued using. Neither MindSift nor 1010 Digital Works provided immediate responses when contacted for comment.
Two University of Delaware track and field athletes have earned their spot at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships taking place in Lexington, Kentucky.
Throwers Olamide Ayeni and Nubia Evans-Shields will both participate in the discus throw event during the opening round of the national competition, which runs from May 27-30.
The championships represent the pinnacle of collegiate outdoor track and field competition, bringing together the nation’s top student-athletes to compete for national titles.
Delaware’s Attorney General Kathy Jennings issued a public statement condemning the current administration’s choice to allocate taxpayer funds as compensation for individuals who participated in the January 6th, 2021 Capitol attack.
In her statement, Jennings criticized what she described as the seizure of billions in public money to benefit those involved in the Capitol incident. “The President’s theft of nearly 2 billion taxpayer dollars to reward January 6th insurrectionists is yet another intolerable act of blatant corruption. It is […]” Jennings stated.
The Attorney General’s remarks came in response to the Trump Administration’s announcement regarding the financial payments to participants in the events of January 6th, 2021.
A New Castle County resident will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being sentenced for a fatal shooting that took place in 2024.
Michael R. Toombs, 29, of Claymont received two life sentences plus an additional 30 years in prison during his sentencing hearing on May 21, 2026. The harsh penalty comes after a Superior Court jury found him guilty in October of charges related to the deadly shooting.
The case stems from a 2024 incident that resulted in one person’s death. Toombs was convicted by the jury last fall on the criminal charges.
MIDDLETOWN – Transportation officials have shut down a section of Lorewood Grove Road following infrastructure damage that has made the route impassable for drivers.
The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) reports that a pipe beneath the roadway has failed, creating conditions that washed away roughly half of the street surface. The affected area spans from Ratledge Road to Tami Trail.
Officials implemented the road closure effective today, with no timeline established for when the route will reopen to traffic. DelDOT has advised drivers that the shutdown will remain active until repairs can be completed.
Motorists who regularly use this route are being urged to seek alternative paths while crews assess the damage and develop a repair plan.
Motorists traveling northbound on Interstate 95 are experiencing traffic delays between the Maryland state line and the Biden Welcome Center.
According to traffic reports, congestion in this stretch of highway is causing delays ranging from 5 to 10 minutes for drivers.
Commuters and travelers using this route should plan for additional travel time while conditions persist.
With the Atlantic hurricane season set to begin June 1, Sussex County emergency management officials are reminding residents to start their storm preparations now, regardless of what forecasters predict for the coming months.
The Sussex County Department of Public Safety/Division of Emergency Management is emphasizing the importance of readiness as communities prepare for summer activities including 250th anniversary independence celebrations and beach gatherings.
Timothy Cooper, Sussex County emergency manager, stressed that residents shouldn’t get caught up in seasonal predictions. “There’s a tendency each year to focus heavily on forecasts, and while it’s great this captures public attention, we want the public to focus on readiness in general, regardless of the predictions,” Cooper explained. “Don’t focus so much on the number of predicted storms, or the forecasted intensity. The effects could be just as damaging and deadly if a tropical storm became stationary. All it takes is one storm, so the message is to be prepared at all times for any scenario. Make a plan, create a kit, stay informed, and get engaged.”
Sussex County, like other coastal areas from the Caribbean to Canada, faces risks from tropical weather including flooding and strong winds. The county experienced no direct impacts from tropical systems during the 2025 season, as storms tracked away from the area.
Last year’s Atlantic hurricane season was slightly below average, producing 13 named storms with five becoming hurricanes. Four of those reached major hurricane status and caused billions in damage.
For 2026, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts another below-normal season with eight to 14 named systems expected. Three to six could strengthen into hurricanes, with one to three potentially reaching Category 3 intensity or higher, according to NOAA’s May 21 forecast. A strong El Niño pattern is expected to influence this season.
El Niño conditions typically reduce Atlantic hurricane development, leading to average or below-average seasons. During this phase, warmer waters in the equatorial eastern Pacific create atmospheric conditions that produce wind shear and inhibit storm formation. The opposite occurs during La Niña years when cooler Pacific waters can lead to increased Atlantic hurricane activity.
Based on NOAA’s 30-year average, a typical Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.
Emergency officials emphasize that preparation remains crucial regardless of seasonal forecasts, as a single storm can cause devastating impacts.
Residents can enhance their safety by creating a household Safety Profile through the free Smart911™ service, which provides first responders with potentially life-saving information. Users can include property details, medical conditions, and family contact information.
Officials recommend several key preparation steps for hurricane season:
Residents in flood-prone or vulnerable areas should prepare evacuation plans now. Emergency managers will announce evacuation areas and timing through media outlets. Those evacuating should take storm kits, valuable papers, secure their homes by locking doors and windows, shut off utilities, and notify family members outside the evacuation zone of their destination.
Property owners should secure outdoor items and boats, clear gutters and rainspouts, and trim trees that could pose hazards during high winds.
Every family should assemble a disaster kit containing: a three-day water supply (one gallon per person daily), non-perishable food and manual can opener, clothing and shoes for each person, prescription medications, blankets or sleeping bags and pillows, personal hygiene items, flashlights and extra batteries for each person, special needs items like baby formula and supplies for elderly or disabled family members, portable radio with extra batteries, cash for when ATMs don’t work during power outages, and fuel since gas pumps also fail during outages.
When storms approach, travel during daylight and don’t wait until the last minute for supplies or gasoline. Monitor storm updates on radio and television when watches are issued, as evacuations may need to begin 24 to 36 hours before a storm arrives.
Those ordered to evacuate should follow local emergency managers’ instructions on shelter locations and timing. Authorities will announce shelter sites in advance, potentially opening multiple locations for larger populations.
Residents not ordered to evacuate who shelter at home should prepare disaster kits, keep important documents in waterproof containers in the highest, safest location, secure homes by locking doors and windows, turn off utilities, monitor portable radio for updates, stay indoors in interior rooms away from doors and windows.
Phone use should be limited to essential calls kept brief, with emergencies reported to 911. When calling for help, identify yourself and location clearly and calmly. Keep mobile phones charged, though cell service may be interrupted during and after storms.
Hurricanes and tropical storms can cause severe damage including polluted water, communication failures, power outages, sewer backups, foundation damage, beach erosion, and extensive property and road damage.
After storms pass, residents shouldn’t return until authorities give clearance. Upon re-entry, watch for hazards like downed trees and power lines, debris and standing water on roads. Have identification and legal documents ready to prove residency. Continue using emergency water supplies or boil water until officials confirm drinking water safety, and take fire prevention precautions.
Additional hurricane preparation information, including Know Your Zone evacuation maps, preparedness materials, and volunteer opportunities with Community Emergency Response Teams or amateur radio operators, is available at Sussex County’s hurricane website at www.sussexcountyde.gov/hurricane-information, PrepareDE’s site at www.preparede.org, and NOAA Weather Ready Nation at www.weather.gov/wrn/.
CLAYMONT — Drivers should expect delays this weekend as The Delaware Department of Transportation will implement rolling ramp closures at the I-95/Naamans Road interchange for dangerous tree removal operations.
DelDOT officials have announced that traffic restrictions will impact multiple access ramps at the interchange, with closures happening sequentially throughout Saturday, May 30th.
The first closure will affect the entrance ramp from Naamans Road leading to northbound I-95, scheduled from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm on Saturday. Later that same day, crews will close the exit ramp from southbound I-95 to Naamans Road.
Transportation officials are advising motorists to plan alternate routes and allow extra travel time during the scheduled work periods.
A Massachusetts work boot and clothing manufacturer is considering selling the company or bringing in new investors in a deal that could be worth more than $1 billion, according to people with knowledge of the discussions.
Brunt Workwear has enlisted investment bank JPMorgan to handle the potential transaction, which has drawn attention from both corporations and private equity investors, sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks. The company might also consider going public down the road, the sources added.
Since its 2020 launch, Brunt has already reached annual revenue of more than $300 million, according to the sources.
Neither Brunt nor JPMorgan provided comment when contacted.
The workwear industry has seen increased merger and acquisition activity as traditional work clothing brands have gained popularity with general consumers beyond their core blue-collar market. Companies like Carhartt and Levi Strauss & Co have expanded their product lines and attracted customers outside their usual demographic.
Recent transactions in the sector include Bluestar Alliance’s $600 million purchase of Dickies from VF Corporation in the previous year. On Wednesday, Authentic Brands Group revealed an agreement to acquire Lee that could reach $1 billion in value for the denim manufacturer.
Headquartered in North Reading, Massachusetts, Brunt was established by Eric Girouard with the goal of creating superior footwear for skilled laborers. The company’s inaugural boot model, called Marin, was named in honor of his childhood friend Matt Marin, who worked as a foreman carpenter. These boots, priced between $144.99 and $299.99, quickly became unavailable due to high demand online, leading Brunt to diversify into clothing and accessories.
During 2022, Brunt secured $20 million in Series B funding led by growth equity firm Stripes. Girouard continues to hold majority ownership of the business.
The company has formed partnerships with regional sports organizations, facilities and staff including the Boston Bruins and TD Garden, as well as the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium.
Federal prosecutors have brought charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro and five military pilots for their involvement in shooting down civilian aircraft operated by Miami-based Cuban exiles in 1996.
The charges were announced Wednesday as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to pressure Cuba’s socialist government. Prosecutors allege Castro and the military aviators conspired to terrorize and intimidate Cuban exiles by destroying aircraft operated by the Brothers to the Rescue organization.
Castro, who is now 94 years old, served as defense minister when MiG fighter jets targeted the civilian planes.
According to prosecutors, Castro’s five alleged accomplices, all members of the Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force, participated in training exercises around February 1996 designed to “find, track, pursue and intercept” aircraft operating near Cuban waters in preparation for Brothers to the Rescue missions.
The charging document indicates these training operations occurred under Castro’s authority and with guidance from an unindicted co-conspirator.
The five pilots named in the indictment are Lt. Col. Lorenzo Alberto Pérez-Pérez, José Fidel Gual Barzaga, Lt. Col. Luis Raúl González-Pardo Rodríguez, Emilio José Palacio Blanco and Raúl Simanca Cárdenas.
Prosecutors claim Pérez-Pérez and another pilot who was not charged destroyed two aircraft on Feb. 24, 1996, while they were flying in international airspace, resulting in the deaths of four Americans.
In a television interview with Cuban state media shortly after the incident, Pérez-Pérez described intercepting the first plane and issuing warnings based on instructions from air traffic controllers. He claimed the aircraft disregarded his warnings.
“We tried to dissuade their crew members, but they continued to dangerously approach the Cuban coast, and then we received the order to interrupt the flight of the first aircraft,” Pérez-Pérez said at the time. “Afterward, we conducted the same operation with the second plane, which also refused to change its direction.”
The indictment claims Castro approved the use of lethal force following Brothers to the Rescue flights that scattered pro-democracy materials over Cuba in January 1996. Federal prosecutors assert Castro and his older brother, Fidel Castro, who held the presidency then, made the ultimate decisions regarding orders to kill.
Pérez-Pérez had been previously charged in the U.S. in August 2003 with murder, aircraft destruction and conspiracy.
Prosecutors also allege that on the day of the fatal attacks, Gual Barzaga, Simanca Cárdenas and González-Pardo Rodríguez pursued but did not destroy a third aircraft.
González-Pardo Rodríguez, age 65, is the only defendant currently in U.S. custody. He was charged in November for allegedly providing false information on immigration paperwork.
The U.S. Department of Justice stated that he incorrectly claimed he never received weapons or military instruction, never participated in any organization that used or threatened to use weapons, and never served in military or police forces. In fact, prosecutors said, “he received such training and served in the Cuban military as part of the Air Defense Force.”
He is set to receive his sentence later this month after entering a guilty plea in February.
All five pilots and Castro are charged with one count of conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals. Castro and Pérez-Pérez also face additional charges of murder and aircraft destruction.
Limited information is available about Gual Barzaga, Palacio Blanco and Simanca Cárdenas.
The charging document alleges that Pérez-Pérez and Palacio Blanco departed from the San Antonio de los Baños airfield, located near Havana, in separate fighter aircraft. Pérez-Pérez sought permission to shoot down the civilian planes approximately 20 minutes after takeoff.
While Pérez-Pérez engaged the two aircraft, according to the indictment, Gual Barzaga and Simanca Cárdenas shared a third fighter jet, and González-Pardo Rodríguez operated a fourth aircraft on standby. Prosecutors claim the waiting pilots monitored Pérez-Pérez’s radio communications requesting authorization to attack the planes, and they later joined him in pursuing the third civilian aircraft.
The federal charging document contains an undated photograph showing González-Pardo Rodríguez and Pérez-Pérez examining a document beside a fighter jet.
Drivers on northbound Interstate 95 should expect additional travel time this morning due to heavy traffic conditions between the Biden Welcome Center and Churchmans Marsh.
According to traffic reports, the congestion is causing delays of approximately 5 to 10 minutes for motorists traveling through this stretch of highway.
Commuters are advised to allow extra time for their morning travels and consider alternate routes if possible to avoid the backup.
Authorities in Newark have taken a Maryland resident into custody following their investigation of a road rage confrontation that involved the display of a weapon.
The incident took place on May 14, 2026, around 1:59 in the afternoon when Newark Police received a call about an aggravated menacing situation in the area.
Police have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the confrontation or the identity of the suspect at this time.
The investigation led to the arrest of the out-of-state individual in connection with the incident.
Panama’s president José Raúl Mulino announced Thursday that Ilya Espino de Marotta will take charge of the Panama Canal for seven years beginning October 1, marking the first time a woman has been chosen to lead the vital shipping route.
The selection came after the Panama Canal Board of Directors spent weeks evaluating multiple prominent candidates for the leadership role.
Espino de Marotta, age 64, has held the position of deputy administrator for the waterway since January 1, 2020, prior to receiving this historic appointment.
“I have spoken with the new Administrator of the Panama Canal… to congratulate her and reaffirm the commitment to work in coordination on strategic projects that generate jobs, prosperity and progress for Panamanians,” Mulino posted on X.
Having worked at the Panama Canal for 35 years, Espino de Marotta has gained recognition for wearing her distinctive pink hard hat and overseeing major construction efforts, including the waterway’s massive $5 billion expansion project.
The new administrator faces significant upcoming tasks, including overseeing the creation of two additional ports positioned at opposite ends of the canal, with bidding processes expected to begin in the next few months. These construction efforts, combined with planned contracts for a natural gas pipeline and logistics corridor, represent key elements in the canal’s growth and diversification plans.
The waterway has become a focal point of international tensions, with the U.S. State Department claiming China has violated Panama’s control over port operations in the Central American country.
The latest conflict emerged in early April when Rubio claimed China engaged in “bullying” tactics by temporarily detaining or delaying dozens of Panama-flagged vessels after the Central American nation took control of two important canal ports from a Hong Kong-based company’s subsidiary earlier this year. China has rejected these claims.
The United States has consistently worked to counter China’s expanding influence throughout Latin America. Panama has found itself positioned between these competing superpowers, particularly given the canal’s critical importance to global commerce, especially after Trump claimed last year that Beijing was controlling the international shipping route.
Espino de Marotta holds a bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering from Texas A&M University and completed a master’s degree in Economic Engineering from Universidad Santa María La Antigua.
WASHINGTON — The possibility of U.S. military action against Cuba emerged as a serious consideration Thursday, as President Donald Trump suggested he might be the first commander-in-chief to follow through on decades of contemplated intervention against the island nation. The escalating rhetoric followed Wednesday’s announcement of criminal charges filed against Cuba’s former leader, Raúl Castro.
Speaking to reporters during an environmental gathering at the Oval Office, Trump indicated that while past administrations have weighed Cuban intervention for generations, he appears ready to act. “Other presidents have looked at this for 50, 60 years, doing something,” Trump stated when questioned about Cuba policy. “And, it looks like I’ll be the one that does it. So, I would be happy to do it.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to media in Miami before departing for a NATO conference in Sweden followed by an India visit, characterized Cuba as a persistent national security concern due to its relationships with American adversaries. While acknowledging the administration’s preference for peaceful resolution, Rubio expressed pessimism about diplomatic success.
The Secretary of State, whose parents immigrated from Cuba and who has maintained a consistently tough stance against the island’s socialist government, emphasized Trump’s commitment to peaceful negotiations while questioning their feasibility. “Trump’s preference is always a negotiated agreement that’s peaceful. That’s always our preference. That remains our preference with Cuba,” Rubio explained.
However, he added candidly: “I’m just being honest with you, you know, the likelihood of that happening, given who we’re dealing with right now, is not high.”
Recent diplomatic efforts involving senior Trump administration officials — including Rubio, CIA chief John Ratcliffe and other top national security personnel — have produced disappointing results in meetings with Cuban representatives. These unsuccessful talks have prompted additional sanctions against Cuba’s government within the past week.
Rubio criticized Cuba’s historical strategy of delay, stating: “Over the years, Cuba has gotten used to ‘buying time and waiting us out.’ They’re not going to be able to wait us out or buy time. We’re very serious, we’re very focused.”
When pressed about potential military force to alter Cuba’s political structure, Rubio reiterated the preference for diplomatic solutions while noting that “the president always has the option to do whatever it takes to support and protect the national interest.” He rejected characterizations of potential action as “nation-building,” instead framing it as addressing national security risks.
The heightened tensions follow Wednesday’s unsealing of an indictment against Castro, accusing him of authorizing the 1996 destruction of civilian aircraft operated by Miami-based Cuban exiles. The charges, secretly filed by a grand jury in April, include murder and aircraft destruction.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced the indictment as political theater designed to “justify the folly of a military aggression against Cuba.”
Many observers draw parallels to the Trump administration’s approach toward then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was captured in a military operation in early January. Maduro remains imprisoned in the United States facing federal drug trafficking charges, to which he has entered a not guilty plea.
The timing of military movements has not gone unnoticed, as the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and its accompanying vessels arrived in Caribbean waters on the same day Castro’s charges were announced. U.S. Southern Command described the deployment as part of ongoing maritime training exercises with Latin American partners that began in March.
Rubio declined to elaborate on potential methods for executing the indictment against Castro, who will turn 95 next month.
Military action threats have intensified since Trump removed Maduro from power and implemented an energy embargo that severely restricted fuel deliveries to Cuba. These measures have resulted in widespread power outages, food scarcity, and economic devastation throughout the island.
Trump has intensified regime change discussions regarding Cuba after promising a “friendly takeover” contingent on the leadership opening Cuba’s economy to American business interests and severing ties with U.S. adversaries.
On Thursday, Rubio outlined Cuba’s national security threat to America, citing the island’s security and intelligence partnerships with China and Russia, plus its cordial relationships with other U.S. opponents in Latin America.
China expressed opposition to American sanctions and pressure against Cuba through Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Thursday. “China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and national dignity and opposes external interference,” Guo stated.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services revealed Thursday it is dramatically expanding artificial intelligence technology to monitor how states and other federal health funding recipients conduct audits of their programs. Officials say the initiative aims to reduce fraud risks and protect taxpayer dollars.
According to Gustav Chiarello, the assistant secretary for financial resources overseeing the program, the department will deploy ChatGPT and similar AI platforms to continuously review audit reports submitted by all 50 states.
“It’s classic big government: Everyone files an audit and it lands with a thud and no one does anything about it,” Chiarello explained during an interview. “Here, with AI, we’re able to dig into it.”
This expansion follows the department’s previous adoption of generative AI technology for examining state Medicaid programs, streamlining administrative processes, and text editing. While AI can effectively identify patterns and issues within extensive documentation, skeptics warn federal agencies should proceed carefully due to AI’s tendency toward errors and potential bias.
The current administration and the anti-fraud task force led by Vice President JD Vance have recently emphasized crackdowns on fraudulent activity within Medicaid and Medicare programs, along with student loan applications and other sectors. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson recently discussed on Fox News how these efforts incorporate AI technology to identify potential fraud cases.
Annual audit submissions are mandatory for states, local governments, nonprofits, and higher education institutions receiving at least $1 million in federal funding yearly. Chiarello explained the new program will apply AI analysis to audits from HHS-funded initiatives, encompassing state Medicaid programs and federal grant recipients in research, addiction treatment services, and additional areas.
Organizations failing to submit required reports or address identified issues could lose their federal funding.
Opposition voices have criticized the administration’s anti-fraud campaigns, pointing out that most targets have been Democratic states and suggesting a pattern of accusations preceding thorough fact-gathering. The administration previously admitted to The Associated Press that it had made a significant data error used to support a New York Medicaid fraud investigation.
When questioned about protections against AI errors, Chiarello emphasized that officials would be reviewing existing public reports rather than discovering new information. He stated the technology’s purpose is to help grantees become more responsible stewards of federal money.
Rob Weissman, co-president of consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen, expressed doubt about the administration’s genuine commitment to fraud prevention and questioned whether AI tools would be applied fairly and without partisan bias.
“The AI is kind of beside the point when you assess what their actual objectives are, rather than what they pretend they are,” he commented.
HHS confirmed it has notified governors and treasurers across all 50 states about the new program through official letters. The Wall Street Journal first reported on this initiative.
Chiarello mentioned ongoing discussions with colleagues at other federal departments, hoping they will adopt similar approaches.
“It would be fairly easy for the other agencies to use our technology and jump on it,” he noted.
Federal authorities have arrested two men for producing explicit artificial intelligence-generated images and videos of female celebrities, marking among the first prosecutions under recently enacted legislation designed to combat deepfake pornography.
Cornelius Shannon, 51, and Arturo Hernandez, 20, were taken into custody Tuesday on charges related to creating sexually explicit AI content that garnered millions of online views, court documents reveal.
The two defendants, who appear unrelated to each other, are facing prosecution under the Take It Down Act, legislation enacted last year by President Donald Trump that imposes enhanced penalties for distributing AI-created deepfakes and revenge pornography. The measure received support from both political parties and public endorsement from first lady Melania Trump.
Both men could receive prison sentences of up to two years under the new legislation.
Legal representatives for Shannon and Hernandez have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Joseph Nocella, the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, released a statement saying the defendants had “used cutting-edge digital technology to create images that degraded and violated” dozens of women. “This case makes clear that posting deepfake pornography is not a victimless crime,” he added.
According to court filings, Shannon, who lives in New Jersey, distributed at least 240 collections of AI-created pornographic content featuring female politicians, musicians and singers.
Prosecutors stated that Hernandez, a Texas resident, created deepfake material depicting both celebrities and private individuals, including recent high school graduates.
These arrests occur amid growing concerns about increasingly advanced generative AI technology fueling the proliferation of sexually explicit fake content online, frequently targeting minors.
An Ohio man became the first individual convicted under the Take It Down Act last month after admitting guilt to using AI for generating child sexual abuse material.
In March, two teenage boys in Pennsylvania received probation sentences for producing explicit AI images of their classmates at an exclusive private school.
Additionally, three Tennessee teenagers filed a lawsuit earlier this year against Elon Musk’s xAI, alleging the company’s Grok tools transformed their actual photographs into sexually explicit images.
The high school students are pursuing class-action status to represent what their lawsuit claims are thousands of other minors who suffered similar victimization.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Thursday her intention to enhance security cooperation between the two nations during U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s upcoming visit to Mexico City. The discussions will focus on fighting drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, weapons trafficking, and improving intelligence cooperation.
The U.S. official’s two-day trip follows recent diplomatic friction stemming from the deaths of two CIA agents near Mexico’s northern border and federal drug trafficking charges filed against 10 Mexican government officials.
Since taking office in October 2024, Sheinbaum’s government has worked to balance cooperation with the Trump administration while protecting Mexico’s national sovereignty against potential U.S. military action threats.
“What we want is for us to continue working within the framework of that (security) understanding,” Sheinbaum stated during her morning press briefing, referencing previous discussions with the Trump administration.
Mullin, who took over the role in March following Kristi Noem’s exit, will also conduct meetings with Mexico’s Security Cabinet during his visit.
The Mexican leader indicated Thursday she plans to address with Mullin the deaths of 15 Mexican migrants in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities since 2025, which sparked formal diplomatic complaints from her administration. Sheinbaum has ordered consular staff to conduct daily inspections of these detention facilities, and Mexico announced in March it would present these cases to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
However, the Mexican president stated she would not discuss the cases of the 10 indicted officials during her talks with Mullin, noting that some of these individuals are members of the ruling Morena party.
In late April, New York’s Attorney General filed charges against Sinaloa Gov. Rubén Rocha, Culiacan mayor Juan de Dios Gámez, and eight additional current and former officials, alleging drug trafficking and illegal weapons possession.
Both Rocha and Gámez have temporarily left their positions to allow for the investigation launched by Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office, while former Sinaloa administration officials Gerardo Mérida and Enrique Díaz turned themselves in to U.S. authorities last week.
Relations between the countries became tense following the April 19 deaths of two CIA agents and two officials from the Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office when their vehicle crashed into a ravine in mountainous terrain between Chihuahua — which shares a border with Texas — and Sinaloa state, where authorities had recently shut down an illegal synthetic drug laboratory.
This incident led to an official complaint from the Sheinbaum administration to Washington, protesting that it had not been notified about the presence or activities of the two U.S. agents operating in the opposition-controlled state of Chihuahua.
A Cuban military-controlled business empire has become the focal point of escalating tensions between Washington and Havana, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio placing blame squarely on the conglomerate for the island nation’s struggling economy.
The organization in question is GAESA, a military-run business network that Rubio, a Cuban American politician, accuses of being the true power behind Cuba’s economic troubles.
“Cuba is controlled by GAESA,” Rubio declared Wednesday in a Spanish-language video directed at Cuban citizens. “A ‘state within the state’ that is accountable to no one and hoards the profits from its businesses for the benefit of a small elite.”
Cuban leadership seldom discusses GAESA in public forums. Officials have consistently maintained that such privacy is essential when operating under a U.S. trade and financial embargo that significantly hampers the nation’s international business relationships.
Understanding GAESA’s Structure
The acronym represents Grupo de Administración Empresarial, which translates to ‘business administration group.’ This extensive network of military-operated enterprises is widely regarded as the most profitable and well-run business entity on the island.
The organization oversees numerous luxury hotels throughout the Caribbean nation, operates the major Mariel port facility, runs the primary commercial banking institution, and manages extensive networks of grocery stores, fuel stations and money transfer services.
This closely monitored umbrella organization came into existence during the 1990s under then defense minister Raúl Castro’s direction and remains under the authority of the island’s Revolutionary Armed Forces.
Until his passing in 2022, Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja, who was formerly Raúl Castro’s son-in-law, served as GAESA’s leader. His replacement, Brigadier General Ania Guillermina Lastres, recently faced U.S. sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration earlier this month.
The organization’s influence is perhaps most dramatically illustrated by Torre K, a 42-floor structure housing the luxury Iberostar Selection La Habana hotel, which stands as the island’s tallest building. This GAESA-connected construction project was finished in 2025 during a period of declining tourism, and the tower and hotel currently remain unoccupied.
Washington’s Position on GAESA
During his five-minute address to Cuban citizens, Rubio referenced GAESA eight separate times.
The Trump administration claims GAESA accumulates earnings from the nation’s most lucrative sectors and channels these resources to benefit military leadership and Cuban elites.
“The real reason you don’t have electricity, fuel, or food is because those who control your country have plundered billions of dollars, but nothing has been used to help the people,” Rubio stated.
Washington has consistently targeted GAESA enterprises with sanctions, which effectively bars American tourists from staying at GAESA-operated accommodations.
Cuba’s Response Regarding GAESA
Cuban officials reject claims that GAESA corruption or profit-hoarding has caused the current economic difficulties, instead highlighting recent United Nations expert statements that Trump administration fuel restrictions have created “energy starvation” with serious implications for human rights and development.
Beyond this defense, the government provides minimal information about the business group. A review of the leading Communist Party publication Granma revealed only seven mentions of “GAESA” across two decades, with these references containing little substantive detail.
Cuban government representatives rarely make public statements about GAESA, and the organization’s financial information does not appear in the communist government’s official budget documents.
Multiple government officials have indicated over time that maintaining secrecy is crucial for operating strategic enterprises that generate foreign currency while facing extensive U.S. sanctions.
In 2024, Gladys Bejerano, who served as Cuba’s comptroller general and chief auditor, informed Spanish news agency EFE that GAESA fell outside her oversight responsibilities and characterized the military-led enterprise as having “superior discipline and organization.”
GAESA’s Economic Impact
No official data exists regarding what portion of Cuba’s economy falls under GAESA’s control. External analysts estimate the figure ranges between 40% and 70%.
Rubio claimed GAESA generates income that exceeds Cuba’s national budget by three times.
“Today, while you suffer, these businessmen have $18 billion dollars in assets and control 70% of Cuba’s economy,” he stated.
Recently, Cuba’s embassy in the UK responded on X to a Miami Herald article citing the $18 billion amount, asserting the report had exaggerated GAESA’s wealth by 24 times.
“Basic accounting dismantles this ‘bombshell,’” the embassy posted. “Why the deception? Inventing a secret $18 billion hoard provides a convenient political excuse to tighten the very illegal sanctions that suffocate the Cuban population.”
The coffee giant has pulled the plug on an artificial intelligence inventory management system this week, just nine months after rolling it out to all North American locations, according to company documents obtained by Reuters and confirmed by two sources familiar with the matter.
The technology was implemented as part of CEO Brian Niccol’s strategy to address ongoing product shortages that he has identified as a factor damaging the company’s sales performance.
An internal company communication from Monday stated: “Starting today, Automated Counting will be retired. Beverage components and milk will now be counted the same way you count other inventory categories in your coffeehouse.”
The artificial intelligence application, which was created to give Starbucks better insight into store-level shortages, regularly made errors in counting and identifying products, including mixing up different types of milk or completely overlooking items, as Reuters previously documented in February. Company footage demonstrated the system’s failure to detect a peppermint syrup bottle while successfully counting other bottles nearby.
When previously questioned about the technology, Starbucks had maintained that implementing the tool resulted in better product availability at store locations, which represents a key performance indicator in Niccol’s company-wide improvement initiative.
In response to Reuters’ inquiry on Thursday, Starbucks explained that ending the program for milk and beverage products resulted from choosing to “standardize how inventory is counted across coffeehouses as we continue to focus on consistency and execution at scale.” The company added it is pursuing more regular daily deliveries to locations along with ongoing supply chain enhancements.
The White House is pressing Congress to approve railroad safety legislation that has been stalled for months, following a devastating 2023 train derailment in Ohio that resulted in a fire and the release of more than a million gallons of dangerous chemicals and pollutants.
The proposed legislation has backing from President Donald Trump and numerous Democrats, but its future remains uncertain due to strong resistance from railroad companies and many Republican lawmakers.
On Thursday, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was reviewing a five-year, $580 billion highway funding package while considering whether to include rail safety provisions that would strengthen safety protocols for trains transporting hazardous cargo and impose stricter regulations on railcar wheel bearings.
Representative Troy Nehls, a Texas Republican, argued the legislation is essential because the derailment “exposed serious weaknesses in the freight rail industry safety practices, particularly when it comes to transporting hazardous materials.”
However, Representative Sam Graves, the Republican committee chair, warned the proposal would increase rail shipping expenses by billions of dollars over a decade. “It’s going to ripple across the entire supply chain,” Graves stated.
The 2023 accident occurred when a railcar wheel bearing overheated and failed catastrophically. Norfolk Southern reached a $310 million settlement with the Justice Department in 2024, which included commitments to install additional equipment for early detection of overheated wheel bearings to prevent future derailments.
National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy noted that numerous safety recommendations issued after the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio derailment have not been implemented more than three years later.
“People living in the community of East Palestine and all Americans deserve no less than a comprehensive approach that addresses critical rail safety issues,” Homendy stated.
The proposed legislation would mandate improved safety protocols for hazardous material transport, require wayside defect detection systems, establish minimum two-person train crews, and increase penalties for violations.
The Association of American Railroads, representing major railway companies, opposed the measure, claiming it has “increasingly become a vehicle for longstanding labor and operational mandates that would raise costs throughout the supply chain while doing little to measurably improve safety outcomes.”
The stage is set for the 2026 NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Final Four as teams gear up for the championship semifinals.
Tournament organizers have released promotional materials showcasing the upcoming Final Four competition, marking another milestone in the women’s collegiate lacrosse season.
The Final Four represents the culmination of the NCAA women’s lacrosse tournament, bringing together the top four teams in the nation to compete for spots in the championship game.
April marked a milestone for the nation’s pork industry as production levels soared to unprecedented heights, according to newly released federal agriculture data.
The latest livestock slaughter report reveals that pork production during the month exceeded all previous records, highlighting the continued expansion of the meat processing sector.
The statistics reflect ongoing trends in agricultural production as the industry adapts to market demands and processing capabilities.
Under mounting internal pressure, the Democratic National Committee made public on Thursday a critical analysis of Kamala Harris’ presidential defeat to Donald Trump that party leaders had previously kept under wraps — while simultaneously rejecting its conclusions.
The analysis determined that Democrats lost territory to Trump’s Republican Party due to inadequate financial support for state organizations and a “persistent inability or unwillingness to listen to all voters.”
The study highlighted Democratic struggles with male voters, those without college degrees, infrequent voters, and rural communities. The document’s release comes just months ahead of November’s congressional midterm races.
DNC Chairman Ken Martin declared in an accompanying statement that the report “does not meet my standards, and it won’t meet your standards,” though he explained the publication was necessary to rebuild party confidence.
The 192-page analysis carries disclaimers on every page indicating it “reflects the views of the author, not the DNC,” with additional notes throughout pointing out factual errors and unsupported assertions.
Democratic consultant Paul Rivera authored the study, which was finished in late 2024. Some party members expressed frustration that the document had been kept confidential. Rivera was unavailable for immediate response.
Despite Trump’s waning approval ratings potentially benefiting Democrats in November’s congressional contests, the party continues seeking a cohesive platform for the 2028 presidential race.
Recent polling by The New York Times and Siena College revealed widespread dissatisfaction among Democratic supporters across all demographics, even as the party maintains what appears to be a significant edge over Republicans approaching the election.
Martin had originally committed to publishing the review but reversed course in December, stating he preferred Democrats focus forward rather than assign blame for 2024’s outcome. This decision prompted questions about his leadership from party supporters.
Martin explained he delayed the report’s release following Democratic wins in Virginia and New Jersey last November to prevent distraction, but admitted this choice created greater controversy. “For that, I sincerely apologize,” he stated.
Historical precedent exists for both major parties conducting such post-defeat analyses to identify lessons, typically involving interviews with party officials, activists, and financial supporters while examining expenditures and communication strategies.
The study acknowledges 2024’s narrow margins might lead Democrats to believe only small adjustments are necessary.
However, this thinking represents denial, according to the analysis, which argues the party “has vacillated between stagnation and retrogression” following Barack Obama’s overwhelming 2008 presidential victory.
The review also criticized Democrat Joe Biden’s administration for inadequately preparing Harris for success during her vice presidency, weakening her position when Biden suddenly ended his reelection campaign in July 2024.
The Western Conference championship series between Oklahoma City and San Antonio has developed into two separate battles as the teams prepare for Game 3 on Friday night.
While Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has bounced back from his typical slow start and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama continues putting up historic numbers in the conference finals, both squads are facing mounting injury concerns among their supporting players.
The series stands even at one game each as action moves to San Antonio. San Antonio captured the opener behind Wembanyama’s dominant 41-point, 24-rebound performance, while the defending champion Thunder evened things up in Game 2 with 30 points from Gilgeous-Alexander.
“We’re probably most comfortable playing in front of our fans,” Spurs guard Stephon Castle said following their Game 2 defeat in Oklahoma City. “I don’t think we’ll have any problem doing that. Mentally, I think we’re all in a good head space. We came here, won a game on the road and they’re a good team and they responded. So, now we have a chance to play in front of our fans.”
However, the mental aspect isn’t what should concern either franchise. The physical toll is becoming increasingly problematic.
Multiple players are dealing with various ailments including ankle problems, hamstring issues, and thigh injuries – and those are just the known concerns, not accounting for the wear and tear accumulated over seven to eight months of competition.
As anticipated, the Western Conference finals have evolved into an intense showdown. Beyond the obvious Thunder versus Spurs matchup between the league’s top two teams fighting for an NBA Finals berth, there’s also the challenge of overcoming physical attrition – and currently, the injuries might be gaining the upper hand.
“It feels like that’s always at this time of the season in every sport, right? You have to get to the end to give yourself a chance,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson explained. “And I think that’s why we have to continue to trust our depth and guys have to step up when their name’s called — answer the bell and be able to give us some quality minutes.”
San Antonio All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox continues battling an ankle problem that won’t resolve until the season concludes. His backup, Dylan Harper, appeared to injure his hamstring during Game 2 and left the contest early. For Oklahoma City, guard Jalen Williams re-aggravated his troublesome left hamstring in Game 2, while his replacement, Ajay Mitchell, suffered a thigh injury in the closing moments.
San Antonio’s Game 1 victory came largely due to Harper’s contributions. Oklahoma City’s Game 2 triumph was significantly aided by Isaiah Hartenstein’s impact on both ends of the court. Despite the exceptional play from Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama, role players will likely determine individual games and potentially the entire series.
“I think it’s a privilege,” said Hartenstein, who contributed 10 points and 13 rebounds in Game 2. “You dream of playing in games like this and playing a game against another great team is always something really special. Again, I heard somewhere that pressure is a privilege and so I think just being in this series where the pressure is so high, just trying to go out there and enjoy competing is always something really important.”
Gilgeous-Alexander endured a difficult Game 1, connecting on just 7 of 23 attempts – marking the sixth occasion in his past seven series openers where he failed to shoot 50 percent. However, his timing returned in Game 2, which he anticipated would happen.
“I just have sucked when I get too long of a break,” Gilgeous-Alexander admitted. “I don’t think it’s anything other than that.”
Through two contests, Wembanyama has accumulated 62 points and 41 rebounds. While other players have scored more points in conference finals openers, no one since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1974 has recorded at least 60 points and 40 rebounds through the first two games of this playoff round.
“I can think of a few down moments for myself, especially in the fourth quarter,” Wembanyama reflected after Game 2.
The series couldn’t be more competitive beyond the obvious 1-1 game split.
Each winning team has scored exactly 122 points. Combined scoring shows Thunder 237, Spurs 235. Both clubs recorded 8-0 runs in Game 1 and 11-0 runs in Game 2. Oklahoma City has connected on 30 three-pointers compared to San Antonio’s 29. The Spurs are shooting 46 percent while the Thunder are at 44 percent.
The key differences lie elsewhere: San Antonio holds a 25-rebound advantage but has committed 19 more turnovers. Castle delivered a spectacular dunk over Hartenstein in Game 2 but has struggled with 20 turnovers across both games. Should the Spurs’ backcourt depth remain compromised, Castle will face increased pressure this weekend.
“You’ve got be aggressive against us,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault noted. “But if you’re overaggressive, we’ll make you pay.”
The Democratic Party’s effort to understand their 2024 election losses has hit a roadblock after party leadership discovered significant problems with their commissioned review.
Party chairman Ken Martin announced Thursday that the analysis they had requested turned out to be both incomplete and unverifiable, prompting the Democratic National Committee to take the unusual step of releasing an annotated version of the flawed document.
The party had initially sought the review as a way to examine what led to their electoral defeats in 2024, but the investigation itself has now become a source of additional concerns for Democratic leadership.
Martin’s decision to make public an annotated version of the problematic report suggests the party is attempting to address transparency questions while acknowledging the review’s limitations.
DETROIT — Detroit Tigers star pitcher Tarik Skubal completed his third practice throwing session Thursday as he continues his comeback from elbow surgery.
The two-time American League Cy Young Award winner had a minimally invasive operation on his left throwing elbow May 6 to extract a loose fragment. His latest throwing session took place before Detroit’s home matchup with Cleveland.
Manager A.J. Hinch described the session as a “great step” while declining to provide a timeline for Skubal’s return to competition.
“There are little hurdles to clear along the way when you come back from a procedure,” Hinch said. “As much as we described it as simple, it’s still a procedure.”
During the session, Skubal utilized all of his pitches while delivering 35 throws total, including a rest period designed to replicate the break between innings.
“His velocity was as high as it’s been since his throwing started,” Hinch said. “He sat down and came back and did like a simulated second inning. That’s encouraging and it’s full stuff.”
The pitcher will accompany the team on their upcoming road trip to Baltimore this weekend, where he’ll complete another throwing session. Team medical personnel and coaches will assess his progress before determining the next phase of his recovery.
This season, Skubal has posted a 3-2 record with a 2.70 ERA across seven appearances. His contract expires following this season.
ISTANBUL (AP) — A Turkish appeals court delivered a significant blow to the nation’s primary opposition movement Thursday by invalidating the 2023 party election that brought its current leader to power.
The decision strikes another damaging blow against the Republican People’s Party, known as CHP, which has been battling numerous legal challenges aimed at its leadership and elected representatives.
The appeals court in Turkey’s capital Ankara invalidated the CHP leadership election that installed Ozgur Ozel as party chairman, mandating his replacement with former leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
While a lower court previously rejected allegations of voting irregularities and improper conduct in Ozel’s election last year, Thursday’s appellate ruling reversed that earlier decision.
The court order triggered urgent discussions at CHP headquarters in Ankara, creating additional obstacles for opposition efforts to challenge President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s more than 20-year grip on power. Substantial crowds assembled outside the building while law enforcement set up protective barriers.
Turkey’s next presidential contest is scheduled for 2028, though Erdogan retains the authority to schedule an earlier election. His primary political rival, Istanbul’s CHP mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, has been behind bars since March of last year while facing trial on corruption accusations.
The appellate court’s ruling temporarily removes Ozel and the party’s executive leadership from their positions. Kilicdaroglu and officials who served before the November 2023 party congress will assume their roles on an interim basis.
Speaking to broadcaster TV100, Kilicdaroglu urged party supporters to stay composed. “Our party is a very large party and it will solve its own problems internally,” he said. The 77-year-old leader was ousted after leading the party for 13 years without securing victory in any nationwide elections.
Ozel, for his part, worked to energize his base of support.
“I am not promising you a path to power through a rose garden,” he posted on X following the ruling. “I am promising you the ability to endure suffering but never surrender. I am promising you honor, dignity, courage and struggle!”
The CHP plans to contest Thursday’s decision before the Supreme Court in the near future.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek, who previously handled multiple CHP cases as Istanbul’s top prosecutor, characterized the court’s decision as one that “reinforces our citizens’ trust in democracy.”
Numerous political analysts have argued that the legal actions targeting the CHP — primarily focused on corruption accusations — are politically driven attempts to weaken the party before upcoming elections. Government officials, however, maintain that Turkey’s judicial system operates independently without political interference.
Erdogan has governed Turkey since 2003, initially as prime minister before assuming the presidency. His winning streak faced a significant setback in 2019 when CHP candidates captured control of multiple major municipalities during local voting. In Istanbul, Imamoglu became a compelling and charismatic leader whom many believed capable of defeating Erdogan.
