As FIFA host cities prepare to welcome massive crowds for upcoming World Cup soccer matches, Kansas City is making significant investments in public transportation infrastructure. The city is expanding its bus fleet and creating additional routes to handle the expected influx of thousands of soccer fans traveling to stadium venues.
Kansas City’s transportation upgrades are part of broader preparations taking place across all FIFA host cities as they get ready to accommodate the large numbers of spectators expected for the international soccer tournament.
A prominent Jewish Republican organization celebrated Captain Ed Gallrein’s primary election victory on Tuesday after he defeated incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s 4th congressional district.
The Republican Jewish Coalition issued a statement from Washington, DC, on May 19, 2026, with CEO Matt Brooks calling the outcome “decisive” and stating that Kentucky Republican voters had sent a clear message.
“The RJC congratulates Ed Gallrein on his decisive primary victory tonight,” Brooks said. “Kentucky Republicans sent an unmistakable message: there is no place in the Republican Party for those who turn their back on the MAGA agenda.”
Brooks delivered harsh criticism of Massie’s congressional voting record, claiming the incumbent had consistently voted against Republican initiatives and aligned himself with progressive Democrats on important legislation. The CEO specifically pointed to Massie’s votes against Working Families Tax Cuts, border security funding, Holocaust education funding, and aid to Israel after the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack.
“Massie has been a thorn in the side of President Trump, the Republican Party, and the Jewish community writ large,” Brooks said.
The organization further accused Massie of “trafficking in antisemitism and bottom-of-the-barrel nativism at a time when Jew-hatred is on the rise,” characterizing such behavior as “wildly unacceptable and outrageous from an elected member of Congress.”
Brooks praised Gallrein as “a 5th-generation Kentucky farmer, decorated Navy SEAL, and true MAGA patriot,” predicting that the candidate “will serve with honor and distinction.”
The Republican Jewish Coalition and its affiliated RJC Victory Fund committed $5 million to back Gallrein’s campaign, characterizing the contest as a “record-breaking Congressional primary.”
During the campaign, the organization produced three television advertisements supporting Gallrein with the titles “Ed Gallrein: Hero,” “Ed Gallrein: Trump-Endorsed,” and “Gallrein & Trump or Massie who Stands with Iran.”
The Republican Jewish Coalition identifies itself as a national grassroots organization that represents tens of thousands of Jewish Republicans throughout the United States.
A federal judge has placed significant limitations on evidence that can be presented during the upcoming arson trial of the individual charged with igniting the catastrophic Palisades Fire near Los Angeles last year.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, has entered a plea of not guilty to charges that he initiated what would become one of California’s most devastating wildfire disasters. According to prosecution claims, Rinderknecht ignited a blaze on Jan. 1 that continued burning unnoticed in underground root systems before resurging seven days later. The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7, 2025, consuming hillside communities in Pacific Palisades and Malibu and claiming 12 lives.
The trial is scheduled to commence June 8. Rinderknecht’s primary defense counsel, Steve Haney, has maintained that his client is being made a scapegoat for the Los Angeles Fire Department’s inability to completely extinguish the initial fire.
At Wednesday’s court session, Judge Anne Hwang determined that depositions from fire department personnel and a state park ranger would not be admissible during trial proceedings, citing concerns that such information lacks relevance to the charges and might mislead jurors.
The blocked defense evidence contained statements from a firefighter, fire captain and state park ranger indicating that the New Year’s Day 2025 fire was still visibly smoldering when emergency responders departed the location. This testimony had been collected during litigation brought by fire victims against the city.
Hwang additionally prohibited prosecutors from presenting AI-generated images depicting a burning city that authorities claim Rinderknecht produced several months prior to the fire.
Haney described the exclusion of the ChatGPT images as significant for his client, calling them “very, very prejudicial” and contextually misleading.
Other fire department activities remain permissible for discussion, including the department’s original response to and examination of the Jan. 1 brush fire. Haney indicated he intends to challenge whether the government possesses conclusive evidence connecting Rinderknecht to that incident, noting that first responders had detected fireworks near the fire’s origin point.
Prosecutors outlined their approach in an April 29 pretrial document from the U.S. attorney’s office, detailing the defendant’s alleged mental state before the initial fire occurred. They plan to argue that he was frustrated about lacking New Year’s Eve plans and expressed anger toward the world prior to the first blaze being ignited.
Motorists traveling on Abelia Lane are experiencing intermittent lane restrictions today due to ongoing construction work.
The lane closures are affecting the stretch of roadway between Oakridge Place and Willow Creek Lane, with work expected to wrap up by 5:30 PM this evening.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and use alternate routes when possible to avoid delays in the area.
WASHINGTON — Members of a House committee voiced bipartisan concerns Wednesday about ensuring Transportation Security Administration workers receive compensation during government shutdowns and have access to modern equipment, as the Trump administration pushes to transfer airport screening duties to private companies.
The House Committee on Homeland Security conducted a hearing focused on updating the TSA nearly 25 years since its establishment following the September 11 attacks. However, discussions about advanced equipment and stable funding were dominated by concerns over TSA employee morale after workers went unpaid during three recent funding interruptions since October 1, amid administration plans to replace them at smaller airports nationwide.
“Between the 2025 and 2026 shutdowns, transportation security officers endured a total of 119 days impacted by shutdown conditions,” stated Republican Andrew Garbarino of New York, who chairs the committee. “That means TSA officers spent roughly 40% of this fiscal year reporting to work without a paycheck while continuing to carry out one of the most important security missions in the federal government.”
Multiple committee members highlighted Congress’s failure to approve pending legislation that would ensure TSA workers continue receiving pay during shutdowns. California Democrat Rep. Lou Correa suggested that if TSA employees don’t receive compensation during shutdowns, lawmakers shouldn’t either.
Correa also criticized President Donald Trump’s budget proposal, which allocates $477.3 million for private companies to assume airport screening responsibilities at approximately 250 airports while eliminating more than 4,500 TSA jobs to achieve $529.3 million in savings from compensation and benefits. The TSA recently permitted contractors in its airport staffing initiative to purchase and maintain screening equipment, a responsibility previously reserved for government agencies.
“Technology alone can’t replace the experienced people who make the security checkpoints work as they have for the past 25 years,” Correa stated. “It’s about pushing an antigovernment privatization ideology.”
Approximately 20 airports across the United States currently operate their security checkpoints through the Screening Partnership Program. Presently, airports can choose whether to participate. Trump’s budget proposal would mandate participation for smaller airports.
Hearing witnesses included Christopher Sununu, president and CEO of airline industry organization Airlines for America; Dallas Fort Worth International Airport CEO Chris McLaughlin; and American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley, whose union represents TSA employees. All three testified that airports should retain the authority to decide whether to use private screening personnel.
“Ensuring SPP remains an option for airports and does not become a mandatory program is paramount to the U.S. aviation industry,” Sununu testified.
Kelley voiced strong opposition to the privatization elements in Trump’s budget.
“I’m totally against the privatization of any airport,” he declared. “You don’t contract out the CIA, do you?”
After several Democratic committee members expressed concerns that transferring airport security to private companies would increase vulnerabilities in U.S. airspace, Garbarino responded by noting that “the very conservative cities of San Francisco, Seattle and Atlanta” all utilize private screeners at their airports, adding “so yeah, maybe it’s not a Republican thing.”
DOVER, Del. — Medical professionals, state officials, emergency personnel, and hospital representatives came together Tuesday at Legislative Hall to mark the 30th milestone of Delaware’s Trauma System of Care, celebrating three decades of coordinated emergency medical response throughout the state.
The comprehensive trauma care network was created when legislation was signed into law in 1996 by then-Gov. Thomas Carper, establishing a framework for lifesaving emergency medical care across Delaware.
The severe dry conditions that have struck the southeastern United States this spring are creating significant challenges for Virginia’s aquatic wildlife beyond just affecting agricultural operations. Reptiles and amphibians that depend on water environments for reproduction and daily living are experiencing major disruptions to their normal patterns.
These creatures rely on various water sources, from temporary seasonal wetlands to lasting water bodies like lakes and reservoirs. When drought causes these areas to shrink and dry up, the animals become vulnerable to birds and mammals that prey on them, or they must search for alternative water sources. Some amphibians may choose to skip reproduction entirely during drought years. To survive these challenging periods, amphibians and reptiles often hide in nearby forests or dig deep into mud while waiting for rainfall to return.
Despite the challenges, occasional dry spells can actually benefit certain species and play an essential role in their long-term survival. Chicken turtles, barking treefrogs, and tiger salamanders are examples of creatures that need environments without fish to successfully reproduce and thrive. Regular drying cycles in their habitats, including sinkholes, Carolina bays, and other temporary wetlands, prevent fish populations from taking hold. The Cat Ponds sinkhole complex in Isle of Wight County serves as an example of this type of habitat, typically containing 3-5 feet of water during normal spring seasons.
This natural cycle of abundance and scarcity represents a normal pattern that typically doesn’t threaten the long-term survival of these species, provided the dry periods remain infrequent. However, if drought conditions become more common due to shifting climate patterns, these animals may lose their ability to bounce back, potentially resulting in local population losses.
American military forces intercepted an Iranian oil vessel in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday, marking another escalation in the ongoing standoff over the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping route.
The boarding of the tanker comes as President Donald Trump faces mounting domestic pressure from his own party. Republican lawmakers are grappling with political challenges before November’s midterm elections as fuel costs surge and international energy markets remain volatile.
In a significant congressional move Tuesday, the Senate pushed forward a bill aimed at compelling Trump to end military involvement in the Iran conflict, with the measure passing 50-47 as more Republicans broke ranks with the president.
According to U.S. Central Command’s social media announcement, military personnel searched the vessel M/T Celestial Sea and diverted it after intelligence suggested it was attempting to reach an Iranian harbor. This incident represents at least the fifth commercial ship boarding since the administration established the Iranian shipping blockade in mid-April, implemented during a ceasefire period to force Tehran into reopening the strait and negotiating a war settlement.
The tanker seizure followed Trump’s Monday announcement that he had canceled planned military strikes against Iran to allow room for diplomatic progress. The president revealed he had authorized “a very major attack” scheduled for Tuesday but postponed it after Gulf allies requested a two to three-day delay, believing they were close to reaching an agreement.
The president has established multiple deadlines for Tehran, only to extend them repeatedly.
Prior to the American blockade, Iranian authorities had permitted certain vessels they deemed favorable to transit the waterway while imposing substantial transit fees, drawing criticism for essentially holding the world economy hostage.
Military officials recently reported that 1,550 ships from 87 nations remain trapped in Persian Gulf waters.
Nearly three months after hostilities commenced with American and Israeli air operations on February 28, Iran continues controlling the strategic strait while U.S. forces maintain their blockade of Iranian harbors and Iranian-connected vessels across distant waters beyond the Middle East.
Last month, American forces seized an oil tanker in the Bay of Bengal that had previously faced sanctions for smuggling Iranian petroleum. Days afterward, U.S. personnel captured another vessel linked to Iranian oil smuggling operations in Indian Ocean waters between Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
In early May, Trump announced the military would begin “guiding” stranded vessels out of the Iranian-controlled strait. The following day, he suspended the ship protection mission to explore potential diplomatic solutions.
Several days later, American forces engaged and disabled two Iranian oil tankers following an exchange of gunfire with Iranian military units in the Strait of Hormuz. Military officials stated the tankers were attempting to break through the blockade. The previous day, the military reported preventing Iranian attacks on three Navy vessels and conducting retaliatory strikes on Iranian military installations.
The company that owns TurboTax announced Wednesday it will eliminate nearly 3,000 positions worldwide while raising its yearly financial projections, as it concentrates more heavily on artificial intelligence-driven financial software during a period of strong customer demand.
The workforce reduction, which represents 17% of global staff and was first reported by Reuters earlier Wednesday, aims to simplify the company’s organizational framework and focus on key priorities including AI initiatives, according to a company-wide message from CEO Sasan Goodarzi.
The tax and accounting software company said it anticipates restructuring costs between $300 million and $340 million related to the layoffs, which will be recorded in the fourth quarter. Company records show it employed approximately 18,200 people across seven countries as of July 31, 2025.
The company has increased its yearly revenue projection to between $21.34 billion and $21.37 billion, higher than its earlier estimate of $21 billion to $21.19 billion.
Annual adjusted profit predictions were also raised to a range of $23.80 to $23.85 per share, compared to the previous forecast of $22.98 to $23.18 per share.
The most recent tax filing season boosted the company’s February-April revenue by 10% to $8.56 billion compared to the same period last year, although this figure came in below the average analyst prediction of $8.61 billion according to LSEG data.
The company’s TurboTax Live service, which links taxpayers with professional advisors, has gained traction and may help address investor worries about generative AI technology potentially threatening the company’s profitable consumer tax business.
Collaborations with AI firms, including a long-term agreement with Anthropic revealed in February, form the cornerstone of the company’s plan to integrate AI capabilities throughout its platforms while incorporating its customized tax, financial, accounting and marketing services into AI applications.
WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday a new proposal that would create restricted payment accounts designed specifically for fintech companies and similar firms.
The central bank’s plan would grant these companies access to the Fed’s payment system infrastructure while withholding certain privileges typically reserved for traditional banking institutions. Under the proposal, these limited accounts would exclude access to intraday credit facilities and the Fed’s discount window. Additionally, companies holding these accounts would not receive interest payments on funds kept with the Federal Reserve.
According to the Fed’s announcement, this initiative builds upon previous research the central bank conducted regarding these streamlined account types. The effort represents the Fed’s attempt to find a middle ground between expanding access to its payment infrastructure while maintaining appropriate risk management within the financial system.
The world’s top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler returns to Texas this week hoping to capture back-to-back victories at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
Last year’s tournament saw Scheffler dominate from start to finish, opening with a spectacular 61 in the opening round followed by matching 63s in rounds two and four. The 29-year-old Dallas resident cruised to an eight-stroke triumph while establishing both a tournament record and matching the PGA Tour record with his impressive 31-under par total of 253.
“Yeah, definitely good memories from last year,” Scheffler commented Wednesday, just one day prior to this year’s tournament beginning at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.
“I had a really nice week, just played a lot of really solid golf. I was fortunate to be the winner at the end of the week.
“In terms of just getting ready for this week, it was nice to have a home week, especially coming off a major championship. Got some rest Monday, did some practice at Royal Oaks yesterday, Pro-Am today, and go home and get some rest and get ready for an early one tomorrow.”
This tournament holds special significance for Scheffler, as it marked his PGA Tour debut back in 2014. Over the years, he has refined his skills to reach his current status as the world’s premier golfer.
This year’s event features a dramatically transformed venue following a $25 million renovation project overseen by World Golf Hall of Fame member Lanny Wadkins.
“I actually came up and played the course a few weeks ago,” Scheffler explained. “I think tee-to-green it is definitely better than what it was before. I think it’s a more interesting test. The greens have added a significant amount of slope to them, and some are a bit aggressive, but overall I think (Wadkins) did a really good job of creating some nice pin locations, and you definitely have to think your way around this place a lot more than you did before.”
Scheffler enters this week’s competition seeking redemption after struggling with his putting during last weekend’s PGA Championship, where he finished tied for 14th place.
“Yeah, I think — I guess just putting specific … you kind of just go through ebbs and flows, and putting is something, especially when you’re putting in wind and on greens without much slope, there’s going to be variants and how things are going,” he explained.
“Overall, I feel like I’m in a good spot. I’ve actually putted the best that I have in my career so far this year and just kind of get a reset, get on some new greens, work on my reads, make sure I’m checking all my fundamentals.”
Federal cybersecurity officials conducted a briefing with major artificial intelligence companies regarding a proposed executive order that would grant intelligence and other federal agencies authority to examine advanced AI systems prior to public deployment, according to a Wednesday report from the Information.
The Office of the National Cyber Director organized Tuesday’s meeting with several AI companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic and Reflection AI, the publication reported, referencing sources with knowledge of the discussions.
According to the report, U.S. President Donald Trump may sign the executive order as early as Thursday. The proposed order would create a voluntary system requiring developers of cutting-edge AI models to alert the federal government before major product launches.
Under this proposed framework, AI companies would have the option to provide their advanced models to government agencies as much as 90 days prior to making them available to the public, the report indicated.
When contacted by Reuters for comment, OpenAI, Anthropic and Reflection AI had not provided immediate responses.
Delaware State Police are looking into a deadly motorcycle accident that happened in the early hours of Wednesday in Selbyville.
Around 1:20 a.m. on May 20, 2026, a Harley-Davidson Road King was heading east on Lighthouse Road near Fenwick Shoals Boulevard in Selbyville. Investigators say the motorcycle was unable to make it through a gentle left turn and veered off the road, colliding with a concrete-and-metal safety barrier.
The rider, a 56-year-old Frankford, Delaware resident who was not wearing a helmet, was thrown from the bike and declared dead at the crash site.
Traffic was blocked for about four hours while police conducted their initial examination of the scene.
The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to examine the incident. Officials are asking anyone who saw the crash or has relevant information to reach out to Master Corporal R. Albert at (302) 703-3266. Tips can also be submitted through a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.
Anyone who is a victim or witness of a crime or has experienced the sudden loss of a loved one and requires support can contact the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center. Services are available around the clock through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). The Victim Services Unit can also be reached by email at [email protected].
Delaware State Police have taken into custody Mark Waters, a 56-year-old Wilmington resident, for allegedly breaking into two dining establishments on Miller Road during the middle of May.
Police officers were dispatched to Evergreen Chinese Restaurant at 3608 Miller Road around 1:20 a.m. on May 16, 2026, following reports of an activated security alarm. Upon arrival, officers found that someone had shattered the restaurant’s front entrance. Investigators also discovered that the adjacent business, Walt’s Flavor Crisp Chicken at 3612 Miller Road, had suffered identical damage to its front door.
The case was transferred to the Delaware State Police Criminal Investigations Unit. Investigators concluded that a masked individual wielding a hammer broke the glass entrance doors of both establishments before going inside. The perpetrator searched for money inside each restaurant before escaping the scene on a bicycle.
Following their investigation, detectives identified Waters as the suspect and discovered he had also recently taken items from a Home Depot store in the same shopping plaza.
Three days later on May 19, 2026, Home Depot staff called 911 to report that Waters was stealing merchandise inside their store. Officers arrived and spotted Waters on the same bicycle he had used in the restaurant break-ins. When police tried to stop him, Waters took off, prompting a short chase. He rode into an alley near the 2700 block of North Pine Street and tried to get into his home. Officers eventually found him and arrested him peacefully.
Police obtained a search warrant for Waters’ home and found more evidence connecting him to the restaurant burglaries.
Waters was transported to Troop 1, where he faced multiple charges, appeared before Justice of the Peace Court 2, and was released on his own recognizance.
The charges include:
Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony (Felony) – 2 counts
With Memorial Day weekend approaching and recent hot weather signaling summer’s arrival, more families and friends are heading out on the water to enjoy quality fishing time together.
Weekly Outlook: May 20 – May 26
Water temperatures are expected to drop slightly this week due to anticipated rainy weather across Maryland’s Bay region. Monitoring buoys indicate main Bay surface temperatures and river mouth areas have reached the low 70s. Smaller waterways have warmed to the low to mid 70s. However, protected streams and downwind locations on sunny days will heat up more quickly and often maintain temperatures in the low to mid 70s.
Most Maryland rivers and streams are anticipated to have below normal flow levels. Water clarity should remain typical for most Maryland sections of the Bay and tributaries. Above normal tidal movement is expected Wednesday and Thursday due to the May 16 new moon.
For current detailed fishing conditions in your Bay area, visit Eyes on the Bay’s Click Before You Cast.
Upper Chesapeake Bay
The Susquehanna River and Flats stay closed for striped bass targeting above the line from Abby Point to Worton Point until June 1. Below that boundary, south to the line from the south corner of the Hart-Miller Island dike to the end of Route 21 in Tolchester, only catch and release is permitted. South of the Hart-Miller Island/Route 21 Tolchester line allows striped bass fishing to the Virginia border. Fishermen may retain one striped bass daily within the 19-inch to 24-inch size range.
Fishermen in the Susquehanna River are landing large blue catfish and flathead catfish in the Conowingo Dam pool. Moving downstream from the Susquehanna and beyond the river mouth, the target shifts to a combination of blue catfish and channel catfish. Cut bait including gizzard shad, menhaden, white perch, or scented options all prove effective. Department of Natural Resources invasive fishes program manager, biologist Branson Williams, anticipates larger female blue catfish will begin spawning late this month through June around cavities and structure.
At the Susquehanna Flats, fishermen are experiencing excellent action for largemouth bass and Chesapeake Channa in the extensive grass beds covering the flats. Various topwater options including buzzbaits, chatterbaits, and frogs work well, as do weedless flukes and paddletails. Chesapeake Channa spawning occurs now through June into July in thick vegetation. Once they start defending fry schools, noisy topwater lures perceived as threats to the young fish effectively trigger parent strikes.
Fishing for both largemouth bass and Chesapeake Channa remains productive in many upper bay tidal rivers with brackish water. Extensive grass beds draw both species. The upper sections of the Bush, Gunpowder, Patapsco, Magothy, Sassafras, Bohemia and Chester rivers offer excellent fishing opportunities.
Striped bass are appearing in multiple upper bay locations this week. Fishermen report success casting paddletails and soft plastic jigs around Pooles Island, Love Point rocks, lower Patapsco and Baltimore Harbor waters, and the Magothy River mouth. Jigging along channel edges and drop-offs in these areas also produces results. Trolling channel edges with umbrella rigs provides another productive striped bass technique.
White perch are appearing in traditional late spring to early fall locations. Anglers find white perch over oyster bars, knolls and deep structure in the Bay and lower portions of regional tidal rivers. Bottom rigs with grass shrimp or bloodworm pieces are favored baits. During morning and evening periods, casting small spin-jigs, soft plastic jigs and spinners near shoreline structure offers enjoyable white perch fishing.
Middle Bay
Striped bass anglers have success anchoring up-current from Bay Bridge piers and drifting cut baits, soft crab and small live white perch back to pier foundations. Most striped bass activity occurs on the bridge’s east side. Other fishermen drift near piers while casting soft plastic jigs and paddletails to pier bases. Anglers on the Bay Bridge west side in shallower water report good white perch results.
Striped bass appear in numerous locations along Bay shores, Eastern Bay, and the Choptank and western shore tidal river mouths. Casting five-inch soft plastic jigs along channel edges has gained popularity. Shallower areas with shoreline structure produce good catches for anglers casting paddletails. The rocks at Poplar Island, Thomas Point and other preferred structure provide excellent morning and evening fishing.
Fishermen spot striped bass suspended along channel edges in the main Bay, Eastern Bay and Choptank mouth. Jigging with soft plastic jigs becomes very popular once fish are located. Trolling offers another option and excellent way to search for scattered fish. Umbrella rigs remain the most popular method for reaching fish depth. In shallower Eastern Bay channels or locations like the False Channel at the Choptank mouth, tandem rigged bucktails with twistertails or sassy shads work effectively.
White perch now occupy traditional summer habitat locations and will provide enjoyable fishing through summer months. Fishing from docks and piers with grass shrimp or bloodworm pieces on simple bottom rigs works well. During morning and evening hours, they gather along shorelines with attractive structure and respond to small lure casting.
Lower Bay
The lower Bay region offers exciting fishing this week, with newly arrived red drum and bluefish creating additional angler opportunities. Reports indicate the first spot and croakers have appeared in recent days. Striped bass and black drum fishing remains productive.
Red drum are appearing on the Bay’s eastern side in Tangier Sound, above the Middle Grounds, and near the Target Ship. They respond to soft crab baits dropped to them when located on depth finders, similar to black drum targeting methods. Red drum also strike large soft plastics when jigged after marking on depth finders, or trolling with large spoons for exciting catch and release action.
Jigging soft plastics along channel edges effectively catches striped bass and bluefish entering the region. Channel edges in the bay, lower Potomac and Patuxent rivers provide good locations for suspended striped bass. Bluefish reports come from the Bay near the Target Ship area, Patuxent mouth and off Point Lookout.
Shallow water striped bass fishing delivers exciting action this week from Tangier Sound to the Potomac and Patuxent rivers. During morning and evening periods, casting poppers and paddletails are popular shallow water techniques for striped bass, with potential speckled trout encounters.
White perch now inhabit regional tidal creeks and rivers. In deeper waters, bottom rigs with grass shrimp or bloodworms prove effective. Casting small soft plastic jigs, spin-jigs and spinners provides enjoyable shallow shoreline fishing during morning and evening hours.
Blue Crabs
Dedicated recreational crabbers are deploying trotlines and collapsible traps in bay tidal rivers. The lower Eastern Shore offers the best opportunities, though crabs are caught in middle and upper Bay regions. Catches range from several dozen to half a bushel or more. The 2026 Chesapeake Bay Winter Crab Dredge Survey results show promise for the crabbing season.
Freshwater Fishing
Anglers observe the spring trout stocking program’s final stages moving toward the western region where cooler temperatures better support trout survival. These stockings will also decrease as the spring trout stocking season concludes.
Due to warming water temperatures, some delayed harvest trout management waters in central and western regions will open for trout harvest from June 1 to September 30. Other Group 11 areas in the western region open for trout harvest from June 16 to September 30. This strategy allows catch-and-release during cold water months providing good trout survival, and keeping five trout daily when temperatures become too warm for good survival.
Upper Potomac River water flows remain very low and clear, creating challenging smallmouth bass fishing conditions. Long casts and light lines improve odds of fooling smallmouth bass. Forecast rain may increase river flows.
Many freshwater anglers focus on largemouth bass fishing now that spawning has ended in most Maryland areas. Bass feed aggressively, and water temperatures remain cool enough for all-day fishing success. Developing grass beds and emergent vegetation provide good focus areas for topwater and weedless lures. Waters outside grass beds work well for paddletails, crankbaits and spinnerbaits.
Crappie gather near structure including sunken brush, rocks, marina docks, fallen treetops and bridge piers. Drifting small minnows or marabou jigs under slip bobbers are popular targeting methods. Chain pickerel position near grass beds, often within them covering open water edges. Chesapeake Channa begin spawning in the thickest grass beds, potentially making them difficult to attract with buzzbaits, chatterbaits, or similar lures.
Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays
Surf anglers using large cut baits of mullet and menhaden catch and release striped bass above the slot, some large bluefish and a few inshore sharks. Those fishing with sand fleas or clams catch black drum, with recent red drum surf reports.
At the inlet and Route 50 Bridge area, anglers casting soft plastic jigs catch striped bass, though most require release for failing to reach the 28-inch minimum. Anglers drifting cut baits in the inlet area at night catch and release striped bass outside the 28-inch to 31-inch slot. Flounder remain available in the inlet area. The tautog season is closed until July 1.
Back bay channels leading from the inlet provide the destination for flounder drifting plans. Boat traffic remains manageable, even on weekends, though this will change as summer progresses.
Boats taking anglers to wreck and reef sites report good black sea bass catches. Limit catches are common with flounder and ling or red hake also possible. Farther offshore in the canyons, anglers find excellent dolphin numbers and some yellowfin tuna. Deep drop anglers discover good numbers of golden and blueline tilefish.
The University of Delaware ice hockey team has received its conference game lineup for the 2026-27 season from Atlantic Hockey America (AHA), according to an announcement made in Boston.
The Fightin’ Blue Hens will compete in their second year in the conference and are set to participate in 24 conference matchups throughout AHA competition. Delaware’s schedule includes playing each of the six other teams in the league twice, with both home and away games against every opponent.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers deliberated extensively before committing to return for his 22nd NFL campaign. The Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller has already reached a decision regarding a potential 23rd season: it will not happen.
“This is it,” Rodgers declared Wednesday when the four-time NFL MVP was questioned about whether this upcoming year would mark his retirement.
The 42-year-old veteran chose not to elaborate on his reasoning behind this decision during his initial public statements since inking a one-year contract to rejoin the Steelers on Monday.
Instead, Rodgers is focusing on the current moment, particularly his partnership with first-year Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. The pair collaborated for 13 seasons in Green Bay during earlier portions of their careers, with Rodgers identifying McCarthy’s appointment as Mike Tomlin’s successor as a significant influence in his choice to return for one final campaign.
“It is like a (bunch of) ‘pinch me’ moments that have happened in the last few days,” he commented after Pittsburgh’s second day of voluntary organized team activities.
McCarthy and Rodgers captured a Super Bowl championship together in Green Bay following the 2010 season, and they maintained regular communication throughout the winter and spring months while Rodgers considered whether he wanted to endure the physical demands of a 17-game schedule.
Rodgers eventually decided affirmatively, seeking the most uncommon of career conclusions: one he can control according to his own preferences.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Music City offered a preview Wednesday of what the NFL and football enthusiasts can anticipate in 2030 when Nashville hosts Super Bowl 64.
Television broadcaster Jim Nantz served as master of ceremonies, while country music star Eric Church occupied a front-row seat at a press conference that resembled more of a celebration for securing what officials call Tennessee’s largest sporting event in history. NFL team owners unanimously decided Tuesday to grant Nashville the rights to host the 2030 Super Bowl.
Nantz, who has provided commentary for seven Super Bowls on CBS and now calls Nashville his home, emphasized that Music City excels at organizing major events.
“We are, among many things, we’re in the entertainment business, and I don’t have a doubt that we’re going to entertain the people that travel to our city and our state to the greatest experience they’ve ever had at a big event,” Nantz said. “That’s what we do, and now we get to show them.”
Depending on weather conditions, a public celebration was scheduled for Wednesday evening on Lower Broad, the same location that anchored the 2019 NFL draft festivities, featuring live music, special appearances, and a drone display.
The proposal team that helped Nashville secure this Super Bowl featured comedian Nate Bargatze, Church, and another celebrity in Tim McGraw.
Speculation has already begun regarding the halftime entertainment, with Taylor Swift emerging as a favored recommendation.
Peter O’Reilly, NFL executive vice president of club business as well as international and league events, remembered a massive thunderstorm approaching 200,000 attendees during the 2019 draft, only to divide and bypass the city. O’Reilly described that occurrence as Nashville magic.
Nashville concluded with record-breaking attendance figures, establishing new benchmarks for future host cities. O’Reilly anticipates Nashville will repeat this success.
“Super Bowl 64 in 2030 is going to be a game-changer for the Super Bowl,” O’Reilly said. “Super Bowl 64 in 2030 is going to be a game-changer for the NFL.”
The same organizers who helped Nashville execute the 2019 draft remain in their positions. Burke Nihill, the Tennessee Titans’ president and CEO, confirmed they will participate in planning as Nashville applies its Music City identity to all aspects leading up to and including the Super Bowl at the new Nissan Stadium.
“Let’s not start with a base understanding of how it’s always been done,” Nihill said of exceeding the NFL’s expectations. “How can we create something new that’s very different?”
Nantz also serves as co-chair of Nashville’s Super Bowl host committee alongside Bill Haslam, a former Tennessee governor and majority owner of the NHL’s Nashville Predators. Nantz expressed confidence that 2030 will mark only the first Super Bowl held at Nissan Stadium, which is scheduled to open in 2027.
Deana Ivey, president and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, stated her concentration remains on 2030 initially.
“I haven’t asked that question,” she said. “I’m focused on the first time.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva enacted two executive orders Wednesday that intensify regulatory oversight of major technology companies by strengthening their accountability for illegal user-generated content and creating pathways for government investigations into their content moderation practices.
The new regulations create a more challenging operating environment in Brazil for technology giants like Google, Meta and TikTok, companies that have historically sought to distance themselves from criminal activities conducted by users on their platforms.
The initial executive order modifies existing government regulations to comply with a Brazilian Supreme Court ruling that holds major technology companies accountable when they fail to remove content following judicial directives. The order also authorizes the country’s national data protection agency to conduct investigations in such instances. The second order creates standards for protecting women in digital spaces.
According to a government statement, platforms will now be required to review all complaints and immediately delete content determined to be criminal while notifying the responsible party of their action. Companies that fail to comply may face warnings, financial penalties, or temporary service suspensions.
Major technology companies have not issued statements regarding the Brazilian government’s decision.
Patricia Peck, who serves on Brazil’s Data Protection Authority council and has written 46 books on law and technology, noted that the country’s executive and judicial branches have encouraged technology companies to take active measures against online crimes despite apparent legislative gridlock in congress.
“We don’t have specific legislation to hold these platforms responsible, we are taking a side road,” Peck told The Associated Press. “Those who develop these technologies must think about it with perspective of ethics, privacy, and security as a standard.”
Following last year’s Brazilian Supreme Court decision, these companies have been required to actively monitor content involving hate speech, racism and incitement to violence and take action to eliminate it.
The president’s action also broadens existing legal frameworks to address increasing digital fraud, online scams and emerging forms of digital violence.
Mattheus Puppe, a specialist in Brazil’s digital law, explained that the executive orders aim to prevent platforms from generating revenue from illegal content while reinforcing the Supreme Court’s ruling. However, he questions whether the government’s efforts will effectively reduce online criminal activity.
“It is not clear how well this will work because the agency that was chosen to investigate cases can barely do its job now,” Puppe said. “But it is true that it shouldn’t be up to companies to know what is lawful and what is not.”
Brazil’s regulatory strategy toward technology companies increasingly mirrors that of the European Union, which has worked to limit the influence of social media companies and other digital platforms.
However, this approach has created tension in the relationship between the South American country and the U.S. government. Critics have raised concerns that the measures could endanger free speech if platforms begin removing potentially problematic content as a precautionary measure.
A law took effect earlier this year designed to protect minors from addictive, violent, and pornographic online material. The legislation mandates that minors under 16 connect their social media profiles to a legal guardian for oversight and prohibits platforms from implementing addictive design elements such as infinite scroll and automatic video playback.
SALISBURY, Md. — Salisbury city officials have announced a complete road shutdown on Old West Vine Street as part of construction work tied to TidalHealth’s observation unit expansion.
The street will be completely blocked to traffic from Thursday, May 21, 2026, until Friday, May 22, 2026, while construction teams perform repaving and road marking work across roughly 130 linear feet. Officials expect the project to wrap up in one day if weather conditions cooperate.
City workers will install detour signs and traffic management equipment during the construction period to safely redirect drivers around the blocked area. Officials are asking both local residents and visitors to make alternative travel plans, choose different routes where feasible, and drive carefully near the construction zone.
City officials expressed gratitude for public patience and understanding while these infrastructure upgrades are underway.
Those seeking project updates and further details can check the official social media accounts maintained by the City of Salisbury, Maryland.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — United Nations courts established to pursue justice for war crimes during Yugoslavia’s brutal breakup in the early 1990s and Rwanda’s 1994 genocide concluded their final proceedings Wednesday, marking the end of a multi-decade international justice effort.
Presiding Judge Iain Bonomy called the session “a truly historic milestone,” officially closing proceedings related to Félicien Kabuga, the suspected genocide financier who passed away Saturday.
Kabuga, believed to be in his 90s with disputed exact age and battling severe dementia, had been held at the United Nations detention center in The Hague after being declared unfit for trial in 2023. No nation agreed to accept him, extending his case indefinitely.
Lucy Gaynor, a historian at the University of Amsterdam, described the Kabuga case being the final proceeding as “symbolic of the state of international justice,” noting the field currently faces crisis.
“Countries put limits on what they are willing to do,” she said.
Medical experts had determined travel posed too great a risk for Kabuga, and despite tribunal efforts, no neighboring nations offered him asylum, leaving him in legal uncertainty.
His death occurred exactly six years after his 2020 arrest near Paris, following nearly twenty years as a fugitive.
Kabuga’s matter was the final active case at the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, the UN-operated entity that assumed remaining cases when the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda closed in 2015 and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ended operations in 2017.
These twin tribunals, both created by UN Security Council mandate in the early 1990s, secured convictions against 155 individuals for atrocity crimes and established groundwork for the International Criminal Court’s 2002 creation.
Situated just 2 miles from the former insurance facility that housed the residual mechanism, the ICC was designed as a permanent global court to prosecute humanity’s gravest crimes and eliminate the need for conflict-specific ad hoc tribunals.
U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on the ICC for pursuing investigations involving American and Israeli officials, as neither country belongs to the court’s 125-member coalition.
Multiple nations have declined to apprehend Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, both subjects of ICC arrest warrants, while Italy refused to surrender a Libyan warlord last year, instead returning him to Tripoli via government aircraft.
For Rwandans, Kabuga’s death underscores accountability system failures. Genocide survivor Agnes Mukamurenzi, who was familiar with Kabuga, believed he deserved prolonged imprisonment. “I wish he lived longer in prison to feel the pain. During the genocide, he played a key role that saw many innocent lives taken,” she told AP.
Wednesday’s 12-minute session occurred in an adapted conference room one floor above the building’s main courtroom, where Ratko Mladic, the military leader dubbed the “Butcher of Bosnia,” received a genocide conviction and Croat commander Slobodan Praljak consumed lethal poison during an appeal hearing.
The residual mechanism abandoned the courtroom last year, reducing to minimal staff, and now confronts an uncertain future. Its authorization expires in June without any transition plan for remaining responsibilities, including monitoring detention conditions for 41 individuals still serving sentences.
The fate of millions of archived document pages and thousands of evidence items remains unclear, including Mladic’s personal handwritten diaries and copies of the inflammatory newspaper Kangura that Kabuga allegedly funded.
In January, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the organization, eliminating millions in financial backing.
Upon learning of Kabuga’s death, Dr. Philibert Gakwenzire, who leads IBUKA, the umbrella organization representing survivors of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, stated that although Kabuga died without facing trial, “history is the true judge.”
The Justice Department has reached a historic agreement with Trump and his family members that shields them from future tax audits, according to reports.
The unprecedented settlement also creates a massive $1.8 billion compensation fund designed to assist victims of what the agreement describes as ‘government weaponization.’
A former government lawyer, Andrew Weissmann, provided analysis of the unusual settlement terms and their implications.
The agreement marks a significant development in ongoing legal matters involving the former president and his family members.
The Colorado Avalanche will be without their star defenseman Cale Makar for Wednesday evening’s opening game of the Western Conference Final against Vegas due to an upper-body injury.
Head coach Jared Bednar made the announcement following the team’s morning practice, describing the elite defenseman’s status as “day to day.”
“I think he’s doing a lot better,” Bednar said. “He’s on the ice again this morning, feeling pretty good.”
The injury occurred when Makar sustained a collision during the final moments of Game 5 against Minnesota last Wednesday, causing him to leave the ice while clutching his right arm. Despite the injury, he managed to return to action as Colorado secured an overtime victory. Earlier in that series, Makar had also temporarily exited Game 1 after being checked into the boards, which sent his right leg airborne before he crashed to the ice.
This setback represents a significant challenge for the Avalanche, who have compiled an impressive 8-1 record throughout this postseason. The upcoming game marks Makar’s first playoff absence due to injury, though he previously sat out one game in 2023 during the Seattle series due to a suspension for interference.
The Norris Trophy candidate has contributed four goals and one assist while logging nearly 25 minutes per game during the first two playoff rounds. His role extends beyond regular play, as he serves as a crucial component of Colorado’s power play and penalty kill units.
“Best defenseman in the world,” Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor said. “He’s not going to be easily replaced. There’s not one guy that’s going to be able to do it. I think the advantage we have with the group we have in the game tonight is a lot of guys can be minute-munchers for us.
“Cale presents a dynamic ability that is super-unique in the league. No one’s going to replicate that tonight, but it’s on the D-core as a whole, and our group as a whole, to try and pick it up when we can.”
Bednar confirmed that defenseman Jack Ahcan will enter the starting lineup as Makar’s replacement. Ahcan appeared in his first Stanley Cup playoff game during Game 4 against Minnesota and saw limited action in Game 5. This season, he also participated in four Calder Cup playoff contests with the Colorado Eagles in the American Hockey League.
The team expects forward Artturi Lehkonen to return to action after missing the final two games against Minnesota with his own upper-body injury.
“He touches every aspect of our game, five-on-five, power play, penalty kill,” Bednar said. “He’s a big-time playoff performer, a great two-way player, so just helps us slot all of our lines where we need them in order to play a team like Vegas.”
A California court has ordered the charity Kars4Kids to modify its advertising or cease broadcasting within 30 days due to disclosure issues.
The ruling requires the organization to either pull its commercials from California airwaves or revise them to reveal that the charity is connected to a Jewish nonprofit organization located in the Northeast.
The advertisements in question feature the organization’s distinctive jingle performed by children, but according to the court decision, they fail to inform viewers that the majority of donated funds support a Jewish charity’s programming aimed at young adults.
The colorful television spots, known for their memorable tune incorporating the charity’s phone number, have now come under legal scrutiny for their lack of transparency about where the money actually goes.
The United States poultry industry is experiencing growth according to new agricultural statistics, with broiler-type egg production climbing 2 percent nationwide.
The data also shows that broiler-type chick placement has increased by 3 percent across the country, indicating continued expansion in the poultry farming sector.
These figures reflect the ongoing activity in commercial chicken production, which supplies much of the nation’s poultry meat to consumers and restaurants.
Weather officials have issued a severe thunderstorm watch for this evening, warning residents to stay alert for potentially dangerous conditions.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey issued the watch at 2:10 PM today, with the alert remaining in effect until 9:00 PM this evening.
A severe thunderstorm watch means conditions are favorable for the development of severe weather, including damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall. Residents should monitor weather conditions closely and be prepared to take shelter if warnings are issued.
The weather service will continue monitoring conditions throughout the evening and will issue any necessary warnings as storms develop.
Culinary professionals across Maryland have an opportunity to showcase their talents at an upcoming state event celebrating local ingredients and products.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture revealed plans for the 2026 Governor’s Buy Local Cookout, scheduled for Friday, July 17, 2026 in Annapolis, Maryland. The department expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming event in their announcement made on May 12, 2026.
Selected chefs who advance to the final round will have the chance to prepare their dishes as part of the festivities during Buy Local Challenge Week. The cookout represents the state’s ongoing effort to promote locally-sourced food and support Maryland’s agricultural community.
Details about submission requirements and the selection process for participating chefs were not immediately available in the initial announcement.
Scientists announced Wednesday that Neptune’s distant moon Nereid might be the final remaining original companion of the planet that managed to survive an ancient cosmic collision.
Neptune is surrounded by 16 known moons, making it the eighth and furthest planet in our solar system. The planet’s largest moon, Triton, arrived from the cold outer regions of the solar system billions of years ago, disrupting Neptune’s original moons and sending them on paths that led to their destruction.
Researchers from the California Institute of Technology utilized NASA’s Webb Space Telescope to examine Nereid. Their findings indicate that Nereid is not an intruder like Triton and probably survived by moving into its unusual, elongated orbit around Neptune.
“What we know about Nereid is very limited. For its size, Nereid is extremely understudied,” said study author Matthew Belyakov, of Caltech.
Only one spacecraft has ever visited Neptune – NASA’s Voyager 2 in 1989. Nereid was found 40 years before that mission by Dutch astronomer Gerard Kuiper, who gave the moon its name based on the sea nymphs from Greek mythology.
Measuring approximately 220 miles (350 kilometers) in diameter, Nereid follows an unusually eccentric path for a moon. The moon requires nearly a full Earth year to complete one orbit around Neptune, coming within less than 1 million miles (1.4 million kilometers) of the massive icy planet at one point in its oval-shaped journey and traveling as far as 6 million miles (9.6 million kilometers) away at the opposite end.
Similar to many other moons in the outer solar system, Nereid was previously thought to have traveled to Neptune’s vicinity from the cold distant region called the Kuiper Belt. However, using the Webb telescope, researchers found that Nereid’s makeup was different from Kuiper Belt objects – containing too much ice. This discovery suggests it belonged to Neptune’s system from the beginning.
“We don’t have all that much evidence left around Neptune — the system doesn’t have very many moons left,” Belyakov said in an email. But the latest observations “strongly rule out” that Nereid wandered by like so many others and got ensnared by planetary gravity.
The research was published in the journal Science Advances.
This is “an exciting result,” said Carnegie Science planetary astronomer Scott Sheppard, who was not part of the study.
The observations demonstrate for the first time that Nereid’s unusual orbit aligns with “the history we might expect from a moon that originally formed close to Neptune and was later pushed outward from the capture of Triton,” Sheppard said in an email.
According to Belyakov and his research team, Neptune’s closest moons probably developed from the broken pieces of the original moons that were destroyed when Triton arrived.
The solar system’s other three giant planets all have more moons than Neptune, with Saturn leading with 292.
According to scientists, a future spacecraft mission could confirm the origin story of Neptune’s moon system, though no such missions are currently scheduled.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A Republican runoff election has been set for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat, with US Rep. Barry Moore and former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson emerging as the top two candidates on Wednesday.
Moore, who has served three terms in Congress and received President Donald Trump’s endorsement, will face Hudson, who is making his first run for political office. Moore has stated that Alabama needs a “Trump conservative” representing the state in the Senate, while Hudson has pledged to serve as “a warrior for President Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda” should he win the election.
The Senate position will become available when Sen. Tommy Tuberville steps down to pursue the governor’s office.
Both Republican and Democratic primary runoff elections are scheduled for June 16.
ROME — For more than two decades, tourists visiting Rome have purchased a calendar showcasing attractive young men dressed in clerical clothing, but a recent investigation reveals most of the subjects aren’t actually clergy members.
The main face of this so-called attractive priest calendar has been Giovanni Galizia, who has graced the cover for most of the past 23 years. The recurring image shows Galizia sporting clerical attire with a mysterious grin reminiscent of da Vinci’s famous masterpiece, photographed against a church’s stone exterior in his hometown of Palermo.
“It was the smile of an embarrassed kid, because I saw all my friends in front of me laughing out loud because I was dressed like I was a priest,” Galizia explained to The Associated Press during a Wednesday conversation at his Verona residence.
The photo session was simply a playful experience that had little impact on his existence until a Rome newspaper story this week exposed that the “sexy priest calendar” might be better described as “the fake priest calendar,” capturing national media attention.
The publication has no connection to the Vatican, which chose not to provide a statement.
Currently working as a 39-year-old cabin crew member for a Spanish carrier, Galizia was merely 17 when mutual acquaintances connected him with photographer Piero Pazzi, who has also produced a calendar showcasing Venetian boat operators and established feline history museums in Budapest and Montenegro.
Known formally as Calendario Romano, each yearly edition displays 12 monochrome portraits of men primarily wearing religious garments — many images reused annually. Galizia was familiar with only one other model, a French individual who also wasn’t ordained.
Pazzi informed the AP that approximately one-third of the men featured in the already published 2027 edition are genuine clergy members but offered no additional information.
Galizia mentioned he’s never been recognized publicly, although his relatives once presented the calendar to their grandmother as a present, “and they all died laughing.”
Galizia views the photographs showing priests as belonging to an artistic heritage, pointing out that television drama viewers don’t expect actual clergy to portray religious characters.
“Of course, it winks a bit at the dynamic between the sacred and the profane, because it is clear that seeing a world that is distant and in some ways so lofty as the ecclesiastical world, with such a fresh-faced young man, creates a kind of dissonance,” he explained.
However, he also expressed confusion about why the monochrome close-up images have been viewed as attractive. Pazzi similarly stated that wasn’t the intention.
“There’s a tendency to confuse what is beautiful with what is sensual, because nowadays, especially in today’s world, which is quite sexualized, beauty is expressed only through sensuality,” Galizia observed.
“That said, I appreciate the observation and take it as a compliment — because managing to be sexy in a priest’s collar is no small feat.”
Pazzi refuses to disclose sales figures for the Roman calendars but estimates thousands are purchased annually. While Pazzi collects royalties, Galizia, who signed authorization paperwork during the shoot, stated he’s never pursued compensation.
The publication retails for approximately 8 euros (roughly $9.30) in stores surrounding the Vatican and throughout Rome’s historical district. Store employee Hassam Mohammad reported selling several copies daily.
Pazzi incorporates Vatican information within the calendar, though its creation remains separate from and unconnected to the Holy See.
A South Korean priest walking near the Vatican recently noted the calendar’s popularity in his homeland, particularly among younger generations who find it amusing.
“They often think priests are stiff and distant,” explained the priest, who gave his name informally as Father Domenico. “But looking at this calendar, they think priests are more familiar, and priests can be funny. I think in Korea this calendar is very famous, and it is OK.”
MEXICO CITY — As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches with less than 30 days remaining, travelers landing at Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport find themselves walking through what looks like an active construction zone, complete with drilling sounds, scattered construction materials, and incomplete floors.
The ongoing construction work exists alongside numerous World Cup promotional displays, including oversized soccer ball replicas and trophy displays that serve as distractions from the renovation disruptions that have been ongoing for twelve months.
Sitting near one of six cranes still positioned at Terminal 1’s entrance, 28-year-old engineer Luis Ibarra expressed no frustration with the construction activity. He pointed out that the airport has long dealt with water damage, roof leaks, and serious overcrowding issues.
Airport officials informed The Associated Press that completing this major renovation at Mexico’s busiest airport requires more than 3,000 workers operating in 20-hour shifts daily.
The project has faced significant challenges.
After one full year of renovation work — with the initial phase now over 90% finished — difficulties have been “more than we expected,” Juan José Padilla, general director of the Benito Juárez International Airport, told the AP. He said the unforeseen obstacles resulted from infrastructure that’s five decades old and missing original construction plans for certain sections.
“We are facing years of neglect,” said Padilla, recognizing that prolonged underinvestment had impacted the terminals that process approximately 120,000 passengers each day.
Under these circumstances, work commenced in May 2025 on a $500 million modernization effort. The extensive project receives complete funding from the airport operations, which have been under Mexican Navy management since 2023.
Project coordinator Capt. Arturo Flores explained that the comprehensive upgrade encompasses new exterior terminal designs, updated bathroom facilities, improved baggage collection areas, and replacement of almost 100,000 square meters of flooring and lighting systems. Internal redesign efforts have also recovered 30,000 square meters of passenger waiting areas. The second phase will start in August — after the World Cup concludes — and continue until December.
The improvements also feature expanded security camera coverage — increasing from 2,200 to more than 4,000 units — which will utilize artificial intelligence technology to identify suspicious vehicles, baggage, or people.
Padilla mentioned that an anti-drone system is also planned for installation soon to handle any emergency situations.
This month, Mexico’s foreign ministry revealed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation to implement the 2015 bilateral transportation agreement through additional new measures.
These measures involve increasing the number of slots — designated time periods for aircraft departures and arrivals — which Washington had sought for U.S. carriers. Under the former administration, available slots at the capital’s airport dropped from 61 to 43 hourly, before rising slightly to 44 last year.
Regarding this matter, Padilla announced that slot availability for both international and domestic carriers will soon expand to 46.
This current airport enhancement represents a significant project by President Claudia Sheinbaum, coming after a difficult period under her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who had tried to redirect capital aviation operations to a new, military-operated airport at a different site — a plan that never succeeded in gaining support.
A former federal prosecutor from Miami is now facing criminal charges after authorities say she illegally copied a confidential report examining the investigation into President Donald Trump’s handling of classified materials, according to court documents made public Wednesday.
Carmen Lineberger, who previously served at the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of Florida where she oversaw the Fort Pierce office, entered a not guilty plea during her Palm Beach court hearing on theft of government property charges. Her legal representative has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Federal prosecutors allege that Lineberger forwarded the restricted report to her personal Hotmail address, cleverly disguising it with the subject line “chocolate cake recipe.”
Officials claim she unlawfully attempted to transfer the portion of the report focusing on the classified documents case from her official government email after a Trump-appointed judge prohibited its public disclosure.
This section of the report, which details the special counsel’s conclusions regarding a criminal probe that once threatened significant legal consequences for Trump, remains hidden from public view. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon supported Trump’s legal team’s position that releasing the document would create unfair prejudice, especially after the special counsel dropped the case following Trump’s 2024 electoral success.
Lineberger was employed within the same court jurisdiction where the special counsel’s case against Trump was originally brought. That legal action alleged Trump unlawfully kept numerous classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach from his previous presidency and interfered with federal attempts to retrieve them.
Students at Harvard University will find it significantly more challenging to achieve top grades under new academic policies approved by faculty members.
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday that they have voted to cap the number of A grades given to undergraduate students, representing one of the most sweeping attempts by a prestigious university to address rising grade averages. The faculty decision was reached during a vote conducted earlier this month.
The policy change addresses concerns that excellent grades have become too widespread to effectively identify outstanding academic performance. Faculty members supporting the new rules pointed to university statistics showing that over 60% of undergraduate grades awarded in recent years fell within the A category.
Harvard joins other prestigious institutions that have grappled with similar grading concerns. Princeton University implemented a 2004 policy restricting A-level grades to 35% of all awarded grades, but eliminated the system ten years later following complaints that it hurt students competing for employment and graduate school opportunities.
According to U.S. Department of Education statistics, grade-point averages at four-year public and nonprofit institutions increased by more than 16% from 1990 to 2020.
“The Harvard faculty voted to make their grades mean what they say they mean,” stated members of the faculty subcommittee responsible for proposing the modifications.
The committee members explained that the changes would guarantee that “a Harvard A grade will now tell students, as well as employers and graduate schools, something real about what a student has achieved.”
Amanda Claybaugh, Harvard’s dean of undergraduate education, described grade inflation as a “complex and thorny issue” and a “problem that many people have recognized, but no one has solved” in her Wednesday statement.
Starting in fall 2027, professors teaching letter-graded classes at Harvard College will be permitted to give A grades to a maximum of 20% of enrolled students, plus four additional students. The restriction will not apply to other letter grades, including A-minus marks.
Faculty members also approved using average percentile ranking instead of grade-point average when evaluating students for academic honors, awards and prizes.
A different proposal that would have permitted classes to bypass the A-grade restriction by switching to a pass/fail system with a new SAT+ designation for outstanding work was rejected.
The new grading policies will undergo evaluation after three years of implementation. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences represents Harvard’s largest academic division, encompassing 40 departments and housing both Harvard College’s undergraduate programs and all doctoral degree programs.
Senate Democrats are preparing to challenge Republican solidarity this week through strategic votes targeting President Donald Trump’s controversial $1.776 billion compensation fund for political allies, as tensions rise within the GOP ranks.
The confrontation centers around a roughly $72 billion measure aimed at restoring funding to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol after Democrats previously blocked the appropriations for several months.
However, what began as straightforward legislation has become increasingly complex after Republicans inserted $1 billion in security funding for the White House campus and Trump’s proposed ballroom, while some GOP senators express mounting dissatisfaction with the president. The settlement fund has drawn Republican criticism, and many were angered by Trump’s Tuesday endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in next week’s party primary runoff against Sen. John Cornyn.
“It’s been a hell of a bad week for Donald Trump and his Republicans,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said on the Senate floor. “And it’s only Wednesday.”
Democrats see an opportunity to force settlement fund votes because Republicans are attempting to advance the immigration enforcement measure through a complex budget procedure requiring numerous amendment votes. Democratic lawmakers are weighing several amendments targeting the settlement fund, including proposals to eliminate it entirely or prohibit payments to Trump supporters who attacked law enforcement officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol assault.
These amendments could potentially succeed as increasing numbers of Republicans voice opposition to the fund and other elements of Trump’s policy agenda.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., expressed skepticism Tuesday about the new fund, which the administration unveiled as part of a settlement resolving the president’s IRS lawsuit over leaked tax returns, saying he was “not a big fan.” Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who lost Saturday’s Louisiana primary to a Trump-endorsed opponent, denounced it as a “slush fund” and declared “you can’t just make up things.”
The expanding GOP division is intensified by Trump’s unexpected Paxton endorsement, an intervention that has Republican senators privately expressing anger over potential damage to their November majority prospects, as they consider the incumbent the stronger general election candidate.
“There’s always a consequence with taking on United States senators,” Thune said Wednesday. Trump “obviously has his favorites and people he wants to endorse and that’s his prerogative. But what we have to deal with up here is moving the agenda, and obviously that can become slightly more complicated.”
Facing Republican resistance to portions of his agenda, Trump responded with a social media attack on the Senate.
He demanded Republicans dismiss Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, who ruled that sections of the $1 billion security proposal cannot be included in the ICE and Border Patrol legislation. Trump also reiterated longstanding demands for Senate passage of the SAVE Act, a Republican measure requiring all voters to demonstrate U.S. citizenship, and elimination of the Senate filibuster.
“Republicans play a very soft game compared to the Dumocrats,” he wrote. “It is their single biggest disadvantage in politics.”
Trump warned that Democrats would abolish the filibuster “on the First Day” if they regain complete Washington control and urged Republicans to “get smart and tough” or “you’ll all be looking for a job much sooner than you thought possible!”
While Republicans have generally supported Trump on most matters, they have consistently rejected his repeated appeals — including during his first presidency — to eliminate the filibuster, which establishes a 60-vote requirement in the Senate.
Although some Republicans have expressed support for the administration’s settlement fund, several have raised concerns. Senators questioned acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about it during Tuesday’s hearing, where he characterized the fund as “unusual” but not unprecedented.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., warned it presents a “real risk” that rioters who were charged and subsequently pardoned by Trump in the Jan. 6 attack might receive compensation through the fund, calling such an outcome “absurd.”
On Wednesday, two police officers who defended the Capitol during the 2021 attack filed a lawsuit to prevent the payouts. Blanche, who served as Trump’s personal lawyer before joining the Department of Justice in Trump’s second administration, declined to exclude the possibility that rioters who assaulted police on Jan. 6 would qualify for compensation.
Republican leadership continues revising the $1 billion security provision after the parliamentarian deemed it too complicated for the budget measure. The funding could be reduced or eliminated from the legislation.
Thune acknowledged “ongoing vote issues” as leaders assess Republican backing, and “ongoing parliamentarian issues” as they determine what Senate rules will permit in the bill.
Democrats and some Republicans have questioned whether Congress should authorize White House ballroom funding while voters face affordability concerns. According to the Secret Service proposal, approximately $220 million would fund ballroom-related security enhancements while the remainder would support a new visitor screening facility, training, and additional security measures.
Tillis argued the bill should have excluded the other security improvements “because it’s just giving everybody the ‘billion dollar ballroom,’ and it’s just a bad idea.”
He indicated insufficient Republican support exists for the complete $1 billion in funding or even the $220 million request.
“I still want private donations to pay for it, they need to explain to me why we need this,” Tillis said, pointing out that Trump had initially promised the project would be entirely privately funded.
WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors have filed charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro, marking the most recent escalation in the Trump administration’s ongoing pressure campaign targeting the Caribbean nation’s socialist leadership.
Castro faces allegations related to his involvement in the 1996 downing of two aircraft operated by Brothers to the Rescue, a Miami-based exile organization. Castro served as defense minister during that incident.
President Donald Trump has intensified discussions about regime change in Cuba following military operations in Venezuela earlier this year that resulted in President Nicolás Maduro’s capture. Additionally, a White House-imposed economic blockade has caused power outages, food scarcity, and widespread economic collapse throughout Cuba.
The charges arrive during a period of escalating friction between Trump’s administration and Cuban leadership. Simultaneously, the United States maintains an unstable ceasefire in its conflict with Iran.
Following the Venezuelan operation that led to Maduro’s capture, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Cuba’s government was “in a lot of trouble,” while the president renewed demands for American control of Greenland.
Trump issued a stern warning to Cuban leadership as Venezuela’s close ally prepared for possible civil unrest after Maduro’s removal. Trump urged the Cuban government “to make a deal BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”
Cuba’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, replied, “Those who turn everything into a business, even human lives, have no moral authority to point the finger at Cuba in any way, absolutely in any way.”
Trump enacted an executive order establishing tariffs on goods from nations that sell or supply oil to Cuba, a measure that could further devastate the island’s economy.
One day before the Iranian conflict commenced, Trump revealed the United States was conducting discussions with Havana and suggested the possibility of a “friendly takeover of Cuba,” without providing specifics.
Trump mentioned that Rubio was engaging with Cuban officials “at a very high level.”
While Trump didn’t elaborate on his statements, he appeared to suggest that the Cuba situation, involving one of Washington’s most bitter enemies for decades, was reaching a crucial juncture.
Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, Castro’s grandson known as “Raúlito,” conducted a private meeting with Rubio during a Caribbean Community summit in St. Kitts in February.
Díaz-Canel confirmed that Cuba and the United States conducted negotiations, representing the first official acknowledgment by the Caribbean nation of widely speculated discussions with the Trump administration during an energy emergency.
He explained the talks “were aimed at finding solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences between our two nations. International factors facilitated these exchanges.”
A sanctioned Russian oil vessel reached Cuba, marking the first fuel delivery to the island in three months.
Díaz-Canel declared he would not step down from office.
Two high-ranking State Department officials — Jeremy Lewin, who oversees all U.S. foreign assistance, and Michael Kozak, the senior U.S. diplomat for Latin America — headed a delegation to Havana and conducted meetings with Rodríguez Castro, according to a U.S. official with knowledge of the encounters.
Díaz-Canel stated in an interview that he would not resign and that the United States lacks legitimate grounds to conduct military action against the island or attempt his removal.
During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the president indicated that a Cuban invasion would be expensive and threaten regional stability.
Díaz-Canel addressed a rally attended by hundreds to mark the 65th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution’s socialist declaration.
“The moment is extremely challenging and calls upon us once again, as on April 16, 1961, to be ready to confront serious threats, including military aggression. We do not want it, but it is our duty to prepare to avoid it and, if it becomes inevitable, to defeat it,” Díaz-Canel stated.
Reports surfaced that an American delegation recently conducted meetings with Cuban government representatives, indicating renewed diplomatic efforts. This marked at least the third encounter with Rodríguez Castro.
A senior State Department official met with Rodríguez Castro earlier that month, according to a department representative who wasn’t authorized for public comment and spoke anonymously regarding the sensitive issue.
The official didn’t identify which U.S. representatives met with Rodríguez Castro, whose grandfather reportedly maintains significant influence in Cuban government despite lacking an official position. A second U.S. official confirmed Rubio wasn’t part of the Havana delegation.
A Cuban diplomat at the United Nations declared that Havana would reject any American “ultimatums” demanding political prisoner releases as part of renewed negotiations.
In an Associated Press interview, Cuban Ambassador to the U.N. Ernesto Soberón Guzmán said internal matters concerning detainees “are not on the negotiating table.” Political prisoner releases were a primary U.S. requirement as the longtime enemies conducted discussions in Cuba for the first time in ten years.
Senate Republicans blocked Democratic legislation that would have required Trump to terminate the U.S. energy blockade on Cuba without Congressional authorization.
The war powers resolution vote demonstrated continued Republican support for Trump as he acts independently to project American power across various global conflicts, including Venezuela, Iran and Cuba — among the U.S.’s nearest neighbors.
U.S. officials stated the United States wasn’t considering immediate military action against Havana despite Trump’s repeated warnings that “Cuba is next” and that American naval vessels deployed in the Middle East for the Iran conflict could return via the island.
Officials participating in preliminary discussions with Cuban authorities also informed the AP that they remain pessimistic about the communist government accepting an offer including tens of millions in humanitarian aid, two years of complimentary Starlink internet service for all Cubans, agricultural support and infrastructure assistance.
However, they noted Cuba hadn’t completely rejected the proposal, which included conditions the government has historically opposed, even after the Trump administration implemented additional sanctions on Havana.
U.S. and Cuban officials confirmed that CIA Director John Ratcliffe conducted meetings with Cuban representatives including Raúl Castro’s grandson during a senior-level island visit.
Ratcliffe met with Rodríguez Castro, Interior Minister Lázaro Álvarez Casas and the Cuban intelligence chief, discussing intelligence collaboration, economic stability and security matters. A CIA official verified the meetings to the AP.
The Justice Department was preparing to pursue charges against Castro, three sources familiar with the situation informed the AP.
One source indicated the potential charges were related to Castro’s suspected involvement in the 1996 downing of two aircraft operated by Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue. Castro held the defense minister position during that period.
All three sources requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss an active investigation. The Cuban government didn’t respond to requests for comment regarding the potential charges, which CBS initially reported.
The State Department implemented additional sanctions on multiple Cuban government entities, including the Interior Ministry and National Police and Intelligence Directorate, as the Trump administration continued increasing pressure on the island.
Federal prosecutors announced grand jury charges against Castro regarding the downing of the two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft in 1996.
Civil rights lawyers filed legal action Wednesday representing students and advocacy groups in Massachusetts, claiming the state unlawfully operates racially divided schools that funnel Black and Latino children into underfunded, high-poverty districts with limited educational resources.
The legal challenge targets Massachusetts’ system of enrolling students in schools based exclusively on residential address, a practice attorneys say mirrors housing segregation within educational systems.
This litigation represents another attempt to combat educational segregation and funding disparities through state court action. Integration initiatives have declined significantly from their height decades earlier when federal authorities stepped into school systems nationwide, even before the Trump administration moved to ease court-mandated desegregation requirements in Southern states.
Nine students and four advocacy organizations from segregated school systems throughout Massachusetts brought the case, representing districts in Springfield, Holyoke, Boston, Lawrence, Brockton, Lynn, and Worcester. These districts sit adjacent to wealthier, majority-white school systems where the students cannot gain admission.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education responded that it lacks authority to alter district boundaries or force schools to accept students from neighboring areas. The agency stated in writing that the state has funded initiatives to close graduation rate disparities and pursued additional resources for high-poverty districts.
“Massachusetts leads the nation in student achievement, and we are committed to building on this progress to strengthen our education system for every student in our state,” spokesperson Jacqueline Reis said.
A state advisory council report from 2024 determined that 63% of Massachusetts schools are segregated or intensely segregated, finding the state education department had not met its oversight responsibilities. Schools with higher percentages of students of color showed poorer results in areas like graduation rates and college enrollment.
Though the state constitution promises students adequate education and equal legal protection, it has not delivered on that promise for Black and Latino students in reality, according to Jillian Lenson, senior attorney at Lawyers for Civil Rights, which brought the case alongside Brown’s Promise.
“It’s not student potential, it’s the conditions of their schools that drive these disparate outcomes, conditions that the state has maintained and perpetuated for decades,” Lenson said.
The case filed in Massachusetts state court in Suffolk County seeks to force the state to remedy inequities created by policies that place students in schools based on where they reside.
GeDá Jones Herbert, chief legal counsel at Brown’s Promise, explained the lawsuit does not demand forced integration, but rather investment in research-supported approaches that help all students.
These strategies include growing regional magnet school programs and increasing funding for under-resourced schools. While the state operates regional vocational schools and voluntary inter-district transfer programs, complicated opt-out systems and limited program capacity block equal access, according to plaintiffs.
“Black and Latino students are blocked out of access to those opportunities, and that’s unconstitutional,” Jones Herbert said.
Similar state-level legal challenges have also concentrated on tackling residential segregation effects.
In 2018, the Latino Action Network and New Jersey’s NAACP chapter, along with other plaintiffs, filed suit claiming the state’s residence-based student assignment system created racially segregated schools. In Minnesota, a 2015 case alleged that school segregation in Saint Paul and Minneapolis resulted in inadequate and unequal education for students of color.
Both cases continue moving through state court systems without final resolution.
These state lawsuits emerge as federal school desegregation enforcement has shifted. By the early 2000s, multiple Supreme Court decisions had severely restricted districts’ available tools for meaningful racial integration in schools.
State constitutions, which frequently contain equality and education provisions, can provide avenues for challenging segregation stemming from economic and housing patterns, said Robert Williams, professor of law emeritus at Rutgers University.
“The government knows about it, but it’s not the government that did it directly,” Williams said. “These cases argue that having so many different school districts that align with housing patterns and having laws that say that you have to go to school where you live, all of those things sort of amount to government segregation.”
Nine individuals deported from America touched down in Sierra Leone on Wednesday, according to officials from the West African nation, marking another instance of controversial third-country deportation agreements implemented by the Trump administration.
The group included five people from Ghana, two from Guinea, one from Senegal, and one from Nigeria, the ministry of information reported. These arrangements have sparked concerns about whether the rights of those being deported are being properly protected.
Officials stated that the newly arrived individuals “have been checked into their hosting facilities, are comfortable and receiving the necessary support.” Authorities had originally anticipated 24 people would arrive but did not explain the discrepancy.
Alma David, an immigration attorney with the U.S.-based Novo Legal Group who assists deportees, suggested the reduced number could be due to several deportations being stopped just before the aircraft departed from the United States.
Court records reviewed by The Associated Press show that a U.S. federal judge prevented one woman’s deportation to Sierra Leone after authorities failed to allow her to pursue protection under the Convention Against Torture, which is legally required.
Sierra Leone’s foreign minister, Timothy Kabba, informed local news outlets Wednesday that his government has agreed to temporarily house migrants deported by the Trump administration, explaining it only takes West African citizens and the arrangement is backed by a $1.5 million U.S. government grant.
America has established third-country deportation agreements with at least eight additional African countries, many of which are among those most affected by the Trump administration’s restrictions on trade, assistance, and immigration. The other African countries known to have signed such deals include Congo, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, Eswatini, Ghana and Cameroon.
Multiple nations on this list have notably oppressive administrations and troubling human rights histories, including Eswatini, South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea.
According to State Department documents, some countries have received millions of dollars in exchange for these agreements. Most deal specifics remain confidential.
Legal experts and advocacy groups have questioned the nature of these arrangements with African and other countries.
A week ago, a federal judge commanded the Trump administration to return a Colombian woman to the United States from Congo after she was sent there despite that country’s refusal to accept her due to its inability to address her medical requirements.
Two players from the Boston Fleet have been selected as finalists for the 2026 PWHL Defender of the Year award, the league announced Wednesday. Captain Megan Keller and teammate Haley Winn will compete for the honor alongside Sophie Jaques from the Vancouver Goldeneyes.
The recognition goes to the defensive player who demonstrates exceptional performance at their position during the regular season. A selection committee determined the three finalists, with the winner set to be revealed on June 16 in Detroit.
Keller, age 30, tied a league record for defensemen by recording 22 points through seven goals and 15 assists. She topped all defenders with three game-winning goals and ranked second league-wide in average ice time at 26:40.
The 22-year-old Winn completed her first professional season with 19 points, including five goals and 14 assists. She led all players in average ice time at 26:45 and placed fourth among league defenders by blocking 45 shots.
Jaques, 25, placed second among defensive players with 20 points through nine goals and 11 assists across 30 games for the first-year Goldeneyes. She stood as the lone PWHL defender to record multiple three-point performances, achieving this feat twice.
Last season’s Defender of the Year winner was Renata Fast from the Toronto Sceptres, who defeated finalists Jaques and Claire Thompson of the Minnesota Frost.
OTTAWA, May 20 – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered sharp criticism of Israel on Wednesday, calling the nation’s handling of Gaza flotilla activists “abominable” in an unusually strong rebuke of a close ally.
The Canadian government announced plans to call in Israel’s ambassador following the release of a video by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir that showed him mocking the detained activists, who were forced into kneeling positions with their hands bound behind their backs.
“The abominable treatment of civilians aboard the flotilla, including that which is documented in footage shared by Itamar Ben-Gvir, is unacceptable,” Carney wrote on social media.
“Canada has already imposed strict sanctions on Mr. Ben-Gvir, including asset freezes and a travel ban, in response to his repeated incitement of violence.”
Israeli naval forces had stopped the activist flotilla in international waters on Tuesday before bringing those aboard to an Israeli port.
Under Carney’s leadership, Canada has taken an increasingly firm stance toward Israel. Carney became head of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister in March 2025, succeeding Justin Trudeau.
Last September, Carney declared Canada’s recognition of Palestinian statehood, a move that drew anger from Israeli officials.
On Wednesday, the Seattle Mariners brought back right-handed pitcher Matt Brash from the injured list while sending left-handed pitcher Robinson Ortiz down to Triple-A Tacoma.
The 28-year-old Brash was placed on the 15-day injured list back on May 1 due to inflammation in his right lat muscle. This season, he has posted impressive numbers with a perfect 2-0 record and 0.00 ERA across 14 relief outings for Seattle. The team has found success when Brash takes the mound, going 12-2 in games where he has appeared.
Since joining the Mariners for his big league debut in 2022, Brash holds a career record of 16-11 with a 3.10 ERA and eight saves over 184 appearances, including five as a starter. He sat out the entire 2024 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The 26-year-old Ortiz was brought up from Tacoma just this past Monday but has not yet appeared in a major league game. In Triple-A action this year, he carries a 0-1 record with a 2.81 ERA through 15 relief appearances.
A Heat Advisory remains in effect for northern portions of the Delmarva Peninsula through 8 PM tonight, as dangerous heat index values climb toward 97 degrees.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory this morning for New Castle County in Delaware, warning residents that the combination of hot temperatures and high humidity could lead to heat-related illnesses.
The advisory also covers areas just west of Delmarva, including Philadelphia and surrounding counties in Pennsylvania, plus parts of southern New Jersey including Camden, Gloucester, Mercer, and northwestern Burlington counties.
Health officials urge residents to take precautions during the peak heat hours. Stay indoors in air-conditioned spaces when possible, drink plenty of water throughout the day, and avoid prolonged outdoor activities, especially during the afternoon hours.
“This is particularly important for our elderly residents and those with underlying health conditions,” said local emergency management officials. “Check on neighbors and relatives who may not have adequate cooling.”
Never leave children or pets in vehicles, even for short periods, as interior temperatures can become deadly within minutes.
The Heat Advisory is set to expire at 8 PM tonight, with cooler conditions expected by tomorrow.
A Heat Advisory remains in effect for New Castle County and surrounding areas until 8 PM tonight, as dangerous heat index values climb near 98 degrees across the region.
The National Weather Service is warning residents in New Castle County, along with parts of southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, to take precautions as the combination of hot temperatures and high humidity creates potentially hazardous conditions.
“Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses,” officials warn, urging residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned spaces, and avoid prolonged sun exposure.
This early-season heat wave is particularly concerning as many people haven’t yet acclimated to summer-like conditions. Health officials stress the importance of checking on elderly relatives and neighbors who may be more vulnerable to heat-related illness.
Relief is on the way, however. The Weather Service says showers and thunderstorms are expected to move through the area late this afternoon and evening, bringing an end to the oppressive heat.
The Heat Advisory will expire at 8 PM tonight. Until then, residents should limit outdoor activities during peak afternoon hours and never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.
A United States federal grand jury has issued criminal charges against Raul Castro, who previously served as Cuba’s president.
Castro, now 94 years old, is facing multiple serious criminal charges. Among the accusations are four separate murder charges connected to an incident targeting a humanitarian organization that took place more than three decades ago.
The indictment represents a significant legal development involving the former Cuban leader who stepped down from power years ago.
Weather officials have issued a heat advisory for Monday, warning residents to take precautions during the hottest part of the day.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey issued the advisory at 1:53 PM on May 20th, with the warning remaining in effect until 8:00 PM the same day.
Residents are advised to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activities during peak heat hours, and check on elderly neighbors and relatives during the advisory period.
Virginia Farm Bureau has served as the voice for the state’s agricultural community for nearly a century, with farmer members directing every policy stance the organization takes. The relationships these farmers build with legislators across rural and urban districts prove essential in advancing farming-related issues.
During the recent General Assembly session, Virginia Farm Bureau pursued numerous legislative priorities with mixed results. Many of their goals saw positive outcomes, though several matters remain in limbo due to the legislature’s adjournment without approving a state budget. As of mid-May 2026, Virginia’s General Assembly has yet to pass a new state budget, with discussions stalled over a proposed two-year spending plan. A special session is currently underway to resolve the deadlock before the new fiscal year begins in July.
SUCCESSFUL POLICY ACHIEVEMENTS
The organization secured several important victories for Virginia’s farming community. They successfully preserved the farmworker exemption from overtime requirements, protecting the economic viability of farming operations across the state. Additionally, they maintained exemptions for H-2A and H-2B workers from minimum wage requirements.
Virginia Farm Bureau also strengthened food labeling accuracy by securing requirements that products made from manufactured proteins cannot be labeled or marketed as animal-based foods. They established a producer-first definition of agrivoltaics and granted local governments authority to require solar canopies over parking lots, reducing pressure on agricultural and forest lands from solar development.
Other wins included giving localities authority to evaluate how data centers and other high energy use facilities affect water resources, agriculture, parks, historic sites, and forestland. The organization protected farmers’ ability to use biosolids while creating testing protocols and safeguards against dangerous PFAS levels.
Additional successes included preventing efforts to ban paraquat use by farmers, streamlining the kill permit process for farmers dealing with deer damage, and directing the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry to develop economic development plans for agriculture and forestry at the beginning of each new gubernatorial administration.
POLICY SETBACKS
Despite these victories, Virginia Farm Bureau faced several defeats during the legislative session. They failed to maintain the broad farmworker exemption from minimum wage requirements and saw reduced decision-making power for local governments when positioning utility-scale solar facilities through the creation of state standards for ordinances.
The organization also encountered increased employer mandates through establishment of higher minimum wages, paid family medical leave, and paid sick leave programs. Additionally, they were unsuccessful in creating a tax incentive program to attract sustainable aviation fuel manufacturers, which would have increased market opportunities for biomass from wood residuals or grain.
DALLAS (AP) — The president of the Dallas Mavericks acknowledged Wednesday that dismissing Jason Kidd from his head coaching position was a challenging choice that he made independently after five years with the franchise.
Following Tuesday’s announcement of Kidd’s exit, the team president explained Wednesday that he believed the franchise required a fresh beginning.
“What he’s done for this organization we truly respect, so this was a very, very tough decision,” the president stated.
“I have to be accountable with a decision like this,” he continued. “I also have to be very active in how I look at the organization from top to bottom.”
The president, who assumed his role as team president and governor fourteen days earlier, clarified that the coaching change was unrelated to the February 2025 trade involving Luka Doncic or anyone associated with that transaction.
During his May 5 introductory press conference, the president avoided committing to Kidd’s future, indicating he would speak with the coach while assessing the team comprehensively.
Tuesday evening’s official announcement from the Mavericks characterized Kidd’s departure as a joint decision between both parties.
Under Kidd’s leadership alongside Doncic, Dallas achieved two significant postseason campaigns, advancing to the NBA Finals in 2024 and suffering a Western Conference finals defeat to Golden State two seasons prior.
During the 2024-25 campaign, the Mavericks dealt Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, receiving Anthony Davis as the primary asset in an exchange that proved disastrous for Dallas. The team failed to qualify for the playoffs that year and again in 2025-26, when Davis was subsequently traded.
The former Hall of Fame point guard, who helped deliver the franchise’s sole championship as a player in 2011, concluded his coaching tenure with an even regular-season record of 205-205 wins and losses.
Soccer enthusiasts in Botswana who support Arsenal believed they had extra cause for celebration when their team claimed its first Premier League championship in over two decades – a supposed government-declared day off work.
However, officials in Botswana quickly dismissed a circulating announcement that promised Wednesday as a public holiday in honor of the victory, calling it completely fabricated.
Botswana’s government shared the fraudulent document on X, marking it with red “FAKE” text overlay. Officials clarified in their post: “No, there is no holiday for Arsenal fans.”
The bogus announcement that spread across social media included authentic-looking elements such as the Republic of Botswana’s official coat of arms and presidential office markings. It claimed President Duma Boko had granted the holiday to recognize Arsenal supporters for their “passion, loyalty and unwavering support.”
Observant supporters might have spotted a telltale sign of the document’s fraudulent nature – it bore Sunday’s date of May 17. Arsenal only secured their championship victory on Tuesday following Manchester City’s 1-1 tie with Bournemouth.
A social media user jokingly suggested on X that the phony announcement might have originated from a Manchester United supporter.
NEW LONDON, Conn. — During a Wednesday commencement ceremony, President Donald Trump addressed graduating cadets at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, praising their “unbelievable heroism and exceptional selflessness” while warning that greater challenges await them in their military service.
The speech to the class of 2026 marked the first occasion Trump has delivered a graduation address at a military academy while American forces are engaged in active combat operations.
Trump emphasized to the graduates that they would serve as America’s “first defenders” and “first responders.”
“You’ve all been tested. You’ll be tested further and probably at higher levels as your career goes on,” Trump said.
The president briefly referenced the ongoing conflict with Iran, now entering its 12th week, highlighting it as evidence of American success in “the hottest country anywhere in the world.”
“The only question is, do we go ahead and finish it up or are they going to be signing a document? Let’s see what happens,” Trump said.
The Republican leader had considered launching additional military action against Iran this week amid stalled diplomatic discussions and concerns about a fragile ceasefire. However, on Monday, Trump indicated he would allow Iran additional time due to “serious negotiations” taking place.
Trump has previously stepped back from threats against Iran, claiming diplomatic progress that has not been publicly confirmed.
Earlier Wednesday, he informed reporters that he was “in no hurry” to reach an agreement ending the conflict, citing political considerations and the upcoming November midterm elections.
The graduation ceremony took place under extreme heat conditions with minimal shade available for attendees waiting for the event to commence.
Medical personnel assisted at least one individual who collapsed from the heat. Family members requested that elderly guests be allowed to sit under shaded tent areas. While cold water bottles were provided, they quickly warmed in the intense temperatures.
Trump, who previously spoke at the academy’s 2017 graduation during his first presidency, expressed pride in becoming the first president to deliver two commencement speeches at the institution.
“We’re going to have to try it maybe a third time, too, to keep that record intact,” Trump said Wednesday.
The president characterized the graduates as entering service during “an incredible, exciting time for our nation,” describing it as a period of renewed national strength, morale and confidence.
While declaring “America is back,” Trump deviated from the typically nonpartisan nature of military commencement addresses by criticizing previous administrations, claiming the nation had been “run by foolish politicians.”
He advocated for his trade tariff policies and immigration enforcement measures, stating that “under this administration, we don’t apologize for American power or wealth.”
“What we do really is we want to maximize it. We take advantage of it,” he said. “We unleash it, and we wield it to pursue our country’s glorious destiny and our beautiful American Dream.”
According to tradition, the president and vice president annually speak at military service academies. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to address graduates at the U.S. Air Force Academy on May 28.
Prior to traveling to Connecticut, Trump indicated his message to cadets would be, “Just enjoy your life.”
“You know, you don’t really realize how important Coast Guard is until you have a hurricane,” Trump said while commending the maritime service.
Students and teachers across the eastern United States endured a second consecutive day of unseasonable heat on Wednesday, forcing some school districts to make difficult decisions about classroom conditions.
Philadelphia’s school system moved to virtual instruction for pupils at 57 facilities, acknowledging that despite improvements, many buildings still lack sufficient cooling systems to handle the extreme temperatures.
Weather forecasters predicted another day of record-setting heat across the region stretching from the mid-Atlantic through New England, though relief is expected when a cold front arrives with rain later this week. Temperature records fell on Tuesday, with Portland, Maine reaching 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius) and Boston hitting 96 degrees (35.5 degrees Celsius).
At a Boston high school in the Dorchester area, administrators brought in fans, distributed water bottles and relaxed dress codes to allow students to wear shorts and T-shirts rather than standard uniforms.
“The heat outside feels like it’s manageable because of the wind but inside it feels just tight and burdening because we also have to go through quizzes, exams, there is no excuse,” student Ariolainy Baez told CBS News.
Weather officials issued heat advisories for parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island lasting through Wednesday evening.
New York City authorities opened cooling centers across the five boroughs to provide residents with air-conditioned relief from the dangerous temperatures.
“Just as New Yorkers look out for one another through the coldest days of winter, we must do the same through the hottest days of the year,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Salisbury University’s men’s lacrosse program continues its streak of national excellence, as faceoff specialist Blake Malamphy earned the prestigious USILA Face-Off Player of the Year honor on Tuesday.
The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association announced Malamphy’s selection, marking the third consecutive year that the Sea Gulls have captured significant national recognition from the organization.
The award highlights Malamphy’s exceptional performance at the faceoff position throughout the season, cementing his status as one of the top specialists in collegiate lacrosse.
An environmental organization is challenging coffee giant Starbucks over claims that its plastic single-use cups can be recycled, saying a tracking study shows the containers end up in landfills instead.
The Vermont-based environmental nonprofit Beyond Plastics conducted an experiment earlier this year, placing tracking devices on 36 polypropylene cups and depositing them in recycling containers at Starbucks locations nationwide. According to the organization’s findings released Wednesday, not one cup reached a recycling facility. The majority—33 cups—wound up in landfills or incinerators, while three were last detected at sorting facilities.
These cups display recycling symbols prominently and are shown as recyclable on bins inside stores. In February, Starbucks declared its polypropylene cups “widely recyclable” across the United States after receiving approval from How2Recycle, a labeling organization.
When contacted Wednesday, a Starbucks spokesperson expressed doubts about Beyond Plastics’ research methods, though specific concerns were not detailed. The representative noted that recycling success varies by local infrastructure and stated the company “work closely with others, including the recycling companies, to help expand access and help improve the system.”
Trade organizations, including the Association of Plastic Recyclers representing mechanical recyclers, suggest that tracking devices might cause items to be removed from recycling processes.
The coffee chain made a 2020 pledge to ensure all customer packaging becomes reusable, recyclable or compostable before 2030. This year, Starbucks began accepting customer-provided cups for mobile and drive-through purchases. Under CEO Brian Niccol’s leadership, the company policy calls for serving café customers with reusable ceramic mugs, though Beyond Plastics reports many in-store patrons continue receiving plastic cups.
Judith Enck, who leads Beyond Plastics and previously worked for the Environmental Protection Agency, called on Starbucks to discontinue labeling plastic cups as recyclable. She also advocated for a complete transition to fiber-based cups, similar to what the company uses in certain markets. Such a change would represent “one of the most significant plastic-reduction corporate policies in the world,” she stated.
The Iran war has increased global plastic prices, as these materials derive from oil or natural gas, according to an April Reuters report.
Beyond Plastics reports that plastic recycling rates in the United States remain below 6%, with most recycled plastic not being polypropylene, which the group says has limited processing facilities capable of handling it.
A major British theatre company that operates venues worldwide is being positioned for a potential sale, according to four sources with knowledge of the situation.
ATG Entertainment, formerly called Ambassador Theatre Group, is in the preliminary phases of sale preparation by its private equity owner, marking a potential turnaround for an entertainment sector severely impacted by pandemic-related shutdowns.
Providence Equity Partners has engaged in recent discussions with advisers regarding the sale of its majority ownership in London’s biggest theatre operator, which presents hit shows such as The Book of Mormon, Wicked and The Lion King, three sources revealed.
The company could fetch a price exceeding 4 billion pounds ($5.38 billion), according to a fourth source, based on recent financial performance and comparable valuations of industry competitors like Live Nation.
Two sources indicated that a formal auction process might begin during the latter half of this year, though they requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the discussions. No final determination has been reached, the sources noted.
Neither Providence nor ATG Entertainment provided responses to requests for comment.
Providence gained control of ATG Entertainment in 2013 through a 350 million pound acquisition, according to media reports from that period. A minority investment was made by another firm in 2024, based on news reports at the time.
According to company filings, ATG Entertainment manages and owns over 70 performance spaces throughout the United Kingdom, United States, Germany and Spain, serving more than 18 million patrons annually. Its U.S. operations include Broadway theaters such as the Lyric, the Hudson and Al Hirschfeld.
The European aircraft manufacturer has notified select customers about additional delays affecting A350 aircraft deliveries planned for later this decade, according to three industry sources who spoke about fresh concerns regarding production at a U.S. components facility the company recently purchased.
According to the sources, the setbacks primarily stem from continued challenges in obtaining essential fuselage components from the former Spirit AeroSystems facility located in Kinston, North Carolina.
Additionally, cargo doors manufactured by the company in Spain for the upcoming A350 Freighter are experiencing some production issues, the sources noted.
The aircraft manufacturer stated it does not provide commentary on delivery schedules.
A company spokesperson confirmed that the A350 Freighter’s inaugural flight, scheduled for later this year, and its initial delivery planned for 2027 continue as planned.
The company acquired the Kinston manufacturing facility, alongside Spirit’s Belfast-based wing production plant for the smaller A220 aircraft, last year when most of the supplier company returned to its previous parent company Boeing.
The 500,000-square-foot Kinston location, equipped with robotics, produces composite panels for the long-range A350’s upper fuselage section and manufactures a carbon-fiber spar, or structural beam, for each wing.
Industry sources indicated the ownership transfer has been complicated partly by workforce challenges, with some workers choosing to return to former Spirit operations now under Boeing.
“The transition hasn’t gone smoothly,” a senior aerospace source shared.
The aircraft manufacturer informed analysts last month that no unexpected problems were discovered at Kinston, though CFO Thomas Toepfer emphasized the logistical challenges involved in deploying European specialists to assist with production increases.
Major chocolate manufacturers are bringing real cocoa back to their products following a dramatic 70% drop in bean prices from record highs reached in late 2024.
The price decline has prompted companies to reverse course from last year’s trend of smaller candy bars, additional wafers, and cocoa-light alternatives that emerged when bean costs soared above $12,000 per metric ton due to weather problems and crop disease.
Confectionery giant Hershey has announced plans to increase cocoa content in its chocolate alternatives, which the company labels as chocolate candy. Following criticism from the grandson of Reese’s founder over recipe changes to classic Reese’s items, Hershey committed to restoring original formulas for all Hershey’s and Reese’s products starting next year.
Industry experts predict other manufacturers will follow this trend. Independent consultant Roger Bradshaw stated: “Absolutely it makes sense to switch back to real chocolate at current cocoa price levels.”
When contacted for comment, snack producer Mondelez did not respond regarding recipe modifications, while Nestle provided no immediate statement. Ferrero indicated its formulations aren’t influenced by temporary ingredient price changes but declined to discuss cocoa usage adjustments.
The dramatic price swing occurred after cocoa costs nearly tripled in 2024, forcing manufacturers to reduce bar sizes, incorporate more nuts and fruit, and develop cocoa-free alternatives. Companies also depleted cocoa reserves, increased consumer prices, and invested in products like ChoViva, a chocolate substitute made from sunflower seeds and oats created by German startup Planet A Foods through its collaboration with Barry Callebaut, the world’s largest chocolate manufacturer and cocoa processor.
These industry changes triggered a significant decline in cocoa demand that analysts believe caused the 70% price drop from late 2024 peaks. Veteran analyst and cocoa expert Steve Wateridge projects demand could reach nine-year lows in the 12 months ending in September, though he expects recovery beginning in the year’s second half.
“The factors that pushed us to these price lows are all likely to unwind,” Wateridge explained.
Price changes typically take about 10 months to reach retail chocolate prices because manufacturers secure purchase agreements months ahead and maintain substantial inventories. Supermarkets and retailers have pressured chocolate makers for lower prices since mid-2025, with some companies responding.
Mondelez reported reducing European chocolate prices last month and observing increased sales volumes. Barry Callebaut, whose ingredients appear in 25% of global chocolates, anticipates volume growth of 1% to 5% in the six months through August compared to the previous year, based on first-half financial results.
The company, which provides chocolate for Nestle’s Kit Kat bars and The Magnum Ice Cream Company, notes that current cocoa prices make traditional chocolate production less expensive than creating chocolate-flavored alternatives using vegetable fat instead of cocoa butter.
This shift means “some customers (are) going back to chocolate,” Chief Executive Hein Schumacher said in April, without identifying specific companies.
Legislative changes are also driving the return to cocoa in certain regions. Brazil, ranking as the world’s sixth-largest chocolate consumer per capita, enacted legislation this month requiring products labeled as dark chocolate to contain minimum 35% cocoa solids. This regulation aligns Brazil more closely with European and North American markets by strengthening cocoa content standards.
The transition back to traditional chocolate would benefit nearly 2 million impoverished cocoa farmers in leading producers Ivory Coast and Ghana, as increased demand should support bean prices. However, returning to pre-rally volume levels will require time.
“I expect it will take 2.5 years to get back to where we were before 2023/24” regarding demand, said a veteran cocoa consultant and former trader who requested anonymity. This timeline reflects various trends including Gen Z’s openness to innovations like cocoa-free chocolate and weight-loss medications’ impact on eating patterns.
Nevertheless, chocolate makers remain concerned about potential price increases, suggesting some alternatives will persist. These products maintain profitability in mass-market segments, according to Vontobel analyst Jean-Philippe Bertschy.
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed the top leadership of a significant medical panel that determines which preventive healthcare services must be offered to patients without charge, according to documents obtained by Reuters.
The dismissals affected the chair and vice chair of the Preventive Services Task Force, which occurred earlier this month. Dr. John Wong, a medicine professor at Tufts University School of Medicine who served as chair, and Dr. Esa Davis, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who was vice chair, were both terminated from their positions.
The influential panel, which normally operates with 16 members, has not convened for more than a year following Kennedy’s decision to suspend its routine meetings. Additionally, five volunteer members whose terms concluded in December have not been replaced with new appointments.
Three men are being honored as heroes after they gave their lives protecting children and staff during a deadly attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego.
Amin Abdullah, Nadir Awad and Mansour Kaziha confronted and held off two armed attackers who entered the religious facility. Their brave intervention provided crucial time for the many young people and employees inside the mosque to reach safety.
The three victims paid the ultimate price for their courageous actions, losing their lives while ensuring others could escape the violence unharmed.
A dedicated emergency medical services worker from Northampton County has earned recognition as the top provider in the state for 2025.
Charlene Bagwell has been selected to receive the NCEMS 2025 Provider of the Year award, marking a significant achievement in her emergency medical services career.
The annual recognition highlights outstanding performance and dedication among emergency medical service providers throughout the region.
British defense officials announced Wednesday that Russian military aircraft conducted a dangerous intercept of a Royal Air Force surveillance plane over the Black Sea last month, describing the encounter as a risky incident that could heighten tensions between NATO and Russia.
According to defense ministry officials, the British Rivet Joint aircraft was conducting standard surveillance operations in international airspace over the Black Sea and was not carrying weapons. The plane faced multiple intercepts from a Russian Su-35 fighter, which approached close enough to activate emergency warning systems aboard the British aircraft, officials reported. Additionally, a Russian Su-27 made six separate passes, coming as close as six meters to the front of the Rivet Joint plane.
Defense officials characterized this as the most serious Russian aggressive action toward a British surveillance aircraft since 2022, when a Russian plane fired a missile over the Black Sea near a UK aircraft. Moscow later attributed that earlier incident to equipment failure.
British Royal Air Force surveillance missions are conducted regularly alongside allied forces to help protect NATO’s eastern borders, according to officials.
The announcement comes during a week that has seen multiple security concerns in the Baltic area, including a drone breach of Lithuanian airspace and a fighter aircraft downing what authorities believe was a Ukrainian drone over Estonia.
Earlier this year, Britain sent naval forces to counter potential attacks on underwater cables and pipelines by Russian submarines that operated in and near British waters for more than a month, officials said.
Nine individuals from West African nations arrived in Sierra Leone Wednesday aboard a deportation flight from the United States, marking the beginning of a new agreement between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Timothy Kabba confirmed to Reuters the previous week that Sierra Leone has committed to accepting up to 300 West African migrants annually who face deportation from the United States, with monthly arrivals capped at 25 people.
The group that landed Wednesday consisted of seven men and two women originally from Ghana, Senegal, Guinea and Nigeria, according to Patrick Robin, who leads Kenvah Solutions, the private company contracted to provide housing for the deportees at two hotels located near the airport.
The duration of the deportees’ stay in Sierra Leone remains uncertain, as a government spokesperson has not responded to inquiries for clarification. “We will look after them in a dignified and comfortable way for up to two weeks,” Robin stated, noting that under “exceptional circumstances” some individuals might remain at the facilities for 30 days.
This West African-only deportee arrangement mirrors a similar agreement with Ghana. Reuters has documented cases where deportees sent to Ghana, Equatorial Guinea and other African nations were subsequently compelled to return to their countries of origin, despite having received court-ordered protection in the United States designed to prevent such outcomes.
While Robin indicated that “most of” Wednesday’s arrivals expressed a desire to return home, a Reuters observer noted that at least one deportee appeared reluctant to exit the aircraft before being convinced to do so.
What Sierra Leone receives in return for accepting these deportees remains unclear.
A February report from Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee revealed that while the total expense of third-country removals is unknown, over $32 million has been directly transferred to five nations — Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, El Salvador, Eswatini and Palau.
A State Department spokesperson declined to provide comment on the matter.
French officials are investigating claims of foreign election meddling that targeted hard-left political candidates during municipal elections in March, the country’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced Wednesday.
The investigation centers on allegations that an Israeli company called BlackCore orchestrated a disinformation campaign against at least three mayoral candidates from the France Unbowed (LFI) party. According to Reuters reporting from last week, the operation involved creating misleading websites and fake social media profiles that made false accusations of criminal conduct, along with negative digital advertisements.
When questioned by LFI lawmaker Francois Piquemal, one of those allegedly targeted, Nunez confirmed the ongoing investigation and called the campaign “extremely grave.”
The Interior Minister also committed to publicly releasing a complete report from electoral security officials about the suspected operation. This pledge came after the satirical publication Le Canard Enchaine reported that there were attempts to suppress the report’s release.
Reuters was unable to confirm the identity of BlackCore’s operators, determine its actual location, or locate any records of the company in Israeli business databases.
The company did not respond to multiple contact attempts through its website and LinkedIn profile, both of which have since been removed from the internet.
Meta’s chief executive Mark Zuckerberg informed staff members through an internal company message on Wednesday that he doesn’t anticipate additional widespread job eliminations for the remainder of this year, according to a copy of the communication obtained by Reuters.
The statement came on the same day the social media giant behind Facebook completed a sweeping organizational overhaul, eliminating 10% of its global workforce while reassigning 7,000 workers to artificial intelligence-focused divisions.
NEW YORK (AP) — You could label it an incredible rally. Or you could call it a complete meltdown.
The opening game of the Eastern Conference finals featured elements of both scenarios. New York’s dramatic surge wouldn’t have been possible without Cleveland’s stunning collapse.
Cleveland held a commanding 93-71 advantage with less than eight minutes remaining before New York dominated the final stretch, outscoring their opponents 44-11 to secure a 115-104 overtime victory. Among playoff games over the past three decades, only the Clippers’ 24-point rally against Memphis in 2012’s opening game represents a larger fourth-quarter turnaround.
“We should’ve won the game,” Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell said. “We didn’t.”
Here’s an examination of what went wrong for Cleveland.
Though it seemed unthinkable moments later, James Harden executed solid defense against a then-struggling Jalen Brunson while Cleveland maintained a 20-point cushion with 7:04 left on the clock. Harden successfully blocked Brunson’s driving attempt, though Karl-Anthony Towns secured the loose ball to keep the play alive and found Landry Shamet open for a three-pointer. Following a Cleveland turnover, New York called timeout with 6:41 remaining. Despite the score still reading 93-76, the Knicks appeared energized for the first time in quite a while as Shamet encouraged his teammates with enthusiastic gestures.
“If you’re going to make a run, that’s when you’ve got to do it. So might as well throw your best punch at that point and try to do what you can,” Shamet said.
“You’ve got to leave it all out there especially at this time of the year and that’s what we did. We had a group that didn’t flinch at that deficit and made some effort.”
New York’s strategy during the following minutes centered on fundamental basketball principles. When Brunson advanced the ball upcourt, whichever player Harden was defending — typically either Mikal Bridges or OG Anunoby — would establish a screen against Brunson’s defender, forcing Harden to switch onto Brunson. Brunson then exploited this matchup by driving against Harden, creating opportunities for the floaters and bank shots that helped establish his All-Star reputation.
This approach yielded four consecutive New York baskets for Brunson, culminating in a three-pointer that narrowed the gap to 94-89 with 3½ minutes left.
Just before Brunson attempted that crucial three-pointer, ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson suggested Cleveland might benefit from a timeout if New York scored.
However, was the opportunity already lost? Cleveland witnessed multiple possessions where New York repeatedly executed the same strategy and could have stopped play earlier to implement defensive adjustments that might have altered the outcome.
“I like to hold my timeouts,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson explained afterward. “I didn’t want to get one timeout at the end of the game, a one- or two-point game. I try to hold them.”
Cleveland might have avoided overtime entirely with better fortune on two three-point attempts.
Mitchell attempted one with 3:47 remaining that rolled around the rim before falling out. Success there would have pushed Cleveland’s lead to 11 points. Instead, Brunson connected on his three-pointer just 17 seconds later, cutting the deficit to 94-89.
Later, after Shamet’s game-tying three-pointer bounced favorably off the rim before dropping through, Cleveland possessed the ball for regulation’s final possession and found Sam Merrill in prime position. His attempt appeared so accurate that play-by-play announcer Mike Breen seemed ready to deliver his famous “BANG!” call with the ball rolling inside the rim. However, he managed only “BA!” before switching to “In and out! That one halfway down!”
“We got a little unlucky,” Atkinson said.
During the game’s final 12:49 — encompassing the end of regulation plus overtime — Brunson alone outscored Cleveland 17-11. Anunoby nearly matched that feat with 10 points during the same period.
The statistics from that crucial stretch tell the story:
— Field goal shooting: New York .750 (15-20), Cleveland .222 (4-18).
— Three-point shooting: New York .750 (6-8), Cleveland .182 (2-11).
— Free throw shooting: New York .800 (8-10, all from Anunoby), Cleveland .250 (1-4).
— Rebounding: New York 13, Cleveland 2.
— Brunson converted 8 of 10 shots during those minutes, while Shamet and Bridges combined for perfect 5-for-5 shooting (all three-pointers).
— Harden (1-5) and Mitchell (0-5) struggled badly, combining for just 1-for-10 shooting during the collapse.
A Norwegian soccer star anticipated to make his country’s World Cup roster has joined fellow athletes in pressing FIFA to enhance heat safety measures for the upcoming tournament.
Morten Thorsby, who is likely to represent Norway in their first men’s World Cup appearance since 1998, has signed onto demands for stronger heat protection protocols. Thorsby established “We Play Green” in 2020, an initiative encouraging soccer athletes to take action on environmental and climate concerns.
The Norwegian player joined dozens of other soccer athletes in signing a letter from the New Weather Institute urging FIFA to adopt better heat safety standards. The correspondence emphasizes that “essential that the best available medical expertise is put to practice” during the tournament scheduled across the United States, Canada and Mexico starting June 11.
“We share the concerns outlined by the medical professionals and support their demand that FIFA updates its heat-stress framework before the World Cup,” the letter states.
The athletes’ appeal follows a separate communication from prominent health specialists to soccer’s international governing body last week. These medical experts expressed alarm about “worrying levels of heat stress” that could affect players during the competition and stated they are “concerned that FIFA’s current guidelines on heat stress mitigation are inadequate and will place players at risk of heat injury.”
The health professionals recommended implementing 6-minute cooling intervals during games and ensuring locker facilities include “the right equipment for aggressive pre-game and halftime cooling.”
Research has indicated that 14 out of 16 host cities for World Cup matches will face “levels of extreme heat, which could be potentially dangerous to players, match officials and possibly spectators.” Studies show wet bulb globe temperatures — measurements incorporating humidity, wind speed, sun angle and additional factors — may surpass 90 F (32 C) during afternoon hours in Monterrey, Mexico, while Miami was highlighted for its “particularly high humidity.”
FIFA has established a Heat Illness Mitigation and Management Task Force consisting of medical and operational specialists and implemented various heat-related measures, including mandatory 3-minute hydration pauses for athletes during each half regardless of weather, while team personnel and substitutes will have access to climate-controlled seating areas during outdoor competitions.
The international soccer organization stated that weather conditions have been considered in developing the match schedule.
MIAMI (AP) — Federal prosecutors were set to reveal criminal charges Wednesday targeting former Cuban President Raúl Castro, as the current administration intensifies its pressure campaign against Cuba’s socialist leadership, sources with knowledge of the situation reported.
Miami-based federal prosecutors have been developing an indictment connected to Castro’s suspected involvement in the 1996 destruction of two aircraft flown by Brothers to the Rescue, a Miami-headquartered exile organization. The 94-year-old Castro served as Cuba’s defense minister during that period.
The anticipated charges encompass murder and aircraft destruction, according to one source briefed on the matter. These individuals requested anonymity since they lacked authorization to speak publicly before the official announcement.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche along with other senior Justice Department leadership were scheduled to attend a Miami ceremony Wednesday commemorating the victims of the aircraft attack.
President Donald Trump has been issuing military threats against Cuba following U.S. forces’ capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Cuba’s long-standing ally. Following Maduro’s removal, the White House implemented a blockade cutting off fuel deliveries to Cuba, resulting in widespread power outages, food scarcity and economic devastation throughout the nation.
Following Maduro’s detention, Trump has intensified discussions about Cuban regime change after promising earlier this year to execute a “friendly takeover” of the nation unless its leaders opened their economy to American investment and expelled U.S. enemies.
Trump’s initial presidency brought drug-trafficking charges against Maduro and used those accusations to justify his removal through a surprise military operation in January that transported the Venezuelan president to New York for prosecution.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday called on Cuban citizens to demand a free-market system with new leadership that he claimed would establish a fresh direction in U.S. relations.
“In the U.S., we are ready to open a new chapter in the relationship between our people,” Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, said in a Spanish-language video message. “Currently, the only thing standing in the way of a better future are those who control your country.”
Cuba’s deputy foreign minister, Carlos F. de Cossío attacked Rubio on X, claiming he “lies so repeatedly and unscrupulously about Cuba and tries to justify the aggression he inflicts on the Cuban people.” Rubio “knows full well that there is no excuse for such cruel and ruthless aggression.”
No evidence suggests Castro will be brought into U.S. custody in the near future.
He assumed the presidency from his ill older brother Fidel Castro in 2006 before transferring authority to a loyal ally, Díaz-Canel, in 2018.
Though he stepped down as Cuban Communist Party leader in 2021, he is widely thought to maintain influence from behind the scenes, highlighted by his grandson Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro’s prominent role, who previously held secret discussions with Rubio.
Last week, CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Havana for discussions with Cuban leadership, including Castro’s grandson. Two additional senior State Department representatives met with the grandson in April.
“The symbolic nature is absolutely crucial,” said Lindsey Lazopoulos Friedman, a former prosecutor at the U.S. attorney’s office in Miami who handled national security cases and crimes involving Cubans.
“Even though Raúl Castro will likely stay and die in Cuba, you can use the indictment as a pressure point, a tactical advantage, to extract other concessions like the release of prisoners or to keep Russia out,” she added.
Beginning in 1995, aircraft operated by Brothers to the Rescue members, an organization established by Cuban exiles, flew over Havana distributing pamphlets encouraging Cubans to rebel against the Castro regime.
Cuban authorities complained to the U.S. government, cautioning they would protect their airspace. Federal Aviation Administration officials also launched an inquiry and met with the organization’s leadership to encourage them to halt the flights, according to declassified government documents obtained by George Washington University’s National Security Archive.
“This latest overflight can only be seen as further taunting of the Cuban Government,” an FAA official wrote in an email to her superiors after one intrusion in January 1996. “Worst case scenario is that one of these days the Cubans will shoot down one of these planes.”
However, these warnings were ignored and on Feb. 24, 1996, missiles launched by Russian-manufactured MiG-29 fighter aircraft destroyed two unarmed civilian Cessna planes shortly north of Havana just outside Cuba’s airspace. All four occupants perished.
Guy Lewis, who served as a federal prosecutor, discovered evidence connecting senior Cuban military leaders to cocaine smuggling by Colombia’s Medellin cartel. After the shootdown, the probe expanded, and prosecutors pursued charges against Raúl Castro for directing a massive racketeering operation by Cuba’s military forces.
“The evidence was strong,” Lewis said in an interview.
Ultimately, the Clinton administration charged four people, including the MiG pilots, the Cuban air force commander and the leader of a Cuban intelligence network in Miami — the sole individual to serve time in a U.S. prison — for supplying crucial information about the flights.
The event prompted the U.S. to strengthen its stance against Cuba, despite the Cold War’s conclusion and the declining memory of the Castros’ support for revolution throughout Latin America.
However, Castro himself escaped charges as the Clinton administration — which had quietly attempted to improve Cuban relations before the incident — expressed foreign policy concerns regarding such a prominent indictment.
“Raúl was definitely one who slipped through the noose,” Lewis said. “The crime is notorious. Three U.S. citizens and one legal permanent resident were killed in a premeditated orchestrated murder. That should never be forgotten.”
An organization established by Cuban exiles called Brothers to the Rescue sits at the core of the U.S. Justice Department’s effort to pursue criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, a development that could resurrect one of the most contentious episodes in the nations’ troubled history spanning decades.
According to a source with knowledge of the probe who spoke to The Associated Press, the possible charges relate to Castro’s suspected involvement in the 1996 downing of two aircraft flown by the Miami-headquartered exile organization. At that time, Castro served as defense minister, positioning him as the country’s second-highest official behind his brother Fidel.
The source requested anonymity as they lacked permission to speak publicly about an active investigation.
Brothers to the Rescue launched operations in 1980 amid the unexpected exodus of 125,000 Cubans to the United States. Established by emigrant José Basulto, the organization sought to assist Cuban refugees navigating the Florida straits through aerial supply drops and Coast Guard notifications.
The extended crisis started when some Cubans demonstrated against travel limitations enforced by President Fidel Castro’s communist regime, prompting Castro to open Mariel port to departing citizens, resulting in the straits becoming crowded with desperate individuals.
The administration of U.S. President Bill Clinton modified immigration policies to prevent Cubans from attempting the dangerous journey north on unstable, improvised vessels. However, Brothers to the Rescue, alternatively called by its Spanish designation Hermanos al Rescate, persisted in flying near Cuban airspace and antagonizing Havana.
On Feb. 24, 1996, three aircraft transporting Brothers to the Rescue members flew into an area near the 24th parallel, located a brief distance north of Havana and some of Cuba’s most critical installations.
Cuban military aircraft destroyed two of the exiles’ defenseless civilian Cessnas, resulting in the deaths of all four occupants. A third aircraft, transporting the group’s leader, barely avoided the same fate.
American University Cuba expert William LeoGrande and National Security Archive senior researcher Peter Kornbluh stated this week that their 2015 publication, “Back Channel to Cuba: The Hidden History of Negotiations between Washington and Havana,” demonstrates how the Clinton administration’s continuous advisories about provoking Cuba failed to deter Hermanos al Rescate.
“Only after the shootdown did the FAA issue a concrete ‘cease and desist’ order against Basulto for what it called ‘careless or reckless’ operations that ‘endanger the lives or property of others,’” the authors stated.
Given Hermanos al Rescate’s provocation of the Cuban government, the U.S. failure to halt the organization, and the Cuban air force’s attack on civilian aircraft, “there’s no good guys in this story,” LeoGrande observed.
U.S. counterintelligence apprehended five Cuban intelligence operatives who had penetrated Brothers to the Rescue. This narrative was dramatized in the film “The Wasp Network.”
Two of the Cuban operatives completed lengthy prison terms while three were freed through a prisoner swap that preceded former President Barack Obama’s diplomatic opening with Raúl Castro.
Two Cuban fighter pilots and their superior officer who were also charged in connection with the shootdown have stayed beyond U.S. law enforcement jurisdiction while residing in Cuba.
Castro has faced U.S. criminal scrutiny previously. In 1993, federal prosecutors in Miami contemplated charging him and other high-ranking Cuban military leaders with drug trafficking based on Colombian trafficker testimony that surfaced during former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega’s narcotics trial, the AP reported in 2006.
However, charges were never filed as the Clinton administration expressed foreign policy objections.
WASHINGTON — A pair of law enforcement officers who protected the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to prevent anyone, including the rioters themselves, from collecting money from a newly established $1.776 billion settlement fund intended for individuals claiming to be victims of politically motivated prosecutions.
The legal action was filed Wednesday, one day after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified before Congress about the fund’s establishment. Blanche, who previously served as President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer before joining the Justice Department, declined to rule out the possibility that individuals who attacked police during the January 6 riot could qualify for payments from the fund.
In their legal filing, the officers characterize the government’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund” as an unlawful slush fund that Trump intends to use to “finance the insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violence in his name.” The lawsuit characterizes the fund’s establishment as “the most brazen act of presidential corruption this century” and demands its elimination.
“No statute authorizes its creation, the settlement on which it is premised is a corrupt sham, and its design violates the Constitution and federal law,” the suit says.
The fund originates from a settlement related to Trump’s $10 billion legal action against the Internal Revenue Service concerning the disclosure of his tax documents. Its purpose is to provide compensation to individuals who believe they faced unfair treatment from previous administrations’ Justice Department. A five-member panel selected by the attorney general will determine payment distributions.
The Capitol riot resulted in injuries to more than 100 law enforcement officers. Prosecutors brought charges against over 1,600 individuals for January 6-related offenses, though Trump eliminated all of these cases through comprehensive pardons last year.
The legal challenge comes from Metropolitan Police Department officer Daniel Hodges and former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, who is running in Maryland for a seat in Congress. Both Hodges and Dunn provided congressional testimony about their traumatic January 6 experiences. Video footage showed a rioter removing Hodges’ mask while he was trapped against a door during fighting over a tunnel entrance.
The officers argue the fund “encourages those who enacted violence in the President’s name to continue to do so.”
“Dunn and Hodges already face credible threats of death and violence on regular basis; the Fund substantially increases the danger,” the suit alleges.
During Tuesday’s congressional hearing, lawmakers questioned Blanche extensively about the fund. He characterized it as “unusual” but not unprecedented. Blanche failed to acknowledge that Trump’s Justice Department has investigated and prosecuted some of the Republican president’s political enemies, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The lawsuit also names Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as defendants. Representatives from the Justice and Treasury departments did not immediately provide responses to requests for comment regarding the legal action.
Brendan Ballou, a former Justice Department prosecutor who worked on Jan. 6 cases, represents the officers as one of their attorneys.
A Spanish court has identified the son of a fashion retail mogul as a suspect in connection with his father’s deadly fall from a cliff, according to court documents reviewed by Reuters.
Jonathan Andic, age 45, was named by a Barcelona court on Tuesday as part of an ongoing investigation into the death of fashion executive Isak Andic, who plunged more than 100 meters (328 feet) from a cliff located near the Catalan capital.
According to the court filing, Judge Raquel Nieto Galvan stated there was “sufficient evidence to suggest that the death of (Isak Andic) may not have been accidental, and that (Jonathan Andic) played an active and premeditated role in his father’s death.”
Attempts to reach Jonathan Andic’s legal representative for comment were unsuccessful. A family spokesperson declined to provide comment, pointing to Tuesday’s statement that described the investigation as a chance to demonstrate his innocence.
The judge indicated that their troubled relationship stemmed from Jonathan’s “obsession with money to the extent that he asked his father (Isak Andic) for an inheritance while he was still alive,” according to Nieto Galvan’s written findings.
Text messages on WhatsApp revealed that Jonathan Andic had expressed “feelings of hatred, resentment and thoughts of death, and blaming his father for his situation.”
The court documents suggest Jonathan sought either to obtain his inheritance during his father’s lifetime “or for the figure of the father to cease to exist, either in his thoughts or in reality.”
WORKPLACE AND FAMILY TENSIONS
Court testimony revealed that some of the animosity originated from incidents in 2015 when Isak Andic initially granted his son expanded duties at Mango before abruptly removing those responsibilities. This sequence of events led to what the court described as “a crisis on a professional, personal and family level, particularly with his father” for Jonathan Andic.
While Jonathan Andic acknowledged to the judge that his father had taken back some authority he had been granted at Mango, he disputed that this situation had caused any professional or personal friction between them.
The court filing indicates that Jonathan learned in mid-2024 of Isak’s intention to modify his will to establish a charitable foundation for those in need, which resulted in “a marked change” in his behavior. He then attempted to repair relations with his father, who agreed to Jonathan’s suggestion for the December 14 hiking trip so they could have a private conversation.
Jonathan’s actions both before and after the deadly hiking excursion also drew scrutiny. Vehicle tracking data revealed he had traveled to the identical location on December 7, December 8 and December 10, despite his claims that he had only visited the area once, two weeks prior to his father’s death.
Jonathan provided inconsistent accounts of what transpired during two emergency service phone calls and in a subsequent police statement.
Police conducted four reconstructions and determined that the footprint evidence at the location and the manner of the body’s fall did not align with an accidental slip.
Investigators found that he had fallen feet-first in a sliding motion. Additionally, there were no injuries to his palms, which led authorities to eliminate the possibility that he had stumbled over a rock.
Jonathan Andic also replaced his mobile phone, resulting in the loss of all its stored information, claiming it had been taken during a three-day visit to Quito, Ecuador in March 2025. The timing of the phone’s disappearance aligned with news coverage indicating the case had been reopened, the judge noted.
The French video game publisher Ubisoft delivered sobering financial news Wednesday, projecting continued losses and declining revenue following what executives described as a record-breaking annual deficit.
The gaming company disclosed an International Financial Reporting Standards operating deficit of 1.3 billion euros ($1.40 billion) for the fiscal year ending March 2026. During a media briefing, Chief Financial Officer Frederic Duguet characterized this figure as unprecedented for the company. Meanwhile, net bookings dropped 17.4% to reach 1.53 billion euros.
Looking ahead to fiscal year 2026-27, Ubisoft projected revenue will decline between 8% and 9%, accompanied by a high single-digit operating loss margin and potential cash expenditures reaching 500 million euros. Company officials anticipate returning to profitability and positive free cash flow during 2027-28, banking on an improved game release schedule and expansion of live-service, online multiplayer titles designed to generate ongoing player spending similar to Riot Games “League of Legends.”
The publisher has faced mounting challenges stemming from disappointing game launches, production delays, and a January reorganization that negatively impacted stock prices. Management indicated the company maintains sufficient cash reserves for immediate debt obligations and is currently negotiating with financial institutions to refinance upcoming payment deadlines.
In a significant leadership development, the company announced that Nicolo Laurent, the former chief executive of Tencent-owned Riot Games, will join Vantage Studios as a special adviser. Vantage Studios represents a joint venture between Tencent and Ubisoft focused on managing the publisher’s most valuable gaming properties.
For the upcoming first quarter, Ubisoft forecasts net bookings of approximately 250 million euros, timed with the launch of “Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced,” an updated version of the popular 2013 Caribbean-themed adventure.
As part of its cost-reduction strategy, the publisher eliminated roughly 1,200 positions during the previous year, bringing total employment to about 16,600 workers. The company also reduced fixed expenses by 118 million euros to 1.435 billion euros in 2025-26, with plans to further decrease costs to 1.25 billion euros by March 2028 as it works to achieve financial stability.
A federal appeals court has dismissed allegations that Amazon knowingly assisted overseas fur manufacturers in avoiding import duties and fees through its online marketplace.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined on Wednesday that there was insufficient evidence showing Amazon was aware that international manufacturers were deliberately understating shipment values to pay reduced tariffs, or that they were bypassing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service inspection requirements by omitting necessary documentation and using ports not monitored by the agency.
The lawsuit was brought by Mike Henig, who operates Henig Furs from Montgomery, Alabama. Henig alleged that Amazon should have recognized that overseas manufacturers were offering products at unusually low prices by illegally avoiding import duties and fees from 2007 through 2024, violating the False Claims Act by depriving the federal government of revenue.
However, the appeals court based in New York determined there could be legitimate reasons for the reduced pricing, including operational efficiencies or reduced labor expenses.
Circuit Judge Jose Cabranes, writing for the unanimous three-member panel, stated that “Below-market prices alone are therefore insufficient in this case to show that Amazon was aware of a substantial risk that the foreign manufacturers were submitting false claims.” The ruling confirmed a lower court’s dismissal from January 2025.
The Seattle-based online retailer frequently faces legal challenges from customers and businesses attempting to hold it accountable for actions taken by third-party sellers using its platform.
In 2025, the company’s revenue exceeded that of Walmart, which had long held the position as the world’s top retailer by revenue.
Representatives for Henig did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Amazon and its legal team also did not provide immediate responses to similar inquiries.
This case represents one of several tariff-related legal challenges facing Amazon.
Just last Friday, consumers initiated a proposed class action lawsuit alleging that Amazon failed to reimburse customers for increased costs that stemmed from tariffs later deemed unlawful by the U.S. Supreme Court during President Donald Trump’s administration. Similar legal actions have been filed against numerous other major companies including Costco, FedEx and Nike.
Two law enforcement officers who protected the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021 riot have taken legal action to stop President Donald Trump’s nearly $1.8 billion compensation fund for victims of political weaponization.
Harry Dunn, a former Capitol Police officer, and Daniel Hodges from the Metropolitan Police Department filed their federal court challenge in Washington on Wednesday. In their legal filing, they claim Trump has established a taxpayer-funded slush fund worth $1.776 billion designed to benefit insurrectionists and paramilitary organizations that engage in violence on his behalf.
The officers are requesting a judicial order to prevent any disbursements from the fund, describing it as the most blatant example of presidential corruption in this century.
The compensation fund emerged from Trump’s Monday settlement with the Internal Revenue Service, where he agreed to withdraw his $10 billion legal action concerning the disclosure of his tax documents from his previous presidency. The Justice Department established the fund as part of this agreement to provide compensation for those affected by political weaponization.
During congressional hearings on Tuesday, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche fielded numerous inquiries about the fund’s operations. Blanche explained that the money would be available to individuals from all political parties and would not be restricted solely to January 6 defendants. He noted that eligibility would be determined broadly based on experiences of weaponization.
Dunn, who is Black and served 15 years protecting lawmakers, has spoken publicly about enduring physical attacks and racist harassment during the Capitol assault. Trump supporters were attempting to stop Congress from confirming former President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Dunn testified before a bipartisan House committee investigating the deadly incident and has discussed his struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from the attack.
Hodges gained widespread attention when video footage showed him trapped in a revolving door by a rioter using a police shield during the Capitol breach. He continues serving with Washington’s police department and has provided congressional testimony about his ordeal.
Sussex County has teamed up with the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and the Delaware Office of State Planning Coordination (OSPC) to begin a comprehensive planning initiative for managing future development along the US Route 9 and US Route 113 corridors. This research will provide guidance for recommendations before the County’s scheduled comprehensive plan revision and assist in directing upcoming choices regarding infrastructure, land use, and development projects.
To support this initiative, Sussex County is requesting community participation through an online survey created to collect opinions on existing conditions, resident priorities, and potential developments along the US Route 9 corridor. Community feedback will directly influence proposed enhancements and strategic planning approaches for the long term.
Local residents and community members with a stake in the area are invited to learn additional details and provide their thoughts by accessing the Master Plan Study website.
A Heat Advisory remains in effect until 8 PM tonight for northern portions of the Delmarva Peninsula as dangerous heat index values climb toward 97 degrees.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory this morning for New Castle County in Delaware, along with neighboring areas in southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity creates potentially dangerous conditions that could lead to heat-related illnesses.
“We’re looking at some serious heat out there today,” said meteorologists at the Mount Holly office. “The heat index – what it actually feels like outside – could reach 97 degrees, which puts people at risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”
Officials urge residents to take precautions during the hottest part of the day. Stay indoors in air-conditioned spaces when possible, drink plenty of water, and avoid prolonged sun exposure. Don’t forget to check on elderly neighbors and relatives who may be more vulnerable to the heat.
The advisory expires at 8 PM tonight, with cooler conditions expected to move in overnight. However, residents should continue monitoring weather conditions as we head into the peak summer months ahead.
A national milk producers federation has released its regulatory register covering the Spring 2026 period. The publication contains information about regulatory developments affecting the dairy industry during that timeframe.
Three University of Delaware track and field athletes have received Conference USA all-conference recognition following their strong showings at the outdoor championships, according to a Wednesday announcement from the league.
The honored athletes include Olamide Ayeni, who competes in throwing events, Lauren Leath, a sprints competitor, and Kadence Dumas, who runs middle-distance races. All three earned their all-conference status through their performances at the conference’s outdoor track and field championships.
The Conference USA league made the honors announcement on Wednesday, recognizing the standout performances from the University of Delaware’s track and field program during the outdoor season.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s national soccer team has scrapped its planned three-day training camp and public farewell event in Kinshasa due to health concerns stemming from an Ebola outbreak affecting the eastern regions of the country.
The team will relocate its preparation activities following an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which health officials believe has resulted in more than 130 deaths and nearly 600 suspected infections.
The World Health Organization has classified the situation as a public health emergency of international concern.
The team’s upcoming exhibition matches remain unchanged, with games against Denmark set for June 3 in Liege, Belgium, and Chile scheduled for June 9 in southern Spain. Team spokesman Jerry Kalemo confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday that both fixtures will proceed as originally planned.
“There were three stages of preparation: in Kinshasa to say goodbye to the public, Belgium and Spain with two friendly matches against Denmark in Liege and Chile in Spain, and the third stage from June 11 in Houston, United States. Only one stage was canceled – the one in Kinshasa,” Kalemo said.
The entire roster and French coach Sébastien Desabre are currently residing outside the central African nation, with the majority of players competing professionally in France.
Team personnel who remain in Congo “are leaving in the next hours,” Kalemo said.
FIFA released a statement acknowledging its awareness of the health crisis, saying “it is aware of and monitoring the situation regarding an Ebola outbreak and is in close communication with the Congo DR Football Association to ensure that the team are made aware of all medical and security guidance.
“FIFA continues to work with all three FIFA World Cup 2026 host countries’ governments, including the US Department of State, CDC and Department of Homeland Security, Mexico’s Secretariat of Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada, as well as with the World Health Organization, to ensure a safe and secure tournament, as the health of all individuals involved remains FIFA’s priority.”
Congo secured its World Cup spot by winning a playoff tournament in Mexico and has been placed in Group K. The team will open tournament play against Portugal in Houston on June 17.
The Leopards will then meet Colombia in Guadalajara on June 23 before concluding group stage action against Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 27.
This marks Congo’s first World Cup appearance since 1974, when the nation competed under the name Zaire, leading to widespread celebration throughout the country that has endured decades of armed conflict.
Federal authorities announced Wednesday they have placed financial sanctions on over a dozen individuals and businesses allegedly connected to the Sinaloa cartel’s deadly fentanyl trafficking operations.
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control focused on Jesus Gonzalez Penuelas, a fugitive also called Chuy Gonzalez, who officials say is involved in smuggling narcotics into the United States and washing money for the criminal organization. The State Department has maintained a $5 million bounty for information leading to his capture since 2024.
The sanctions also target Armando de Jesus Ojeda Aviles, who authorities claim assists in cleaning drug proceeds for the cartel’s benefit.
Among the businesses sanctioned is Gorditas Chiwas, a restaurant located in Chihuahua that operates under the control of previously sanctioned businessman Alfredo Orozco Romero.
These financial penalties disconnect the targets from American banking systems, prohibit business dealings with U.S. citizens, and freeze any American assets they may hold. Officials have not disclosed how deeply these individuals and companies are integrated into U.S. financial networks.
Treasury Scott Bessent stated that Treasury “will continue to target terrorist cartels and their fentanyl trafficking networks to protect our communities and Keep America Safe.”
The synthetic opioid fentanyl represents the most lethal drug threat facing America currently. Just 2 milligrams entering the human body can cause death.
Though drug overdose fatalities rose dramatically over the past twenty years, climbing roughly 520% between 1999 and 2023, recent CDC statistics show overdose deaths dropping nearly 3% from 2022 to 2023.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, which fights illegal drug smuggling, Mexico and China serve as the main sources for fentanyl and related substances entering the United States directly. Chinese companies supply virtually all the chemical ingredients required for fentanyl production, frequently using false return addresses and incorrect product labels to evade law enforcement detection.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly proposed deploying American military forces against the cartels, and his administration classified the Sinaloa cartel as a terrorist organization in 2025.
Mexico’s financial intelligence division collaborated with Treasury officials and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to identify the targets of Wednesday’s sanctions.
Media investor James Murdoch announced Wednesday his plans to purchase three key divisions of Vox Media through his investment company Lupa Systems, in a deal valued at more than $300 million according to sources familiar with the transaction.
The acquisition encompasses New York Magazine along with its digital publications, the Vox news platform, and an extensive podcast network that collectively attract tens of millions of readers and listeners, the digital media company confirmed.
Through Lupa Systems, Murdoch will gain ownership of one of the industry’s most well-known magazine brands and a substantial podcasting operation during a period when digital media companies are seeking new opportunities for expansion.
The purchase also covers the Vox news platform, which creates content in various formats including video, written articles and podcasts like “Today, Explained” and “America, Actually.”
“This acquisition reflects both our interest in the forward edge of culture and our deep commitment to ambitious journalism,” James Murdoch stated. He is the younger son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
James has developed Lupa Systems as a media and technology company independent from the conservative media empire that includes Fox News and News Corp, which has been headed by his father Rupert and is now under his brother Lachlan’s control.
According to a source close to the deal who spoke with Reuters, the Vox acquisition is worth over $300 million. The New York Times initially reported the transaction on Wednesday.
Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff will move to Lupa Systems while maintaining his leadership role over the brands under the Vox Media name, he informed company employees in a memo. He noted the deal should finalize within four to six weeks.
New York Magazine’s portfolio features The Cut, Vulture and Intelligencer, attracting a digital readership in the tens of millions along with over 400,000 paying subscribers.
The Vox Media podcast network hosts approximately 50 programs, including “Pivot” featuring Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway, as well as the crime podcast “Criminal.”
Several other Vox Media properties including Eater, Popsugar and The Verge are not part of this deal. Those brands, together with SB Nation and The Dodo, will form a separate independent company operating under a different corporate identity.
The chief executive of Germany’s Volkswagen addressed employee concerns Wednesday, denying current negotiations with Chinese manufacturers regarding the company’s European manufacturing facilities that are dealing with excess production capacity.
CEO Oliver Blume spoke to workers during a general assembly in Wolfsburg, attempting to address growing speculation about the future of the automaker’s German operations. The company faces mounting pressure from declining profits, reduced demand, and fierce competition, forcing Europe’s largest car manufacturer to consider downsizing its extensive facility network.
“We still have excess capacity at our plants in Europe and Germany. We need to address this in order to remain competitive,” Blume told the assembly, emphasizing there were “currently no plans or discussions with Chinese manufacturers.”
The automotive giant has undergone three years of cost reduction measures, including eliminating 50,000 positions in Germany and implementing cuts across its Audi and Porsche divisions. Blume indicated these measures have strengthened the company for challenging times marked by high tariffs and changing markets.
The CEO warned that European sales would not return to pre-pandemic levels and acknowledged that the company’s traditional approach of manufacturing vehicles in Germany for global export is shifting toward localized production in key markets such as China, where Volkswagen operates through partnerships with local companies.
The automaker has committed to preventing factory shutdowns through agreements with German labor unions and the company’s influential works council.
Last month, Blume mentioned potential solutions including contracts with defense companies or Chinese facility-sharing arrangements, which sparked media speculation about possible partnerships similar to recent agreements between Stellantis and Chinese automakers.
Government officials in Lower Saxony and Saxony have shown support for plant partnerships with Chinese companies, concerned about protecting local industry. However, critics worry that such collaborations could assist Chinese automakers like BYD and Chery in expanding their European market presence.
The company is proceeding with negotiations to sell its northern Germany facility in Osnabrueck to a defense partner. Volkswagen reports achieving cost reductions exceeding 20% on average last year at its Wolfsburg, Emden, and Zwickau plants.
Works council head Daniela Cavallo urged an end to speculation about the German facilities’ future, telling thousands of workers at the assembly: “One gets the impression that Volkswagen is almost a takeover target and needs to be rescued.”
Cavallo encouraged management to concentrate on product success rather than “the umpteenth debate about alleged plant closures or supposed talks with third parties regarding alternative uses for our plants.”
Morocco and France are working together on a groundbreaking partnership agreement that will be finalized during King Mohammed VI’s upcoming state visit to France, foreign ministers from both nations announced Wednesday.
Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita revealed to reporters that this will mark Morocco’s first treaty with any European nation, following discussions with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in Rabat. The ministers did not provide a timeline for the royal visit.
The diplomatic relationship between the two countries has strengthened significantly after Paris acknowledged Rabat’s authority over the contested Western Sahara region in 2024.
“Moroccan-French partnership is living its best era at all levels,” Bourita stated, highlighting cooperation in defense manufacturing, security matters, and aviation sectors.
Barrot emphasized the historic nature of the agreement, noting “this will be the first treaty of its kind with a non-European country.” He explained the pact aims to establish a foundation for enduring bilateral relations, though specific terms and provisions were not disclosed by either side.
Regarding the Western Sahara dispute, Barrot confirmed France supports renewed direct negotiations between all involved parties, based on autonomy under Moroccan control and consistent with UN Security Council resolution 2797. This stance has strained France’s relationship with Algeria, which supports the Polisario Front’s independence movement for Western Sahara.
Barrot described Morocco as France’s primary economic ally in Africa and a crucial logistical and financial gateway to the continent, making collaboration “natural” between the nations.
As France has reduced its footprint in West Africa and the Sahel region, Morocco has grown its regional presence through various sectors including commerce, fertilizer production, banking, telecommunications, and construction enterprises.
BELFAST, May 20 – A Belfast court ruled Wednesday that Eleanor Donaldson, spouse of ex-Northern Ireland political figure Jeffrey Donaldson, cannot proceed to trial on charges connected to historical sexual offenses due to her medical condition.
Her husband, the former Democratic Unionist Party leader, is scheduled to face trial next week on charges including one rape count, 13 indecent assault counts involving a female minor, and four gross indecency counts toward a child. Jeffrey Donaldson has entered not guilty pleas to all charges.
The joint trial proceedings for both Jeffrey and Eleanor Donaldson have been postponed for over a year because of Eleanor’s health problems. Her charges include allegations of aiding and abetting rape.
Following testimony from medical experts Wednesday, Judge Paul Ramsey determined Eleanor Donaldson was medically unfit to participate in standard trial proceedings.
Instead, Eleanor will undergo what’s called a trial of the facts, a process where jurors determine whether the defendant performed the alleged acts, rather than rendering a traditional guilty or not guilty verdict.
Jeffrey Donaldson, formerly among Northern Ireland’s most prominent political figures, abruptly resigned from his leadership position of the region’s biggest pro-British unionist party in March 2024. His departure came after the DUP announced he faced charges involving historical allegations.
After several days of summer-like heat and isolated strong thunderstorms, a much cooler and wetter weather pattern is expected to settle across Delmarva heading into the holiday weekend.
We are tracking a stalled cold front expected to remain just south of the region Thursday through much of Memorial Day weekend. This boundary will act as a focus for multiple rounds of showers as waves of low pressure and upper level disturbances move along it.
The unsettled pattern will begin as early as Thursday with scattered showers developing across the area, but the potential for steadier and more widespread rainfall appears to increase Friday into Saturday. Forecast guidance continues to show a developing area of low pressure tracking west of the region while strong high pressure to the northeast wedges cooler air southward into the Mid Atlantic. This setup may create a classic cool air damming pattern, leading to chilly northeast winds, cloudy skies, and periods of rain.
Rainfall could become heavy at times, especially on Saturday. Atmospheric moisture levels are forecast to rise significantly, with precipitable water values climbing between 1.50 and 1.90 inches, which is near the climatological maximum for late May. Because of this, there is at least a marginal concern for excessive rainfall and localized flooding if heavier bands of rain develop along the stalled frontal boundary.
Temperatures will also take a dramatic turn compared to the recent heat. Highs Thursday through Saturday may struggle well below normal in many areas due to persistent northeast flow, thick cloud cover, and repeated rounds of rain. Some gradual warming is expected by Sunday and Memorial Day as the stalled boundary weakens and shifts, although additional showers remain possible through the holiday itself.
While the timing is not ideal for outdoor plans and holiday travel, the upcoming rainfall will provide some beneficial moisture for the region as long term drought conditions continue across parts of the Mid Atlantic and Delmarva Peninsula.
Residents planning outdoor activities for the holiday weekend should stay updated on the latest forecasts as confidence continues to increase in a prolonged stretch of cooler and unsettled weather.
SALISBURY, Md. — Salisbury officials have announced a two-week shutdown of the downtown parking garage beginning June 1 and lasting through June 15 to accommodate essential structural repairs and facility upgrades.
The comprehensive renovation project will include multiple improvements:
Professional contractors will conduct corbel repair work on the garage structure.
Fresh paint will be applied to stairwells along with a new numbering system designed to help visitors navigate more easily.
New payment signs will be mounted throughout all interior floors, ramps, and shared spaces.
Crews will pressure wash every interior level, ramp, and common area.
Automated cleaning equipment will sweep all driving lanes and parking spaces.
Workers will clear out accumulated trash, debris, and blockages from every level and corner.
Landscaping work will enhance entrance and exit areas plus surrounding grounds where needed.
All doors and windows will receive inspection and repairs, including hardware, closing mechanisms, and weather protection.
Outstanding standpipe system inspections, testing, and maintenance will be completed.
Elevator safety inspections will be finished to meet compliance requirements.
Damaged tiles and flooring in elevator cars and entrance areas will be replaced.
Officials recommend that both short-term and permit holders use Lot 1, 10, 12, or 15, as well as street parking options across downtown while the garage remains closed.
Directional signs will be installed to guide motorists toward available parking alternatives.
Mayor Taylor commented, “While closure of the parking garage is never convenient, as you can see, the City has timed a host of repairs for this closure in order to limit disruptions. We appreciate your patience as we strive to keep the garage properly maintained.”
To help residents and visitors cope with the garage closure, city officials will ease street parking enforcement, focusing only on serious infractions like parking in the wrong direction or double parking.
Officials express gratitude for public understanding and cooperation while these critical facility improvements are underway.
Those seeking updates and more details can check the City of Salisbury’s website or monitor the city’s official social media accounts.
NASA’s Perseverance Rover is approaching a significant milestone as it continues its extended mission exploring the Red Planet’s surface. The robotic vehicle has covered 26.09 miles during more than five years of operation, nearly reaching the standard marathon distance of 26.22 miles.
Mission manager Robert Hogg expects the rover will surpass the marathon mark within the coming month as it continues its scientific work.
The automobile-sized explorer touched down on the Martian surface on February 18, 2021, originally scheduled for a mission lasting one Martian year, equivalent to approximately 687 Earth days.
“The rover continues in good health with at least a decade left in its power source. The duration of the mission will depend on choices NASA makes,” said Ken Farley, the rover’s deputy project scientist at Caltech, in statements shared with Reuters through NASA.
Equipped with advanced scientific equipment, Perseverance has conducted operations within and surrounding Jezero Crater, located in Mars’ northern hemisphere. Scientists believe this region was once submerged under water and contained an ancient lake system. The area features various water-related geological formations, including an ancient fan-shaped sedimentary structure where a river emptied into a lake over three billion years ago.
While Mars today appears cold and barren, the planet once maintained a denser atmosphere and warmer temperatures that supported liquid water on its surface. Researchers hope to discover whether Mars once supported life forms. Since water represents a crucial component for life, Jezero Crater’s watery history makes it an ideal location for investigation.
NASA announced Perseverance’s most significant finding last year – a sample extracted from within the crater consisting of reddish rock that formed billions of years ago from lake-bottom sediment, potentially containing indicators of ancient microscopic life. Scientists noted that minerals identified by the rover might indicate past microbial activity, though they could also result from non-biological processes.
“Further work evaluating whether these are truly evidence of Martian life requires analysis in terrestrial laboratories that contain the kinds of instrumentation necessary to make that determination,” Farley explained.
“Perseverance will continue to collect rock samples with the hope for return to Earth by a future robotic or crewed mission,” Farley added.
The rover has also collected information about organic compounds on Mars. Additional discoveries include documentation of electrical activity in the Martian atmosphere, detecting electrical charges commonly linked with spinning wind formations known as dust devils, and recording the first visible-light aurora observation on Mars, showing the sky glowing faintly in green.
During its initial years, Perseverance recorded the development cycle of the lake that occupied Jezero Crater approximately 3.7 billion years ago. The lake began as a shallow body of water, leaving salt-heavy sediments on the crater bottom, then expanded to a depth of at least 30 feet, with sandy materials flowing into the lake to create a delta formation, according to Farley.
The rover currently operates just beyond Jezero Crater’s boundaries, studying extremely old rock formations likely dating back more than four billion years. Since Mars and Earth both formed roughly 4.5 billion years ago, these rocks represent samples from the planet’s early period.
“Importantly this time period, and this surface environment, are very likely similar to those on Earth when life originated. Because rocks of this era were completely destroyed on Earth, Mars offers a key analog environment in which to investigate pre-biotic chemistry and possibly the origin of life,” Farley stated.
NASA operates a second rover on Mars called Curiosity, which arrived in 2012 at Gale Crater near the Martian equator and has traveled 22.93 miles. The rover with the greatest distance record on Mars was NASA’s Opportunity, which covered 28.06 miles during its mission from 2004 to 2019.
Perseverance carried a compact helicopter named Ingenuity that achieved the first powered and controlled aircraft flight on another world, successfully operating in Mars’ extremely thin atmosphere 72 times, traveling 10.5 miles and reaching heights of approximately 79 feet.
The varied environments both inside and outside Jezero Crater have provided valuable insights into Mars’ history.
“The fact that Perseverance could explore both a lake-river system and the early Martian crust, separated in time by perhaps half a billion years, means the Jezero site keeps on giving scientifically even after five years on the surface,” Farley concluded.
A leading Brazilian food delivery service has taken legal action against a Chinese-owned competitor, accusing the company of engaging in corporate espionage to gain unfair business advantages.
The company iFood, which is owned by Dutch investment group Prosus, filed the legal complaint in a Sao Paulo business court against Keeta, which is controlled by Chinese group Meituan. Court documents reviewed by Reuters show iFood is seeking a court order requiring its competitor to modify its business operations and pay moral damages totaling 1 million reais, along with additional compensation amounts to be decided later.
According to the legal filing, iFood claims that consulting companies contacted its workers in an attempt to acquire sensitive company information in return for “significant compensation.”
Responding to the allegations, Keeta issued a statement saying the company supports an open and competitive marketplace while following all regulatory requirements. The firm rejected claims that it hired outside parties to contact individuals for such activities and stated it has not been formally notified of the legal action.
The lawsuit details how iFood discovered a former worker who had agreed to one of these arrangements and participated in video meetings while still employed at the company. This discovery prompted a police inquiry that included searching and confiscating electronic equipment.
iFood stated that these investigative steps led to obtaining records demonstrating that accounts connected to the Meituan domain had participated in the communications.
Keeta entered Brazil’s food delivery sector, which iFood dominates, roughly one year ago with an initial investment of about $1 billion.
A Heat Advisory remains in effect for parts of northern Delmarva until 8 PM tonight, as dangerous heat index values climb toward 97 degrees.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory for New Castle County in Delaware, along with surrounding areas in southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity creates potentially dangerous conditions that could lead to heat-related illnesses.
“We’re seeing that oppressive combination of heat and humidity that can really impact your body’s ability to cool itself,” said meteorologists at the Mount Holly office.
Health officials urge residents to take precautions during the hottest part of the day. Stay indoors in air conditioning when possible, drink plenty of water throughout the day, and avoid prolonged sun exposure. Officials also remind everyone to check on elderly relatives and neighbors who may be more vulnerable to heat stress.
Children and pets should never be left in vehicles, even for short periods, as car interiors can reach deadly temperatures within minutes.
The advisory is set to expire at 8 PM tonight, with slightly cooler conditions expected tomorrow. However, residents should continue monitoring weather conditions as we move deeper into the warm season.
Weather officials have issued a heat advisory that went into effect Monday morning at 10:35 AM and will remain active until 8:00 PM Monday evening.
The advisory comes from the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, alerting residents to prepare for potentially dangerous heat conditions throughout the day.
Residents are advised to take appropriate precautions during the hottest hours and stay hydrated while limiting outdoor activities when possible.
The National Basketball Association announced Wednesday that the New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs will compete in two European cities next year as the league continues its multi-season commitment to international regular-season play.
The two franchises are set to face each other on January 14 in Paris, followed by another matchup in Manchester three days later on January 17.
This European tour continues the NBA’s previously announced plan to stage a minimum of six regular-season contests across Europe during a three-year period.
The initiative launched with matchups between the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic this past January, with those teams playing in Berlin and London. Future games scheduled for the 2027-28 campaign will occur in Berlin and Paris.
George Aivazoglou, the NBA’s managing director for Europe and the Middle East, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming games in an official statement.
“Playing games in Paris and Manchester reflects the strong momentum we’re seeing for basketball and the NBA in France, the UK and across Europe,” George Aivazoglou, the NBA’s managing director for Europe and the Middle East, said in a statement.
“As interest in the game continues to grow across the continent, we look forward to working with the Pelicans, the Spurs and our partners to deliver unique experiences for fans, aspiring players and the local communities.”
The upcoming Paris matchup will represent the NBA’s 16th contest in France dating back to 1991 and marks the sixth regular-season game held in Paris. While Manchester has not previously welcomed a regular-season NBA game, the event will be the 20th contest involving an NBA franchise in England since 1993.
SAN DIEGO — In a battle of wills that captivated everyone watching, Andy Pages stood firm in the batter’s box against Mason Miller and refused to back down. The Los Angeles outfielder managed to foul off six consecutive pitches from San Diego’s elite closer during a remarkable plate appearance Tuesday evening — three blazing fastballs over 100 mph and three 87 mph breaking balls.
On the ninth offering from Miller, Pages finally made solid contact, sending a 101.5 mph fastball just deep enough to bring home Los Angeles’ go-ahead run in the final frame of an exciting 5-4 triumph over the Padres.
For the Dodgers, this represented far more than a simple sacrifice fly, as they handed Miller (1-1) his initial defeat since joining San Diego.
Pages demonstrated once more that the reigning World Series champions can rise to meet any challenge presented by their nearest regional competitors — regardless of whether it arrives at triple-digit velocity.
“That was one of the greatest at-bats I’ve ever seen in person,” Freddie Freeman said. “And I’ve been playing a long time. That was incredible.”
The Dodgers understand they’ll be facing Miller regularly in future seasons, having already encountered the reliever nicknamed “The Reaper” in both opening contests of their initial series against the Padres this year.
Following Miller’s successful escape from trouble on Monday, the Dodgers created an unearned run Tuesday to defeat the standout performer from San Diego’s formidable bullpen. Los Angeles benefited from an ABS challenge and an unlucky throwing mistake by Miller, though the most difficult task fell to Pages, the Cuban center fielder who has performed at an elite level this season in his third major league campaign.
“Good plate appearance from Pages,” Miller said. “Good, long at-bat, and just barely got it done. Unfortunate, for sure.”
The run batted in marked Pages’ 42nd of the campaign — 17 more than four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, and significantly higher than World Series hero Freeman or big-money acquisition Kyle Tucker.
“The work he’s put in showed itself there, but I think at the end of the day, it was just fight,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It was just will. Determination. Not worrying about mechanics and this and that. It’s just me versus you, and it was him versus Mason Miller, and he wasn’t going to lose that battle. Mason is the best in the game right now, and Andy willed himself to do something productive in that at-bat. … It’s a fight, and Andy is a tough kid, and he’s hungry.”
The scoring opportunity began with a one-out base on balls when Max Muncy successfully appealed a called third strike. Pinch-runner Alex Call nearly got caught off first base moments afterward — but Miller made his first professional error on his pickoff attempt when Ty France touched the ball but couldn’t secure it.
“Sped up on me a little bit and yanked it,” Miller said. “Probably threw it a little harder than I should have, too. Obviously want it back, but it is what it is.”
Pages worked his way back from an 0-2 deficit in remarkable fashion and eventually lofted his fly ball 275 feet toward right field. Fernando Tatis Jr.’s throw to home plate was intercepted by Sung-mun Song, providing Call sufficient time to score safely.
“The most important thing is to win,” Pages said through an interpreter. “To win at any cost. Doing that against a pitcher of that caliber is obviously really good, but I felt very confident the whole time through.”
The defeat marked Miller’s first since May 17, 2025 — exactly one year and two days earlier, during his tenure with the Athletics. He hadn’t suffered a loss or blown save since last Aug. 5 in his second appearance after the Padres acquired him in a bold trade centered around teenager Leo De Vries, one of baseball’s premier prospects.
Miller has arguably been baseball’s top reliever this season, leading the position in most WAR calculations and successfully converting all 15 save chances to pace the majors. He earned NL reliever of the month honors for March/April, striking out 53.7% of opposing hitters while surrendering just one run and six hits over 15 outings.
“We all know how good Miller has been, so having (Pages) grind it out, battle, spoil pitches — it was tremendous,” Call said. “Incredible job by Andy and the guys tonight.”
JERUSALEM (AP) — For the majority of the last 17 years, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained his grip on power largely through a strong partnership with ultra-Orthodox religious factions.
However, this partnership is now fracturing his governing coalition and creating another significant challenge for the veteran Israeli leader as the nation prepares for elections scheduled for later this year. The October 7, 2023, assault — along with the unresolved conflicts that followed — are also creating pressure on his leadership.
Following 2 1/2 years of continuous combat across multiple regions, much of it requiring reservists, numerous Israelis have grown weary of an established arrangement that permits ultra-Orthodox men to avoid military duty. This frustration has reached even Netanyahu’s own political supporters.
The ultra-Orthodox community is simultaneously outraged by his inability to make their exemptions legal. They pulled their coalition backing two weeks ago, resulting in a preliminary vote to disband parliament, called the Knesset, on Wednesday.
This action initiated a sequence that could advance elections from October to September.
Netanyahu continues attempting to advance legislation that would make the exemptions legal and honor a commitment to his religious allies, but this seems unlikely given the fierce resistance from many within his own coalition.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, who completed three years in a combat unit and strongly backs Netanyahu, stated she was among no fewer than seven coalition members who will oppose the draft legislation, making it impossible to pass.
“The ultra-Orthodox are trying to extort us. It’s immoral. It’s not fair,” Haskel declared, wearing her military uniform during Wednesday’s dissolution vote to emphasize her opposition and showcase her own military background.
Two significant ultra-Orthodox parties abandoned Netanyahu this month after he informed them he didn’t anticipate being able to advance the exemptions legislation. This departure stripped his coalition of a parliamentary majority and represents one of the primary reasons for the Knesset dissolution bill.
“He made a promise to his most loyal allies in the coalition, and he could not deliver, he kept postponing,” explained Shmuel Rosner, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank.
Yitzhak Pindrus, a legislator from one of the groups, informed The Associated Press on Tuesday that his faction has no intentions of rejoining the coalition.
“We need the draft bill,” he stated.
Israel’s political environment is extremely divided, and no single party has ever secured a majority in the 120-member Knesset.
Rather, parties must form partnerships to assemble a majority, which frequently requires negotiations that grant smaller parties disproportionate power.
The ultra-Orthodox presently hold 18 Knesset seats, comparable to previous years, but have remained essential to Netanyahu. In return for his backing of government funding and the draft exemptions, they have supported him through regional conflicts and ongoing corruption charges.
Netanyahu has historically depended on “automatic support” from the ultra-Orthodox, noted Gilad Malach, an expert on the ultra-Orthodox at the Israel Democracy Institute, a research organization in Jerusalem.
This backing enabled Netanyahu to stay in office through the most devastating attack in Israel’s history.
The coalition, which also encompasses ultra-nationalist parties, “was much more stable than I ever imagined,” Rosner observed. “Maybe it’s because they realized in a new election, they’re going to get defeated, and that’s why they stuck together.”
Should Netanyahu somehow advance some version of the draft exemption legislation, it could dramatically reshape the electoral landscape. It would drive large portions of the population, who have previously backed Netanyahu but are struggling under hundreds of days of reserve service, to support opposition parties that promise equal military duty, Malach explained.
Netanyahu seems to have minimal prospects of continuing as prime minister following October’s elections without ultra-Orthodox backing. And he likely represents their sole opportunity for legislation that would prevent mandatory enlistment from being considered in the next government.
Yet maintaining ties with the ultra-Orthodox threatens to damage Netanyahu’s position with the general public, creating a dilemma as the country approaches elections.
Most Jewish men must complete nearly three years of military duty, followed by years of reserve service. Jewish women serve two mandatory years.
Annually, approximately 13,000 ultra-Orthodox men reach the draft age of 18, but fewer than 10% join the military, according to a parliamentary committee.
Confronting severe soldier shortages, the military is considering extending the mandatory service period.
The ultra-Orthodox, who comprise roughly 13% of Israeli society and represent the fastest expanding demographic, have historically received exemptions when studying full-time in religious seminaries. The exemptions trace back to the state’s founding in 1948, when a small group of students sought to rebuild the Jewish scholarship tradition after it was destroyed by the Holocaust.
These exemptions — along with the government payments many seminary students receive until age 26 — have angered many Israelis. Israel currently maintains simultaneous military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, while also fighting a conflict with Iran, which has strained its strong military to its limits.
The Supreme Court declared the exemptions illegal in 2017, but repeated extensions and government stalling tactics have kept them active.
Within Israel’s Jewish majority, mandatory military duty is widely viewed as a unifying experience and coming-of-age ritual. Many in the isolated ultra-Orthodox community worry that military service would subject young people to secular influences.
A seagull created an unforgettable moment during King Charles III’s Wednesday visit to Northern Ireland when nature called at an inopportune time.
The bird released its droppings from overhead, striking the monarch’s jacket and splashing onto nearby individuals, including journalists covering the event.
“It’s well it didn’t land on my head,” the king remarked with humor, as reported by Irene Marting, who observed the messy encounter and spoke with the unruffled monarch moments later.
“Being hit by a seagull, it’s supposed to be good luck,” Marting commented. “We’re so thrilled he’s come to Northern Ireland to see us and it’s really nice to see him in Newcastle.”
The monarch was touring the southeastern coastal community during his second day of a three-day royal visit alongside Queen Camilla. The queen avoided the messy situation as she was conducting her own separate engagement at Royal Hillsborough, where she attempted to draw a pint of Guinness at a local establishment.
Earlier that day, the king may have inadvertently predicted his predicament while touring a food pantry, where he picked up toilet paper and commented, “very important.”
A pioneering figure in American politics and LGBTQ rights advocacy has passed away. Barney Frank, the former Democratic congressman who served Massachusetts for more than three decades, died Tuesday at age 86.
Jim Segel, who served as Frank’s former campaign manager and remained a close friend, confirmed the death occurred late Tuesday.
Frank had been receiving hospice care in Ogunquit, Maine since April, battling congestive heart failure. He leaves behind his husband Jim Ready, sisters Ann Lewis and Doris Breay, and brother David Frank. Lewis is recognized as a longtime Democratic strategist.
The congressman, who once characterized himself as a “left-handed gay Jew,” became famous for his sharp tongue, confrontational approach, and dedication to underrepresented groups. While championing progressive causes, he maintained relationships with Democratic leadership that sometimes disappointed more liberal activists.
Frank’s most significant contribution to American society came through his groundbreaking work for LGBTQ equality. Following years of personal struggle with his identity, he became the first Congress member to voluntarily reveal his homosexuality in 1987. His 2012 wedding to Ready marked another historic first, as he became the initial sitting lawmaker to enter a same-sex marriage.
During his final interview in April while beginning hospice treatment, Frank expressed hope his legacy would center on promoting progressive politics through practical means rather than forcing change before voters were ready. He worried this balanced approach was losing favor as Democrats look toward reclaiming the presidency in 2028 and moving beyond current political divisions.
“I hope I made the point that the best way to accomplish the improvements in our society that we need, particularly in making it less unfair economically and socially, is by conventional political methods,” Frank said. “The main obstacle to our defeating populism and going further in the right direction is that mainstream Democrats have to make it clear that we oppose that part of the agenda of our friends on the left that is politically unacceptable. They’re right about a lot of things but you have to have some discretion.”
“You should not take the most unpopular parts of your agenda and make them litmus tests,” he added. “And that’s what my friends on the left have been doing.”
Frank’s political awakening began in 1940 when he was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. In his 2015 autobiography, he credited the lynching of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black teenager from Chicago killed by white men in Mississippi, with inspiring his public service calling. He participated in Mississippi’s Freedom Summer campaign in 1964, though admitted his communication style posed challenges in that environment.
“My direct organizing of Mississippi voters was limited by the fact that my accent (to this day more New Jersey than New England), my poor diction, and my rapid speech, especially when I got excited, rendered me largely incomprehensible to rural Mississippians of both races,” he wrote.
His political career launched in 1968 working for Boston Mayor Kevin White, followed by election to the Massachusetts House in 1972. Frank secured his congressional seat in 1980, bucking a difficult year for Democrats when the party suffered major House losses and Republican Ronald Reagan captured the presidency.
Frank’s practical governing philosophy emerged quickly during his congressional tenure. While joining the liberal Democratic Study Group to pressure then-Speaker Tip O’Neill to more aggressively challenge the Reagan administration, Frank often found himself supporting O’Neill’s less confrontational strategies.
His willingness to compromise ideology for practical gains appeared years later during a major tax reform debate. Initially planning to oppose the legislation due to reduced top tax rates, Frank switched positions after negotiating increased affordable housing tax credits.
“I was happy to sacrifice my ideological purity to improve legislation that was going to become law with or without me,” he wrote.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat and former House speaker, praised Frank as an “idealist to the nth degree.”
“The goals, the vision, the promise of it all,” she recalled in an interview. “Nobody could ever surpass what he brought to the table in that regard.”
Frank’s early Washington years involved maintaining separate public and private identities. While participating in the city’s gay social scene and maintaining relationships privately, he avoided public acknowledgment of his sexuality. Media coverage of sexual orientation typically occurred only during scandals. When Frank invited a reporter to his office in 1987 to directly address questions about his sexuality, Frank simply responded, “yeah, so what?”
While other officials like San Francisco’s Harvey Milk had previously come out, and Congress members including Rep. Gerry Studds had been outed through scandals, Frank’s voluntary disclosure made him the nation’s most visible gay political leader throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He successfully advocated for AIDS funding and unsuccessfully pushed the Clinton administration to eliminate military service restrictions for gay personnel.
However, Frank faced significant challenges, including a 1987 House reprimand for poor judgment involving a male prostitute he employed in 1985. Rep. Newt Gingrich of Georgia, serving as Republican whip, sought the more serious censure punishment, which was overwhelmingly rejected.
Frank endured personal attacks from conservative Republicans, including House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, who used a homophobic slur against Frank in 1995. Armey later claimed he misspoke and issued a House floor apology.
Despite these challenges, Frank developed a reputation as one of Congress’s most quotable members. He criticized Republican positions on abortion by saying they believed “life begins at conception and ends at birth,” targeting their opposition to social programs. After Ken Starr released his detailed report on President Bill Clinton’s relationship with Monica Lewinsky, Frank complained it contained “too much reading about heterosexual sex.”
Rep. Steny Hoyer, who entered Congress alongside Frank, remembered his colleague’s approach: “You may get a blow, but it was softened by the humor that came with it.”
Frank’s most enduring policy impact came through his leadership of the House Financial Services Committee beginning in 2007, as the U.S. economy approached collapse. He collaborated with the Republican Bush administration on rescue legislation supporting financial institutions, though this sparked ongoing populist backlash in American politics.
Following the initial crisis, Frank helped develop the most comprehensive reform legislation since the New Deal era. Partnering with then-Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, the resulting Dodd-Frank Act strengthened consumer protections, established new bank capital requirements, and expanded regulatory oversight capabilities.
“Barney and I shared a fantastic relationship,” Dodd said. “I had many good moments in those 36 years in Congress, but none more significant, joyful, or productive than those almost two years working with Barney on our banking bill.”
The current Republican administration has worked to eliminate many provisions from this legislation, arguing the regulations were excessively burdensome.
Frank encountered his most challenging reelection battle in 2010 during the tea party movement’s political surge. He chose not to seek reelection in 2012 but remained politically active after leaving Congress and consistently criticized the former president.
When asked about potential future presidential candidates, Frank acknowledged “unfortunately I won’t get to vote for it.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced Monday that his country will deploy additional military forces to its northern territories and increase diplomatic efforts with Belarus in response to intelligence suggesting Russia is preparing a new northern offensive targeting the capital region.
According to Zelenskiy, Ukrainian intelligence has identified five potential scenarios that Russia has developed to expand the conflict through northern routes.
“We analysed in detail the available data from our intelligence agencies on Russia’s planning of offensive operations in the Chernihiv-Kyiv direction,” Zelenskiy posted on X, mentioning the city located north of the capital along the route to Belarus. “Our forces in this sector will be increased.”
Over recent weeks, Zelenskiy has issued renewed alerts about possible northern threats originating from Belarus, Russia’s close partner. He has reported detecting suspicious activity along the border area, though he has not shared specific details.
Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated Tuesday that intelligence indicates the Russian General Staff is actively developing and preparing offensive strategies from northern positions.
Neither Russian nor Belarusian officials have responded to these claims.
BELARUS INVOLVEMENT
Zelenskiy indicated that Moscow is attempting to pull Belarus further into the conflict, noting that Belarus previously permitted Russian forces to use its territory for the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
He stated that Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry will develop “additional measures of diplomatic influence regarding Belarus,” though he did not elaborate on specific actions.
During the original large-scale invasion in 2022, Ukrainian forces successfully defended against a massive Russian armored convoy that tried to capture the capital from the north.
Belarus has maintained its position as Moscow’s strongest ally throughout the conflict. Russian attack drones have traveled through Belarusian airspace during strikes on Ukraine, and Belarus has announced the deployment of Russia’s Oreshnik intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile system.
“As of now, we haven’t detected any movement of equipment or personnel directly at our border, but of course, we can see the pressure Russia is putting on Belarus,” stated Ukraine’s border guards spokesman, Andriy Demchenko, in comments to Ukrinform news agency Wednesday.
Philip Morris International announced Wednesday that company veteran Massimo Andolina will take over as chief financial officer beginning August 1st, replacing Emmanuel Babeau in the role.
Babeau, who has held the CFO position since May 2020, will continue working with the tobacco company through March 31, 2027, serving as a strategic advisor to CEO Jacek Olczak.
The leadership transition occurs during a pivotal time as Philip Morris accelerates its transformation away from traditional cigarettes toward smoke-free alternatives, facing increased competition from competitors like British American Tobacco’s Velo nicotine pouches.
Andolina brings extensive company experience to his new role, having started with Philip Morris in 2008 as director of global operations before advancing to his most recent position as president of the Europe region.
During Babeau’s leadership, he guided the company through significant changes including the 2022 purchase of competitor Swedish Match. Before joining Philip Morris, Babeau had worked at Pernod Ricard and spent more than ten years with Schneider Electric.
The company recently reduced its annual earnings projections in April due to regulatory questions surrounding its Zyn nicotine pouches and heightened competition within the tobacco industry.
The National Basketball Association revealed Wednesday that two teams will take their regular-season competition overseas next year, with the San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans scheduled to face off in European venues.
The international series will begin January 14, 2027, when Frenchman Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs meet Zion Williamson and the Pelicans at Accor Arena in Paris, France.
The teams will then travel to England for a second matchup three days later at Co-op Live in Manchester.
This marks a historic first for Manchester, which has never before hosted an NBA regular-season game, while Paris adds to its collection of five previous regular-season contests.
The European tour represents significant milestones for both franchises. The Spurs will play their 10th and 11th games on the continent, including their sixth contest in France and inaugural game in England.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans will experience their third and fourth European games overall, marking their first appearances in both France and England.
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday his plans to engage in dialogue with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, marking a potentially significant shift in diplomatic protocol.
“I’ll speak to him,” Trump informed reporters. “I speak to everybody. … We’ll work on that, the Taiwan problem.”
The president’s willingness to engage in this conversation follows his recent visit to China last week, which Trump described as “amazing” during Wednesday’s remarks.
Such direct communication between American and Taiwanese leaders would represent a major diplomatic milestone, as no direct conversations have taken place since the United States transferred its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.
This potential dialogue could provoke anger from China, which considers the democratically-run island part of its territory.
Following his recent meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, Trump indicated he remains undecided about moving forward with a substantial weapons package valued at up to $14 billion for Taiwan.
American law mandates that Washington supply Taiwan with defensive capabilities, and lawmakers from both major political parties have pressed the Trump administration to maintain weapons transfers.
A strong cold front is expected to sweep across the Mid Atlantic and Delmarva region this afternoon and tonight, bringing the threat for showers, thunderstorms, and the potential for isolated severe weather before cooler air gradually settles in later tonight into Thursday.
We are closely monitoring the potential for stronger thunderstorms to develop from the Philadelphia metro southward through southern New Jersey, Delaware, and portions of Maryland’s Eastern Shore during the late afternoon and evening hours. A hot and unstable air mass remains in place ahead of the approaching front, helping fuel thunderstorm development as daytime heating peaks.
While atmospheric wind shear remains somewhat limited across the region, there will still be enough instability and steep low level lapse rates to support isolated stronger storms capable of producing damaging wind gusts. The primary severe weather threat appears to be localized downburst winds, especially with any stronger storm cores that can briefly organize into small clusters or short linear segments.
At this time, confidence in widespread severe weather remains relatively low due to weaker upper level support and marginal storm organization parameters. However, even isolated severe storms can quickly produce strong wind gusts capable of downing small tree limbs, causing isolated power outages, and creating hazardous travel conditions.
Heavy rainfall will also accompany some of the thunderstorms. Most locations are expected to receive between one tenth and one half inch of rain, though localized higher amounts are possible where heavier downpours develop. Atmospheric moisture levels remain elevated, with precipitable water values ranging between 1.5 and 2 inches, allowing storms to efficiently produce torrential rainfall in a short period of time.
Thunderstorm activity should gradually diminish later this evening as the cold front pushes through the region. However, some lingering showers may continue overnight into early Thursday, especially closer to Delmarva where the front is expected to slow down and stall nearby.
We encourage residents across Delmarva to monitor the latest forecasts and remain weather aware through tonight as storms develop and move through the region.
A Heat Advisory remains in effect across northern portions of the Delmarva Peninsula until 8 PM tonight as dangerous heat index values climb toward 100 degrees.
The National Weather Service says heat index readings could reach 97 degrees, with peak conditions expected during the afternoon hours. New Castle County in Delaware is included in the advisory area, along with portions of southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.
“Given the intensity of this early season stretch of heat and humidity, we are not fully acclimated to it,” meteorologists warn, noting that heat-related illnesses are possible without proper precautions.
Health officials urge residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned spaces when possible, and avoid prolonged sun exposure. Don’t forget to check on elderly neighbors and relatives who may be more vulnerable to heat stress.
Relief is on the way. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to move through the region later this afternoon and evening, bringing an end to this early season heat wave.
The Heat Advisory expires at 8 PM tonight. Stay with TV Delmarva for continuing weather updates throughout the day.
The NBA conference finals delivered unprecedented opening night drama as both Game 1 matchups went to overtime – a first in conference finals history – with both contests ending regulation knotted at an identical 101-101 score.
In the Eastern Conference finals, New York mounted one of the most remarkable postseason rallies in NBA history, overcoming a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Cleveland 115-104 in overtime. Jalen Brunson led the comeback with 38 points, repeatedly targeting James Harden on defense during a crucial 18-1 run that transformed the game. “We were attacking Harden,” the team noted about their strategy down the stretch.
Harden’s defensive struggles against Brunson became a pivotal factor as Cleveland surrendered their commanding lead. The veteran guard also had offensive difficulties, connecting on just 5 of 16 shots including 1 of 3 from beyond the arc, while committing six turnovers. Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson maintained faith in the 11-time All-Star, never considering benching him despite the struggles.
In the Western Conference, San Antonio pulled off a stunning upset victory over defending champion Oklahoma City, powered by Victor Wembanyama’s dominant 41-point, 24-rebound performance. The young star took control in crunch time, mirroring Brunson’s heroics in the East.
Meanwhile, coaching changes continue across the league as Dallas parted ways with Jason Kidd after five seasons. The decision came two weeks after the franchise hired former Toronto executive Masai Ujiri as team president and governor. The Hall of Fame point guard, who helped lead Dallas to its only championship as a player in 2011, mutually agreed to the separation.
In other NBA news, the league’s coaching diversity program resumed this week in Orlando, Florida. Jeff Ulbrich, the former interim head coach of the New York Jets, participated alongside 33 others in the revamped accelerator program designed to increase diversity among coaches and front office executives.
Baseball fans nationwide have embraced a new phenomenon called “Tarps Off,” where groups remove their shirts and twirl them overhead at stadiums. The trend originated in St. Louis and has spread to ballparks in Detroit, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and Anaheim.
Tennis star Coco Gauff enters the French Open with a fresh perspective on defending her Grand Slam title. “I realize that the ‘defending’ means nothing in a way,” Gauff explained. “I don’t really look at it as defending anymore.” After struggling with 19 double faults during her U.S. Open title defense two years ago, she’s adopted a new mindset. “At the U.S. Open I was like, ‘I need to defend, defend,’” she said. “That’s why I just say now it’s just another tournament.”
In international soccer, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer celebrated Arsenal’s Premier League championship, posting on social media: “22 long years for the Arsenal. But finally, we’re back where we belong. Champions!” The victory provided rare positive news for Starmer amid political challenges following poor election results.
For visiting teams in the NBA playoffs, crowd noise presents a significant challenge. San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson has been doing plenty of yelling to communicate with his players at Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center, where noise levels reach approximately 110 decibels. Forward Julian Champagnie noted the difficulty of hearing himself on defense in the thunderous environment.
The University of Delaware football program has announced that fans can now purchase various ticket options for the upcoming season.
Available options include mini season packages, group ticket opportunities, and tailgating experiences for fans looking to attend games at the university’s stadium.
The ticket sales launch comes as the Blue Hens prepare for their upcoming football season, giving supporters multiple ways to enjoy games and pre-game activities.
