Agricultural producers across the country saw a minor decrease in what they earned for peanut sales during the week that concluded on May 9th.
According to market data, farmers received an average of 22.9 cents per pound for all farmer stock peanuts, representing a decline of 0.3 cent from the previous period.
The price drop reflects ongoing market fluctuations that affect agricultural commodities and farmer income nationwide.
The PWHL announced Friday that Manon Rheaume will serve as general manager for Detroit’s expansion franchise, bringing her pioneering hockey career from the ice to the front office.
The 54-year-old former goaltender made history as the first woman to participate in an exhibition contest for any major North American professional sport. Most recently, she worked for four years in hockey operations with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings. Her appointment also marks a return to familiar territory, as she previously spent 11 years developing talent with the Little Caesars youth hockey girls’ program in the Detroit area.
“She brings an unmatched resume, a championship mindset and a lifelong commitment to growing the women’s game,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL executive vice president of hockey operations, who oversees the hiring process.
“Her experience at every level of hockey, combined with her leadership and vision, makes her the perfect person to lead PWHL Detroit into its inaugural season,” Hefford added.
The announcement follows Detroit’s designation as an expansion franchise just over a week ago. Since then, the league has welcomed Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario as additional new teams, with plans for one more expansion to reach 12 teams next season.
Women now hold seven of the nine general manager positions across the PWHL.
“I’m incredibly honored to join the PWHL and help build something special in Detroit,” Rheaume said. “The city has such a deep hockey tradition, and the passion for hockey here is truly special.”
Her immediate responsibilities include overseeing an expansion free-agent signing period tentatively set to start May 28, followed by the league draft scheduled for June 17 in Detroit.
The Beauport, Quebec native first gained international attention in the early 1990s when she signed with Trois-Rivieres in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. She made headlines in 1992 during a tryout with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, giving up two goals on nine shots during one period of a preseason matchup against St. Louis. She appeared in a second exhibition game the following year against Boston.
Rheaume’s competitive achievements include a silver medal for Canada at the 1998 Nagano Games, which featured the inaugural women’s Olympic hockey tournament. She also captured gold medals at the 1992 and 1994 world championships.
The sudden passing of Brandon Clarke has left many unanswered questions, and those answers may not come for quite some time.
The Memphis Grizzlies player was discovered deceased at a residence in the Los Angeles area on Monday. Following the team’s announcement of Clarke’s death, a source with knowledge of the investigation informed The Associated Press on Tuesday that drug paraphernalia was discovered at the location.
Emergency responders declared the 29-year-old athlete dead at the scene. While an autopsy has been conducted, determining the exact cause of death may require several weeks.
Back in Memphis, the community continues to process the devastating news. On Friday, the Grizzlies released a memorial video, stating that Clarke’s “legacy will carry on in the hearts of Grizz Nation, always and forever.”
Here are the key details surrounding the ongoing investigation:
The County of Los Angeles’ Medical Examiner’s Office will eventually provide an updated cause of death determination. However, this process may extend for weeks while awaiting toxicology results and additional testing.
Currently, the coroner’s office indicates the case remains active with the cause of death classified as “deferred.” The coroner has finished their examination, and officials are now waiting for test results to return.
Additional aspects of the death investigation include identifying who placed the emergency call and determining what other circumstances may have contributed.
Supporters have gathered outside the team’s Memphis arena, bringing flowers and other tributes to express their sorrow over Clarke’s passing. The Grizzlies display player banners on poles in the plaza area outside FedEx Forum, where fans have independently come to honor his memory.
The organization has not yet decided whether to hold a public memorial service or similar event to commemorate Clarke’s seven-year tenure with the team. Plans for family funeral arrangements also remain unknown.
Clarke had a contract extending through the 2026-27 season with the Grizzlies.
On April 1, Clarke faced arrest in Arkansas on charges including speeding and controlled substance possession, reportedly involving kratom, an herbal supplement marketed as a pain relief alternative that becomes illegal in Tennessee starting July 1. He was released on bond the following day. Whether kratom was present in Clarke’s system at the time of death will likely remain unclear until the coroner releases their official findings.
Health authorities have issued warnings regarding the dangers of 7-hydroxymitragynine, an opioid-like compound found in kratom. This Southeast Asian plant has become increasingly popular in America as an unregulated treatment for pain, anxiety, and substance dependency.
A 2019 federal study revealed that kratom-related overdose deaths occurred more frequently than previously documented. While most fatalities involved additional substances like heroin or fentanyl, officials recorded several cases where kratom was the sole substance identified.
The 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward from Canada appeared in only two games this season due to multiple injuries, including a right knee problem requiring surgical intervention followed by a right calf injury.
This marked the second time in three seasons that Clarke missed nearly an entire year due to injury-related issues.
Approximately six weeks prior to his death, Clarke was taken into custody in Arkansas facing charges of speeding, reckless driving, and controlled substance possession. He spent his entire seven-year professional career with Memphis after completing his collegiate playing days at Gonzaga.
NEW YORK — New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby completed his first full practice session Friday since sustaining a hamstring injury, bringing the team one step closer to having their complete starting roster available for the Eastern Conference finals.
The starting forward has been sidelined for the last two contests of the Knicks’ second-round series victory over the Philadelphia 76ers after he strained his right hamstring during the closing moments of Game 2. While he participated in limited portions of Wednesday’s practice session when the team reconvened, he was held out of high-intensity drills.
However, coach Mike Brown confirmed that Anunoby participated in all team activities during Friday’s session.
The Knicks are positioned to host the opening game of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday, contingent on Cleveland defeating Detroit in their sixth game Friday evening. Should that series extend to a seventh game, Anunoby would have additional recovery time until Tuesday.
Throughout the current postseason, Anunoby has posted averages of 21.4 points per contest while maintaining shooting percentages of 61.9% from the floor and 53.8% from beyond the three-point arc.
Leaders of major social media companies are facing another round of congressional testimony as lawmakers intensify pressure on platforms to safeguard young users.
Executives from Meta, Alphabet, TikTok and Snap have received invitations to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee next month, according to a committee spokesperson who confirmed the news Friday.
This upcoming testimony arrives during a pivotal moment for social media platforms, as legal battles, proposed laws and growing advocacy efforts are forcing tech companies to face increased scrutiny over protecting children and teenagers who use their services.
“Americans are realizing more and more every day that they cannot trust the CEOs at the helms of these companies because they do not put our safety first,” said Sacha Haworth, executive director of watchdog group The Tech Oversight Project. “If it feels like the pace is accelerating, it’s because it is.”
These same committee members previously questioned executives from Meta, TikTok, X and other platforms in January 2024, pressing them about child exploitation issues and how social media impacts young people’s wellbeing.
Scheduled for June 23, the hearing bears the title “Examining Tech Industry Practices and the Implications for Users and Families: Is This Social Media’s Big Tobacco Moment?” Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican and the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, extended the invitations.
Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Sundar Pichai of Alphabet and Google, which owns YouTube, Shou Zi Chew of TikTok and Evan Spiegel of Snap received the invitations for the upcoming hearing. Meta declined to comment. Representatives from the other companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
During a Wednesday session held by the Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, senators listened to testimony from child advocacy groups and experts, including parents whose children died from social media-related incidents.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. said at the hearing, “I think it’s time for us, on a bipartisan basis, to call these CEOs back and to ask them what’s happened in two years, to talk to them about the losses that have occurred and ask them what they’re doing.”
The platforms have challenged claims that they deliberately harm children’s mental health by creating addictive features and failing to shield them from predators and harmful material. Multiple state and federal lawsuits are moving toward trial this year, with varying specifics but similar goals of holding companies liable for platform activities.
Two significant court decisions in March found social media companies, particularly Meta, responsible for harming children using their services. A California jury concluded that both Meta and YouTube created platforms designed to engage young users without regard for their safety. TikTok and Snap were also named defendants in that case, but they settled before the trial began.
One day before the California ruling, a New Mexico jury found that Meta deliberately damaged children’s mental health while hiding its knowledge of child sexual exploitation occurring on its platforms.
The hearing date holds special meaning for advocacy groups. In 2024, Senators Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., introduced a resolution to designate June 23 as Social Media Harms Victim Remembrance Day. The resolution encouraged the “government, industry and community stakeholders to take action to prevent social media-related harm.”
Families who attribute their children’s deaths to social media dangers proposed the remembrance day. The mothers of Carson Bride and Alexander Neville, who both died on June 23, lead the initiative. Carson died by suicide at age 16 after severe cyberbullying and Alex was 14 when a drug dealer connected with him on Snapchat and sold him the pill that killed him.
Drivers navigating through the Milford area should expect traffic delays as construction work continues to impact a major roadway intersection.
Route 113, also known as DuPont Boulevard, is experiencing periodic lane restrictions where it meets Milford Harrington Highway (Route 14). The construction activity is causing intermittent lane closures that are expected to remain in effect until 3 PM today.
Motorists are advised to plan for potential delays and consider alternate routes if possible while traveling through this area during the construction period.
BAGHDAD (AP) — Military personnel from Israel established a temporary outpost in Iraq’s desert region during the recent U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, according to Iraqi and American officials who spoke with The Associated Press.
The Wall Street Journal initially broke the story about the covert Israeli military installation, characterizing it as a facility that housed special operations troops and functioned as a supply center for Israeli air operations.
News of the clandestine installation caused significant controversy in Iraq. Iraqi authorities reported that their military units investigated reports of an unauthorized armed presence in the Nukhaib desert region — a desolate stretch southwest of Karbala and Najaf — during early March and encountered hostile fire while approaching the site.
While Iraqi leadership has acknowledged the existence of a brief, unauthorized military presence in the desert area, they have not publicly identified it as Israeli. Nevertheless, two Iraqi security and intelligence sources, along with a high-ranking U.S. military official, confirmed the Israeli identity under anonymity due to lack of authorization for public statements.
Regarding the Israeli installation, the U.S. official noted that “base is a strong word to describe it” and characterized it instead as a “temporary staging area or camp to support operations in Iran.”
An Iraqi intelligence source reported that the Israeli unit had erected tents in the location and “its objective was to monitor rocket launches and drone activity conducted by some Iraqi militias.” Iraqi leadership believes the unit arrived through an aerial drop but remains uncertain about timing, the source explained. They also challenged characterizing the military presence as a “base.”
According to officials, a local shepherd spotted the military presence and alerted authorities.
Israeli military representatives refused to provide comment. The U.S. military had not responded to requests for comment at press time.
The United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on Feb. 28, sparking a regional conflict that placed Iraq in a difficult position. Iraq serves as host to multiple Iran-affiliated militia groups, which conducted strikes against U.S. installations in Iraq and throughout the region, as well as against Israel. American and Israeli forces responded by targeting militia locations within Iraq.
Iraqi leadership, however, urged both parties to keep the country out of their dispute. The possibility that Israeli forces might have operated militarily within their territory without detection placed Iraqi officials in a compromising situation.
On Tuesday, Iraqi military units traveled to the desert location of the suspected Israeli installation to demonstrate to reporters that no evidence of permanent military occupation existed there.
“We believe it was a small force that came and stayed for no longer than 48 hours,” stated Gen. Abdul-Amir Yarallah, chief of the general staff of the Iraqi army during the site visit.
Maj. Gen. Tahseen al Khafaji, a spokesperson for the Iraqi defense ministry, informed the AP that on March 3, military command received intelligence about “a small enemy force in a specific area in the Najaf desert,” prompting Iraqi forces to investigate the location the following day.
“Within 25 kilometers, the force which went there faced an aerial attack, which led to the martyrdom of one of our fighters and injured two other fighters,” he stated.
Al Khafaji explained that Iraqi forces withdrew following the attack but returned the subsequent day to find no evidence of an installation and no personnel remaining.
“It is believed that the force was there for a very short time and it was a very small force,” he noted, adding that investigation efforts “did not show anything that indicates that the force was stationed there for a long time in that area.”
Airbus DS satellite imagery from March 8, examined by the AP, appears to reveal an artificial pathway carved into the terrain at the location, approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) southwest of Baghdad. The pathway extends in a direct line through a dried lakebed from northwest to southeast, measuring roughly 1.5 kilometers (1 mile). This length would accommodate aircraft takeoffs and landings.
The closest settlement, al-Nukhaib, is located approximately 45 kilometers (27 miles) to the northwest along a route leading to the Saudi Arabian border. This distance would likely have avoided drawing significant notice, although Iraq’s airspace was busy with American and Israeli military aircraft during the active weeks of conflict with Iran.
A young great horned owl that became trapped inside a concrete mixer in southwestern Utah has successfully returned to the wild after months of specialized rehabilitation and recovery.
The juvenile bird was discovered by construction workers at a resort building site in late October, completely covered in concrete after somehow getting inside the truck-mounted mixing equipment. Construction crews quickly rinsed off the owl and wrapped it in a towel before rescue efforts began.
Staff members at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab spent several days meticulously removing hardened concrete from the bird’s face, chest and right wing area. The painstaking process involved using surgical forceps to carefully break apart the dried material and cleaning individual feathers with toothbrushes and dish soap.
Following the initial cleanup, the owl began its lengthy rehabilitation process at the sanctuary’s specialized bird facility. Staff members monitored the bird closely, expecting it would naturally shed damaged feathers and grow replacements. However, when the anticipated molting process didn’t occur, veterinarians decided to perform a specialized procedure called imping in early May.
The imping technique involves using adhesive materials to attach donor feathers from deceased birds onto the existing feather shafts of the injured animal.
“The first few feathers were extremely nerve-wracking, but as we got into the groove, the imping became more comfortable, and everything went smoothly,” said Bart Richwalski, a supervisor at the sanctuary.
The concrete damage had destroyed the owl’s natural ability to fly silently while hunting. Great horned owls possess specialized downy feather coatings that eliminate sound during flight, but the concrete had damaged these features, causing the rescued bird to make audible whooshing noises when airborne.
Sanctuary workers spent weeks preparing for the surgical procedure, regularly examining the owl’s wing structure and trimming damaged feather shafts in preparation. During the 90-minute operation, the sedated bird received 10 new primary feathers and one secondary feather on its right wing, all carefully measured and positioned using feathers from a similarly-sized owl that had previously died.
The critical test came after the procedure: determining whether the owl could once again fly without making noise. After recovering from anesthesia in a large flight enclosure, the bird quickly took to the air. Richwalski used sound-measuring equipment to confirm the owl’s wingbeats were quiet enough for successful hunting in the wild.
When the enclosure’s roof was opened, the owl briefly hovered before accelerating upward and disappearing into the surrounding wilderness.
“It feels so, so good. I think my heart finally started beating again. The nervousness was starting to overtake the excitement, but once I saw him fly out that opening in the roof, it just was, it was a sight to see. It was so fun,” said Richwalski, who has cared for the owl since picking him up at the construction site.
Karla Bloem, executive director of the Minnesota-based International Owl Center, explained that the imping technique has been used by falconers “for eons” and represents a highly successful treatment method.
“I’ve never heard of it not lasting, because you use some pretty good stuff when you’re doing imping,” said Bloem, who has studied great horned owls for nearly three decades.
She noted that losing a few of the grafted feathers wouldn’t pose a problem, as long as most remain attached until the owl can naturally grow new ones during the upcoming summer season.
“And now it just needs to figure out, ‘whoa, I’m back in the big world again, hunting,’” she said. “Find a territory … you know, find one of the opposite sex and settle down and have kids.”
MIAMI (AP) — Federal prosecutors are moving forward with plans to pursue criminal charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro, according to three individuals with knowledge of the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday. This development occurs as President Donald Trump considers potential military action against the communist nation.
According to one source, the proposed charges relate to Castro’s suspected involvement in the 1996 downing of four aircraft belonging to Brothers to the Rescue, a Miami-based exile organization. Castro served as defense minister during that time period.
The three sources requested anonymity as they were not permitted to speak publicly about the active investigation.
CBS initially reported on the possible charges, which would require grand jury approval to proceed.
In March, The AP revealed that Miami’s U.S. Attorney had established a specialized team of prosecutors and federal agents to develop cases against senior Cuban leadership. This followed demands from multiple south Florida Republicans to reexamine Castro’s suspected connection to the 1996 aircraft incident. The United States has secured only one conviction for conspiracy to commit murder related to this event.
While Trump works to conclude military operations in Iran, observers anticipate he may refocus on Cuba after promising a “friendly takeover” of the nation earlier this year if its government failed to welcome American investment and remove U.S. enemies.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe conducted meetings with Cuban representatives, including Castro’s grandson, during a significant diplomatic visit to the island on Thursday.
The 94-year-old Castro assumed the presidency from his brother Fidel Castro in 2011, later transferring authority to his chosen successor, Miguel Díaz-Canel, in 2019. Though he has maintained a low profile since stepping down as Cuban Communist Party leader in 2021, many believe he continues to exercise influence from behind the scenes. This is highlighted by the prominent role of his grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, who previously held confidential meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
An Army sergeant’s wife has been freed from immigration detention after being held for approximately one month, representatives from U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s office announced.
Active-duty Sgt. Jose Serrano, who completed three deployments to Afghanistan and is currently based in Texas, had previously informed The Associated Press that federal immigration officials detained his spouse, Deisy Rivera Ortega, on April 14. The arrest occurred while she attended a scheduled meeting with immigration officials to process her permanent residency paperwork.
Sen. Duckworth, a Democratic lawmaker and former combat service member, directly contacted Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Wednesday to push for Rivera Ortega’s freedom, her office reported. Rivera Ortega was freed on Thursday night.
“Rivera-Ortega has been released from ICE custody with a GPS tracking device, mandatory home visits, and ICE office check-ins. She will receive full due process,” the DHS stated. The department has oversight of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Rivera Ortega’s family has not yet provided a statement regarding the situation.
Serrano is currently serving at the Fort Bliss area, and he and Rivera Ortega became husband and wife in 2022. DHS records show Rivera Ortega crossed into the U.S. without authorization in 2016, and an immigration judge ordered her removal in December 2019.
Rivera Ortega worked at two hotel establishments and possessed both a military spouse identification card and authorized employment documentation, Duckworth’s office noted. She was seeking approval through the parole-in-place program, which protects military family members’ relatives from immigration actions while they pursue legal status adjustments.
In April of last year, DHS discontinued a 2022 directive that treated military service by immediate family as a “significant mitigating factor” when determining immigration enforcement actions. The current policy declares that “military service alone does not exempt aliens from the consequences of violating U.S. immigration laws.”
DHS data indicates that over 100 immediate relatives of military veterans have entered removal proceedings as part of the Trump administration’s comprehensive deportation efforts.
After public criticism and involvement from lawmakers from both political parties, some spouses of veterans and current military personnel have been freed from federal immigration detention facilities.
Federal authorities have filed terrorism charges against an Iraqi citizen who prosecutors say orchestrated numerous planned attacks across multiple continents as revenge for American military actions in Iran.
Court documents made public Friday in Manhattan federal court reveal that Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi allegedly planned to strike a synagogue in New York City within the past month and shared photographs and location details of Jewish community centers in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Arizona, with an undercover federal agent as potential targets.
Prosecutors allege Al-Saadi was behind no fewer than 18 planned terrorist operations throughout Europe, which included attempting to firebomb a financial institution in Amsterdam and carrying out knife attacks against Jewish individuals in London.
The defendant also faces accusations of participating in two recent incidents in Canada: an assault on a synagogue and gunfire directed at the U.S. consulate in Toronto during March.
Federal charges include conspiracy to support Kata’ib Hizballah, an Iran-backed Iraqi Shia militant group, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, both organizations labeled as foreign terrorist groups by the U.S. government.
Additional charges encompass conspiracy and material support for terrorist activities and conspiracy to detonate explosives at public locations.
During his first court hearing, Al-Saadi remained silent, though his attorney stated that he considers himself a political prisoner and prisoner of war, claiming U.S. officials are targeting him due to his connection with Qasem Soleimani, the Revolutionary Guard commander eliminated in a U.S. drone attack in Baghdad in 2020.
No plea was entered at this time. Al-Saadi will stay in custody but may request bail at a later date.
Defense attorney Andrew Dalack revealed that Al-Saadi was apprehended in Turkey before being transferred to U.S. custody. Dalack noted his client has been held in isolation since arriving at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn on Thursday evening.
The Associated Press completed a workforce reduction on Friday, cutting an undisclosed number of journalists based in the United States as part of an organizational shift away from traditional print media toward visual storytelling and alternative income streams.
Patrick Maks, a company spokesman, confirmed the staff reductions in an email statement, explaining they were part of a previously announced restructuring effort designed to better serve the organization’s primary clients.
“This is part of the restructuring we announced last month to align our operations with what our top customers need from us today,” Maks stated. The director of media relations and corporate communications declined to provide specific numbers or confirm whether additional cuts would follow.
“It’s never easy to part ways with valued colleagues — we are appreciative of their contributions to the AP and wish them all the best,” Maks wrote.
The workforce reductions had been anticipated following the news organization’s offer of voluntary departure packages to over 120 U.S.-based journalists approximately one month ago. The News Media Guild, which represents AP staff, reported that roughly 40 employees accepted those voluntary buyout offers.
Union representatives said they were not informed of the exact number of journalists affected by Friday’s layoffs, which marked the final workday for those let go.
Tony Winton, who serves as the guild’s administrator, said union officials received notification from an AP human resources representative shortly before 10 a.m. Friday announcing the implementation of layoffs with that day being the last day of employment. No additional details were shared, according to Winton.
“The Guild has asked the AP for details,” Winton said. “We will stand by our members and ensure that all contract rights under our collective bargaining agreement with AP are protected.”
In a previous interview, Julie Pace, who holds the positions of executive editor and senior vice president, indicated the organization aimed to reduce its worldwide workforce by under 5%. The company does not publicly disclose its total number of journalists.
Pace emphasized last month that the AP “is not in trouble.”
“We’re making these changes from a position of strength, but we’re doing so now to recognize our changing customer base,” she said.
The news organization has experienced a 25% drop in newspaper revenue over the past four years. Major newspaper companies Gannett and McClatchy ended their AP subscriptions in 2024.
The organization’s client base now consists primarily of broadcast outlets, digital platforms and technology firms. Kristin Heitmann, senior vice president and chief revenue officer, reported last month that income from technology companies had increased by 200% during the same timeframe.
Israeli forces announced Friday they conducted a targeted strike against the leader of Hamas’ military operations in Gaza, calling him a key architect behind the October 7, 2023 attacks that sparked Israel’s ongoing two-year military campaign in the Palestinian territory.
The militant organization has not yet provided any statement regarding the status of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who assumed leadership of Hamas’ military operations in Gaza following Israel’s elimination of commander Mohammad Sinwar in May 2025.
This marks the highest-ranking Hamas figure Israel has attempted to eliminate since a U.S.-supported agreement in October aimed at ending hostilities in Gaza. The operation occurs while Hamas continues to strengthen its control over a narrow coastal area of Gaza that remains under its authority.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a joint declaration stating that Haddad “was responsible for the murder, abduction, and harm inflicted on thousands of Israeli civilians (and) soldiers.”
The officials stopped short of confirming whether they believe Haddad was successfully eliminated in the operation.
Medical personnel and local witnesses in Gaza reported that an aerial assault struck a residential building in Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood, resulting in at least one fatality and multiple injuries. The identity of the deceased individual remains unconfirmed at this time.
According to the same sources, Israeli forces conducted a follow-up strike targeting a vehicle on a neighboring street shortly afterward. No immediate casualty reports emerged from this second attack.
WASHINGTON, May 15 – Federal health authorities are closely tracking Ebola cases in two African countries and offering technical support to help contain the outbreaks, officials announced Friday.
The nation’s top disease control agency is keeping watch on the situation in both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda while providing expertise to local health officials, according to Acting Director Jay Bhattacharya.
“CDC has extensive experience and expertise in responding to Ebola outbreaks, and we are working closely with the DRC Ministry of Health through our country office to support our response efforts,” said Acting Director Jay Bhattacharya.
During a Friday briefing with reporters, Bhattacharya also addressed the situation in Uganda, noting recent confirmation of cases there.
“This morning we also heard from the Government of Uganda confirming an Ebola outbreak there, and we are also coordinating with our country office in Uganda and our colleagues there to track and help with the outbreak there,” Bhattacharya told reporters on a media call.
First-year Minnesota Lynx player Emma Cechova is scheduled to undergo an MRI examination on her right knee Friday, according to a report from The Athletic.
The 21-year-old center sustained the injury during a third-quarter collision with Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers in Minnesota’s 90-86 victory Thursday evening in Arlington, Texas.
Team medical personnel quickly attended to Cechova, who clutched her knee in obvious discomfort before receiving assistance to exit to the locker room.
The player from the Czech Republic concluded Thursday’s contest with two points and two rebounds across 11 minutes of play.
Through her first three games of the season, she has posted averages of 8.3 points and 3.7 rebounds while playing 17.3 minutes per game as a reserve.
A University of Delaware golfer has earned his first career postseason recognition after being selected for a prestigious conference honor.
Junior Arsit Areephun was chosen for the All-Conference USA Second Team, according to an announcement made Friday by the conference headquarters in Dallas. The selection marks the first time Areephun has received postseason recognition during his collegiate career.
The conference’s head coaches determined the all-conference team selections through a voting process. Areephun’s selection highlights his performance throughout the season as a member of the Blue Hens men’s golf program.
The City of Rehoboth Beach published a post on their official website with the title ‘Lines in the Sand’ and dated May 15, 2026. However, the actual content of this municipal communication is not available at this time.
The post appears on the city’s government website but without any accompanying text or details about what the message contained.
Five members of a local softball team have been selected for National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region recognition, marking a significant achievement for the program.
The honors recognize the exceptional performance and contributions of these student-athletes throughout the season. The NFCA All-Region awards are given to standout players who demonstrate excellence both on the field and in their athletic achievements.
This recognition reflects the strong performance of the softball program and highlights the talent of the individual players who earned these prestigious honors.
The nationally seventh-ranked Salisbury University baseball squad took control early in the 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament, crushing Bridgewater State 11-2 in their regional tournament opener on Friday morning.
The Sea Gulls dominated the Bears at Donnie Williams Sea Gull Baseball Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland, putting themselves in excellent position as the regional tournament continues.
The decisive victory marks a strong start for Salisbury University as they pursue advancement in the national championship tournament.
A Utah-based manufacturer is pulling certain batches of its Parmesan Ranch seasoning from store shelves due to concerns about salmonella contamination.
Blackstone Products, located in Providence, Utah, announced the voluntary withdrawal of specific lots of their Blackstone Parmesan Ranch seasoning products. The company says the products may contain salmonella bacteria.
The recall was triggered after California Dairies, Inc. issued its own recall for dry milk powder that could be contaminated with salmonella.
BRUSSELS — Foreign ministers from 46 European and neighboring countries reached consensus Friday on a fresh interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights as it applies to migration matters, including the contentious practice of establishing deportation facilities in third nations.
The political agreement emerged following requests from certain member countries for tougher measures to combat unauthorized migration and streamline deportation processes.
Human rights organizations condemned the political agreement, arguing it might relax restrictions against torture and diminish Europe’s human rights safeguards for migrants.
“The declaration underlines that states have the undeniable sovereign right to control the entry and residence of foreign nationals, and that it is both an obligation and a necessity for states to protect their borders in compliance with the Convention,” the Council of Europe said in a statement after the non-binding declaration was adopted all of its 46 members’ foreign ministers Friday at a meeting in Chisinau, the Moldovan capital.
The organization stated that countries “exposed to mass arrivals” can pursue new approaches to deter irregular migration including “third country ‘return hubs’, and cooperation with countries of transit.”
The Council supervises the European Court of Human Rights, which serves as the continent’s highest authority for protecting human rights under the convention.
The agreement might undermine both the judicial body and the convention itself, according to Chiara Catelli, a spokesperson for the Brussels-based rights group PICUM.
“Governments are effectively seeking to pressure an independent Court into weakening long-established human rights protections in order to facilitate deportations, with the risk of deporting people where they could face torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, or where they would stop receiving life-saving medical care,” she said.
“A two-tier human rights system based on migration status is an affront to the basic principle that human rights are universal,” said Eve Geddie, director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office.
Italy transported several dozen migrants without legal permission to stay to a “return hub” in Albania last year, marking the first time a European Union member nation sent rejected migrants to a country outside the EU that was neither their homeland nor a nation they had passed through during their journey.
Human rights advocates have described such policies as cruel and draw comparisons to the deportation strategies of United States President Donald Trump.
The EU has progressively strengthened migration policies following right-wing parties gaining control in several countries during 2024.
Last year the leaders of nine European Union countries — Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland — signed an open letter claiming the rights convention prevented them from expelling foreign criminals.
These countries contended that the court’s interpretation of the convention in “cases concerning the expulsion of criminal foreign nationals” has protected the “wrong people” and imposed excessive restrictions on determining who can be expelled.
European Union migration commission Magnus Brunner hailed the declaration as “an important step” toward unified migration policy.
“It strengthens our approach to a fair and firm migration policy in Europe. Migration is a shared challenge that requires shared solutions,” he said.
Following the signing of the declaration, the Council’s Secretary General Alain Berset said the Chisinau Declaration “will help to guide our own work as well as that of national authorities and domestic courts.”
BEIJING (AP) — During a three-day visit to China, President Donald Trump remained unusually reserved, avoiding reporters and limiting his social media activity. However, once aboard his return flight, he opened up about the discussions.
The president’s visit was surprisingly focused on Taiwan tensions and the possibility of establishing a fresh approach to managing the complex U.S.-China relationship.
Chinese President Xi Jinping began the intensive visit with a stern message: mismanaging relations with the self-governing Taiwan could lead to confrontation or even open warfare between the U.S. and China.
While in Beijing, Trump avoided any public response and didn’t mention Taiwan. However, during his Air Force One flight home, he indicated that Xi’s strong opposition might influence his decision on a proposed U.S. weapons sale to Taipei.
Other discussion topics included trade and the U.S. and Israel’s conflict with Iran, which had been anticipated to dominate the agenda. Throughout the visit, Trump openly praised China’s leader, though Xi didn’t return the compliments.
The president also didn’t publicly challenge China’s claim that he and Xi had reached agreement on a “constructive” new approach to managing their relationship challenges.
Key highlights from Trump’s visit:
Prior to the trip, Trump had shown increased uncertainty about Taiwan during his second term, sparking questions about whether he might reduce support for the island democracy that Beijing considers a rebellious province.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintained that U.S. policy toward Taiwan remained unchanged. However, concerns existed that Trump — not recognized for diplomatic subtlety — might make spontaneous comments with significant consequences for Taiwan.
Ultimately, Trump made no public statements about Taiwan, despite his Chinese counterpart emphasizing the island as the most crucial element of U.S.-China relations.
When questioned by reporters after departing China, Trump revealed he hadn’t decided whether to proceed with a substantial arms package he had previously approved for Taiwan following Xi’s objections.
Trump’s Republican administration authorized an $11 billion weapons package for Taipei in December, though it hasn’t advanced. Lawmakers also approved a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan in January, but it requires Trump’s formal submission to Congress to proceed.
“President Xi and I talked a lot about Taiwan,” Trump told reporters aboard the presidential aircraft. He explained that China’s leader “does not want to see a fight for independence because that would be a very strong confrontation.”
“I heard him out,” Trump stated. But “I didn’t make a comment.”
Trump seemed to have difficulty remembering Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s name and remarked about Washington’s island policy, “The last thing we need right now is a war that’s 9,500 miles away.”
When asked about potential military intervention if China attacked Taiwan, Trump declined to answer — a response aligned with longstanding U.S. policy known as strategic ambiguity.
This policy commits the U.S. to ensuring Taiwan can defend itself against forced unilateral changes by China, but doesn’t specify Washington’s military response level should conflict arise.
The leaders apparently held meaningful discussions about the U.S.-initiated Iran conflict that has driven up global oil prices and could potentially trigger worldwide recession if prolonged.
Trump reported that Xi agrees a nuclear-armed Iran is problematic and that the Strait of Hormuz needs reopening. He claimed Xi offered assistance in finding a war resolution.
Xi and Chinese officials haven’t confirmed such an offer. China has publicly stated that solutions should “take into account the concerns of all parties on the Iran nuclear issue.”
Trump believes China should play a larger role in resolving the conflict, given its reliance on Middle Eastern oil and liquefied natural gas.
Successfully convincing Xi to increase involvement could significantly benefit U.S. efforts to find a credible Iran war exit strategy.
China announced that both leaders agreed to a new vision for “a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability.”
The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated this framework would guide relations for at least three years — Trump’s remaining term — emphasizing cooperation, limited competition, and difference management.
The concept aims “to keep the relationship on an even keel,” explained Helena Legarda of the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin.
George Chen, a partner at The Asia Group consultancy, viewed this approach as advancement from Trump’s Democratic predecessor Joe Biden’s era, when relations were characterized as strategic competition.
Trump brought numerous top CEOs to China, including the aircraft maker Boeing’s head, semiconductor giant Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, and SpaceX boss Elon Musk, who previously led Trump’s federal workforce reduction efforts.
Trump claimed major agreements were reached and that China might purchase approximately 200 Boeing aircraft, but he left Beijing without concrete announcements. Earlier suggestions that Xi would commit to large U.S. soybean and beef orders remained unresolved.
Speaking to Air Force One reporters, Trump suggested China could eventually purchase up to 750 Boeing planes if initial orders succeed, with 450 General Electric engines included in potential future purchases.
Additional trade agreement details may emerge later, but as with all major bilateral accords, specific terms matter most.
During his first term, Trump used an elaborate Beijing signing ceremony to finalize dozens of deals worth approximately $250 billion. However, not all pledged agreements materialized.
From his first Beijing remarks, Trump consistently praised Xi, sometimes excessively, while Xi offered no similar reciprocation.
Trump called Xi a “great leader” and predicted they would have a “fantastic future together.”
He described being with Xi as an “honor” and called him a friend, characterizing his counterpart as “warm.”
China’s president isn’t known for being effusive. Trump himself described Xi as “all business” in a Fox News interview.
Xi did acknowledge Trump’s “landmark visit” had strengthened mutual trust. However, he used subtler charm tactics, promising to send White House rose seeds like those in his residence garden where Trump had Friday tea.
Xi explained he hosted Trump there to reciprocate the hospitality Trump provided during Xi’s 2017 visit to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Florida estate.
A California ice cream manufacturer has issued a voluntary product recall affecting certain batches of its organic frozen dessert products on May 14, 2026.
Straus Family Creamery, based in Petaluma, California, announced the recall of a limited number of production batches for specific varieties and package sizes of its organic ice cream line. The company cited concerns over possible metal fragments that may be present in the affected products.
According to the recall notice, only certain production batches are involved in this safety action. Consumers can identify the affected products by checking the “best by” date printed on the packaging.
Virginia’s governor has enacted sweeping legislation that prohibits the sale and manufacturing of specific semi-automatic weapons, immediately triggering legal challenges from gun rights organizations.
The restrictions on what the legislation calls “assault firearms” represent part of approximately two dozen new gun control measures that the Democratic governor has implemented during her initial months in office. This represents a dramatic policy shift from her Republican predecessor, who had rejected many comparable proposals.
“Firearms designed to inflict maximum casualties do not belong on our streets,” Spanberger said in a statement Friday. “We are taking this step to protect families and support the law enforcement officers who work every day to keep our communities safe.”
These new gun control measures align Virginia more closely with states like California, Illinois and New York, where Democrats maintain complete control of both legislative chambers and the governor’s mansion. The legislation also underscores the ongoing national split over gun policy, as numerous Republican-controlled states have moved to loosen firearm regulations they characterize as violations of Second Amendment protections.
Starting July 1, Virginia’s new statute will classify purchasing, selling, transferring, importing or manufacturing an “assault firearm” as a misdemeanor offense, carrying penalties of up to one year imprisonment and a $2,500 fine.
The legislation defines this category to encompass semi-automatic rifles or pistols equipped with magazine capacity exceeding 15 rounds. Additional covered firearms include weapons with specific features, such as rifles that accept detachable magazines and possess a secondary handgrip or collapsible stock. The ban extends to magazines holding more than 15 rounds. Most individuals face no penalties for simply owning such weapons.
Eleven additional states plus Washington, D.C., currently maintain laws banning the sale and manufacturing of specific semi-automatic firearms, although the specifics differ. Hawaii, for instance, bans certain semi-automatic pistols and high-capacity magazines while allowing semi-automatic rifles.
Legal challenges emerged immediately after the governor signed the legislation Thursday. The National Rifle Association, alongside other organizations, filed suits in both federal and state courts, claiming violations of Second Amendment rights.
“The firearms and magazines banned in this law aren’t bizarre and unusual outliers, they’re among the most commonly owned guns and magazines in the country,” said Adam Kraut, executive director of the Second Amendment Foundation, which joined the NRA in the federal lawsuit. “They’re owned in the tens of millions by peaceable Americans who use them overwhelmingly lawfully.”
The U.S. Department of Justice has also pledged to file suit challenging Virginia’s law.
The Virginia measure would “infringe on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens to enjoy and use AR-15 rifles for lawful purposes by making it a crime to purchase and sell them,” Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the department’s civil rights division, wrote in an April letter to Spanberger.
To date, legislation restricting specific semi-automatic firearms has generally survived legal challenges, including rulings by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over Virginia, Maryland and several other states.
This appellate court has twice sustained a Maryland statute banning numerous semi-automatic weapon types, characterizing them in a 2024 decision as “military-style weapons” unsuitable for self-defense. The court determined that “the Maryland law fits comfortably within our nation’s tradition of firearms regulation.”
The U.S. Supreme Court declined last year to review a challenge to that Maryland case. However, gun rights supporters remain optimistic about different outcomes in future litigation, pointing out that three conservative justices on the nine-member court opposed the decision while a fourth expressed doubts about the constitutionality of such firearm prohibitions.
Former Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed legislation during each of the previous two years that would have banned the sale of specific semi-automatic firearms.
However, Youngkin’s term concluded in January, with Spanberger taking office. This transition created a significant opportunity for gun control advocates, who already enjoyed backing within the Democratic-controlled Legislature.
Spanberger, a former CIA officer and U.S. House member, had previously volunteered with Moms Demand Action, an organization established following a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut that killed 26 people in 2012. The group reports that 20% of Democrats in the Virginia House are former volunteers.
“The fact that a former Moms Demand Action volunteer just signed an assault weapons ban in the home state of the NRA speaks volumes about how dramatically the political calculus around gun safety has shifted,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, the umbrella organization for Moms Demand Action.
As Virginia implements stricter gun regulations, numerous Republican-controlled states have been expanding firearm rights.
On the identical day Spanberger signed the semi-automatic firearm restrictions, Missouri’s Republican-controlled Legislature gave final approval to legislation establishing a school ranger program that could authorize trained volunteers to carry firearms in schools.
Legislation signed by Spanberger last month increased the minimum age for handgun purchases in Virginia from 18 to 21. In contrast, Republican West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed legislation last month reducing the age from 21 to 18 for carrying concealed weapons without state permits.
Another measure signed by Spanberger last month creates new opportunities for lawsuits against the firearms industry. This followed Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signing legislation that restricts liability lawsuits against the firearms industry.
NEW YORK — A Manhattan jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision Friday in Harvey Weinstein’s rape retrial, prompting a judge to declare a mistrial.
The former movie producer remains incarcerated following convictions for sexual assault on both coasts, but the mistrial means the New York rape allegation remains unresolved after three separate trials.
The predominantly male jury in Manhattan had been deliberating whether Weinstein sexually assaulted Jessica Mann, a hairstylist and actor, in 2013. Defense attorneys contended the sexual encounter was consensual between the then-married Weinstein and Mann, who is decades younger.
Earlier Friday, jurors informed the court they had reached an impasse in Harvey Weinstein’s rape retrial, but Judge Curtis Farber directed them to continue their deliberations in this high-profile case from the #MeToo era that a previous jury could not resolve last year.
The indication of deadlock surfaced several hours into their third day of discussions. The jury submitted a written message stating they “have concluded that they cannot reach” a unanimous decision. Judge Curtis Farber gave instructions for the group to persist with deliberations, which is the standard response from New York judges when a jury initially reports being stuck.
The jurors then resumed their private discussions. Their responsibility is determining whether Weinstein — the former entertainment industry executive who became emblematic of the #MeToo movement’s fight against sexual assault — raped hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann at a Manhattan hotel in March 2013.
An appellate court reversed his 2020 New York conviction involving charges related to Mann and a second accuser. During a retrial last year, jury deliberations collapsed due to internal conflicts regarding Mann’s case, resulting in this current retrial. Weinstein faces a single charge of third-degree rape.
Mann, 40, testified that while she voluntarily engaged in some intimate encounters with the then-married producer, he forced unwanted sexual contact on her that day despite her repeated refusals.
Weinstein’s defense team maintains the encounter was consensual. They highlighted that Mann continued meeting with Weinstein afterward and showed affection toward him. Mann explained she experienced conflicted emotions about him, herself and the incident.
Her perspective shifted in 2017, when multiple accusations against the Academy Award-winning Weinstein fueled the #MeToo movement. Several of those allegations resulted in criminal convictions against Weinstein in New York and California.
Weinstein, 74, has stated he “acted wrongly” but never attacked anyone.
The current jury listened to almost three weeks of testimony, including five days from Mann. Weinstein chose not to testify.
The Associated Press typically does not name individuals who report sexual assault. However, Mann has consented to being identified.
Federal prosecutors announced Friday they will pursue capital punishment against the suspect accused of gunning down two Israeli Embassy workers outside a Washington-area Jewish museum.
Elias Rodriguez is charged with federal hate crime and murder violations in the deaths of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were leaving a museum event last May when they were shot. According to the indictment, Rodriguez yelled “Free Palestine” during the attack and later declared to officers, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.”
Rodriguez faces hate crime charges that carry the possibility of execution. The indictment contains special findings that enable federal prosecutors to pursue the death penalty.
“My message to anyone who seeks to commit political violence in this district — D.C. is not the place. You will be held accountable and you will face the full wrath of the law,” said Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, during an unrelated press conference Friday where she disclosed the death penalty decision.
The hate crime allegations require prosecutors to demonstrate that antisemitism drove Rodriguez to open fire on Lischinsky and Milgrim, a young couple planning to get engaged. Milgrim held U.S. citizenship while Lischinsky was an Israeli citizen employed in America.
Federal prosecutors characterize the murders as premeditated, stating Rodriguez traveled by plane from Chicago to the Washington area before the May 21 gathering at the Capital Jewish Museum, bringing a firearm in his checked baggage.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing him walking back and forth outside before he approached four individuals and began shooting. Security footage captured Rodriguez moving toward Lischinsky and Milgrim after they collapsed, standing over them and firing more rounds. Officials said he appeared to reload his weapon before running away.
Following the attack, authorities say Rodriguez entered the museum and declared, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed,” based on court records. He also expressed admiration to investigators for an active-duty Air Force member who immolated himself outside the Israeli Embassy in February 2024, calling the man “courageous” and a “martyr.”
In Friday’s legal filing, prosecutors stated Rodriguez’s conduct was “motivated by political, ideological, national, and religious bias, contempt, and hatred.” They wrote that he “targeted individuals whom he perceived to have attended an event for young Jewish professionals, organized by the American Jewish Committee and hosted at the Capital Jewish Museum, to amplify the effect of his crimes.”
Defense lawyers for Rodriguez did not immediately return requests for comment. Prior to Friday’s announcement, his legal team met with Justice Department officials to present arguments against seeking capital punishment in the case.
Rodriguez is scheduled to appear in court again on June 30. No trial date has been established.
AKRON, Ohio — Federal investigators began examining Friday what led to a fatal aircraft accident in northeast Ohio that resulted in two deaths when a small plane struck a residence and burst into flames.
The National Transportation Safety Board is spearheading the investigation in Akron, working alongside the Federal Aviation Administration and Ohio State Highway Patrol, according to officials.
Flight records show the white and blue Piper PA-28-180 departed from Akron Fulton Airport around 2:45 p.m. Thursday, remaining airborne for approximately one hour before going down in a residential neighborhood and igniting.
Witnesses at the nearby Firestone Country Club first reported the accident, as thick black smoke billowed high into the sky from the crash site.
The Akron Fire Department reported that both the struck residence and an adjacent home required evacuation because of the blaze. Fortunately, no residents or onlookers sustained injuries.
As of Friday, the Summit County Medical Examiner’s office stated that officials had not yet identified the two fatalities or contacted their next of kin.
In a statement, the Highway Patrol indicated that investigators are continuing to examine flight information, eyewitness accounts, and aircraft documentation to establish the cause. The NTSB planned to provide an update Friday afternoon.
The American Winds College of Aeronautics, located in the area, posted on Facebook late Wednesday confirming all of its aircraft were accounted for and safe. Speaking for the institution, Denise Hobart of the North East Ohio Pilots Association said they were offering prayers for the pilot, passengers and their loved ones.
Motorists traveling through New Castle County should prepare for significant traffic disruptions this week as road construction affects southbound I-95 near the Route 896 interchange.
The Delaware Department of Transportation has issued an advisory alerting drivers to expect daytime lane restrictions on southbound I-95 from Monday through Wednesday while crews perform concrete demolition work.
Additional overnight disruptions are planned from Sunday through Thursday, including multiple lane shutdowns on southbound I-95 for milling and paving operations. EZPass and cash lane closures are scheduled for Sunday and Thursday nights.
Ramp closures on southbound I-95 will also take place during overnight hours from Monday through Wednesday as paving work continues.
Drivers are advised to plan alternate routes or allow extra travel time when passing through the construction zone.
Drivers on Interstate 295 southbound are facing extended travel times this evening as heavy traffic creates bottlenecks between Landers Lane and Churchmans Marsh.
The congestion is adding between 5 and 10 minutes to normal commute times through this stretch of highway. Motorists are advised to plan for extra time or consider alternate routes if possible.
Traffic conditions are being monitored, and drivers should expect continued delays until the congestion clears.
Coastal communities may face a challenging weather combination as El Niño conditions coincide with high tide flooding events, creating what experts describe as a potential ‘double whammy’ scenario.
The convergence of these two separate weather phenomena could lead to more significant flooding impacts than communities would typically experience from either condition occurring independently.
High tide flooding, also known as nuisance flooding, occurs when ocean water levels rise during regular tidal cycles, often inundating low-lying coastal areas, roads, and infrastructure even without storm activity.
When combined with El Niño weather patterns, which can influence precipitation and storm intensity, the flooding risks for vulnerable coastal areas may be amplified beyond normal seasonal expectations.
Weather forecasters and emergency management officials are monitoring these conditions closely as they develop, particularly in areas that have experienced recurring flooding challenges during previous high tide events.
The timing and severity of these combined impacts will depend on various factors including local geography, existing infrastructure, and the specific intensity of both the El Niño pattern and tidal conditions as they evolve.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Health authorities in Congo have confirmed a fresh Ebola outbreak in the Central African nation, reporting at least 246 suspected cases and 65 fatalities.
The deadly disease, which frequently proves fatal, was initially discovered in 1976 following two rapid outbreaks in present-day South Sudan and Congo, the World Health Organization reports.
Every significant Ebola outbreak has occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, the native region for the viruses responsible for the disease. The most devastating episodes have struck West and Central Africa.
A collection of viruses causes Ebola disease. WHO identifies three known to trigger major outbreaks: Ebola virus, Sudan virus and Bundibugyo virus.
Fruit bats are considered the natural carriers of Ebola-causing viruses, while apes and monkeys can also become infected, WHO states.
Humans can contract the infection from these animals, and transmission between people occurs through contact with bodily fluids such as blood, feces or vomit from infected individuals, or contaminated surfaces.
Signs of illness emerge anywhere from two days to three weeks following exposure, though they typically appear within approximately one week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes.
Initial symptoms resemble flu, featuring fever, body aches, exhaustion and throat pain. Subsequently, patients may develop digestive issues, skin rashes, seizures and hemorrhaging.
WHO reports Ebola’s average death rate stands at roughly 50%, with previous outbreaks ranging from 25% to 90% fatality rates.
Approved vaccines and treatments exist solely for the Ebola virus.
A decade-old outbreak spanning multiple West African countries holds the record as the most severe.
More than 28,000 cases and over 11,000 deaths occurred as the highly transmissible disease spread extensively through Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, affecting neighboring countries. Limited cases also appeared in the United States, the U.K., Italy and Spain, connected to African travelers or healthcare workers returning from outbreak assistance.
Researchers believe the epidemic began in southeastern Guinea when a child — “patient zero” — encountered infected fruit bats.
The second-largest outbreak in recorded history followed shortly after in Congo’s North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces, with some cases reaching neighboring Uganda. Friday’s newly announced outbreak is also located in Ituri, along the Ugandan border.
That outbreak eight years ago recorded over 3,400 reported cases and more than 2,200 deaths, achieving a 66% fatality rate, CDC data shows.
Similar to the 2013-2016 outbreak, Congo’s epidemic resulted from the Ebola virus.
Congo has experienced more than a dozen notable previous outbreaks, including one as recently as late 2025.
An outbreak in Uganda recorded 425 reported cases and 224 deaths, this time caused by the Sudan virus.
East African country officials received recognition for their rapid outbreak response and containment efforts. Community initiatives focused on public education about the disease and correcting misinformation regarding transmission methods.
Uganda has also experienced multiple outbreaks.
Ebola’s first documented outbreak happened 50 years ago in towns within former Sudan, now part of South Sudan. Scientists suspect it began in a cotton facility where employees encountered bats in storage areas, though the origin remains unconfirmed. The Sudan virus caused this outbreak.
At least 151 deaths and 284 cases were documented — many occurring after patients were hospitalized and transmitted the disease to medical staff and others while the illness remained unidentified, subsequent research revealed.
An outbreak months afterward in northern Congo — then called Zaire — resulted in 280 deaths with an exceptionally high fatality rate and first enabled scientists to identify the Ebola virus. This outbreak originated in an isolated village near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name.
The first documented Ebola infection beyond Africa happened that same year when a British laboratory worker accidentally punctured himself with a needle while examining samples. He survived.
Extremely few cases have been documented outside Africa since Ebola’s identification.
VIENNA (AP) — While English has traditionally dominated the pop music landscape, its supremacy at the Eurovision Song Contest is coming to an end.
This year’s sequin-filled international music competition features performances in 25 different languages, spanning from Albanian to Ukrainian, as it builds toward Saturday’s finale in Vienna. More Eurovision artists are choosing to showcase their native languages on the global stage.
“It’s easier to talk about your feelings in your native language,” explained singer Pete Parkkonen, who represents half of the Finnish pair favored by bookmakers to claim victory with their powerful voice-violin collaboration “Liekinheitin,” which translates to “Flamethrower.”
“And the main language is love, obviously,” he added.
While Eurovision previously required contestants to sing in their nation’s official language, the rules changed in 1999 to allow performers to select any language. Many artists in subsequent years gravitated toward English to reach broader international audiences.
Research by cultural anthropologist Andrew J. Green from King’s College London revealed that between 1999 and 2024, 20 out of 26 Eurovision champions performed in English, though non-English entries have increased over the last ten years.
The trend shows dramatic growth: only three songs contained no English in 2016, with four in 2017. This year, the European Broadcasting Union reports 12 songs feature no English whatsoever, 16 are performed entirely in English, and seven blend multiple languages.
Among the 35 competing acts this year — with 25 advancing to the final round — audiences hear performances in Spanish, German, Croatian, Azerbaijani, Latvian, Lithuanian and Romanian.
Eurovision enthusiasts worldwide are discovering and singing terms like “Jalla” — a Cypriot expression meaning “more,” which titles Cyprus contestant Antigoni’s song — and “ferto,” meaning “bring it,” the name of Greek performer Akylas’ addictive party rap track.
Malta’s representative Aidan performs “Bella,” combining English and Maltese verses, thrilling supporters from the Mediterranean island.
Joseph Pace, who made the journey to Vienna to support Malta, described hearing international fans attempt Maltese lyrics as “amazing.”
“That we will listen to our language on an international stage, on a huge competition like this, it’s amazing,” he expressed.
Several entries blend various languages together.
Israel’s Noam Bettan performs the ballad “Michelle” with Hebrew, French and English lyrics. Rapper Satoshi incorporates calls in Romanian, English, Italian, French and additional languages in the energetic crowd favorite “Viva, Moldova.” Italian vocalist Sal da Vinci combines standard Italian with his native Neapolitan dialect in “Per Sempre,” his silky Eurovision contribution.
Even the United Kingdom, known for its monolingual approach, joins the multilingual movement, demonstrating British counting skills in German with “Eins, Zwei, Drei” by techno performer Look Mum No Computer.
“People want Eurovision to be different from other song contests,” noted Dean Vuletic, a scholarly authority on the competition’s background. “They look for meaning in Eurovision because it is a showcase of cultural diversity.
“It’s countries competing against each other. And we want to see meaning in their entries. We want to see them say something about the countries and the cultures that they are representing.”
Some artists acknowledge English remains valuable for broader reach. Ukrainian performer Leléka typically sings exclusively in her homeland’s language, but chose to include English in her song “Ridnym” to spread its message of hope and renewal to maximum listeners.
“It really has a very deep message that means the world to me, and I really want people to understand it,” she explained.
LIMA, Peru — Peru’s voters will decide between two distinct candidates for their country’s top office following the conclusion of the nation’s presidential primary, which determined the finalists for a June runoff contest.
The daughter of a former president, Keiko Fujimori, representing the conservative wing, will compete against Roberto Sánchez, a nationalist congressman who previously served as a trade minister, as they seek to become Peru’s ninth leader in a decade. The pair emerged victorious from a field of 35 total contenders by pledging to address rampant criminal activity, which ranks as the primary concern for citizens in this South American nation whose mineral-based economy has remained stable despite ongoing governmental upheaval.
Final tallies from the April 12 voting showed Keiko Fujimori of Fuerza Popular capturing the largest share at 17.18% of all votes cast. Roberto Sánchez of Juntos por el Perú claimed the second position with 12.03%, according to official results released Friday by the National Office of Electoral Processes, guaranteeing his advancement to the June 7 decisive round.
Significant operational problems plagued the electoral process, preventing thousands of citizens both domestically and internationally from participating on the designated voting day. Officials responded by permitting over 52,000 Lima residents to cast their ballots the following Monday. This unprecedented extension, declared after vote tabulation had already commenced Sunday night, also applied to Peruvian citizens registered in Orlando, Florida, and Paterson, New Jersey.
The electoral contest occurred during a period of escalating violent criminal activity and governmental corruption that has generated substantial voter dissatisfaction, with citizens generally regarding political candidates as corrupt and ill-equipped for executive leadership.
Numerous contenders addressed public safety fears through extensive policy proposals, including constructing large-scale detention facilities, limiting prisoner meal provisions, and restoring capital punishment for severe offenses.
Despite ongoing criminal violence and political chaos resulting from frequent leadership changes — with three different presidents since October — Peru’s economic performance has remained strong. Benefiting from its position as the globe’s second-largest copper producer, the nation achieved growth exceeding 3% in both 2024 and 2025.
The upcoming June 7 runoff will mirror the dynamics of Peru’s 2021 final election round. During that contest, Fujimori faced Pedro Castillo, a rural educator and political newcomer whom Sánchez actively endorses and whose signature wide-brimmed hat style he has adopted.
Castillo narrowly defeated Fujimori by approximately 42,000 votes through strong backing from Peru’s impoverished rural populations. His presidency lasted until December 2022, when lawmakers removed him from office following his attempt to disband the legislative branch.
In her fourth presidential campaign, Fujimori has vowed to implement harsh anti-crime measures, yet she has simultaneously supported legislation that analysts claim hampers criminal prosecutions. These laws, which her political organization endorsed in recent years, abolished pretrial detention in specific situations and increased requirements for confiscating criminal proceeds.
Conversely, Sánchez has promised to overturn these statutes. He has also committed to enhancing police investigative resources to fight extortion crimes, which have multiplied five times over the past five years.
Sánchez distinguished himself throughout the campaign by proposing economic policies that diverge from the market-oriented approach Peru has maintained for twenty years. The legislator has expressed interest in renegotiating agreements with mining corporations operating domestically, contending that government tax collection should increase. He has additionally stated that rural communities should receive ownership stakes in local mining operations and has opposed surface mining techniques. However, implementing these changes would prove challenging for Sánchez, who lacks legislative majority support.
Will Freeman, a fellow for Latin American Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, described Fujimori as “perhaps Peru’s only remaining career politician and the only one with a real political party,” noting her nationwide organizational structure and long-term presence. While this foundation could enable her to address rising crime rates, he anticipates she would do so in a targeted manner.
“She and that party have in the past sponsored legislation against organized crime that ironically created many of the tools that prosecutors used to investigate them in the 2010s,” Freeman said, referencing the corruption cases Fujimori previously faced. “Now, they have since led the charge to destroy a lot of those mechanisms in the legislation.”
The runoff victor will take the oath of office on July 28 for a five-year presidential term.
A Delaware agricultural entrepreneur has earned recognition from federal officials for her work supporting local farmers throughout the region.
During National Small Business Week, which took place May 3-9, the U.S. Small Business Administration presented Nichole Krambeck of Insights Ag Scouting with Delaware’s first-ever Rural Small Business of the Year award. The ceremony brought together business owners, agricultural partners, and community representatives to honor outstanding entrepreneurs.
Operating from Wyoming, Delaware, Krambeck runs Insights Ag Scouting, LLC, providing hands-on crop monitoring and field analysis services to agricultural operations throughout the Delaware Peninsula. Her business helps farming operations make well-informed choices regarding pest control, plant health, fertilizer application, and overall agricultural efficiency. Krambeck focuses on delivering precise, timely advice based on actual field observations, serving both traditional row-crop farms and specialty agricultural businesses that represent the area’s varied farming sector.
According to SBA Delaware District Director Austen Colledge, Krambeck’s achievements demonstrate how combining business expertise with assistance from agency partners creates success. The Delaware Small Business Development Center and the Women’s Business Center at True Access Capital, who put forward Krambeck’s nomination, provided crucial support. Krambeck utilized complimentary mentoring programs offered through SBA partners to create her business strategy and marketing approach. The Delaware Farm Bureau in Camden provided additional backing by hosting the recognition event.
SBA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Jim Spencer praised Krambeck’s entrepreneurial spirit, saying, “Small business owners like Nichole embody the very definition of entrepreneurship: solve people’s problems for fun and profit. Last summer while in Delaware, I purchased a watermelon from a roadside market in Bridgeville. Turns out that farm is one of Nichole’s clients.” Krambeck partners with agricultural producers to assist them in making decisions that enhance crop yields, reduce expenses, and limit pesticide usage.
Regional Administrator Spencer expressed gratitude to all participants for supporting farmers who contribute significantly to healthy families and communities. He emphasized that supporting small agricultural enterprises is essential for safeguarding America’s food system and maintaining the nation’s farmland.
Meanwhile, in Louisa, Virginia, SBA Virginia District Director Carl Knoblock presented the Grime family of Southern Revere Cellars with Virginia’s Rural Small Business of the Year recognition. The business, which launched in 2021, became among the state’s pioneering farm operations to provide both craft beer and wine production at a single location. Collaboration with the Virginia SBDC led to SBA loan guarantee approval, enabling the Grime family to finance business growth. The operation has shown consistent expansion since opening, expanding their vineyard to twice its original size, adding over 1,000 new vines, and launching two additional grape varieties. Currently, Southern Revere cultivates multiple grape types including Chambourcin, Chardonel, Vidal Blanc, and Petit Verdot. Their continued development reflects their founding principles of community connection, quality craftsmanship, and dedication to their land.
Those interested in learning about SBA programs in their region or discovering more about the agency’s loan guarantee programs that support small businesses throughout the food supply chain, including agriculture, production, and logistics sectors, can visit sba.gov or reach out to their local SBA district office.
A Tennessee resident who uses the online alias Chud the Builder and has gained notoriety for publishing racist content on social media platforms received a $1.25 million preliminary bond Friday on charges including attempted murder.
Dalton Eatherly, 28, stands accused of firing shots at another individual Wednesday afternoon outside the Montgomery County Courthouse following a confrontation.
During Friday’s arraignment proceedings, prosecution attorneys requested that Eatherly remain in custody without bond until a comprehensive hearing could take place next week. Judge H. Reid Poland III rejected that request but established a substantial bond amount, citing the presence of numerous individuals “in the courtyard or at the courthouse and the seriousness of these felonies.”
Beyond the attempted murder accusation, Eatherly is charged with using a firearm during a dangerous felony, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.
Poland additionally referenced Eatherly’s previous bond releases in two separate cases. He is facing a harassment charge in Montgomery County from November and was also charged last week in Nashville’s Davidson County with theft of services, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Jacob Fendley, the attorney assigned to represent Eatherly on the felony charges Friday, did not respond to requests for comment.
Eatherly, who is white, creates social media content where he attempts to provoke Black passersby through racial slurs and racist dog whistles. He produces these videos in Nashville and in Montgomery County’s Clarksville.
According to jail records, he remained in Montgomery County jail custody Friday. A comprehensive bond hearing is set for May 21 with a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 26.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Tennessee Democratic congressman announced Friday he is withdrawing from his reelection campaign, becoming a casualty of redistricting fights occurring nationwide following a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Republican lawmakers in Tennessee recently approved a new congressional map that splits up the representative’s majority-Black district, reconfiguring it to favor the GOP as part of efforts to maintain a narrow majority in upcoming midterm elections.
“I don’t want to quit. I’m not a quitter. But these districts were drawn to beat me,” the congressman told reporters from his Washington, D.C. office.
The representative is fighting the state’s redistricting process in court and indicated he would rejoin the campaign if his legal challenge successfully restores his original congressional boundaries.
He expressed concern that Tennessee would probably become an all-Republican congressional delegation following the next election, cautioning this could isolate the state when Democrats eventually regain control of the presidency.
Tennessee became the first state to approve new congressional boundaries following a Supreme Court decision that substantially reduced federal Voting Rights Act safeguards for minority communities. Additional Southern states may follow suit, with Republican officials in Louisiana, Alabama and South Carolina also moving toward redistricting.
The congressman has served his Memphis-area district for approximately twenty years, representing one of the final white Democrats from the South. He has served extensively on the House Judiciary Committee, concentrating on expanding voting rights and civil rights protections.
He’s recognized for his frequently dramatic moments during congressional proceedings and hearings. In 2019, during the previous administration, he brought fried chicken to a House Judiciary Committee session when the then-Attorney General failed to appear.
“The message is Attorney General Bill Barr is not brave enough to answer questions from a staff attorney and members of the Judiciary Committee,” he stated at that time.
President Yoweri Museveni announced Friday that Uganda has approved a license allowing Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink to begin operations in the East African nation.
The satellite internet service, which is part of SpaceX, has been quickly growing its presence throughout Africa and currently provides service in more than a dozen African nations, including Somalia.
In a post on X, Museveni explained that he oversaw the signing of an “operational licence agreement between the Uganda Communications Commission and Starlink, marking an important step towards the commencement of their operations in Uganda.”
The Uganda Communications Commission serves as the nation’s regulatory body for the communications industry.
“I am pleased that Starlink has agreed to comply with Uganda’s laws and regulatory requirements as it prepares to begin service delivery in the country,” Museveni stated.
Citizens in Uganda have frequently voiced frustration over expensive and unreliable internet service from domestic providers, with many pointing to insufficient market competition as the cause.
Currently, a unit of South African telecom giant MTN Group controls most of Uganda’s data market, with its primary competitor being a unit of India’s Bharti Airtel.
Financial markets shifted their expectations Friday toward anticipating the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates possibly before 2024 concludes, following a series of inflation reports this week that came in above forecasts.
According to CME’s FedWatch tool, the likelihood of the Fed’s key interest rate rising by 25 basis points before January’s Federal Open Market Committee session reached approximately 60%, while traders view a December increase as essentially even odds.
The central bank under departing Chair Jerome Powell has maintained its policy rate between 3.50% and 3.75% since December. Even with inflation consistently exceeding the Fed’s 2% goal, officials have continued using policy statement language that implies their next action would likely be lowering rates.
An increasing number of policymakers have started advocating for a different approach, with three officials voting against April’s policy statement because it maintained language favoring easier monetary policy. Minutes from that session, scheduled for release Wednesday, could reveal how many additional officials were willing to support moving toward a neutral or more restrictive stance.
This week’s economic data provided little support for cutting rates in the near term. Inflation measurements at consumer and wholesale levels, along with import price figures, all surpassed economists’ already-high predictions. Additionally, retail sales information demonstrated that consumers remain financially stable despite facing elevated prices.
Furthermore, the inflationary pressures shown in the data reached their highest levels since the surge that followed the COVID-19 pandemic and appeared to spread beyond energy costs that were pushed up by the U.S.-Israeli-led war on Iran.
“The market narrative has shifted from stagflation to reflation due to rising inflation, strong spending and booming earnings,” Bank of America analysts wrote.
The sudden change in economic data and market predictions for the Fed’s actions appears likely to create a challenging communication issue for Warsh when he assumes leadership from Powell, whose chairmanship officially ends Friday.
President Donald Trump appointed Warsh, and Trump has consistently demanded lower interest rates while publicly criticizing Powell for failing to deliver them. The Senate confirmed Warsh this week, though his swearing-in ceremony has not been scheduled yet.
Warsh has contended that widespread adoption of artificial intelligence technology throughout the economy will boost U.S. productivity and reduce inflationary pressures, supporting the case for lower rates. However, during his confirmation hearing last month, he assured senators he made no commitments to Trump regarding rates, while promising to implement significant changes including enhanced cooperation with the administration on non-monetary policy issues.
SMYRNA, Del. – As Delaware prepares for the 2026 hurricane season running from June 1st through November 30th, Governor Matt Meyer has designated May 18th through May 22nd as Hurricane Preparedness Week.
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is working alongside state, county and local agencies to encourage residents to make preparations before the season begins. Officials are promoting advance planning as the best defense against potential storm impacts.
Weather forecasters are predicting below normal storm activity for the 2026 hurricane season, though emergency officials stress that residents should still take preparedness seriously regardless of seasonal predictions.
Drivers traveling through the intersection of Coastal Highway and Route 9 should prepare for periodic lane restrictions as repair crews work on the traffic signal system.
Signal technicians are currently on site addressing issues with the traffic control equipment, which is requiring intermittent lane closures to ensure worker safety during the repair process.
Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling through the area and to expect possible delays while the signal repairs are completed.
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — In a symbolic gesture on Friday, Hungary’s newly elected Prime Minister Péter Magyar personally dismantled barriers that had blocked public access to a historic government building in Budapest previously used by his predecessor Viktor Orbán.
Magyar declared that the renowned Karmelita building, situated on Budapest’s famous Castle Hill with views of the Danube river, would remain open to the public while officials determine its future use.
The historic Catholic monastery had become emblematic of Orbán’s leadership style after he ordered it sealed off from public access in 2021.
“There is no place for cordons in Hungary after the change of regime,” Magyar declared to media representatives while ceremonially opening the barriers. He emphasized that these facilities were constructed “from the money of the Hungarian taxpayers and made so beautiful with those funds.”
In April elections, Magyar and his center-right Tisza party decisively defeated Orbán, securing a two-thirds parliamentary majority that provides him substantial authority to implement significant reforms following his predecessor’s 16-year tenure.
Magyar has committed to rebuilding democratic institutions and governmental oversight mechanisms that deteriorated significantly under Orbán’s administration, while also addressing alleged corruption issues.
He has exposed lavish office renovations undertaken by previous government officials. Magyar has indicated he plans to relocate his own headquarters to the administrative district across the Danube river.
The Karmelita facility, he announced, will remain accessible for an “extensive period.” A website has already been established allowing visitors to schedule guided tours. Magyar noted that while some castle district buildings have undergone renovation, others remain under construction.
This development “is likely to generate a number of new ideas,” he stated without providing additional details.
The prime minister has pledged to rebuild his nation’s relationships with European Union allies and restore Hungary’s standing among Western democratic nations.
Magyar intends to establish a National Asset Recovery and Protection Office, a new agency responsible for investigating and attempting to recover public funds allegedly misappropriated during Orbán’s time in office.
President Donald Trump disclosed Friday that he discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping the potential release of an imprisoned underground church pastor and Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai during his recent China visit, with Xi indicating varying levels of receptiveness to each case.
During his flight home from China, Trump told reporters that Xi promised to seriously weigh the situation of Ezra Jin Mingri, an underground church pastor who was taken into custody in October amid what observers describe as China’s intensifying restrictions on religious practices.
“He said he’s gonna strongly consider the pastor,” Trump stated.
However, Trump indicated that Xi viewed Lai’s circumstances as significantly more complicated. The founder of the shuttered pro-democracy publication Apple Daily faces accusations related to anti-China activities. “He told me that would be a tough one,” Trump explained.
Both families expressed appreciation for Trump’s intervention on behalf of their loved ones.
Jin leads Zion Church, which ranks among China’s largest unofficial religious congregations that operate without government registration. These churches challenge Chinese regulations that mandate worship only occur in officially approved religious institutions.
Grace Jin Drexel, the pastor’s daughter, expressed Friday that her family and supporters felt “overjoyed” upon learning of Trump’s advocacy for her father.
“It’s truly nothing short of miraculous!” she communicated to The Associated Press. “We could not be more grateful to President Trump and his skillful administration for pressing the case!”
Even though Trump conveyed less optimism regarding Lai’s prospects, the former media executive’s daughter, Claire Lai, also thanked Trump and his team for their dedication to securing her father’s freedom.
“He has earned his reputation as liberating the unjustly detained and I am confident he and his administration will be the ones to free my father,” she told the AP.
She characterized this period as a chance for Xi to pursue “the only just and honorable thing” for Lai and demonstrate goodwill globally by freeing someone she described as devoted to Hong Kong.
Human rights advocates note that Beijing has grown increasingly reluctant to free prisoners who have challenged government authority on civil liberties during Xi’s leadership. In 2017, Chinese Nobel Prize winner Liu Xiaobo passed away at a hospital in northeastern China despite international appeals for his release to receive cancer treatment overseas.
Prior to his detention, the 78-year-old Lai frequently criticized Xi and the governing Communist Party. He received a 20-year prison sentence in February under national security legislation that Beijing implemented in 2020, which has effectively eliminated opposition voices in Hong Kong.
Lai faced conviction for conspiracy involving collaboration with foreign entities and working with others to distribute seditious materials. His pro-democracy Apple Daily publication was forced to close during a government crackdown that followed widespread anti-government demonstrations that disrupted the city in 2019.
Analysts suggest Lai’s situation represents the erosion of liberties that Beijing had guaranteed when the former British territory returned to Chinese control in 1997. International governments, including the U.S. and U.K., have expressed concerns about Lai’s case for years. However, Hong Kong officials maintain his prosecution was unrelated to press freedom issues.
Earlier this week, China’s foreign ministry characterized Lai as a central organizer of anti-China operations designed to undermine Hong Kong’s stability, emphasizing that the city’s matters constitute China’s domestic concerns.
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas’s highest civil court declined Friday to rule that Democratic state representatives who temporarily left Texas in 2025 to prevent a vote on new congressional district maps supported by President Donald Trump had abandoned their positions.
The Republican-dominated court delivered a setback to the governor and state GOP leaders who wanted to impose harsh penalties on the more than 50 Democrats who traveled to New York, Illinois and Massachusetts to prevent the maps from being voted on during a special legislative session. Republican state officials had pursued their arrest and imposed financial penalties to force their return to the state Capitol.
The governor had contended in legal papers filed directly with the state’s top civil court that state Rep. Gene Wu, who heads the House Democratic caucus, along with other legislators had effectively quit their positions.
Wu had maintained that he wasn’t abandoning his role during the quorum break, but was using his right to oppose the legislation.
When rejecting the governor’s petition, the court’s decision authored by Justice James Blacklock observed that the Republican-controlled Legislature had sufficiently addressed the situation through actions like imposing financial penalties on the absent legislators, and that they came back voluntarily after several weeks.
“In the end, a quorum was restored in two weeks’ time, without judicial intervention, by the interplay of political and practical forces,” Blacklock wrote.
“Courts have uniformly recognized that it is not their role to resolve disputes between the other two branches that those branches can resolve for themselves,” the opinion said.
Should the situation occur again and the Legislature proves unable to effectively force lawmakers to return, the court might eventually decide whether judicial intervention is appropriate, the decision stated.
“When Greg Abbott threatened to arrest and expel us for denying him a quorum, we told him he should ‘come and take it.’ He tried!” Wu said in a statement Friday. “Abbott was wrong, weak, and after all his bluster, he couldn’t come and take a damn thing.”
Wu and his colleagues ultimately came back to Texas, and the redistricting plan was approved and became law after the governor signed it.
Wu had contended that since he had returned to the Capitol and the redistricting plan was ultimately enacted, there was no longer any basis for the court to intervene.
“Their return is robust proof that they never intended to abandon their offices,” Wu argued in legal briefs. “Despite the overheated rhetoric, this quorum break was always understood to be temporary.”
The Texas departure escalated into a major national political showdown as Trump pushed Texas and other Republican-led states to redraw their congressional boundaries to help Republicans keep control of the U.S. House. The Texas redistricting push triggered comparable initiatives in multiple states as governors from both parties committed to redrawing maps designed to benefit their political candidates in the 2026 midterm elections.
An American evangelical minister has arrived in Belarus to conduct what organizers say will be the nation’s biggest Christian gathering ever, meeting Friday with the country’s long-time authoritarian ruler.
Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus’ president, asked Rev. Franklin Graham to deliver warm regards to President Donald Trump and inform him that he has “reliable friends and supporters in Belarus.”
Following Trump’s return to office, Lukashenko has freed hundreds of political detainees through agreements facilitated by the United States that resulted in the removal of certain American sanctions, as the isolated leader works to strengthen relationships with Western nations.
“Without the U.S. president, it might have been more difficult for us to establish our relations,” Lukashenko said to Graham, who heads Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Graham traveled with Greta Van Susteren, a Newsmax TV host whose husband is Trump’s special envoy for Belarus, John Coale.
For over thirty years, Lukashenko has maintained strict control over the country of 9.5 million people, and Belarus has faced repeated Western sanctions due to its suppression of human rights and its role in allowing Moscow to launch operations from its soil during the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Graham plans to conduct what organizers are calling the Festival of Hope at a covered sports facility in the capital city of Minsk, with thousands anticipated to participate in this unprecedented evangelical event in Belarus’ history.
Mass protests erupted following Belarus’ 2020 presidential contest, with hundreds of thousands demonstrating against what they considered fraudulent results. The government’s harsh response led to tens of thousands of arrests, with many protesters suffering police violence. Key opposition leaders either left the country or faced imprisonment.
Five years following those widespread protests, Lukashenko secured a seventh term in last year’s election, which opposition groups dismissed as illegitimate.
Through a March agreement that Washington helped facilitate, Lukashenko authorized the freedom of 250 political detainees, while America lifted restrictions on two state-owned Belarusian banks and the nation’s Finance Ministry, and removed leading Belarusian potash companies from sanctions lists.
A subsequent April arrangement freed well-known journalist Andrzej Poczobut through an exchange with Poland involving ten individuals total.
Despite these releases, the Viasna human rights organization reports that 845 political prisoners remain incarcerated in Belarus, including 22 media professionals.
Exiled opposition figure Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya expressed optimism that Graham’s presence might contribute to freeing all political detainees. “We continue to push for a complete end to the harsh political repressions in Belarus,” Tsikhanouskaya stated to The Associated Press.
The government’s approval of this large evangelical assembly represents a notable change after years of targeting religious leaders across Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant denominations, resulting in dozens being jailed, silenced or forced to flee following their opposition to the 2020 election. Among the nation’s 9.5 million residents, approximately 80% practice Orthodox Christianity, nearly 14% are Catholic and concentrated in western, northern and central regions, while roughly 2% belong to Protestant denominations.
New legislation passed in 2024 mandated that all faith-based organizations register again with government officials or risk being banned if their allegiance to the state appears questionable.
Belarus appears on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom’s list of nations with religious liberty violations, with particular emphasis on its restrictive laws.
Natallia Vasilevich, who coordinates the Christian Vision monitoring organization, observed that while Graham’s Belarus visit represents a “mega-important event” for the country’s evangelicals, they still operate under oppressive conditions.
“Some believers view Graham’s visit as a miracle and a window of opportunity, while others see a risk that they will have to turn a blind eye to repression and take part in something that makes the regime looks nice,” Vasilevich explained.
The National Football League’s diversity hiring policy is facing legal scrutiny from Florida’s top prosecutor, who claims the requirement discriminates against candidates.
The Rooney Rule mandates that NFL franchises must conduct interviews with minority applicants when filling senior-level positions. However, Florida’s attorney general has labeled this practice as discriminatory.
This challenge comes as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under the current administration has been questioning similar diversity initiatives in other sectors and organizations.
The policy was established to increase opportunities for underrepresented groups in NFL leadership roles, but critics argue it creates unfair hiring practices.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced plans to construct a statue display honoring notable Americans in a heavily regulated park beside the Potomac River, potentially setting up another legal battle over his administration’s approach to bypassing traditional approval procedures as he pushes forward with major changes to the nation’s capital.
Through a Friday morning social media announcement, Trump revealed the National Garden of American Heroes would be constructed in West Potomac Park, an area adjacent to the National Mall that houses the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. The location also contains multiple fields and volleyball courts that local athletic groups use regularly.
In his announcement, Trump characterized the location as a “totally BARREN field of Prime Waterfront Real Estate along our Mighty Potomac River.”
The president indicated the garden would mark America’s 250th anniversary through sculptures honoring 250 notable Americans who contributed significantly to the nation’s cultural, political and historical development. He initially proposed this concept during 2020’s Fourth of July festivities and has positioned it as his answer to demonstrations that led to removing disputed monuments, particularly those celebrating slave owners and Confederate figures.
During his first term’s closing days, Trump, a Republican, issued an executive order identifying 244 individuals including Ronald Reagan and Jackie Robinson for statue recognition in the garden. The concept stalled during President Joe Biden’s administration, but Congress allocated $40 million through Trump’s major tax and spending legislation last year to acquire the statues specified in his executive orders.
However, this funding may not satisfy the approval requirements typically necessary for significant National Mall area projects. Federal regulations mandate that projects and memorials receive authorization from various design and planning committees.
The White House has not yet responded to inquiries about whether it plans to pursue such approvals or if statue contracts have been finalized.
Washington’s monumental center ranks among the country’s most strictly controlled areas, designed to preserve viewing corridors and block new development that might compromise the region’s historical significance. Given approval procedures, design disagreements and funding obstacles, area modifications can require years or decades to complete. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, among the National Mall’s most recent additions, required 21 years to finish after Congress initially authorized it in 1999.
Trump and his allies have demonstrated minimal commitment to adhering to established protocols. He rapidly ordered the draining and repainting of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool this month. He abruptly demolished the White House East Wing last year to construct a ballroom. Trump’s name now appears on the Kennedy Center’s exterior, which he intends to close this summer for a two-year renovation project.
This week alone, crews started initial surveys and site testing for a proposed triumphal arch Trump wants constructed between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Workers fenced portions of the area and placed pink survey markers in the grass.
Additionally, the Trump administration continues advancing plans to convert East Potomac Park from its current public golf course into what Trump calls a “U.S. Open-caliber course.” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum released a design proposal Thursday for the upgraded course, stating it would offer “championship-quality golf at affordable, highly discounted rates.”
The proposal offered limited information about public access to the park, which runners and cyclists frequently use.
Nearly all these projects face ongoing legal challenges.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Fifteen Latin Americans have been sent by the Trump administration to the Democratic Republic of Congo, placing them in an unknown nation far from their homelands — with many having U.S. judicial protections against removal to their native countries.
The Associated Press conducted a phone interview with a 29-year-old woman from Colombia regarding her ordeal. She requested anonymity due to concerns about potential retaliation.
The following are key points from the AP’s reporting.
Each of the individuals removed had received judicial protections from American judges preventing their deportation to their countries of origin, stated U.S. attorney Alma David, representing several of them. The woman from Colombia had been granted safeguards under the U.N. Convention Against Torture in May 2025, following a federal court determination that returning her to Colombia would be unsafe due to threats from militant organizations and mistreatment by a former partner in government.
Despite these protections, she was apprehended during a standard U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement appointment this year and informed that an alternative nation had been identified for her placement. In under three weeks, she found herself aboard an aircraft — with restraints on her hands and feet during an approximately 24-hour charter journey. She discovered her destination was Congo just one day prior to takeoff.
A recent federal court decision determined the government likely violated legal statutes by removing another Colombian individual to Congo. The implications for the remaining cases are uncertain.
The current administration has negotiated agreements with no fewer than eight African nations to receive individuals who are not citizens of those countries — persons whose native nations refuse their return or who possess judicial safeguards against repatriation. Immigration law specialists indicate these arrangements serve as an effective workaround in U.S. immigration statutes.
The specifics of Congo’s agreement remain unknown. Unlike other participating nations that have received substantial financial payments, the Congolese leader has characterized it as an “act of goodwill,” without monetary exchange. This arrangement occurs while Washington has applied pressure on neighboring Rwanda regarding its backing of the M23 rebel faction in eastern Congo — a situation experts suggest may explain Kinshasa’s willingness to cooperate.
The Department of Homeland Security declined to address inquiries about the Colombian woman’s situation but has maintained the agreements “ensure due process under the U.S. Constitution.” The Trump administration contends they are necessary to “remove criminal illegal aliens.”
The International Organization for Migration, affiliated with the U.N., has a primary function in overseeing the deportees’ circumstances in Kinshasa. They reside in small buildings at a hotel close to the airport, with expenses paid by Congo’s government, the IOM reported. The entrances are secured and guards prevent unaccompanied departures, the Colombian woman explained.
Those removed may venture out approximately weekly, escorted by IOM personnel, with roughly 30 minutes for shopping or accessing funds. “They determine our destinations and purchases,” the woman stated.
The IOM has also outlined available choices to deportees: return to their native countries — where many encounter the persecution they escaped — with IOM support, or stay in Congo without assistance. Her legal representative, Alma David, termed these “impossible choices,” asserting the removals breached due process protections, U.S. immigration statutes, and international agreements.
The individuals arrived with three-month Congolese entry permits. The consequences when these documents expire remain uncertain. They have been informed they may seek asylum in Congo — a path none have pursued.
The woman reports feeling unsafe in her current location. The local cuisine has caused illness among several individuals. French and Lingala languages are as unfamiliar as their new environment. She remains mostly confined to her quarters, placing late-evening calls to her 10-year-old daughter in Colombia.
Human rights organizations in Congo have denounced the arrangement as a breach of international refugee protections. The Congo-based Institute for Human Rights Research characterized it as “arbitrary detention by proxy for the United States.”
The woman, who operated a dessert business in Colombia before her departure, maintains she committed no violations and simply sought safety in the United States. Instead, she remains trapped in a nation she had never known existed, with no clear timeframe or resolution.
After a stretch of seasonable and breezy conditions to close out the workweek, a significant warm up is on the way for the Delmarva region as an expanding ridge of high pressure ushers in the first widespread taste of summer-like heat heading into next week.
Clouds will linger through much of today as an upper-level low pressure system slowly pulls away from the Mid-Atlantic. However, increasing sunshine is expected later this afternoon as surface high pressure begins to build into the region. Temperatures today will remain relatively comfortable for mid-May standards, with highs generally ranging from the upper 60s to lower 70s accompanied by northwest winds of 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph.
The overall weather pattern will undergo a major transition this weekend as a strong upper-level ridge strengthens across the eastern United States. At the same time, high pressure anchored offshore over the western Atlantic will establish a persistent south to southwesterly flow across the Mid-Atlantic and Delmarva Peninsula. This setup will allow progressively warmer air to surge northward through at least the middle of next week.
Temperatures Saturday will begin climbing back above normal with highs reaching the upper 70s to lower 80s inland, though coastal communities will remain several degrees cooler thanks to the influence of chilly ocean waters.
By Sunday, much of inland Delmarva could rise into the mid to upper 80s while beach areas remain closer to the upper 70s or lower 80s. The warming trend intensifies further Monday as many communities across Delmarva push into the upper 80s to lower 90s.
Forecast guidance suggests Tuesday and potentially Wednesday may bring the hottest temperatures of the stretch. Some inland areas across Delmarva, southern New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania could climb into the middle 90s if sunshine remains dominant. Confidence in exact temperatures later next week remains somewhat lower, especially as clouds and possible thunderstorms approach with an eventual cold front.
Despite the increasing heat, forecasters note this setup currently does not appear especially favorable for oppressive humidity levels. Dry ground conditions associated with ongoing drought concerns across parts of the Mid-Atlantic may limit evapotranspiration, while cooler ocean temperatures should also help prevent excessive moisture from building into the atmosphere early in the week. As a result, while temperatures may approach heat advisory territory in some urban areas by Tuesday or Wednesday, the overall heat index values may remain somewhat lower than typical midsummer heat waves.
Even so, several locations could flirt with daily record high temperatures between Monday and Wednesday as this early-season heat intensifies across the region.
Relief is expected by late next week as a cold front moves through the Mid-Atlantic sometime Wednesday into Thursday, bringing temperatures back closer to seasonal averages along with the potential for scattered showers and thunderstorms.
U.S. President Donald Trump indicated Friday that a fatal Russian missile attack on an apartment complex in Kyiv, which claimed 24 lives including three children, may hinder ongoing peace negotiations regarding Moscow’s conflict with Ukraine.
Trump made these remarks while speaking with reporters during his return flight from China aboard Air Force One. The president, who has attempted unsuccessfully to mediate an end to what he has described as a senseless bloodbath, revealed that he had spoken about the conflict with President Xi Jinping, with both leaders expressing their desire to see the hostilities cease.
“It’s one that we’d like to see settled. Until last night, it was looking good, but they (the Ukrainians) took a big hit last night. So it’s gonna happen (the end of the war). But it’s a shame,” Trump stated, referring to the Russian assault.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy demanded punishment for Moscow following the attack, placing red roses at the destroyed apartment building’s debris on Friday.
Russia reported that Ukrainian drones had killed four individuals, including one child, during a nighttime attack on the city of Ryazan.
Both nations claim they do not intentionally target civilian populations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is anticipated to visit China and meet with Xi next week. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed reporters that specific dates would be announced shortly.
Peskov stated that Putin plans to discuss Trump’s China visit with Xi, along with bilateral relations and international issues.
Delaware authorities have taken a Townsend woman into custody on felony drug charges and additional violations after investigating unauthorized marijuana distribution.
Mary Fischer-Solimeo of Townsend was arrested by the Delaware Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement following their probe into illegal cannabis operations.
Officers from DATE’s Marijuana Enforcement Unit carried out a search warrant on May 13 at Blackbird Creek Farm located on Union Church Road in Townsend. Investigators had established that the facility operated without proper licensing from the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner and was reportedly conducting marijuana cultivation and sales activities.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Las Vegas Golden Knights’ remarkable streak of success continues as they’ve secured another trip to the Western Conference finals, marking their fifth appearance in the third round during just nine seasons in the NHL.
Las Vegas closed out the Anaheim Ducks with a commanding 5-1 victory in Game 6 of their second-round matchup Thursday evening, claiming their 14th playoff series win since joining the league in 2017 — the most of any NHL team during that period.
The franchise’s sustained excellence stems from more than just fortune. Their aggressive approach to winning has involved costly free agent signings and major player acquisitions, culminating in a surprising coaching switch this spring that has paid immediate dividends.
“Just proud of the guys,” commented defenseman Shea Theodore, who has been with the organization since its inception. “I think it comes right from (owner) Bill Foley up top. That’s the message going into every year, is to win Cups, and I think we’ve put ourselves in great positions. Guys put the work in.”
Following back-to-back six-game series wins against the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim, Las Vegas has compiled a 15-4-1 record since making the bold decision to dismiss Stanley Cup-winning coach Bruce Cassidy and bring in John Tortorella with only eight games remaining in the regular season.
“Torts has been a good change coming in, just getting us the right mindset going into each game, each playoff series,” Theodore explained. “I feel like we have the right tools going in and guys have been executing.”
The coaching change came after an 8-15-4 stretch that had the team struggling. The 67-year-old Tortorella’s arrival sparked an immediate turnaround, helping Vegas surge past both Anaheim and Edmonton to capture the Pacific Division title before navigating through the division’s relatively favorable playoff bracket.
“I think we were maybe doubting a little bit of ourselves about what we were trying to do out there, and sometimes that happens,” said Mitch Marner, who netted the opening goal in Thursday’s clincher after recording a hat trick in the same building during Game 3. “Torts came in and, I think, brought our swagger back to where it needed to be, and playing the way that we wanted to play. And obviously since that change, I’ve really liked our game as a team. I think we all have. We’re playing a fast-paced game. We’re doing all the little things right, and that’s what it takes.”
For Marner, who departed Toronto last summer amid fan criticism while the Maple Leafs continued their conference finals drought, his inaugural Vegas campaign has been “a roller coaster ride.” After a slow start by his standards, the veteran forward has found his groove at the perfect time.
Marner contributed a goal and assist in the series-clinching victory, bringing his postseason total to an NHL-leading 18 points. His playoff performance has silenced critics who questioned his big-game capabilities during his Toronto tenure.
“Individually wise, it feels great to be going on to the next round with this team,” Marner stated. “And the work now really just keeps getting harder, and we’re excited for it.”
The Golden Knights now face their toughest test yet against the Colorado Avalanche, who have dominated throughout most of the season. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar have guided Colorado to eight victories in nine playoff contests against the conference’s second and third-seeded teams.
Despite facing long odds against what appears to be Colorado’s championship destiny, the Golden Knights carry the confidence that comes from nearly a decade of unprecedented success since entering the league.
“We’re playing a very high-talented team coming up here, so we’ve got to make sure we’re doing all those things right,” Marner noted. “And then when we get our opportunities, capitalize on them.”
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Montreal Canadiens first-year netminder Jakub Dobes says he takes pride in not losing faith in himself after Buffalo scored three times on their opening four attempts. More importantly, he remains grateful that Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis chose not to pull him from the game.
The difficult opening, which wasn’t completely the goaltender’s responsibility, ultimately helped Dobes find his rhythm and rebuild his confidence. He turned away Buffalo’s remaining 32 attempts in Thursday night’s 6-3 victory that put Montreal ahead 3-2 in their second-round playoff matchup.
“I told him thank you for leaving me and trying to prove myself,” Dobes said, referring to St. Louis. “That’s a big part, to have (the) trust of your coach, and I will never disrespect it. I appreciate it and the only thing I was trying to do just give some momentum back to the team and try to keep it tight, and it worked out.”
Game 6 is at Montreal on Saturday night.
Despite whatever difficulties Dobes experienced early in a contest where Buffalo held a 3-2 advantage by the 10:15 mark of the opening period, the 24-year-old Czech player convinced his teammates he had found his rhythm again.
This became especially clear about four minutes into the middle period when he denied Tage Thompson during a breakaway opportunity after Buffalo caught Montreal during a line change. The Sabres’ top regular-season goal scorer rushed in from the left side, moved across the goal mouth only to see Dobes track his movement and block Thompson’s attempt with his left leg pad.
Montreal answered by scoring three times during the period’s final 12 minutes to establish a 5-3 advantage.
“It was a huge save,” Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki said. “We never lost confidence in him. Everyone was struggling in that first period. And I just thought that was a big moment for us.”
For Dobes, who posted a 29-10-4 record during his initial complete NHL regular season, the challenging-then-successful performance taught him about resisting frustration. The netminder admitted his spirits dropped after rookie Konsta Helenius scored Buffalo’s third goal between his legs.
“The one lesson I learned from today was just got to have a better body language for the boys — don’t let them know that I’m not feeling maybe my best,” Dobes said, noting he was reminded of that during a first-intermission discussion. Dobes has been Montreal’s starting goaltender since the playoffs opened, and is now 7-5 in which he’s allowed 28 goals.
St. Louis said it was goalie coach Marco Marciano’s decision to not pull Dobes.
“Ultimately, it’s probably my decision right? But I feel like the goalie position is probably the one position that I can help much,” said St. Louis, a former NHL forward. “So I try to stay out of it and not be emotionally driven, and being upset that we’re down.”
St. Louis described the conversation over the radio with Marciano, who was watching from the press box, as being brief.
“He said, ‘No, keep him in.’ OK, let’s move on,” St. Louis said.
Forward Juraj Slafkovsky defended Dobes by saying Buffalo’s first goal pinballed in by deflecting off Sabres forward Jason Zucker and then a Montreal defender. And Dobes was screened when Josh Doan beat him to put Buffalo up 2-1.
“We didn’t help him there, but then he came back and he was in a game, and he was once again really good,” said Slafkovsky, who had three assists. “It’s just Marty trusting him. I think it’s huge for confidence of (Dobes). And we all trust him as well.”
What unfolded could easily be described as The James Harden Experience in action.
During a crucial 22-second stretch in overtime of Game 5 in the Eastern Conference semifinals versus Detroit on Wednesday evening, Harden displayed his full range for Cleveland — converting one free throw while missing another, swatting away a shot, grabbing a rebound, and committing a turnover.
The veteran guard remained unshaken throughout the sequence, which perfectly captures his character.
“He never wavered,” said Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson. “He has a bad game, good game, you can’t even tell. So, I think his mentality — he’s seen so much, been through so many of these series — he’s a heck of a leader.”
Cleveland’s decision to acquire Harden through a trade three months earlier was based on his ability to elevate their toughness and playoff readiness. Early results suggest their strategy is working.
With the veteran who has reached the postseason in all 17 of his NBA campaigns leading the way, Cleveland sits just one victory from advancing to the East finals. A win against Detroit in Game 6 on Friday night at home would secure their spot. Notably, Harden’s strongest three performances of the series have come in the most recent games — all Cleveland victories.
“He’s a pro’s pro,” said Cavaliers guard Max Strus following the Game 5 victory, where Harden topped all scorers with 30 points despite struggling through the final periods, connecting on just one of his last eight field goal attempts in the fourth quarter and overtime.
“He shows up every single day,” Strus continued. “He puts (an) amount of work in. You don’t become one of the best players the game has ever seen without showing up every single day. I think that’s one thing that I’ve noticed from him is the consistency, whether that’s in the weight room, whether that’s in taking care of your body, whether it’s in getting shots up. He’s a Hall of Famer in that regard and that’s why he is who he is — because he consistently puts in the work.”
Statistical evidence demonstrates Harden’s importance to Cleveland’s postseason run:
— 5-1 when he scores at least 22 points (2-4 otherwise).
— 4-0 when he shoots at least 44% (3-5 otherwise).
— 5-0 when he has at least seven field goals (2-5 otherwise).
— 6-1 when he has at least three 3-pointers (1-4 otherwise).
The transition hasn’t been without challenges. Harden continues to struggle with turnovers, though this statistic can be misleading since primary ball handlers naturally commit more turnovers than role players. He stands three points shy of matching Stephen Curry for 10th place on the all-time playoff scoring list (a positive milestone), while sitting one turnover away from tying Shaquille O’Neal for second-most playoff turnovers since the current format began in 1984 (a less favorable distinction).
Harden faces heightened scrutiny compared to many players. This comes with the territory — 17 seasons in the league, 17 playoff appearances, substantial earnings, numerous individual accolades, yet no NBA championships. However, he deserves credit for adapting to a significantly different role in Cleveland than what he’s grown accustomed to over recent years.
“This is new for me. I’ve only been here two and a half months,” Harden explained. “So, the things that we are going through is all new.”
In Cleveland, he’s accepted a secondary role, serving as Robin to Donovan Mitchell’s Batman. Such transitions don’t happen overnight. Harden has worked to make this adjustment smoothly since arriving via trade — and Cleveland now stands one win from reaching the NBA’s final four for the first time since 2018 (and without LeBron James, their first appearance since 1992).
“I think we’re building in the right direction,” Harden said. “And throughout that process, there’s going to be some times where we don’t look as great, but I think overall we’ve all got the right mindset of wanting to help each other be better. And I think we’re finding that.”
The National Football League’s game schedule continues to draw significant interest from fans and government officials alike, particularly those following the Washington Commanders or their preferred teams. However, the league faces increased examination as it allocates more contests to streaming platforms.
Out of 272 regular-season matchups, 22 will have streaming services as their primary broadcaster – one additional game compared to the previous season’s announcement. Another 14 games will air mainly on cable networks.
This distribution means 236 contests will broadcast on CBS, Fox, NBC or ABC, keeping 87% of all games on traditional broadcast television – identical to last year’s percentage. Games played in each team’s home market will continue airing on broadcast networks.
President Donald Trump expressed his frustration regarding the financial burden on fans seeking access to complete game coverage, as Federal Communications Commission and Department of Justice investigations proceed.
“You have people that live for Sunday. They can’t think about anything else, and then all of a sudden, they’re gonna have to pay $1,000 a game? It’s crazy, so I’m not happy about it,” Trump said while interviewed on “Full Measure” last weekend.
Although fans don’t actually pay $1,000 per individual game for television or streaming access, the combined cost of viewing all content through “NFL Sunday Ticket,” cable or satellite packages, plus subscriptions to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Peacock could approach nearly $1,000 for an entire season.
Despite heightened examination of its distribution approach, the league maintained its existing strategy, according to Hans Schroeder, the NFL’s executive vice president of media distribution.
“Our focus is on getting the best games into the best windows,” Schroeder said. “And even with the additional games that went to Netflix, we think we’re expanding the reach of those games.”
The organization created new independent time slots after reclaiming four games from Monday night doubleheaders used in prior seasons. Two games moved to Netflix (Thanksgiving Eve and the Saturday early game in Week 18), one to Fox (one of the international games) and one to NBC (a Saturday game in Week 17).
CBS and Fox gained Saturday games in Week 15 that previously aired as Sunday regional contests. Fox also secured a Christmas Day game for the first time since 2023.
Although the league and ESPN believed having dual Monday night games certain weeks would benefit viewers, it frequently divided audiences because one contest began at 7 p.m. while the other started at 8:15 p.m.
“I think our fans felt a little conflicted with having two games on Monday,” Schroeder said. “It wasn’t working as we intended. We could take these games and find a better home and broader distribution for them.”
The Netflix games should attract substantial viewership given the platform’s domestic and international presence. The streaming service boasts 81.4 million U.S. subscribers versus ESPN’s 60 million. Netflix will also distribute its five-game package worldwide.
Ten Monday night games will simulcast on ABC this season. ESPN will broadcast the Super Bowl for the first time, while ABC will air it for the first time since 2006.
Tim Reed, ESPN’s vice president of programming and acquisitions, also believed eliminating the doubleheaders helped “Monday Night Football” achieve a more comprehensive schedule.
“The ability to streamline and simplify the schedule just helps. I assume it helped the league and makes it easier to land all the games,” he said.
With 10 broadcast windows during Thanksgiving week, only six 1 p.m. games will air Sunday, split equally between CBS and Fox. Baltimore at Houston (CBS) and Atlanta at Minnesota (Fox) are anticipated to be the featured early window contests, while Seattle at San Francisco receives the late afternoon spotlight on Fox.
Christmas week will feature 11 windows – Christmas Eve, three on Christmas Day, two on Dec. 26, CBS doubleheader plus early game on Fox, NBC Sunday night, and ESPN Monday night. After ESPN selects the two games it will broadcast on NFL Network, CBS and Fox will each receive one game, likely resulting in six total 1 p.m. Sunday contests. The 49ers-Chiefs matchup serves as the highlighted late-afternoon game on CBS.
“How do you satisfy everybody? You probably can’t, but you can be fair,” said Mike Mulvihill, Fox Sports president, insight and analytics. “It leaves things a little light for the afternoon windows, but as long as we’re not shouldering more of that burden and feel we’re being treated fairly, it’s OK.”
CBS, which experienced its strongest regular season in 2025, will feature the Chiefs four times and the Cowboys twice during its Sunday 4:25 p.m. doubleheader window.
Its strongest lineup appears to be Week 15, with Bears-Bills on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 8:20 p.m., followed by Steelers-Ravens on Sunday at 1 p.m., and Cowboys-Rams at 4:25 p.m.
“That will be a great scene in Buffalo for us, and then you go from that game to Sunday and a monster doubleheader with Ravens-Steelers early, a legendary black-and-blue game, and then having the Cowboys in LA against the Rams,” said Dan Weinberg, CBS Sports EVP of programming.
CBS also features the Cowboys in Week 3 against the Ravens, which will take place in Brazil.
By broadcasting the Patriots-Lions game in Munich during Week 10, Fox will present its first tripleheader since Week 8 in 2016. Following the Sunday morning game, it will also showcase Vikings-Packers as a featured 1 p.m. contest, followed by 49ers-Cowboys in the late afternoon slot.
Tom Brady makes his initial return to Foxborough, Massachusetts, as a broadcaster when the Patriots face the Packers in Week 9.
“I think there are 60 dates this season with NFL football. That is quite different than 20-25 years ago,” Mulvihill said. “Sunday is still the core of the football experience and always will be. I think the league is mindful of not undermining the brand and power of Sunday football.”
The coffee chain giant announced Friday that it will eliminate 300 corporate positions and shut down multiple regional offices as part of its continuing business restructuring efforts.
Store workers will not be impacted by these job cuts, according to company officials. The workforce reductions will target staff in administrative departments including marketing, human resources and supply chain management. International workers are not currently affected, though the company indicated it is examining its corporate organization structure beyond U.S. borders.
The coffee retailer revealed it will shutter underutilized facilities in Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago and additional cities. The Seattle-headquartered corporation recently revealed plans for a new corporate facility in Nashville, Tennessee, which is expected to house up to 2,000 workers over the next five years.
Company officials project these changes will generate $400 million in restructuring expenses, with $120 million allocated for employee severance packages.
The coffee company has been working to cut expenses and streamline operations under Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol, who came aboard in 2024. During the previous year, the business eliminated 2,000 corporate positions and shuttered hundreds of locations across the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Niccol stated last month that the streamlined organizational structure is enabling faster innovation within the company. The corporation is also putting money into its existing locations to enhance customer experiences. Plans include redesigning 1,000 U.S. locations this year to create a warmer, more inviting atmosphere, while also bringing on additional baristas to speed up service during peak hours.
These initiatives seem to be showing results. During the January-March timeframe, the company reported that U.S. same-store sales, measuring performance at locations operating for at least one year, increased by 7%. Niccol described this quarter as “the turn in our turnaround.”
“Our focus now is on sustaining our momentum and making our results repeatable and durable, all while delivering a healthy cost structure that supports profitable growth,” Niccol said during a conference call with investors. “It’s how we turn progress into consistent results.”
Iran’s foreign minister declared that mutual distrust represents the primary barrier blocking progress in discussions aimed at ending the conflict with the United States, while expressing Friday that Tehran remains receptive to diplomatic assistance, especially from China, to reduce regional tensions.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that conflicting signals have “made us reluctant about the real intentions of Americans.”
“We are in doubt about their seriousness,” he explained to journalists, noting that discussions could advance if Washington demonstrated readiness for a “fair and balanced deal.”
Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s most recent formal offer as “garbage.” Though Iran reportedly included certain nuclear compromises, Trump has stated his goal of removing highly enriched uranium from the nation and blocking its nuclear weapons development. Iran maintains its nuclear activities serve peaceful objectives.
As discussions between Iran and the U.S. remain frozen during the unstable ceasefire, regional tensions continue escalating and risk pushing the Middle East toward renewed open conflict while extending the global energy crisis triggered by the hostilities.
Iran continues controlling the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that handled one-fifth of global oil transport before the war began, while America maintains its blockade of Iranian ports.
Following their Friday discussions, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached agreement that the strait must be reopened.
Araghchi announced Friday that Iran would welcome diplomatic support from other nations, especially China, referencing Beijing’s earlier role in helping restore relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
“Chinese have a good intention. So anything that can be done by them to help diplomacy would be welcomed by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he stated.
Beijing has demonstrated limited public enthusiasm for U.S. appeals to increase involvement, despite Trump’s comments to Fox News’ Sean Hannity that Xi had offered assistance during their discussions.
Pakistan announced Thursday it continues diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions through ongoing discussions regarding Iran-related ceasefire proposals. However, officials declined revealing specifics about the talks or confirming whether the United States had provided a formal response.
“The clock on diplomacy has not stopped. The peace process is working,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi informed reporters in Islamabad.
Trump has insisted on significant reductions in Iran’s nuclear operations while Iran has maintained its uranium enrichment rights.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who initiated the war alongside Trump on Feb. 28, has similarly demanded complete removal of Iran’s highly enriched uranium from the country.
Iran’s foreign minister stated Friday that managing its enriched uranium stockpile represents one of the most challenging topics in negotiations with the U.S.
Russia has previously proposed accepting the stockpile if Iran agrees to surrender it. Araghchi indicated Russia’s proposal isn’t currently being actively considered, but could be reconsidered if negotiations advance.
“When we come to that stage, obviously we will have more consultations with Russia and see if the Russian offer can help or not. This is not something for the time being,” he explained.
The United Arab Emirates is accelerating completion of a new pipeline enabling the Gulf federation to export additional oil without using the Strait of Hormuz route.
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, instructed state oil company ADNOC to expedite pipeline construction during an Abu Dhabi executive council meeting, the Abu Dhabi Media Office announced Friday.
The state oil company currently operates a pipeline designed to transport 1.5 million barrels daily from western oil fields to Fujairah port on the Gulf of Oman.
The additional pipeline is projected to double the company’s export capacity through that port. Operations will begin next year, the media office reported.
ATLANTA (AP) — The aftermath of the 2020 presidential contest — when President Donald Trump declined to acknowledge his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden — continues to influence Georgia politics and creates a major dividing line in the Republican contest for the state’s chief election administrator.
Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s sitting secretary of state, gained national recognition after he stood by the state’s voting outcomes despite Trump’s unsubstantiated allegations of massive election fraud and declined the president’s request to help “find” sufficient votes to change the outcome.
With Raffensperger now leaving his post to seek the governor’s office, election administration has become a central topic in the campaign to succeed him. Several Republican contenders are promoting the same misleading narratives that Trump advanced six years earlier. The president has filled federal positions with individuals who support his unfounded theories, and election skepticism has also infiltrated state-level offices.
This contest occurs as state legislators have created conflicting provisions in election law regarding vote tabulation procedures. Gov. Brian Kemp announced Wednesday that he’s convening lawmakers for a special session on June 17 to handle redistricting matters and address an approaching voting deadline.
Georgia’s electronic voting equipment produces paper ballots containing both a readable summary of voter choices and a QR code that scanners use for vote tallying. Two years ago, legislators enacted a measure prohibiting QR codes from being used in official vote counting after July 1 of this year.
Yet they haven’t reached consensus on a replacement approach since that time, creating confusion and potential legal challenges for Georgia elections until the matter is resolved.
Although the special session might temporarily address the issue, the incoming secretary of state will probably play a role in establishing a new voting framework by 2028.
Gabriel Sterling, who served as one of Raffensperger’s senior staff members, stands as the sole Republican secretary of state hopeful who actively supports the state’s 2020 election outcomes.
He gained national attention by urging Trump to help prevent violent threats against election personnel, and during a recent Atlanta Press Club forum, he declared that the state conducts “the best and safest elections in America.”
However, other candidates persist in repeating Trump’s assertions.
Vernon Jones, who previously won office as a state representative and DeKalb County CEO while a Democrat before changing parties to become a Republican and strong Trump ally, offers perhaps the strongest criticism.
“I believe there were many irregularities. I believe violations have taken place,” Jones stated, continuing, “I stand with those who believe there was election fraud.”
Kelvin King, a general contractor who previously sought a U.S. Senate seat and is married to State Election Board member and conservative commentator Janelle King, takes a slightly more cautious approach.
“I think 2020 is still in question to be frank with you,” King stated.
State Rep. Tim Fleming indicated he thinks there were some “irregularities” in 2020 and that “great strides” have been made to address the issues. He emphasized he’s “not running on conspiracy theories” and is focused on the future.
Fleming expressed his belief that he and his legislative colleagues need to find a “temporary fix” during the special session to eliminate the QR code from ballots in a manner that is “least disruptive for the county elections officials.” However, he said he ultimately wants the state to adopt hand-marked paper ballots, a stance favored by many other Republicans.
Fleming worked previously for the secretary of state’s office during the tenure of Brian Kemp, now the outgoing Republican governor. He headed a study committee examining Georgia’s election system last summer, though the committee issued only a minimal report.
Jones and King and Ted Metz, who has previously sought governor and secretary of state as a Libertarian, have attacked Raffensperger’s performance as secretary of state. They have denounced what they characterize as incompetence, which he disputes, and insufficient transparency while advocating for replacing touch-screen voting equipment with hand-marked paper ballots. They have directed similar criticism toward Sterling, who supervised the deployment of the state’s current voting technology and continues to support it.
Sterling, meanwhile, has maintained he is best equipped to defeat a Democrat in the general election. He consistently emphasizes that he has protected Georgia’s election laws and procedures against criticism from “Stacey Abrams, Joe Biden’s Justice Department and the woke world.”
Cole Muzio, president of Frontline Policy, a Christian conservative group, said he thinks Jones has “traction” in the race’s final days, but believes that in any runoff, grassroots Republicans would likely unite behind whoever opposes Jones. Muzio noted that despite Jones’ vocal pro-MAGA stance, concerns about his party change could become more prominent in a runoff, especially regarding Jones’ shift from strongly supporting legal abortion to opposing it.
Among Democratic candidates, the focus has been on safeguarding voting rights and countering challenges to the state’s elections.
The Democratic secretary of state candidates include certified financial planner and political organizer Cam Ashling; Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett; nonprofit founder Adrian Consonery Jr; and former Fulton County State Court Judge Penny Brown Reynolds.
The aerospace giant Boeing is set to complete its first substantial transaction with China in almost ten years, involving the purchase of 200 aircraft, President Donald Trump announced to journalists aboard Air Force One on Friday. Trump revealed that this agreement emerged from his recent summit meetings with China’s President Xi Jinping and has the potential to expand to include as many as 750 aircraft.
Official details regarding the transaction have not been disclosed by the White House, and Boeing has remained silent on the matter. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg accompanied Trump on his Beijing visit, joining a substantial delegation of corporate executives looking to establish business relationships and sell their products in the Chinese market. This agreement represents a major victory for Boeing in reclaiming access to a market that previously played a crucial role in the company’s expansion strategy.
Trump additionally mentioned that General Electric would benefit from this arrangement, stating the company would provide between 400 and 450 engines for the aircraft. General Electric has not yet provided any statement regarding this arrangement.
During the previous month, Ortberg expressed optimism that any comprehensive U.S.-China trade agreement would incorporate aircraft sales, describing Trump’s scheduled meeting with Xi as a “meaningful opportunity” for Boeing when speaking to investors.
Ortberg assumed leadership in 2024, during what proved to be a devastating period for Boeing as the company faced increased examination over manufacturing and quality control issues while dealing with growing financial difficulties. In January 2024, a component called a door plug separated from a 737 Max aircraft shortly after departure from Portland, Oregon, which brought renewed attention to Boeing’s production methods.
Several months afterward, the U.S. Justice Department reopened criminal proceedings against Boeing related to two deadly Max aircraft accidents, though prosecutors subsequently negotiated a settlement with Boeing to drop the charges, requiring the company to pay an additional $1.1 billion in penalties, victim family compensation, and internal safety and quality enhancements.
Following this, an eight-week labor stoppage during the autumn by assembly workers who build the 737 Max in Washington state interrupted manufacturing operations and increased the company’s financial difficulties.
A British man accused of attacking two Jewish men with a knife in London will face trial next March, according to court proceedings held Friday.
Essa Suleiman, 45, who was born in Somalia but holds British citizenship, faces attempted murder charges for allegedly attacking two Jewish men on April 29 in the Golders Green neighborhood of north London, an area known for its significant Jewish community.
The attack represents the most recent in a series of incidents targeting Jewish locations in the region, creating fear among local Jewish residents and prompting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to promise enhanced protective measures.
Authorities have also charged Suleiman with a separate attempted murder count connected to an unrelated incident at a former acquaintance’s residence earlier that same day, along with charges for carrying a bladed weapon.
During his Friday appearance at London’s Old Bailey courthouse, Suleiman was not required to enter pleas for any of the four charges against him. The court scheduled his trial to begin March 1, 2027, and he will remain detained until then.
Investors continued their buying spree for the eighth consecutive week, pumping money into global stock funds through May 13 as enthusiasm for artificial intelligence technology propelled share prices higher and overshadowed inflation worries.
Investment data from LSEG Lipper revealed that investors purchased a net $39.15 billion worth of global equity funds, marking the biggest weekly investment since the $48.55 billion added during the week ending April 22.
Technology shares pushed the MSCI World Index to a new peak of 1,117.52 on Thursday, continuing their upward climb after Advanced Micro Devices and Microchip Technology projected robust demand for data-center semiconductors in recent days.
Analysis of 900 companies within the MSCI World Index by LSEG revealed that approximately 72% exceeded analysts’ profit forecasts for the first quarter.
American equity funds reversed course from the previous week’s $2.89 billion in net withdrawals, instead receiving $22.37 billion in weekly investments. Funds focused on Asian and European markets also attracted net additions of $7.62 billion and $6.29 billion respectively.
The technology sector captured a record-breaking $10.65 billion in investments. Metals and mining along with industrial sectors also experienced net purchases totaling $1.03 billion and $886 million respectively.
Bond funds worldwide drew $25.76 billion, representing the highest weekly total since early October 2025.
Investors favored short-term bond funds, euro-denominated bond funds, and corporate bond funds, which received net inflows of $2.93 billion, $2.83 billion, and $2.47 billion respectively.
Money market funds experienced the opposite trend, seeing $9.2 billion in net withdrawals following the previous week’s $149.98 billion in net purchases.
Precious metal funds including gold investments experienced renewed interest after two weeks of net selling, attracting $1.77 billion from investors.
Emerging market equity funds continued their decline for a third consecutive week with $3.18 billion in net outflows. However, emerging market bond funds maintained their positive streak with a sixth weekly inflow of $2.19 billion, according to data covering 28,893 funds.
Four major technology company executives have been requested to appear before lawmakers on Capitol Hill for a comprehensive oversight hearing scheduled for next month, a Senate staff member confirmed.
The chief executives of Meta, Alphabet, TikTok and Snap received invitations from Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican, according to Hannah Akey, a spokeswoman for Grassley.
The invited executives include Mark Zuckerberg from Meta, Sundar Pichai from Alphabet, Shou Zi Chew from TikTok, and Evan Spiegel from Snap.
The hearing represents another instance of Congress calling upon technology industry leaders to address various concerns through the oversight process.
The coffee chain giant revealed Friday morning it will eliminate 300 corporate positions across its U.S. regional support centers as the company works toward what it calls sustainable and profitable expansion.
As part of the restructuring, the Seattle-based company will merge several U.S. regional support centers and shut down facilities in Atlanta, Burbank, Chicago and Dallas. Leadership indicated they’re also examining their international support structure and anticipate additional workforce reductions beyond U.S. borders.
According to company officials, these changes represent part of a continuing initiative to “sharpen focus, prioritize work, reduce complexity, and lower costs.” The company emphasized that the restructuring will not affect its retail locations.
The coffee retailer has faced rising expenses in recent quarters as CEO Brian Niccol implements a transformation strategy centered on improving the customer experience, which has required significant investment in additional barista personnel. Company leadership highlighted last month what they described as a turning point in their recovery efforts, reporting the strongest revenue increases in over two years, though operational profit margins have dropped by nearly 50% since the transformation launched in late 2024.
The corporation expects to distribute approximately $120 million in separation packages to affected workers. Additionally, the company plans to reduce the recorded value of certain properties by $280 million, primarily affecting reserve and roastery sites along with select non-retail support facilities.
Last month, the company revealed plans for a $100 million investment to grow its Southeast operations, including opening a new support center in Nashville, Tennessee, where officials project housing 2,000 workers within five years.
Under an incentive program the company’s board approved last summer, senior executives could each receive $6 million in bonuses if specific cost-reduction targets are achieved by 2027.
Corporate staff have experienced multiple workforce reductions since the transformation initiative started, including the elimination of 1,100 corporate positions announced in February of last year.
India and the United Arab Emirates established a framework for strategic defense cooperation on Friday, according to India’s foreign ministry, as both nations work to strengthen their relationship during the Iran war.
The countries also finalized agreements regarding strategic petroleum reserves and liquefied petroleum gas supply during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to the UAE, officials announced.
“The two sides have agreed on deepening defence industrial collaboration and cooperation on innovation and advanced technology, training, exercises, maritime security, cyber defence, secure communications and information exchange,” the ministry said in a statement.
Before the diplomatic visit, Indian officials indicated to Reuters that Modi would likely explore long-term energy supply agreements and request assistance in expanding New Delhi’s strategic oil reserves.
The UAE’s recent departure from OPEC last month is anticipated to increase its production capacity and benefit importing nations like India.
The ongoing Iran conflict has disrupted worldwide energy markets through the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, affecting transportation and commerce throughout the region as Iranian attacks targeted Gulf nations, including the UAE, before a temporary ceasefire was established last month.
The petroleum agreement announced Friday involves a possible expansion of ADNOC’s crude oil storage capacity in India up to 30 million barrels, according to Abu Dhabi’s national oil company in a separate announcement. The deal also examines potential crude storage opportunities in the UAE’s Fujairah as part of India’s strategic reserve system.
ADNOC stated it would investigate expanded LPG supply and trading possibilities with Indian Oil Corp.
“India’s scale and growth trajectory make it one of the defining energy markets of our time. As demand accelerates alongside a rapidly expanding population, the strength of the UAE India energy partnership becomes ever more critical,” said ADNOC managing director and CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.
New Delhi and Abu Dhabi completed a $3 billion agreement in January for India to purchase LNG from the UAE, its third-largest trading partner, along with a letter of intent to develop a strategic defense partnership.
This development came after Pakistan, India’s regional rival, established a mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia last year.
Pakistan has become the primary mediator between Washington and Tehran to resolve the conflict that started with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. The country has also worked to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s defenses following hundreds of Iranian missile and drone strikes against the kingdom.
Riyadh announced last month it would offer $3 billion in additional assistance to help Pakistan address a multi-billion-dollar financing shortfall related to debt repayment to the UAE.
The Indian ministry also revealed UAE investments totaling $5 billion on Friday, referencing previous agreements including Emirates NBD’s purchase of a 60% stake in RBL Bank last year for $3 billion, and Abu Dhabi’s IHC $1 billion Sammaan investment.
SALISBURY, Md. — Officials in Salisbury have announced that Fire Department Chief Rob Frampton has been selected to join the Commission on Professional Credentialing as part of the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. The CPSE Board of Directors unanimously approved his appointment.
Frampton’s commission will span three years, starting May 1, 2026, and concluding April 30, 2029. He will represent fire chiefs and department leaders who oversee communities with fewer than 50,000 residents.
Those familiar with Frampton say his selection for this role was expected. During his tenure leading the Salisbury Fire Department, he has established himself as a reliable leader, department mentor, and someone committed to serving his community.
From emergency response calls to supporting firefighters in administrative roles and partnering with local and regional agencies, Frampton has guided the department with emphasis on service, responsibility, and putting people first. Under his direction, the department has enhanced training programs, emergency readiness, and regional cooperation throughout the Eastern Shore while maintaining community confidence.
The appointment also provides Salisbury and the Eastern Shore with a voice in national discussions about the future direction of fire and emergency services.
Mayor Taylor commented, “Chief Frampton’s appointment to the Commission is a tremendous honor for both him and the City of Salisbury. Since becoming Fire Chief, he has continued to strengthen the Salisbury Fire Department through his steady leadership, commitment to professional development, and dedication to serving our community at the highest level. We are proud to see his expertise and experience recognized on the national level.”
The Commission on Professional Credentialing manages nationally recognized initiatives that promote leadership and professional standards in fire and emergency services.
Salisbury officials are celebrating Frampton’s achievement and expressing gratitude for his ongoing commitment to serving Salisbury and the broader Eastern Shore region.
Police officers working with the Active Crime Trends Team made an arrest during a routine traffic enforcement operation in Claymont this past October. The stop led to the discovery of approximately 2.31 pounds of marijuana inside the vehicle.
During the course of their investigation, authorities say one person in the car gave officers the name “Todd Gregory” and showed them identification from another state. However, the investigation revealed this information was fraudulent, leading to identity theft charges.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by specialized detective units to combat crime trends through targeted patrol operations in local communities.
Newark officials are preparing for their yearly Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony scheduled for Sunday, May 17, 2026.
The commemorative event will begin at 1:30 PM with a ceremony taking place near Memorial Hall on the University of Delaware Green. Following the ceremony, participants and spectators will enjoy the traditional parade.
NEW YORK (AP) — Facing difficulties competing in traditionally Republican territories where their party image struggles, Democratic officials are adopting an unconventional midterm election approach: supporting candidates outside their own party.
Across states including Nebraska and Alaska, Democratic leadership is bypassing their party’s nominees while quietly endorsing — or actively championing — independent contenders they believe can perform better than candidates carrying the Democratic brand. The Democratic National Committee along with Washington allies are discreetly backing this unconventional approach.
Several independent candidates are coordinating through group messaging as they develop strategies that could disrupt Congress, currently paralyzed by partisan divisions.
This week in Nebraska, Democrats selected a Senate nominee, Cindy Burbank, who stated her main campaign goal was preventing a Democrat from appearing on the November ballot to avoid splitting votes away from independent Dan Osborn. Following the primary election, Burbank confirmed her intention to withdraw from the race within weeks during a private discussion with a party representative, according to state Democratic chair Jane Kleeb.
Democratic officials believe Osborn, who narrowly lost a Senate race by 7 percentage points in 2024, offers the strongest opportunity to unseat Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts.
The Democratic shift toward independent candidates represents a deliberate plan in certain areas — while resembling subtle encouragement elsewhere — spanning multiple prominent Senate, House, and state legislative competitions. Independent Senate contenders are also campaigning in states including Idaho, South Dakota and Montana, where Democratic leadership has remained hesitant to fully support the independents, though many consider them the party’s strongest hope against Republicans this election cycle.
“For some states, and Nebraska is one of them, where Democrats are 32% of the electorate, this is a long-term strategy for us,” said Kleeb, who also serves as a vice chair to the Democratic National Committee.
Kleeb explained her state party is supporting independents in no fewer than four state legislative races beyond the U.S. Senate contest: “We have to build a coalition with independents in order to win elections so we can do good work for the people. Period.”
Elements of the Democratic Party’s national political infrastructure appear supportive of this approach.
The party’s fundraising platform, ActBlue, assists several independent candidates, along with well-known Democratic-affiliated website development services. Simultaneously, some party campaign organizations in Washington discretely offer logistical assistance in certain situations, while refraining from publicly criticizing independent candidates even in races featuring Democratic nominees.
Several Democratic contributors, strategists and party officials from other states have privately objected, arguing Democrats should not abandon their own candidates for temporary political advantages. They prefer Democratic leadership, both in Washington and locally in red states, to focus harder on improving the Democratic brand’s appeal — even if achieving competitiveness requires several additional years.
In Alaska, some Democrats think commercial fisherman Bill Hill, a retired school superintendent, may offer their strongest possibility for defeating first-term Republican Rep. Nick Begich in the state’s sole House seat.
The Town of Ocean City, Maryland announced on May 15, 2026 that it has joined forces with the Maryland-based company ezVOLTz to enhance and broaden its electric vehicle charging network in preparation for the upcoming summer tourist rush.
The initiative focuses on creating a more dependable and higher-powered charging system at important town-owned properties. Officials say the improvements are designed to accommodate the growing number of electric vehicles used by both local residents and summer visitors to the popular beach destination.
The enhanced charging infrastructure represents the town’s effort to keep pace with the increasing adoption of electric vehicles and the corresponding need for reliable charging options during peak tourism periods.
Transportation officials are alerting drivers to prepare for lane closures on northbound Interstate 495 near Edgemoor this Tuesday.
The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) says crews will restrict lanes between the Edgemoor exit and entrance ramps while they fix drainage issues. The construction work is planned for Tuesday, June 2nd from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm.
Officials are advising drivers to drive carefully and be prepared for some delays while traveling through the construction zone.
Motorists traveling on Route 1 northbound should expect lane restrictions today due to ongoing litter removal activities.
The cleanup operation is taking place along the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway between Smyrna and Middletown, with crews working on the shoulder area.
According to traffic officials, the litter removal work is scheduled to wrap up by 4:30 PM this afternoon.
Drivers are advised to use caution when passing through the work zone and allow extra time for their commute.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Congo’s leader has characterized the situation as experiencing “the Congolese dream.” However, for 15 Latin American migrants sent to the African country during the previous administration’s immigration enforcement efforts, the reality resembles something far worse.
The Associated Press conducted an interview with a 29-year-old woman from Colombia who verified accounts from others sent to African countries: being transported in restraints despite having a US immigration court’s protective ruling, being confined to hotel accommodations with monitored excursions.
She faces an impossible decision: go back to her native country where she risks harm, or remain in Congo, a nation she had never known existed until her arrival.
“They treat us like we’re children,” she said as their three-month Congolese visas near an end, with no plan in sight.
“What would one do in a completely unknown place, without a place to live and without knowing what to do?” she added, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
It was not immediately clear what a new U.S. court ruling, saying the U.S. likely broke the law by deporting a fellow Colombian to Congo, will mean for her.
Speaking from the hotel in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, where she and fellow deportees remain housed, the woman provided fresh information about the central involvement of the International Organization for Migration, a United Nations-affiliated organization.
She explained that deportees can exit the hotel approximately once weekly, but only with IOM personnel accompanying them. During shopping trips or bank visits, they are rapidly escorted back to their transportation, with IOM staff maintaining constant oversight.
“They choose where we go and what we buy,” she said.
Inside the hotel, she reported, IOM workers have arranged activities including painting, music and volleyball, though many deportees have ceased taking part, tired of the repetitive schedule. She attends meals and otherwise stays in her room, placing late-night calls to her 10-year-old daughter in Colombia while worrying about their reunion.
Most notable is how IOM personnel are presenting deportees with their potential options.
Staff members have presented the woman with two alternatives: go back to Colombia, where a US judge determined she cannot be safely returned, while receiving IOM “protection and assistance,” or stay in Congo without any support.
“They are given impossible choices,” said Alma David, the woman’s U.S.-based attorney. “By deporting them to a third country with no opportunity to contest being sent there, the U.S. not only violated their due process rights but our own immigration laws and our obligations under international treaties.”
Congo joins at least eight African nations that established agreements with the previous administration to enable deportations of third-country citizens, which legal authorities describe as essentially a legal workaround for the US. Most deportees had obtained legal protection orders from US judges preventing their return to home countries, attorneys stated.
The AP has spoken with others sent to African countries who faced dangerous choices, including a gay asylum-seeker from Morocco sent to Cameroon, where homosexuality is criminalized.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not respond to questions about the Colombian woman’s case, but it has asserted that third-country deportation agreements “ensure due process under the U.S. Constitution.” The Trump administration says the agreements are needed to “remove criminal illegal aliens” whose country of origin will not take them back.
The specifics of Congo’s arrangement with the previous administration remain unclear. Other nations have been paid millions to participate.
This month, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi described the agreement as an “act of goodwill between partners,” without monetary payment. This occurs as Washington has increased pressure on neighboring Rwanda regarding its backing of the M23 rebel group that has captured cities in eastern Congo — a situation some experts suggest may explain Kinshasa’s readiness to accept deportees.
“We agreed to do so as a friendly gesture, simply because it was what the Americans wanted,” Tshisekedi said, adding that the migrants are free to leave Congo at any time.
“We understand that psychologically they must be unsettled because, at first, they dreamed of living the American dream, and now they are living the Congolese dream — in a country they probably did not know and may never even have noticed on a map of the world,” Tshisekedi said.
Human rights organizations in Congo have denounced it as a breach of international refugee law. A Congo-based Institute for Human Rights Research characterized the circumstances as “arbitrary detention by proxy for the United States.”
Current US Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy states that if a government provides general diplomatic guarantees against persecuting deportees, no additional procedures are necessary for deportation, including informing deportees of their destination, David, the attorney, explained.
“When they told me they were going to deport me, I almost fainted,” the Colombian woman said. She was told about Congo the day before the flight.
She explained she departed Colombia in 2024, after receiving threats from armed groups and experiencing abuse from a former partner employed by the government.
She traveled to Mexico, where she awaited a border appointment scheduled through the US government. Upon presenting herself at an Arizona entry point in September 2024, immigration authorities concluded she had credible fear of persecution, allowing her to seek asylum, but maintained her in ICE custody.
“You spend a year and a half locked up, living the same day over and over again. You see fights, punishments where people are locked in cells for many hours. You lose your privacy even to use the bathroom,” she said.
Some officers made racist remarks. “They made derogatory comments toward us as migrants, shouted at us all the time and sometimes denied basic things like showers as punishment,” she said.
In May 2025, a federal judge granted her protection under the U.N. Convention Against Torture, ruling she could not be safely returned to Colombia, according to court documents seen by the AP.
She submitted a habeas corpus petition and secured her release in February. She relocated to Texas and was mandated to wear a GPS monitoring device, but during her initial check-in meeting with ICE, she was detained once more.
“All they told me was that I was under detention, as they had found a third country for me,” she said.
Fewer than three weeks afterward, she was placed on an aircraft to Congo. She and fellow deportees landed on April 17 following a nearly 24-hour charter flight with their hands and feet restrained.
Currently they remain at a hotel near Kinshasa’s airport, in neat white bungalows. Congo’s government pays the expenses, the IOM stated. It remained unclear whether this would continue after the deportees’ visas expire.
The hotel entrance is secured according to one deportee’s legal representative. The Colombian woman also confirmed that security staff prevent them from leaving independently.
They were informed they could seek asylum, an option none have selected. “I don’t feel safe in Congo,” the woman said.
An IOM spokesperson stated the organization has supplied her with humanitarian aid based on evaluating her vulnerability. This includes “protection interventions, referrals, rights safeguarding and promotion of migrants’ overall well-being,” without providing specifics.
The IOM may also provide “assisted voluntary return” — covering documents, flights, transit and temporary housing on arrival — with migrants’ consent.
The IOM stated it has no involvement in deciding who gets deported and maintains the right to discontinue assistance for deportees if “minimum protection standards” aren’t satisfied.
The Colombian woman continues in uncertainty, feeling anxious. She reported the food “has made us very sick,” with ongoing stomach problems.
Local languages, including French and Lingala, are as unfamiliar as her environment.
“The worst part is having to go through all of that without having committed any crime, simply for going to another country to ask for safety and protection.”
Federal authorities have announced a substantial $200,000 bounty for details that could lead to the arrest and conviction of a former military counterintelligence officer who fled to Iran more than a decade ago and now faces espionage charges.
Monica Elfriede Witt, currently in her 40s, was formally charged by federal prosecutors in February 2019 with espionage-related crimes, including sharing sensitive national defense materials with Iranian authorities. She continues to evade capture.
According to Daniel Wierzbicki, special agent in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterintelligence and Cyber Division, Witt “allegedly betrayed her oath to the Constitution more than a decade ago by defecting to Iran and providing the Iranian regime National Defense Information and likely continues to support their nefarious activities.”
“The FBI has not forgotten and believes that during this critical moment in Iran’s history, there is someone who knows something about her whereabouts,” he stated in Wednesday’s announcement.
The timing behind the FBI’s renewed focus on Witt’s case remains unclear. The United States and Iran have been at war since Feb. 28.
Witt’s military career spanned from 1997 to 2008, during which she received training in Farsi and participated in classified overseas counterintelligence operations, including assignments in the Middle East. Following her military service, she worked as a Defense Department contractor.
The Texas-born former officer left for Iran in 2013 following invitations to attend two fully-funded conferences in that country, which federal prosecutors describe as events that promoted anti-Western messaging and criticized American values.
Prior to her departure, FBI agents had cautioned Witt about her conduct, but she assured them she would not share sensitive work-related information if she traveled to Iran, according to prosecutors.
Court documents reveal that Witt compromised “sensitive and classified U.S. national defense information and programs,” the announcement stated.
“Witt allegedly intentionally provided information endangering U.S personnel and their families stationed abroad. She also allegedly conducted research on behalf of the Iranian regime to allow them to target her former colleagues in the U.S. government,” authorities said.
Leading betting platforms Kalshi and Polymarket are grappling with a dramatic increase in questionable trading activity this year, as these investment venues gain widespread popularity while drawing intensified regulatory oversight.
The rise in dubious betting activity coincides with explosive growth in trading volumes across prediction markets, occurring as these platforms implement stricter measures to combat insider trading following criticism from federal lawmakers.
Beginning this year, Kalshi has examined and identified over 400 questionable trades, representing more than double the number of transactions the platform investigated throughout the previous year, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation. One source noted that several cases were reported to the derivatives regulator, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, though specific details were not provided. The CFTC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Polymarket has experienced a comparable increase in suspicious trading volume since January, a third source revealed, declining to provide specific numbers.
However, detecting wrongdoing on these platforms presents unique challenges.
“In the world of corporate insider trading it is often relatively easy to identify the parties with access to material nonpublic information who might trade in violation of the law,” said Stanford Law School professor Joseph Grundfest, who is a former commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission. “But equivalent data is often very difficult or impossible to collect in connection with some prediction markets.”
The increase in suspicious activity comes as both platforms, established within the past ten years, experience unprecedented growth. Kalshi reported that its annualized trading volumes have increased more than threefold over six months to reach $178 billion, the company announced earlier in May. Polymarket’s monthly trading volumes across its international exchange and domestic platform reached approximately $10.3 billion in April, compared to $3.8 billion during the same month last year, based on Dune Analytics information.
Meanwhile, trading platforms are implementing additional protections and security measures to prevent unlawful activity, including recent policies barring federal employees from betting on political campaigns they support. Oversight of prediction markets is currently at the center of a regulatory dispute between the CFTC, which contends it should oversee them as derivatives markets, and individual states.
The growth in suspicious trading demonstrates that investors are prepared to accept significant risks for potential profits, analysts noted, given the substantial financial rewards possible from successful predictions about event outcomes.
Growing investor interest has boosted platform valuations significantly. Kalshi recently completed a $1 billion funding round that valued the startup at $22 billion, representing more than a tenfold increase in valuation within one year. Polymarket, which is working to launch its domestic exchange after experiencing delays earlier this year, has been negotiating to secure additional funding at a $15 billion valuation, according to a separate source familiar with the discussions.
Increased oversight of prediction markets follows other recent well-timed market positions on declining oil prices ahead of a significant Iran-policy announcement from the Trump administration.
Investors increasingly rely on prediction market platforms before making critical investment decisions, as these venues have sometimes proven accurate in forecasting outcomes related to events like economic policy announcements or elections, often outperforming traditional public opinion surveys.
These markets are platforms where participants purchase and sell binary ‘yes’ or ‘no’ contracts based on the outcomes of various events, including economic policies, elections, and sports competitions.
“Economically, the nature of these markets is such that they let you trade not on the market reaction to news, but on the actual news – so there’s less risk,” said Vincent Gregoire, a professor at business school HEC Montreal.
Kalshi was founded in 2018 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology classmates Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara. Polymarket, launched in 2020 by Shayne Coplan during the height of the pandemic, started as a crowdsourced forecasting experiment that has grown into a full-fledged event contracts exchange over the past few years, generating several billion dollars worth of trades every month.
Several recent high-profile insider trading incidents have intensified scrutiny of the platforms. A U.S. Army soldier was recently charged with winning $400,000 by using confidential information to place a bet on Polymarket on the removal of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. In April, Kalshi banned three U.S. congressional candidates for “political insider trading.”
CFTC Chair Michael Selig told lawmakers recently that his agency would aggressively prosecute insider trading. The CFTC in March began the process of crafting prediction market regulations.
Following lawmaker criticism, both Kalshi and Polymarket recently revised their policies to specify that certain types of betting, including wagers based on confidential information and illegal tips, would be prohibited on their platforms. Polymarket recently eliminated some war-related betting options and contracts after facing public criticism.
“If someone has insider information, they might be way more inclined to act on it on prediction markets than on equity markets,” said Charles Martineau, a professor at the University of Toronto’s business school.
Long-term Treasury yields reached their peak levels since May 2025 on Friday as energy prices spiked, raising concerns that continuing Middle East disruptions could drive inflation higher after data revealed April’s sharp increases.
Energy prices jumped 3% following comments from U.S. President Donald Trump indicating his patience with Iran is wearing thin, heightening worries about stalled negotiations to resolve ship attacks and seizures near the Strait of Hormuz.
Market participants were already shaken by this week’s robust inflation reports demonstrating that energy supply disruptions are appearing in certain inflation metrics. Consumer price increases hit their largest yearly rise in three years during the previous month, while producer price growth recorded its steepest climb in four years.
The 2-year Treasury note yield, which generally tracks Federal Reserve interest rate projections, increased 7 basis points to 4.062%. The yield touched 4.071%, marking the highest level since March 2025.
The benchmark 10-year Treasury note yield climbed 9.3 basis points to 4.552%, reaching 4.558% at its peak – the highest point since May 2025.
The 30-year Treasury bond yield advanced 8.6 basis points to 5.0992%, hitting 5.103% – also the highest since May 2025.
A dramatic escape worthy of a Hollywood thriller played out in the Philippines this week, as a senator wanted for war crimes managed to slip away during a chaotic gunfight at the nation’s capitol building.
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who faces charges from the International Criminal Court related to the Philippines’ controversial anti-drug campaign, vanished into the Manila darkness following an extraordinary armed confrontation Wednesday night at the Senate complex where he had been hiding for days.
The violent clash pitted two competing government agencies against each other: Senate security forces led by an official with connections to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s political faction, and National Bureau of Investigation agents working under an appointee of current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
This marked the second time in seven days that dela Rosa had successfully evaded NBI officers attempting to serve his arrest warrant.
The unfolding political crisis has divided the island nation for months, creating a bitter rivalry between the Marcos administration and supporters of Vice-President Sara Duterte, daughter of the former president, as international prosecutors seek justice for a drug enforcement operation that claimed thousands of lives.
The 64-year-old former police commander has shown no remorse for his involvement in the anti-narcotics efforts and has previously stated he would gladly join Duterte for trial proceedings in The Hague, where the ex-president faces accusations of crimes against humanity.
Dela Rosa emerged from months in hiding Monday to participate in a critical Senate leadership vote designed to protect the vice-president from an upcoming impeachment proceeding.
Government officials, who deny ordering forces to apprehend dela Rosa during Wednesday’s violence, are now investigating whether the shooting incident was orchestrated to facilitate his getaway. No injuries were reported.
“Duterte told me they would find it very hard to take Bato,” former attorney Nicholas Kaufman told Reuters, using the senator’s Filipino nickname meaning “rock” and noting his continued backing among security personnel. “Gunshots in a national assembly are unheard of. It points to a deep crisis in the Philippines linked to the ICC issue.”
The dramatic events began Wednesday afternoon when word spread that NBI agents were approaching the building.
The Senate chamber had recently changed hands: dela Rosa’s unexpected Monday appearance enabled a pro-Duterte group of lawmakers to gain control and install Alan Peter Cayetano as the new president.
Cayetano admitted he had personally driven his fugitive colleague to the building. Security camera recordings show the senator stumbling up stairs while NBI officers gave chase.
He shoved a female agent, according to former senator Antonio Trillanes, who witnessed the events and accompanied the NBI team serving the warrant. Trillanes explained that the NBI was assigned the arrest duty due to dela Rosa’s continuing sway over police forces.
A visibly nervous dela Rosa went live on Facebook, calling on supporters including “fellow men in uniform” to rally to his aid, warning that government agents were preparing to detain him. “Let us not allow another Filipino to be taken to The Hague,” he declared.
Around 7 p.m., Senate security chief Mao Aplasca, a retired police general and longtime friend of dela Rosa, told media his security team was “going to arrest someone” and the facility would enter “total lockdown.”
Aplasca, who had attended military academy with dela Rosa and worked under him during the drug war, later clarified he meant arresting NBI personnel.
The newly installed Senate leadership had appointed Aplasca as one of their first official acts, and he had previously prevented NBI agents from accessing the Senate during an earlier arrest attempt, Trillanes reported.
As the lockdown commenced Wednesday, Aplasca and Senate security personnel began donning protective gear. They weren’t the only armed presence: Reuters journalists observed police officers and Philippine marines carrying rifles and wearing protective helmets, summoned by Aplasca according to military officials.
Aplasca guided the armed group to an entrance of an adjacent building housing the Government Service Insurance System headquarters.
Ten minutes afterward, a barrage of gunshots rang out – dozens of rounds fired, Aplasca later claimed, after NBI agents pointed their weapons.
His team fired back with 27 “warning” rounds, he stated.
Media personnel and Senate employees scrambled for safety, including Reuters correspondents, as Senate security cut the hallway lighting while some continued live broadcasts.
“The Senate is under attack! Pls help us,” dela Rosa wrote on Facebook.
Multiple floors higher, despite the chaos below, House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil succeeded in submitting impeachment documents, setting the stage for the vice-president’s trial. She disputes allegations of misappropriating public money, accumulating unexplained assets, and making threats against Marcos, the first lady, and a former House Speaker.
By 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, the confrontation had ended. The police chief and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla arrived and journalists were told to leave.
Remulla said dela Rosa was “resting” in his office.
Senate security logs provided by Cayetano indicated he departed the building around 2:30 a.m. without being stopped by guards.
The NBI has offered a different account, claiming it deployed agents to the neighboring GSIS insurance facility at that organization’s request but made no attempt to enter the Senate. The GSIS has not issued any statement.
Aplasca has been placed on six-month suspension pending an official investigation. He has not responded to requests for comment.
Former senator Trillanes argued the incident demonstrated how Duterte’s supporters could “control or abuse the powers of the Senate to provide a sanctuary to one international fugitive” and strengthens the case for trying drug war cases in international courts.
The situation is “very hard to explain” and “quite embarrassing for the institutions of governance in a country,” said Dindo Manhit, founder of local research organization the Stratbase Institute for Strategic and International Studies.
The saga surrounding dela Rosa continues: Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida announced Friday that the Philippines would “definitely” honor the ICC’s arrest request and prevent him from leaving the country. Dela Rosa has submitted an emergency petition to the Supreme Court challenging the ICC’s authority.
Motorists traveling through a section of S Jackson Street are encountering intermittent lane restrictions today as construction crews continue their work in the area.
The temporary lane closures are affecting the stretch of S Jackson Street that runs between Lancaster Avenue and Chestnut Street. According to traffic officials, these restrictions are expected to remain in place until 3:30 PM today.
Drivers are advised to plan for potential delays and consider alternate routes if possible while the construction activity continues in this corridor.
A traffic accident has resulted in lane restrictions on southbound Route 1 at the Springfields Boulevard underpass.
The crash has forced authorities to close the left lane and left shoulder in the area, creating potential delays for commuters and travelers.
Drivers are advised to use caution when traveling through the area and consider alternate routes to avoid congestion.
President Donald Trump remains undecided about moving forward with a significant weapons sale to Taiwan after completing his three-day diplomatic visit to China.
During a press briefing aboard Air Force One on Friday as he returned from the trip, Mr. Trump told reporters he had not reached a decision regarding the arms transaction, though he noted he “will make a determination.”
While the Trump administration has given approval for the weapons sale, the deal has not yet proceeded.
Beijing has expressed strong opposition to the arms transaction and has indicated that America’s ties with the self-governing island represent a crucial element in U.S.-China diplomatic relations.
Mr. Trump also revealed he discussed the possibility of a three-nation nuclear agreement involving the United States, Russia and China.
Medications typically prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are showing promise as a treatment for one of cancer’s most challenging side effects: overwhelming fatigue.
A recent analysis examined information from nine controlled studies involving 823 adults either receiving active cancer treatment or battling advanced-stage disease. The research revealed that patients taking psychostimulants experienced notable improvements in their exhaustion levels compared to those receiving inactive treatments.
Dr. Bruno Almeida Costa from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center led the research team. “Our findings show that a well-established, accessible medication can provide meaningful relief within weeks,” Costa explained in a statement.
The study focused on methylphenidate and dexmethylphenidate, medications marketed by Novartis as Ritalin and Focalin. According to the research published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, these drugs possess the “longest-standing and best-documented safety records among actively prescribed controlled substances.”
The timing of improvement appears to follow a specific pattern. “The benefit isn’t fully apparent in the first couple of weeks, but by around five weeks it reaches a level that genuinely matters in terms of patients’ daily energy and function,” Costa noted. “For people dealing with a symptom that can be profoundly disabling, that is a meaningful contribution.”
Researchers observed that the positive effects continued to strengthen, with additional improvements noted at the eight-week mark.
The findings may prove particularly valuable as cancer diagnoses increase among younger adults who must manage work and family obligations while undergoing treatment, according to the research team.
Scientists emphasized that these medications shouldn’t replace current fatigue management approaches like exercise programs, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mind-body techniques. Instead, they could offer quicker relief while patients work to establish those longer-term strategies.
The research also included findings about influenza risks during pregnancy. Medical professionals have long understood that flu infections pose greater dangers for expectant mothers, and new research explains the biological mechanisms behind these complications.
Typically, influenza remains confined to the respiratory system. However, during pregnancy, the virus can spread beyond the lungs, creating serious cardiovascular risks for mothers and potentially affecting fetal development.
Using mice infected with influenza A, researchers identified an immune system component called TLR7 that becomes hyperactive during pregnancy. This overactivity increases inflammation in the placenta and other areas, damages blood vessel function, and allows the virus to enter the bloodstream.
Study leader Stella Liong from RMIT University in Australia explained the significance: “The findings shift understanding of how respiratory viruses affect pregnancy, showing that harm is not caused by the virus directly reaching the fetus, but by an overactive maternal immune response.”
The researchers suggest that controlling the TLR7 sensor might help protect developing babies by preventing excessive placental inflammation during flu infections. Their findings, published in Science Advances, could lead to targeted treatments that reduce complications for both mothers and babies during severe influenza infections in pregnancy.
Ukrainian military forces launched a drone attack on a major oil processing facility in Russia’s Ryazan region, according to statements from Ukrainian officials on Friday.
The targeted city sits approximately 120 miles southeast of Moscow. Robert Brovdi, who leads Ukraine’s drone operations, reported that his forces struck 23 military installations and facilities across Russian territory and occupied Ukrainian areas during overnight operations.
Ukraine’s military General Staff verified the assault on the oil processing plant, reporting that the strike triggered a massive blaze at the installation.
Military officials characterized the facility as among Russia’s most significant refineries, with the capability to process approximately 17 million metric tons of crude oil annually.
Ukrainian forces also targeted naval vessels at the Kaspiysk naval facility on the Caspian Sea, striking both a small missile vessel and a mine-clearing ship, according to the military statement.
Stock prices for Gemini Space Station jumped more than 20% during premarket trading Friday after the cryptocurrency platform posted quarterly losses that were smaller than anticipated and received a $100 million cash injection from its founding brothers.
The New York-headquartered firm’s stock has struggled since its initial public offering, where shares were valued at $28 each. By Thursday’s close, the price had dropped to $5.26.
The financial boost, revealed Thursday evening, came from Winklevoss Capital Fund, which purchased shares at $14 each using bitcoin as payment. Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss own this fund, which operates as their family investment office and primary source for venture capital and cryptocurrency investments.
For the quarter ending March 31, the company reported a net loss of 93 cents per share, which beat analyst projections of $1.03 according to LSEG data. Revenue climbed 42% year-over-year to $50.3 million, boosted by increased income from services and OTC platform operations.
Market experts remain skeptical about the company’s prospects.
“Were it not for the founders’ $100 million strategic investment, we think Gemini would likely be down on the print as key metrics like user and revenue reacceleration fell well short of pre-IPO expectations,” Evercore analyst Adam Frisch said.
CEO Tyler Winklevoss stated the market has “significantly undervalued Gemini.”
The financial results come during a challenging period for the company. Both Gemini and the Winklevoss brothers are defending against a shareholder lawsuit claiming investors received misleading information about the company’s future prospects. The legal action points to strategic changes, workforce reductions, and leadership exits as factors that have hurt stock performance.
In February, the company announced plans to eliminate approximately 25% of its employees, shut down most overseas operations, and saw the departure of its chief operating, financial and legal officers. Danijela Stojanovic has been serving as temporary finance chief since that time.
According to Frisch, Gemini has not yet released revenue projections, which limits investor understanding of the company’s expansion into predictions and derivatives markets.
The Winklevoss brothers became widely known after taking legal action against Mark Zuckerberg, claiming he took their concept for Facebook. They reached a settlement in 2008 that included both cash and stock compensation.
Universities nationwide are expanding their recognition of LGBT students through special graduation ceremonies that celebrate their achievements. These celebrations, which first began in 1995, have gained momentum across college campuses throughout the country, including at institutions that may come as a surprise to many observers.
This spring season, 19 Catholic universities are expected to hold these special ceremonies honoring LGBT graduates, along with several schools tied to Protestant denominations, including Eastern Mennonite University. Across the United States, more than 500 colleges and universities now participate in these recognition events.
Motorists traveling through the Stanton area should expect delays today as construction work has forced the closure of a right turn lane on Stanton Christiana Road.
The affected lane allows drivers to turn right onto West Newport Pike from Stanton Christiana Road. Officials say the temporary closure will remain in place until 3PM today while construction crews complete their work.
Drivers are advised to plan alternate routes or allow extra travel time when navigating through the area during the closure period.
A judicial ruling in Italy has established new ground by officially acknowledging a family arrangement where a four-year-old has three legal parents – one mother and two fathers. The case involves German citizens, including two married men in a same-sex relationship and a woman who acted as their surrogate mother. While this type of family structure is already permitted under German law, the Italian court’s decision now grants it legal status in Italy as well. Legal experts suggest this precedent could pave the way for similar multi-parent arrangements to gain acceptance throughout European nations, potentially influencing how polyamorous family structures are viewed legally across the continent.
Federal employees have filed legal action against the Secretary of Agriculture following an Easter message distributed to the Department of Agriculture’s 90,000 workers by Brooke Rollins. The legal challenge centers on claims that the message crossed constitutional boundaries.
The lawsuit is being backed by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, with the workers alleging they were subjected to “government-sponsored religious coercion” through the Easter communication.
When asked about the pending legal action, a USDA spokesman responded to Politico saying, “While we do not comment on pending litigation, we will keep the plaintiffs in our prayers during this process.”
MALE, Maldives — Rescue operations resumed Friday in the Maldives as authorities continue dangerous underwater searches for four Italian divers who perished in a tragic cave diving incident.
Officials recovered one victim’s body on Thursday following the deadly accident that claimed five lives.
The group of divers, which included an instructor, was reportedly investigating the underwater cave system when they disappeared, according to Maldivian presidential spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef.
“The cave is so deep that divers even with the best equipment do not try to approach,” he said.
Italy’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the five divers “apparently died while attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 meters (164 feet)” in the Vaavu Atoll on Thursday. The ministry noted that investigators are still examining what led to their deaths.
Emergency responders mobilized extensive rescue resources following Thursday’s incident, sending out watercraft, aerial support and specialized diving crews to comb the region.
Recovery teams pulled one victim from approximately 60 meters (200 feet) underwater on Thursday, while initial search efforts could not find the other four divers, believed to remain within the cave structure, Maldivian officials reported.
Dive teams prepared for another attempt Friday, with Maldivian officials maintaining communication with Italian representatives. Italy’s ambassador joined the search vessel operations, and the Maldives indicated they might request international help if necessary.
The Italian foreign ministry offered no updates on body recovery efforts. Officials confirmed an Italian specialist was working alongside coast guard and Maldivian vessels during Friday’s search mission.
Authorities planned an assessment dive to determine cave accessibility, though challenging weather could hamper recovery efforts.
The diving party had embarked on their morning expedition near Alimathaa, with their disappearance reported when they failed to return to the surface by Thursday afternoon, early accounts indicated. Weather was reportedly poor during the incident, with a yellow alert status active.
The Italian Embassy maintained contact with bereaved families while offering support services.
An anonymous bidder shelled out more than $9 million for the chance to dine privately with NBA star Stephen Curry and investment legend Warren Buffett, with the 95-year-old business icon pledging to double the donation so both of their preferred charitable organizations will receive funding.
The eBay bidding concluded Thursday evening as part of an effort to bring back a fundraising tradition that Buffett had maintained for over twenty years, generating $53 million for San Francisco’s GLIDE Foundation, which serves the homeless population. This year’s revival also benefited Curry’s Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation, which he founded alongside his wife, Ayesha.
The unidentified auction winner bid exactly $9,000,100 to secure a private meal with Buffett and the Currys scheduled for next month in Omaha, Nebraska, where the renowned investor makes his home.
“We’re overwhelmed with gratitude for this opportunity, which reflects a shared belief that when different generations and institutions come together with purpose, we can create deeper and more lasting impact for the people who need it most,” the Currys said in a statement.
These charity lunch auctions began in 2000 and ran annually until the pandemic caused a temporary halt. Beginning in 2008, each successful bid to dine with the investment legend exceeded $1 million. Buffett ended the tradition after a record $19 million winning bid in 2022.
An attempt to continue the concept in 2024 featured software executive Marc Benioff and generated $1.5 million, though that iteration didn’t continue.
Earlier this year, Buffett contacted the Currys to invite them to participate in reviving the lunch auction. Curry had been sidelined for 27 games this season before returning to assist the Golden State Warriors in their final stretch.
After six decades at the helm, Buffett stepped away from his role as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway in January, though he continues as chairman. He recently experienced his first annual shareholder meeting as an attendee rather than the event’s leader on stage.
Louisiana residents will cast ballots Saturday in a restructured primary election that will determine the future of a Republican U.S. senator who faces opposition from President Donald Trump.
Sen. Bill Cassidy seeks a third term but must first navigate a Republican primary that features state Treasurer John Fleming and U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, whom Trump backed in January.
This primary represents another chance for the president to settle scores with perceived political adversaries, including Republicans he views as unfaithful. Cassidy has ranked high on that list ever since his decision more than five years ago to vote for Trump’s conviction during his second impeachment trial after the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters. Trump was cleared of charges.
Democrats are not focusing on Louisiana in their campaign to regain control of the U.S. Senate. Should Cassidy lose in the primary, it would likely create a Senate Republican caucus with even stronger Trump loyalty and further showcase the president’s control over the party.
Voters will also select candidates for state Supreme Court, Public Service Commission and state school board positions, plus weigh five proposed amendments to the state constitution.
Louisiana postponed its U.S. House primaries following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that invalidated the state’s current congressional districts, which feature a majority Black district that benefits Democrats. While U.S. House races appear on ballots, votes in those competitions will not be tallied.
Saturday’s elections mark a significant change from past Louisiana primaries, as candidates will compete in separate party primaries instead of the traditional jungle primary where all contenders shared one ballot. State legislators implemented this new format for specific offices in 2024, though the law didn’t take effect until 2026.
U.S. House races were initially scheduled to use the new primary format under the 2024 legislation, but state Republicans passed new rules Thursday to restore the jungle primary for U.S. House contests, pointing to time constraints following the Supreme Court ruling. The jungle primary will occur Nov. 3 alongside the general election, matching previous election cycles.
While East Baton Rouge Parish, which includes Baton Rouge, and Jefferson and Orleans Parishes in the New Orleans region have the largest populations statewide, St. Tammany Parish north of New Orleans along the Mississippi border delivered the highest vote totals in both the 2016 and 2024 Republican presidential primaries.
Caddo Parish in the northwest, which encompasses Shreveport, and Lafayette Parish typically carry more weight in Republican primaries compared to Democratic contests.
Trump achieved a narrow victory in a four-candidate primary in 2016, driven partly by strong support in Jefferson Parish and overcoming defeats to Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in East Baton Rouge and Caddo Parishes. He dominated the state eight years later in the 2024 primary against former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who had exited the race before the primary but continued showing unexpected strength in other states.
Cassidy’s earlier wins in 2014 and 2020 occurred under the previous primary format, where his primary competition came from Democrats.
Voting concludes at 8 p.m. local time (CT), or 9 p.m. ET.
The Associated Press will report vote totals and announce winners in competitive primaries for U.S. Senate, state Supreme Court, state Public Service Commission and state school board, plus five statewide ballot questions.
Only registered party members can participate in their party’s primary. Democrats cannot vote in Republican primaries and Republicans cannot vote in Democratic primaries. Independent or unaffiliated voters can choose either primary. Voters registered with other parties can only participate in nonpartisan races.
Louisiana had approximately 3 million registered voters as of May 1. Registered Democrats and Republicans each numbered around 1.1 million, with Democrats holding a small edge. About 813,000 voters had no party registration, while the rest belonged to other parties.
Louisiana’s updated primary format resembles the 2024 presidential primaries more than previous state primaries. Roughly 192,000 votes were recorded in the Republican primary and approximately 167,000 in the Democratic race. Each primary represented about 6% of registered voters.
Around 41% of Republican primary votes and roughly 45% of Democratic primary votes in 2024 were submitted before primary day.
Through Thursday, about 255,000 ballots had been cast for Saturday’s election, with approximately 44% from Democrats and about 41% from Republicans.
Early and absentee voting results typically appear in each parish’s first vote report, listed separately from Election Day in-person voting totals.
During the 2024 general election, the AP released initial results at 9:32 p.m. ET, 32 minutes after polls closed. The final vote update occurred at 11:56 p.m. ET, with over 99% of votes tallied.
The AP does not issue projections and only declares winners when no possible scenario exists for a trailing candidate to overcome the deficit. If a race remains undecided, the AP will report any significant developments, including candidate concessions or victory claims, while clarifying that no winner has been declared and explaining the reasoning.
Louisiana has no automatic recount provisions, but candidates may request and fund recounts of absentee and early votes. The AP may announce a winner in races eligible for recounts if the margin is too wide for a recount or legal challenge to alter the result.
Saturday marks 42 days until the June 27 primary runoff if necessary, 171 days until the Nov. 3 general election and rescheduled U.S. House jungle primaries, and 210 days until the Dec. 12 runoff.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced Friday that she spoke by telephone with U.S. President Donald Trump, who called from Air Force One following the conclusion of his two-day trip to China. During their conversation, both leaders reinforced what Takaichi described as an “ironclad” partnership between their nations.
Speaking to members of the press following the phone call, Takaichi explained that the discussion covered various topics concerning China, spanning both economic and security matters. “We exchanged views on issues surrounding China, including the economy and security…and reaffirmed close communication on Indo-Pacific issues,” she stated.
The Japanese leader noted that Iran-related topics were also part of their conversation, and she conveyed Japan’s position on those matters to Trump. When asked by a journalist whether Taiwan was discussed during the call, Takaichi declined to provide an answer.
Regarding Trump’s recent diplomatic mission to China, Takaichi revealed that the President provided her with comprehensive details about his visit, though she emphasized that Trump “briefed me in detail (on his China visit) on the condition that our conversation remain confidential.”
President Donald Trump revealed Friday that he explored the possibility of removing sanctions on Chinese firms that purchase Iranian oil during his recent diplomatic visit to Beijing, with a decision expected in the coming days.
Washington recently placed sanctions on multiple Chinese oil refining companies for their Iranian oil purchases, including Hengli Petrochemical, which ranks among China’s biggest private refiners and represents Beijing’s efforts to advance and modernize its energy sector.
“We talked about that and I’m going to make a decision over the next few days,” Trump informed reporters while traveling on Air Force One after completing his two-day summit with President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
American officials, including Trump, brought up the prospect of China increasing purchases of U.S. energy during the summit discussions, though Chinese accounts of the meetings did not reference any agreements.
Trump expressed growing impatience with Iran and stated that he and Xi reached consensus that Tehran must be prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons and must reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The president also indicated his willingness to accept Iran halting its nuclear activities for two decades, provided Tehran makes a genuine commitment.
“Twenty years is enough, but the level of guarantee from them, it’s got to be a real 20 years,” Trump stated.
A French filmmaker behind Netflix’s popular shark thriller “Under Paris” says he could have slashed his production budget in half and finished eight months sooner if he had access to today’s artificial intelligence technology.
Director Xavier Gens revealed to Reuters that his 2024 hit about a massive shark terrorizing the Seine River could have been completed “in three months instead of one year” using current AI tools. The visual effects budget would have dropped from 4 million euros to just 2 million euros ($2.34 million), he explained during the Cannes Film Festival.
This year’s festival in France marks a notable transformation in how the film industry views artificial intelligence. Rather than debating whether AI belongs in cinema, attendees are now focused on determining the best ways to implement the technology.
While concerns persist about protecting artistic integrity, the potential for significant time and cost savings is proving irresistible for an industry still working to recover audiences lost during the COVID pandemic, according to festival participants.
Gens has already begun investigating AI applications for “Under Paris 2,” which he hopes to release next year. The original film’s post-production phase, which involved extensive visual effects work to blend shark imagery with real footage, consumed nearly twelve months.
AI technology can streamline many labor-intensive post-production processes, particularly valuable for effects-heavy productions. A Morgan Stanley analysis from last year suggested generative AI could reduce film and television production expenses by up to 30 percent.
Demonstrating the digital shift, Meta secured an official festival partnership this year through a multi-year agreement. The company’s AI software contributed to Steven Soderbergh’s documentary about John Lennon and Yoko Ono, which earned inclusion in the festival’s official selection, though not in the competition category.
Festival organizers haven’t implemented a complete AI prohibition, but they do exclude movies primarily created through generative AI from Palme d’Or consideration. This policy aligns with recent Academy Awards guidelines requiring human involvement in acting and writing categories.
Festival Director Thierry Fremaux explained that AI cannot replace fundamental skills, comparing it to riding an electric bicycle: “To ride an electric bike, you have to know how to ride a normal bike,” he told journalists.
At the Cannes Film Market, a major venue for international film transactions and industry connections, startups have established an “Innovation Village” overlooking the harbor filled with yachts. The market also featured two days of invitation-only AI conference sessions for the second consecutive year, with presentations from representatives of Alphabet, Disney Accelerator, NVIDIA and OpenAI.
While directors generally oppose using generative AI to create entire scripts or films from simple prompts, its application in production and post-production phases is gaining wider acceptance.
Mexican director Guillermo del Toro emphasized the need for clearer distinctions in AI discussions. “In a very dishonest way, (AI is) all under the same name,” he told Reuters. “To have a proper discussion, you have to distinguish generative AI and any other function of AI.”
This represents a marked change from controversy surrounding the 2025 Oscars, when AI enhancement of Adrien Brody’s Hungarian dialogue in “The Brutalist” sparked significant debate.
Alex Serdiuk, who heads Ukrainian company Respeecher that created the voice technology for “The Brutalist,” argued that AI served as an effective enhancement of human performance in that case and should lose its negative associations.
“They got the Oscar, right? So the Academy understood what exactly was done there,” he noted.
AI applications continue expanding rapidly. Emerging companies are proposing new uses, including Largo, which provides audience analysis tools such as simulated focus groups to help directors predict how various viewers, including critics, might react to their films.
However, some industry leaders warn that even sophisticated AI struggles to analyze what makes movies successful.
“Basically, every movie in Cannes is a prototype,” said Elisha Karmitz, who leads French sales agent, distributor and production company MK2. He explained that no formula exists for selection beyond creating the highest quality film with proper intentions.
Nevertheless, Karmitz acknowledged that AI cannot be dismissed entirely.
“I don’t know if AI in the future would give an advantage,” Karmitz said. “What I’m kind of sure of is just rejecting AI by principle would give a disadvantage.”
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday that China has committed to purchasing 200 Boeing aircraft, with the potential for acquiring up to 750 planes in total, according to statements made to reporters. The President noted that the aircraft would be equipped with General Electric engines.
Should this agreement reach completion, it would represent Boeing’s first significant contract with China in almost ten years. The American aircraft manufacturer has been largely excluded from what is considered the world’s second-largest aviation market due to ongoing trade disputes between Beijing and Washington.
This development would also provide a significant victory for Trump, whose assertive tariff strategies and additional trade measures have not yet substantially reduced the considerable U.S. trade deficit.
President Donald Trump revealed on Friday that he engaged in extensive discussions about U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping during recent meetings in Beijing, announcing that a decision on the matter would come soon.
While speaking with reporters during his flight back from China aboard Air Force One, Trump indicated that he and Xi had lengthy conversations about Taiwan, though he emphasized he didn’t perceive any disagreement on the subject. The president confirmed he made no promises to Xi concerning Taiwan policy.
According to Trump, Xi directly questioned whether America would come to Taiwan’s defense in the event of a Chinese attack on the island, but Trump refused to provide an answer.
“There’s only one person that knows that, and it is me. I’m the only person,” Trump said. “That question was asked to me today by President Xi. I said, I don’t talk about that.”
Beijing considers Taiwan part of its sovereign territory and has consistently condemned American weapon sales to the island, viewing such transactions as meddling in China’s domestic matters. Although the United States maintains no official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it serves as Taiwan’s primary international ally and main arms provider.
Motorists traveling on northbound Route 1 at Essex Street are encountering traffic delays due to ongoing construction work that has forced officials to close the right lane.
The lane restriction on the Coastal Highway is expected to remain in effect until 4 PM today, according to traffic officials.
Drivers are advised to plan for extra travel time and use caution when passing through the construction zone.
Motorists traveling on North Star Road should plan for potential delays this afternoon as construction crews continue work that requires periodic lane restrictions.
The lane closures are occurring along the stretch of North Star Road that runs between Planet Road and Neptune Drive, with restrictions expected to remain in place until 5 PM today.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and use alternate routes when possible to avoid delays in the construction zone.
Motorists traveling on northbound US 113 should expect lane restrictions in the Bridgeville area due to ongoing construction work.
The right shoulder is currently closed along the northbound lanes of US 113 from Bridgeville Road (US 404/DE 18) to North Street. Officials say the closure is necessary for construction activities in the area.
The shoulder restriction is expected to be lifted by 4:00 PM today. Drivers are advised to use caution and allow extra travel time when passing through the work zone.
Motorists traveling along Route 202 should expect traffic delays as crews work to repair potholes in the roadway. The maintenance work is affecting the stretch of highway between Naamans Road and the Pennsylvania state line.
DelDOT reports that lanes are being closed intermittently throughout the repair process. The roadwork is expected to wrap up by 1PM today.
Drivers are advised to plan for extra travel time and consider alternate routes if possible while the repairs are underway.
Motorists traveling along Route 202 should plan for delays as road crews conduct pothole repairs in the northern section of the highway.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that intermittent lane restrictions are affecting traffic on Route 202 between Naamans Road and the Pennsylvania state line. The temporary closures are necessary to allow workers to fix damaged pavement in the corridor.
The lane restrictions are scheduled to remain in place until 1 PM today. Drivers are advised to use alternate routes or allow extra travel time when passing through the construction zone.
Motorists traveling on Route 1 northbound are experiencing lane restrictions at W Essex Street due to ongoing construction work.
The right lane is currently blocked and will remain closed until 4 PM today, according to traffic officials.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when passing through the construction zone.
Hurricane season monitoring has officially commenced for 2026, with the National Hurricane Center in Miami beginning its regular Atlantic basin weather assessments on Friday, May 15.
Weather forecasters report that no tropical storm or hurricane formation is anticipated during the upcoming seven-day period across the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of America regions.
The federal weather service will now provide these tropical weather assessments daily through November 30, offering updates on any significant weather disturbances and their likelihood of developing into tropical systems. These reports are released four times daily at 2 AM, 8 AM, 2 PM, and 8 PM Eastern Daylight Time.
When daylight saving time ends in November, the schedule shifts to 1 AM, 7 AM, 1 PM, and 7 PM Eastern Standard Time. Emergency updates will be distributed between regular reporting times when weather conditions warrant additional alerts.
Residents can access visual versions of these tropical weather assessments online at hurricanes.gov for the latest storm tracking information and forecasts.
