SRN News has launched a new commemorative series titled Faith and Freedom as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary celebration.
The ongoing series represents SRN’s tribute to America’s quarter-millennium milestone, exploring themes related to religious beliefs and national independence.
A former high-ranking Canadian official known for her contentious exchanges with President Donald Trump is authoring a book focused on the strained diplomatic ties between Canada and America.
Publishing house Simon & Schuster revealed Wednesday that Chrystia Freeland’s upcoming work, titled “Unreliable Boyfriend,” is scheduled for release on October 13th. Freeland previously held the position of Deputy Prime Minister.
“This is a book about power, democracy, and the choices countries make when the old rules no longer seem to apply,” Freeland explained in a publisher’s statement. “As a Canadian negotiating with the United States during years of extraordinary political turbulence, I had a front-row seat to historic change. I wanted to tell the story of what I saw — and what it means for the future.”
Before entering the political arena, Freeland established herself as both an author and journalist, bringing expertise in Russian and Ukrainian affairs along with educational credentials from Harvard University and the University of Oxford. Following Canada’s 2015 electoral cycle, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named her to the international trade ministry, launching a decade-long tenure in various governmental roles.
During Trump’s initial presidential term in 2017, she became a target of criticism from the president while both nations negotiated what eventually became the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. “We’re very unhappy with the negotiations and the negotiating style of Canada. We don’t like their representative very much,” Trump remarked during that period.
More recently in 2024-25, as Trump made threats regarding tariffs on Canadian goods and floated the idea that Canada would benefit from becoming America’s 51st state, she labeled him an “existential threat” to her nation’s prospects. Trump has responded by calling her “totally toxic” and a “terrible person.”
Freeland’s relationship with Trudeau soured, leading to her cabinet resignation in 2024 over disagreements about Trump policy responses, ultimately contributing to Trudeau’s political exit. She has subsequently worked within Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration and taken on a special diplomatic role regarding Ukraine. This July, she will assume leadership of Rhodes House as Warden and serve as CEO of the Rhodes Trust in Oxford, managing the prestigious scholarship initiative. She earned her own Rhodes scholarship in 1993.
President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran on Wednesday, declaring the nation is taking “too long to negotiate a deal” and that “now they will have to pay the price.” The president’s remarks left unclear what specific consequences Tehran might face.
Trump’s warning followed early Wednesday airstrikes launched by the United States against Iran, which the president justified by blaming Tehran for downing an American attack helicopter. Iran responded by launching attacks against regional nations.
Iranian forces targeted Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan – all countries that host American military personnel. This marked the second instance this week where mutual strikes have put strain on ceasefire efforts, following Monday’s exchange of fire between Iran and Israel.
The president posted his message on his Truth Social platform following the Iranian retaliation. The escalating cycle of attacks has raised concerns about how much strain the current deal can withstand before breaking down completely.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu simultaneously posted on X, reaffirming that Iran must never possess nuclear weapons and justifying Israel’s previous military actions against the Islamic Republic.
While both Iran and the United States appear to be seeking ways to conclude the conflict, Netanyahu seems committed to more ambitious objectives: toppling Iran’s religious government, dismantling its nuclear capabilities, and destroying the Iranian-backed Hezbollah organization in Lebanon. These goals could significantly complicate any potential agreement.
Despite Trump’s repeated claims that peace talks with Iran are advancing, he has consistently alternated between expressing hope and threatening to resume full-scale warfare. Iran has demonstrated remarkable endurance despite enduring weeks of intensive bombardment, counting on its capacity to effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz – a vital channel for global oil and natural gas transport – as leverage in negotiations.
Meanwhile, Congress advanced legislation providing nearly $70 billion for immigration enforcement. The House approved the measure Tuesday in a narrow 214-212 vote, with Republicans using their majority to push it through despite Democratic opposition. The bill now awaits the president’s signature.
The White House indicates the legislation will allocate $38 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, $26 billion to the Border Patrol, and an additional $5 billion for unexpected expenses. The funding is structured to ensure continuous financial support as the administration pursues its goal of deporting approximately one million individuals annually.
Economic concerns also emerged Wednesday as the Labor Department reported consumer prices climbed 4.2% in May compared to the previous year, rising from April’s 3.8% rate. Monthly price increases reached 0.5% in May, following significant jumps of 0.6% in April and 0.9% in March.
These inflation figures present challenges for both the Federal Reserve and the administration as midterm elections approach. Price increases had been moderating before widespread tariffs implemented in April 2025 made numerous products more expensive. The Iran conflict has further driven up oil and gas costs, potentially spreading price increases throughout the economy.
In Maine’s political landscape, Graham Platner clinched the Democratic Senate nomination, establishing a crucial contest against long-serving Republican Senator Susan Collins. This race could influence which party controls the Senate. Trump’s influence within his party faced evaluation in South Carolina and Nevada, where he backed preferred candidates.
Immigration enforcement issues also surfaced in a federal report criticizing conditions at a Texas ICE facility. The Government Accountability Office documented serious problems at Camp East Montana, a large tent complex at Fort Bliss in El Paso, where three detainees died within six months. The report found evidence related to one death – a 55-year-old Cuban migrant who died in January after being restrained by guards – was “missing or destroyed.”
ICE opened the camp hastily in August before construction finished and failed to provide proper oversight ensuring sanitary conditions and adequate medical care, according to investigators. The Department of Homeland Security noted that ICE has replaced the facility’s contractor, with spokesperson Lauren Bis stating the change will help maintain “the highest detention standards with the ability to provide more medical care on-site.”
Cuban diplomatic tensions also intensified as Cuba’s top representative to the United States told The Associated Press that recent sanctions targeting Cuban leadership and the indictment of former President Raúl Castro serve as a “pretext” for the administration to gain American support for military intervention.
Ambassador Lianys Torres Rivera, whose formal title is chargé d’affaires, described the situation as “a war without bombs” during Tuesday’s interview at Cuba’s Washington embassy. She insisted Cuba poses no threat to the United States and opposes confrontation, while warning that attempts to change Cuba’s government through force would meet fierce resistance.
Elementary-age students are making academic progress following pandemic-related learning disruptions, but teenagers’ performance on standardized assessments remains concerning, according to new federal testing information released Wednesday.
The data shows 9-year-old students have returned to their pre-pandemic reading performance levels and demonstrated improvement in mathematics, based on results from an assessment administered consistently across the United States since the 1970s. However, 13-year-old students haven’t experienced similar academic recovery, with their average performance in both subject areas still falling short of pre-pandemic benchmarks. The most recent reading results from teenagers tested in 2024 mirror performance levels recorded when the assessment began in 1971.
Educational institutions and state leaders have concentrated their post-pandemic efforts on transforming elementary instruction, particularly through adopting the “science of reading” approach that teaches children to decode words by connecting letters to sounds. However, the new assessment results indicate that educators must also prioritize middle school students and improving academic performance among adolescent learners, according to Lesley Muldoon, executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board.
The 13-year-old students who participated in the national assessment experienced pandemic-related school closures during crucial elementary learning years. Within a few years, these students will complete their education while potentially still facing academic deficits.
“The 13-year-olds who took this assessment last year are headed to high school now or are already enrolled,” she said. “Schools won’t have them much longer. We can’t hesitate or wait if we’re going to turn these trends around.”
The long-term assessment, typically conducted every four years, provides insight into American students’ academic abilities at ages 9 and 13. Approximately 31,000 students from both public and private educational institutions completed the test during the 2024-2025 academic year. Unlike the primary Nation’s Report Card assessment for fourth and eighth graders, which receives regular updates to reflect evolving educational standards, this long-term evaluation has remained relatively unchanged since the 1970s.
Student academic performance in America was already on a downward trajectory before the pandemic began. Assessment scores reached their highest point around 2012 before beginning to decline, explained Matthew Soldner, acting commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics.
“We can clearly see that this isn’t just a pandemic story,” Soldner said.
The assessment results demonstrate that younger students are strengthening basic academic abilities, including locating information in straightforward news stories and grasping fundamental multiplication and division concepts. Seventy-one percent of 9-year-olds achieved the reading benchmark, while 84% met the mathematics standard, representing modest increases from 2022 results.
Adolescent students face evaluation on more complex abilities, including drawing conclusions from written passages and analyzing data from charts and graphs. Just 58% achieved the reading benchmark and 70% met the mathematics standard, showing no meaningful statistical progress since 2023.
Adding to concerns about stagnant reading achievement: Student engagement with recreational reading has reached historic lows.
Survey responses from test-takers revealed that only 14% of 13-year-olds engage in daily recreational reading, a decrease from 27% in 2012 and significantly lower than the 37% peak recorded in 1992. Among 9-year-old students, 37% reported daily recreational reading, marking a substantial drop from 53% in 2012. Educational researchers have connected the reduction in reading time to increased social media usage on mobile devices.
Despite these challenges, younger students have demonstrated “incredibly encouraging” academic recovery in recent years, Soldner noted. “Almost 50 years of progress has been eliminated” for 13-year-olds, he said.
The 13-year-old participants in the latest assessment would have been second or third-grade students during the pandemic’s first year. They returned to classroom instruction in fourth or fifth grade and completed this national evaluation during their final middle school years.
In comparison, the 9-year-old group began kindergarten or first grade as the pandemic’s most severe phase concluded and schools resumed normal operations. Their second and third-grade experiences more closely resembled traditional classroom instruction.
These educational experiences differ significantly, Soldner explained, as the older students missed critical years for developing fundamental reading and mathematical abilities in school settings.
Although recent declines in student performance are concerning, historical assessment data demonstrates that changing children’s academic paths over time remains achievable, said Mark Miller, an eighth grade math teacher and former member of the National Assessment Governing Board.
“We have made progress in the past, from the early ’70s to 2012,” Miller said. “Can it be done again? Absolutely.”
KYIV, June 10 – A research organization is warning that Ukraine will experience electricity shortfalls and consumer blackouts during the upcoming summer season, even with energy imports and robust solar power generation, according to the DiXi Group think tank’s latest analysis.
Throughout the ongoing conflict, Russia has continuously targeted Ukraine’s electrical generation facilities and transmission infrastructure, causing extensive damage to thermal power stations and forcing the country to boost energy imports while implementing widespread consumer power cuts.
According to DiXi’s analysis, assuming mild weather conditions and no additional infrastructure damage, the electricity deficit could reach 0.7 gigawatts during peak usage periods, but this figure could climb to 2.4 GW if temperatures rise substantially.
The situation will be further complicated by scheduled maintenance work at nuclear facilities that serve as crucial components of the nation’s power grid.
“As average daily temperatures rise, hourly power cuts will be unavoidable, and a shortage could occur even at night, when demand is at its lowest,” the organization reported.
Should high temperatures combine with additional infrastructure damage, the deficit would surge to 6.2 GW compared to total demand of 15.8 GW, representing approximately 40% of power needs.
During the 2025-2026 winter period, when Russian missile strikes destroyed more than half of Ukraine’s electricity generation infrastructure, power outages in the capital Kyiv extended for 14 to 16 hours at a time.
WASHINGTON, June 10 – A coalition of Western nations on Wednesday issued a forceful joint condemnation of Iranian-sponsored assassination schemes targeting dissidents, journalists and Jewish communities across multiple countries.
The collaborative statement, issued through the U.S. Department of State, declared: “We stand united in our determination to protect our countries and our people against these threats. The Islamic Republic of Iran must halt these actions now.”
The coalition specifically pointed to “lethal plotting” and related activities carried out by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Intelligence Organization, Quds Force, and Ministry of Intelligence and Security.
The allied nations also denounced a recent wave of attacks throughout Europe that were claimed by the pro-Iranian organization Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI).
“Attempts to kill, kidnap, harass, intimidate, or otherwise attack people on our soil, undermines national sovereignty and international norms. These actions must stop immediately,” the countries stated in their joint declaration.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that it has broadened the approved applications for an arthritis medication manufactured by Organon, allowing doctors to prescribe the drug for dangerous immune system reactions in cancer patients and severe COVID-19 cases requiring respiratory assistance.
Key details of the FDA’s decision include:
• Federal regulators expanded approval for Tofidence, which mimics Roche’s Actemra, to address severe or potentially fatal cytokine release syndrome in certain cancer patients, as well as COVID-19 cases where patients require oxygen therapy or mechanical breathing assistance along with systemic corticosteroids.
• Cytokine release syndrome occurs when the human body produces too many inflammatory proteins.
• Organon announced that Tofidence is now authorized for use in adults and pediatric patients starting at age two for both newly approved medical conditions.
• The medication is classified as a biosimilar, which means it closely replicates Roche’s Actemra that doctors use to treat various forms of arthritis, another condition for which Tofidence already has regulatory approval.
• “In the U.S., biosimilar adoption may help reduce the affordability burden of high-cost brand biologics on the health care system,” said Jon Martin, U.S. commercial lead, biosimilars and established brands, at Organon.
• Organon noted that federal regulators granted Tofidence approval in 2023 as the first American biosimilar alternative to Actemra.
• This past April, India’s Sun Pharmaceutical Industries announced plans to acquire Organon through an all-cash transaction worth approximately $11.75 billion including debt, representing the largest international purchase by an Indian pharmaceutical corporation.
Britain’s communications watchdog issued a stern warning Wednesday to social media companies about potential legal action after their platforms were used to fuel recent violence in Belfast that followed a stabbing incident in the city.
The regulator, Ofcom, sent correspondence to online service providers stating that some of the Belfast disturbances appeared to have been driven by online activity and featured racially motivated attacks, fires set to homes and cars, and violence against law enforcement officers.
The agency emphasized to these companies their obligations under the Online Safety Act to evaluate and reduce illegal material on their platforms.
Stock market futures cut their early morning losses on Wednesday following the release of May inflation figures that reduced expectations for additional Federal Reserve interest rate increases.
According to a report from the Labor Department, the Consumer Price Index climbed 4.2% compared to the same period last year in May, matching analyst predictions.
As of 8:33 a.m. Eastern Time, Dow E-minis had dropped 305 points, representing a 0.6% decline, while S&P 500 E-minis fell 38 points or 0.51%. Nasdaq 100 E-minis decreased by 179 points, down 0.61%.
State transportation officials have revealed plans to shut down the Library Avenue bridge that crosses over Amtrak railroad tracks for necessary maintenance work.
The Delaware Department of Transportation says the Route 72 span will be unavailable to drivers starting Thursday, June 11, while crews complete bridge repairs. Officials estimate the work will take roughly eight weeks to finish.
Transportation authorities indicate they will establish alternate routes for motorists during the construction period.
FIFA has implemented mandatory three-minute hydration breaks for each half of every World Cup match beginning this week across the United States, Mexico and Canada, marking the first time such breaks have been required tournament-wide.
The decision comes as organizers prepare for hot weather conditions and recall the extreme temperatures experienced during the 2025 Club World Cup. All 104 matches will feature these scheduled interruptions, creating unprecedented commercial opportunities for television networks.
As players hydrate and fans potentially step away for refreshments, broadcasting companies see a valuable chance to offer advertisers additional prime-time exposure and increase revenue streams.
The scheduled interruptions represent another way the World Cup is adopting characteristics similar to American sporting events, which feature extensive commercial breaks and entertainment elements. The tournament will also include a halftime performance by Colombian artist Shakira during the July 19 championship match, reminiscent of the Super Bowl’s entertainment format.
FIFA maintains that player safety drives their hydration break policy, though the approach may also encourage media rights growth as television networks compete for the additional revenue potential.
World Cup water breaks were initially introduced during a 2014 Brazil tournament match between the Netherlands and Mexico when temperatures surpassed 32 degrees Celsius. Since then, such breaks have been evaluated on an individual game basis.
Michael Johnson, who analyzes the U.S. sports market for S&P Global, explained to Reuters that incorporating hydration breaks could prove “extremely valuable and could potentially command those Super Bowl level prices within that seven to probably nine-million-dollar range.”
Marketing companies understand the massive exposure potential the World Cup offers, considering the 2022 Argentina versus France final in Qatar attracted 1.42 billion total viewers.
“U.S. viewers are used to the NFL style model, NBA style model four quarters. They’re used to in-game breaks. This World Cup is essentially a mirror to those style models,” Johnson explained.
European football traditionally follows a different broadcast model, with leagues such as the English Premier League typically shown on subscription services like Sky, where commercials appear before matches, during halftime, and after games conclude.
“I think even subscription broadcasters like Sky in the UK would be very happy to have a little bit more advertising inventory,” noted Francois Godard, who works as an independent sports industry analyst.
However, adopting this commercial-heavy approach may trigger negative reactions from international audiences who view it as excessive Americanization of the sport, particularly in European markets where most leagues compete during winter months.
“Soccer is infamous for continuous play. And purists are kind of worried about how this kind of Americanises the game… And create viewer fatigue, more ads could annoy fans, especially if they feel intrusive or excessive,” Johnson warned.
Additional interruptions could reduce fan engagement, especially among supporters already frustrated by frequent Video Assistant Referee delays lasting several minutes. Research by the Football Supporters’ Association within the Premier League revealed only 3.3% of fans felt VAR improved their match experience.
Many international broadcasters transmitting World Cup coverage have not yet announced whether they plan to utilize water breaks for advertising purposes.
British broadcaster ITV has already confirmed it will not air commercials during hydration breaks due to strict advertising regulations imposed by UK oversight body Ofcom.
“ITV is seeing regulatory issues and this is the first thing on their mind, but they also have to meet expectations from viewers. And I am not sure that British viewers would have been very welcoming to more advertising,” Godard observed.
The expanded 48-team format, increased from the previous 32-team structure, is projected to help FIFA achieve $8.9 billion in total 2026 revenue, with television broadcasting rights contributing 44% of that amount, according to FIFA’s budget projections.
FIFA has not indicated whether hydration breaks will become standard for future tournaments, though the 2030 and 2034 World Cups are scheduled for Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia respectively—all regions where summer temperatures regularly exceed 30 degrees Celsius during the traditional June-July tournament period.
The combination of expanding media rights cycles and hydration break opportunities may intensify competitive bidding between streaming services and traditional broadcasters for 2030 and 2034 tournament rights, although some regional rights for 2030 have already been secured.
“You’ll see most likely the streaming giants come into play, you know, Apple, Amazon, and especially Netflix, I think will be in the mix,” Johnson predicted, noting that Fox Sports’ current World Cup rights agreement expires following the 2026 tournament.
Netflix has already obtained U.S. broadcasting rights for the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031, expanding a live sports catalog that features World Wrestling Entertainment and NFL games.
ISLAMABAD (AP) — All military personnel aboard a Pakistani army MI-17 helicopter died Wednesday when the aircraft went down due to mechanical failure in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, according to military officials. The number of people on the helicopter was not immediately revealed by military authorities.
The aircraft went down close to Muzaffarabad, the area’s main city, while a demonstration and work stoppage organized by the Joint Awami Action Committee, a recently prohibited coalition of different organizations, was taking place.
Military officials made no connection between the demonstration and the aircraft accident.
People who saw the incident reported the helicopter went down moments after departing from a landing area. Emergency vehicles responded to the location and took the casualties to a local medical facility.
“Rescue and recovery teams immediately reached the crash site,” the military said, adding that a board of inquiry had been ordered to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the crash, paying tribute to the military personnel killed. In separate statements, they conveyed sympathies to the families of the victims.
Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and extended condolences to the families of those killed, according to the statement.
These types of accidents occur regularly in Pakistan. In September 2025, an army helicopter on a routine flight crashed in northern Pakistan, killing two pilots and three technicians on board.
MOSCOW, June 10 – Russian authorities announced Wednesday they have taken into custody at least two suspects linked to a car bombing incident in Moscow, apprehending teenagers whom the domestic security service claims were manipulated into placing the explosive device.
Two separate car bombing incidents occurred Tuesday across Moscow – one exploded during morning hours in the city’s eastern section, while security forces discovered another in the southwestern area of the capital.
Russia’s state Investigative Committee announced they have initiated a criminal investigation regarding the southwestern Moscow bombing, which was aimed at a worker from a scientific production company. Officials have not clarified how that explosive was detonated.
According to the committee’s findings, unknown individuals instructed a teenage girl to retrieve the bomb, which she then gave to a teenage boy who attached it to the vehicle alongside a GPS tracking device.
No injuries resulted from this incident, and authorities have filed charges against the detained suspects.
In the separate eastern Moscow car bombing, a driver lost their life, as reported by the Kommersant newspaper, though officials have not released the victim’s identity.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed an explosion occurred but stated that specifics cannot be revealed during the ongoing investigation.
“An explosion took place, but the details, as you understand, are not subject to disclosure in connection with the investigation that is underway,” Peskov said. “Of course, this is a matter for our special services.”
Authorities have not disclosed whether any arrests have been made regarding the second bombing incident.
Following the conflict’s beginning in 2022, Ukrainian military intelligence has taken credit for killing multiple high-ranking Russian officers, some of whose names have been featured on Ukraine’s public enemy registry.
A significant security breach exposed sensitive passport information for Argentina’s complete soccer roster during their preparation match against Iceland on Tuesday, according to media reports.
The confidential passport numbers appeared on the official roster and should have been concealed before distribution to reporters and spectators. However, at Alabama’s Jordan-Hare Stadium, the documentation was shared without any privacy protections in place.
Reuters has reached out to both the Argentinian Football Federation and FIFA seeking their response to the incident.
The South American team secured a 3-0 victory before more than 88,000 spectators, with Lionel Messi making his comeback from a hamstring injury by finding the net just two minutes after entering the game during the second half.
Lautaro Martinez drew a foul inside the penalty area following a pass from Messi.
Messi successfully executed the penalty kick to extend his team’s lead to 2-0, setting a new milestone as Argentina’s oldest scorer at 38 years and 11 months – surpassing Angel Labruna’s longstanding record from 1957 by two months.
The defending champions will begin their tournament campaign with a Group J fixture against Algeria on Tuesday.
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is reconsidering its investment plans in Germany after the country’s government proposed new policies aimed at reducing drug costs, according to a letter from the company’s top executive.
Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla addressed his concerns directly to Chancellor Friedrich Merz in correspondence dated June 9, which was obtained by Reuters and initially covered by German business publication Handelsblatt.
In his letter, Bourla expressed that the government’s proposed measures create uncertainty that undermines the pharmaceutical sector’s ability to make long-term financial commitments.
“As a result, we are reviewing our external engagements as well as the timing, scope, and future prioritization of certain planned investments in Germany,” the letter read.
Pfizer’s warning comes just days after other major pharmaceutical companies made similar decisions regarding their German operations. U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly announced it would reduce its $2.3 billion German investment by half, while German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim completely abandoned its €900 million investment plans. Both companies attributed their decisions to the government’s proposed healthcare cost-reduction initiatives.
BRUSSELS, June 10 – European Union regulators are examining Paramount Skydance Corp’s massive $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, which receives financial support from Gulf sovereign wealth funds, based on a European Commission document.
The American entertainment company requested EU clearance under the bloc’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation on Tuesday, a rule designed to address unfair government assistance from foreign nations.
The Commission, serving as the EU’s competition watchdog, has until July 14 to either approve the transaction or launch a comprehensive 90-working-day probe.
Financial backing for the acquisition comes from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Abu Dhabi-based L’imad Holding Company, and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). The transaction is simultaneously under review through EU merger regulations.
Industry sources previously indicated to Reuters that the subsidy examination should prove less challenging than the merger review, where the entertainment companies will probably need to provide concessions like selling off a children’s channel to satisfy EU competition requirements.
A major Dutch financial institution has introduced a subscription-based banking service in the Netherlands as part of its strategy to compete with emerging digital banks and diversify revenue sources.
ING rolled out the new service model on Wednesday, with plans to implement it across all its operating markets by the middle of 2027. Global Head for Private Individuals Sali Salieski told Reuters the bank anticipates this approach will generate a “meaningful” boost to fee-based income.
According to Salieski, the initiative responds in part to increasing pressure from digital-only banking competitors. He pointed to rapidly growing Revolut, which is reportedly exploring a public stock offering that could reach a valuation of $200 billion.
The subscription approach replaces traditional per-service banking fees with monthly payment tiers that combine banking, insurance, and additional services like streaming platforms into unified packages.
ING previously tested this model in Belgium, Romania and Poland before bringing it to the Netherlands. Salieski indicated that other markets where the bank operates, including Spain, Germany and Italy, will adopt the system next.
The bank views subscriptions as a way to sustain fee revenue growth, especially from routine banking operations, Salieski explained.
Over recent years, the banking group has focused on expanding net fee and commission earnings to balance out declining benefits from the post-pandemic period of elevated interest rates.
“I think (the subscription model) will also give more breadth across all markets, because we’ve had some markets which are traditionally low fee or no fee,” Salieski said.
The bank has maintained consistent double-digit increases in fee and commission revenue over the last two years. In the first quarter, this income reached €1.24 billion ($1.43 billion), representing 21% of total company revenue.
Motorists traveling on Rogers Road should expect lane restrictions today due to ongoing construction work.
The right shoulder is currently closed between Oakmont Drive and New Castle Avenue (Route 9) as crews continue their project. The shoulder closure is expected to remain in place until 4 PM today.
Drivers are advised to use caution when traveling through the work zone and allow extra time for their commute.
Significant changes to federal student loan programs are set to begin on July 1, creating new circumstances for millions of borrowers across the country.
The modifications include the termination of a widely-used and beneficial repayment option that many borrowers have relied on for managing their debt obligations.
At the same time, two new repayment programs will launch, offering different terms and conditions for those seeking to manage their educational debt.
Additionally, numerous borrowers will encounter adjusted borrowing limits, which could affect their ability to finance their education going forward.
These sweeping adjustments represent some of the most substantial changes to the federal student loan system in recent years, potentially impacting both current borrowers and future students planning to finance their higher education.
Drivers traveling eastbound on Siham Road are experiencing delays due to a lane closure between Janice Road and Coastal Highway (Route 1).
Construction crews have closed one lane of traffic in the area, creating a bottleneck for commuters and travelers. The work zone is expected to clear by 5 PM today.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time or consider alternate routes to avoid potential delays in the affected area.
Car enthusiasts seeking an exciting ride without the new car price tag should take advantage of current market conditions this summer. The used car marketplace now offers several high-performance vehicles for under $25,000 that were previously beyond many buyers’ financial reach when they first hit dealership lots.
Automotive experts at Edmunds analyzed the current market and selected five standout options under the $25,000 threshold. Their picks cover a wide spectrum of driving preferences, including everything from a powerful V8 coupe capable of burning rubber to a practical four-door that can haul your gear for weekend adventures.
BMW’s smallest two-door offering, the 2 Series, comes in both coupe and convertible configurations. While a four-cylinder version exists, enthusiasts should focus on the six-cylinder M235i and BMW M240i variants. These models deliver rapid acceleration, well-balanced handling characteristics, and superior comfort for long trips. Power output spans from 320 horsepower in the M235i up to 335 horsepower in the 2017-2018 M240i models. The 2 Series provides a more premium driving experience compared to other vehicles in this price range, though rear passenger space is somewhat limited for a luxury vehicle.
Look for: The M235i from earlier years is more commonly found within the $25,000 budget. Both variants come well-appointed with standard equipment, though BMW offered several option packages worth considering. Models equipped with the Technology package feature a larger center display and navigation system.
The sixth-generation Chevrolet Corvette, known as the C6, offers exceptional performance value. Its robust V8 engine generates up to 430 horsepower, keeping these Corvettes impressively quick even compared to today’s standards. The combination of rear-wheel drive, relatively light weight, strong stopping power, and comfortable highway cruising earns the C6 a spot on this list, despite its budget-oriented interior materials.
Look for: Focus on 2008 and later model years, which received additional power and interior improvements. Coupe models are more readily available under $25,000 compared to convertible versions or the later high-performance Grand Sport variants. While the V8 engine in these vehicles is reliable, locating a Corvette with documented maintenance history remains advisable.
The latest generation Mazda MX-5 Miata continues to set the standard for lightweight, enjoyable convertibles. Its 181-horsepower output may seem modest but proves sufficient to energize this featherweight two-seater. Combined with accurate steering, predictable handling dynamics, and an optional smooth-operating six-speed manual transmission, this Miata exemplifies the classic open-top sports car formula. Taller drivers should note that the cabin space will feel restrictive.
Look for: While earlier models from this generation are available, 2019 and newer versions offer 26 additional horsepower plus a telescoping steering column for better driving position adjustment. The Club trim level stands out as the preferred choice, adding various mechanical upgrades that enhance the Miata’s performance through winding roads.
The Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 represent twin small coupes developed jointly by both manufacturers. These vehicles deliver an engaging, mechanical driving experience that has become increasingly rare in modern cars. Following the 2017 refresh, the four-cylinder engine produces up to 205 horsepower, providing adequate performance without making it too easy to reach troublesome speeds. Both include rear seating, though it’s quite compact and better suited for cargo storage.
Look for: Choosing 2017 and newer models ensures access to significant improvements in gearing and suspension calibration. The Toyota 86 typically costs slightly less than the BRZ, making it the better value proposition. BRZ models with the Performance package are particularly sought-after due to their enhanced brakes and suspension components.
The Volkswagen Golf GTI from this period epitomizes the daily-driver performance vehicle concept. It combines four-door hatchback utility with genuinely engaging driving dynamics. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers up to 228 horsepower, varying by model year and equipment level. Transmission options include either a six-speed manual or a six- or seven-speed automatic, depending on the specific year.
Look for: Target GTI models in SE or Autobahn trim levels. These higher trims include the most standard equipment, including premium audio systems, upgraded braking components, and a limited-slip differential that helps maximize traction during acceleration.
A reasonable budget now provides access to an impressive variety of performance options. Buyers should conduct thorough research to avoid vehicles showing signs of deferred maintenance, neglect, or extensive modifications. However, for less than $25,000, shoppers can select from some of the most enjoyable and purpose-built performance cars from recent years. Current conditions favor driving enthusiasts.
This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds. Josh Jacquot is a contributor at Edmunds.
Changes to the Pentagon’s military religious classification system this week have brought back into focus a theological debate that has persisted for almost two centuries: Should The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints be considered a Christian faith?
While most members of the Latter-day Saints faith consider themselves Christians, many established Christian religious leaders and theological experts dispute this classification, pointing to fundamental differences in beliefs about God, the Trinity, and the use of religious texts beyond the traditional Christian Bible.
Two senators from the state – Mike Lee and John Curtis, both Republicans and members of the Latter-day Saints faith – questioned the Pentagon’s decision to exclude their religion from its Christian categories. This exclusion occurred as the Department of Defense worked to streamline a lengthy roster of over 200 religious options available to service members, also removing classifications for atheists, Unitarian Universalists, pagans and Wiccans.
“Latter-day Saints are among the most patriotic, service-oriented individuals in our country,” Curtis wrote on social media while defending his faith. “They are also unequivocally Christian — just look at who is in the name of the Church.”
Curtis further stated in his message that it is “unacceptable” for government agencies to define a religion in ways that conflict with how that faith describes itself – a viewpoint that gained widespread support in online discussions.
On Monday, the Pentagon addressed the controversy by stripping Christian designations from 20 other religious traditions, including Catholic, Lutheran and Pentecostal faiths, while maintaining its position on not classifying Latter-day Saints as Christian. Military officials released a statement clarifying that the updated system is not meant to “make any claims on the legitimacy of any faith or religion’s belief,” but rather to assist chaplains in their duties and organize resources more effectively.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called the Mormon church, counts nearly 18 million followers globally, with the largest population concentrated in one western state. The organization has an extensive tradition of military participation and promotes both patriotic values and chaplain services.
Lee wrote on social media: “My church membership is inextricably intertwined with my Christianity, as it is for 17 million other Latter-day Saints. Regardless of what the Pentagon thinks.”
According to the church’s official website, the organization identifies as a “Christian Church, but is neither Catholic nor Protestant.”
“Rather, it is a restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ as originally established by the Savior in the New Testament of the Bible,” the website continues. “Jesus Christ is central to the lives of Church members. They seek to follow his example by being baptized, praying in His holy name, partaking of the sacrament, doing good to others and bearing witness of Him through both word and deed. The only way to salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ.”
However, questions surrounding the Christian identity of Latter-day Saints trace back almost two centuries to when the church was first established.
Matthew Bowman, who holds the chair of Mormon studies at Claremont Graduate University in Southern California, explained that the main distinction between established Christian denominations and Latter-day Saints centers on their understanding of God’s nature and their interpretation of the Trinity – the spiritual connection between God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Traditional Christian churches teach that God exists as spirit, while Latter-day Saints founders taught that God was once human and attained divine status, he explained.
Members of the Latter-day Saints faith also do not accept the Nicene Creed, which emphasizes Trinity doctrine as one divine entity.
“They believe that while the three have a relationship, they are distinct beings,” Bowman explained.
The Catholic Church has maintained for years that Latter-day Saints do not qualify as Christian. Most recently in 2012, Vatican officials declared that despite Latter-day Saint baptismal ceremonies referencing the Trinity, the church’s understanding of these three figures differs so significantly from Catholic and mainstream Christian theology that such baptisms cannot be recognized as Christian sacraments.
This theological disagreement has influenced American political discourse for decades, creating friction between evangelical Christians and Latter-day Saints who have traditionally aligned themselves with conservative religious movements. Similar to evangelicals, most Latter-day Saints maintain conservative positions on issues like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.
Bowman noted that questions about Latter-day Saints’ Christian classification became particularly prominent during Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential race.
“At the time — and often after that — there continues to be a sense of surprise among Latter-day Saints that the evangelicals didn’t consider them Christian and among evangelicals when they learn that the Latter-day Saints in fact consider themselves Christian,” he said.
The political rise of Donald Trump has weakened the historical partnership between Latter-day Saints and evangelical Christians, particularly among younger Latter-day Saints who increasingly view evangelicals as antagonistic, according to Bowman.
“In the past five years or so, there is a growing push among evangelicals to create a muscular, masculine Christianity, more vocal on doctrine, with some calling (Mormons) heretics,” he explained.
Philip McLemore, who worked as a Latter-day Saint chaplain in the Air Force from 1984 to 2005, said he and colleagues experienced discrimination during their service and were denied advancement opportunities due to their religious affiliation.
“That mostly came from other Christian chaplains and supervisors who believed Mormon chaplains were not Christian,” he recalled. “They also felt the same way about Christian Scientists.”
McLemore said some fellow Christian chaplains expressed concerns that Latter-day Saint chaplains might use their military positions for missionary work and religious conversion. However, he acknowledged understanding why other Christians might view Latter-day Saints with suspicion.
“Mormonism doesn’t fit comfortably into most classic Christianity mostly because of the founders’ claims of exclusive truth and authority that can be offensive to some,” he noted. “Joseph Smith’s first vision — a foundational event for the church — was one of Jesus telling him that all the other churches are false and their creeds are abominations.”
Despite these theological debates, McLemore believes denominational differences hold little importance in military settings.
“In my experience, service members would not know what your denomination was, and they didn’t care,” he said. “They didn’t consult chaplains on matters of religion. They needed chaplains for personal problems and issues with work, mental health and marriage.”
A U.S. government employee stationed at the American Embassy in Myanmar has died, according to the State Department, while diplomatic sources report that Myanmar authorities have taken a Thai woman into custody as part of their investigation.
The State Department confirmed the death of the embassy worker in Yangon but declined to provide additional details about the circumstances.
“Out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones, we have no further information to provide at this time,” the State Department said in an e-mailed reply to questions from The Associated Press.
Three diplomatic community members in Myanmar, speaking anonymously because they lack authorization to discuss the matter, revealed that the man’s body was discovered approximately two weeks ago at the Sakura Residence & Hotel. The establishment offers extended-stay accommodations and serves diplomats, business professionals, and other international guests, situated roughly 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from the U.S. Embassy.
These sources indicated that law enforcement officials are investigating the death as a potential murder and have detained a Thai woman in the case.
The Southeast Asian nation, previously called Burma, remains engulfed in conflict between its military rulers, who removed democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power in 2021, and various militia groups representing ethnic minorities and pro-democracy movements.
Local officials rarely share information with journalists, and when an AP reporter contacted the police station covering the hotel’s area, the duty officer declined to provide comment and ended the call.
Hotel management at the Sakura facility also refused to discuss the incident.
Both Thailand’s Embassy in Yangon and the Thai Foreign Ministry declined to confirm whether they had offered consular assistance to the detained individual or share any related information.
NEW YORK — Elon Musk’s rocket company is preparing for what could become the largest initial public offering in history, and the firm wants everyday investors to have an unusually large stake in the launch.
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., commonly known as SpaceX, is planning to allocate a significant portion of its stock debut directly to individual “retail” investors — those who trade through smartphone apps and personal brokerage accounts rather than large institutional funds with professional trading operations.
Several key factors stand out as the public offering draws near:
While most stock debuts typically reserve just 5% to 10% of shares for individual investors according to Fidelity, SpaceX could allocate as much as 30% to this group. The rocket manufacturer expects everyday investors to access its IPO through major platforms including Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Robinhood, SoFi and E-Trade by Morgan Stanley.
Fidelity is lowering its account requirements significantly for this offering, allowing investors with just $2,000 in their accounts to potentially purchase SpaceX shares. This represents a dramatic reduction from the typical $100,000 to $500,000 minimum requirements for other equity offerings.
The high level of anticipated interest means not everyone who expresses interest will necessarily receive shares in the offering.
While the excitement surrounding SpaceX might tempt investors to quickly flip their shares for profit if prices surge, brokerages maintain policies that prevent investors from participating in future offerings if they sell IPO shares too rapidly, typically within a few weeks.
SpaceX is cautioning that significant retail investor participation could lead to price volatility. Individual investors tend to trade more emotionally compared to pension funds, which make calculated decisions based on long-term payment obligations stretching years or decades into the future.
Individual investors were the driving force behind GameStop and other “meme stocks” that reached what professional investors considered irrational heights during 2021.
According to Jay Ritter, an IPO specialist and professor at the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business, the average IPO has gained 7% on its first trading day from 1980 through 2025.
However, IPOs typically underperform comparable companies over the following five years, excluding their debut day performance. They trail by an average of 3.6% annually, Ritter’s research shows.
Launching objects beyond Earth’s atmosphere and building massive AI data centers requires enormous capital, and SpaceX has accumulated $29.1 billion in debt as of March’s end.
The company reported losses of $4.9 billion last year and an additional $4.3 billion during the first quarter of 2026. SpaceX admits it “may not achieve profitability in the future.”
Stock prices generally follow company profitability trends over extended periods.
Many investors might inadvertently become SpaceX shareholders without making a direct purchase. Millions of people own shares in the QQQ exchange-traded fund, which mirrors the Nasdaq 100 index and manages approximately $460 billion in assets.
The Nasdaq 100 traditionally added new members each December during annual restructuring to maintain its roster of the 100 largest non-financial Nasdaq companies. Recent rule changes now permit major companies to join the Nasdaq 100 after just 15 trading sessions.
If SpaceX’s public debut meets expectations, it could rapidly enter both the Nasdaq 100 and QQQ fund, automatically making QQQ shareholders partial SpaceX owners.
The organization managing the more widely followed S&P 500 index has not implemented similar fast-track entry procedures.
SpaceX’s IPO will feature 555.6 million “Class A” shares, with each share providing one vote on shareholder matters. These voting rights cover important decisions like selecting board members who oversee the chief executive.
The offering excludes “Class B” shares, which carry 10 votes each. Musk’s extensive holdings of these super-voting shares would give him control over more than 82% of total voting power after the IPO.
In regulatory filings, SpaceX acknowledges potential conflicts of interest between the company and Musk, along with his other ventures like Tesla.
Pension fund leaders representing firefighters, teachers and other workers in California and New York wrote to SpaceX last month criticizing several IPO provisions, including “super voting shares,” mandatory arbitration requirements instead of lawsuit options, and Musk’s concentrated power.
These officials noted they could become SpaceX owners through index funds that automatically purchase stocks when they join specific indexes.
Musk’s voting control over the board would grant him extraordinary authority over SpaceX, “essentially making him unfireable without his own consent,” wrote the CEO of California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the New York state comptroller and the New York City comptroller.
“This level of insulation from accountability is virtually unheard of among any other large U.S. issuer whose governing documents foreclose accountability to public owners on these terms.”
SpaceX will trade under ticker symbol “SPCX,” which closely resembles “SPCE,” the symbol used by Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Holdings.
Motorists traveling on southbound Route 13 should expect delays due to a construction-related lane restriction currently in effect.
The right lane is blocked between Hessler Boulevard and Memorial Drive, with the closure expected to last until 3 PM today.
Drivers are advised to use caution in the area and allow extra travel time while construction crews complete their work.
Motorists traveling southbound on Route 13 should expect delays due to a lane restriction currently in effect between Hessler Boulevard and Memorial Drive.
The right lane closure is the result of ongoing construction work in the area. Traffic officials indicate the lane will remain blocked until 3 PM today.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when navigating through the work zone.
Federal immigration officials have confirmed they gather information about individuals they suspect of potential illegal activities, which may encompass protesters, according to a congressional correspondence that had not been made public before.
The acknowledgment comes from the former director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in communication with lawmakers, even as the agency has previously rejected claims that it maintains a tracking system for American citizens.
The revelation provides additional insight into the agency’s data collection practices regarding demonstration participants, contradicting earlier statements that denied the existence of such monitoring efforts.
SRN News has created a daily audio program called “Global Landscape” that focuses on religious news from across the globe. The two-minute segment offers listeners a brief overview of the most important faith-related stories each day.
According to SRN News, the program covers major developments, cultural changes, and important events where religion intersects with world affairs. The audio feature is designed to keep audiences informed about significant religious news in an accessible format.
Religious institutions worldwide are facing unprecedented government pressure, with Rwanda emerging as the most aggressive in restricting places of worship, according to findings from Global Christian Relief. The African nation has forced the closure of approximately 7,700 churches during a two-year period as officials impose tighter controls on religious freedom.
Mozambique ranks second on the organization’s list, where Muslim extremists are launching hundreds of attacks against churches annually. Even in countries where Christians can practice their faith openly, government officials frequently impose strict limits on the number of permitted churches and create lengthy delays in approving construction permits for new religious buildings.
In domestic news, FBI Director Kash Patel has terminated five agency personnel connected to a controversial 2023 intelligence memo that identified potential threats from Catholic “violent extremists.” The dismissed staff members include four intelligence analysts and one supervisory analyst. The intelligence document, produced by the FBI’s Richmond, Virginia field office in January 2023, sparked significant political controversy upon its release. Previous Justice Department reviews of the memo raised concerns about its analytical methods. The FBI stated that “investigative activity must not be based solely on the exercise of rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.”
Despite ongoing Gay Pride Month events, LGBT advocacy groups are experiencing setbacks due to growing public opposition, particularly regarding transgender issues involving children. Multiple states have implemented bans preventing males from participating in female athletic competitions, while some have prohibited sex-change procedures for minors. At least nine states are considering resolutions that would challenge legal recognition of same-sex marriages. Most proposals would urge the Supreme Court to reconsider its 2015 ruling that recognized such unions. While these measures lack legal authority, they could potentially prompt new challenges before the nation’s highest court.
Historical data shows America’s deep religious roots, with 3,228 houses of worship existing when the 13 colonies united and declared independence in 1776. The young nation already displayed religious diversity, with Congregationalists leading at approximately 670 congregations, representing just over 20 percent of all religious institutions. Presbyterians followed closely, along with Baptists, Episcopalians and Quakers. Methodists comprised two percent of the religious landscape, Catholics accounted for slightly under two percent, and the country included several synagogues plus more than a dozen Mennonite congregations.
Fresh research from the Pew Research Center sheds light on the religious landscape for a faith community that represents almost 25 percent of Americans. The analysis reveals that Catholic membership across the United States is experiencing a downward trend, with more individuals abandoning the Catholic Church in favor of Protestant congregations rather than the reverse pattern. Among Americans who do choose to embrace the Catholic religion, marriage to a Catholic spouse emerges as the primary motivation for their conversion.
Oklahoma lawmakers have approved new legislation designed to protect free speech on college campuses across the state. The measure prohibits public colleges and universities from engaging in discrimination against student groups based on their beliefs or viewpoints.
The new law was crafted as a response to situations where Christian and conservative campus organizations faced bans or limitations due to their positions on issues including abortion and LGBT matters. Under the legislation, all college students will be required to complete training focused on free speech principles at no cost.
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation has reached a settlement agreement with the Trump administration that will end its provision of gender transition services to minors. Under the terms of the deal, the medical organization will discontinue assistance to children seeking to transition to a different gender identity and will contribute $2 million toward helping individuals who wish to reverse previous transitions.
Federal officials had been examining potential fraudulent billing practices related to the clinic’s gender-transition care for minors. As part of the resolution, the medical facility has committed to permanently ending sex-change surgeries and the administration of puberty-blocking medications to young patients.
Drivers traveling on Hourglass Road should plan for potential delays as construction crews continue work in the area.
Traffic restrictions are currently in place along the stretch of Hourglass Road that runs between Bryants Corner Road and Hall Town Road (Route 8). The construction project is causing periodic lane closures with flagging crews directing traffic through the work zone.
The lane restrictions and flagging operations are scheduled to continue until 6 PM today. Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when driving through the construction area.
Christianity is experiencing remarkable expansion in Iran, even as believers face some of the harshest religious oppression globally, according to a recent study. International Christian Concern has released findings showing that Iran’s Christian population has now surpassed levels seen prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which ushered in severe persecution of religious minorities.
The organization reports that “Some estimates point to a million or more Iranian converts to Christianity.” Along with this population growth, house churches operating in secret are multiplying throughout the country.
This expansion comes despite Iran’s strict laws against Christian evangelism and conversion from Islam, which can result in imprisonment and other harsh penalties for believers.
A leading international human rights organization on Wednesday released findings alleging Israel is conducting systematic displacement of Palestinian populations in the occupied West Bank as part of efforts to incorporate the territory.
The allegations were detailed in a comprehensive 149-page study claiming that the forced removal of West Bank Palestinian residents stems from coordinated government policy, rather than solely from actions by violent settlers.
United Nations statistics indicate that more than 100 West Bank villages have experienced complete or partial evacuation between January 2023 and April 2026. During the same period, the United Nations documented over 7,280 cases of individual Palestinian displacement due to home and structure demolitions by Israeli forces, with some individuals being displaced multiple times.
Israel, which has previously rejected similar charges — including ethnic cleansing allegations — as persistent unfair prejudice, had not immediately issued a response to the study.
“These abuses are not the result of a few ‘bad apples.’ Settler violence is a core component of a state-sanctioned campaign of ethnic cleansing,” said Agnès Callamard, the head of Amnesty. “What we are witnessing is deliberate, state-led annexation, in complete violation of international law unfolding before the eyes of the entire world.”
Israeli leadership has criticized especially severe violence by Jewish settlers but typically characterizes such incidents as anomalies. Senior Cabinet officials in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing administration are advocating for official annexation of the territory, with government representatives expressing support for Israeli control over the West Bank.
The human rights organization reports identifying numerous legislative proposals in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, aimed at expanding Israeli civil law and legal authority over settlement areas, including courts handling Palestinian cases. The parliament recently passed legislation establishing capital punishment as the standard sentence for West Bank Palestinians found guilty of nationalist-motivated killings.
Previously, U.S. President Donald Trump stated he would not permit Israel to annex the West Bank. The American-mediated ceasefire agreement between Israel and the militant Hamas organization intended to end the Gaza conflict also recognized Palestinian statehood goals.
The organization attributes widespread displacement of Palestinian Bedouin populations in the region to settler violence, expansion of new settlements, and Israeli control of extensive unregistered territories. Human rights organizations had warned about this type of displacement prior to 2023, but it significantly escalated following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the conflict.
Human rights advocates note that Bedouin herding populations in isolated West Bank areas face the greatest displacement risk. Unlike Palestinians in urban centers throughout the West Bank, these rural residents have less capacity to resist pressure from frequently armed settlers establishing new outposts near Palestinian communities.
The anti-settlement watchdog organization Peace Now reports that 212 of at least 363 current outposts in the West Bank have been established since 2023. These outposts are constructed without Israeli government approval, with authorities sometimes removing them but often ignoring them or subsequently providing legal recognition.
The global community broadly considers the settlements illegal. Israel, however, regards the West Bank as contested territory and maintains its ultimate status requires negotiated resolution.
The human rights group stated its study examined 27 hamlets and villages in the West Bank where Palestinians experienced displacement between 2023 and 2025. Investigators conducted interviews with numerous Palestinians and attorneys, spoke with witnesses to settler violence, reviewed more than 420 videos, and examined government declarations and additional reports.
The organization also criticized the international community for failing to take action to prevent the displacement.
More than 700,000 Israelis reside in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas seized by Israel in 1967 and claimed by Palestinians for their future independent state, alongside the Gaza Strip.
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian military forces carried out extensive long-distance strikes against targets located far within Russian territory on Wednesday, as part of Ukraine’s strategy to increase the war’s costs for Moscow by attacking energy infrastructure and military production facilities.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian troops successfully hit multiple military and energy infrastructure locations, including a military production facility that he stated provided components for Russian drones and missiles.
Through a social media announcement, Zelenskyy revealed that Ukrainian FP-5 Flamingo long-range missiles successfully struck the target in Cheboksary, situated in the Chuvashiya region over 900 kilometers (more than 560 miles) away from the battle front.
Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that air defense systems intercepted 326 Ukrainian drones during nighttime operations.
Oleg Nikolayev, the head of Chuvashiya, verified the missile strike occurred but provided no additional information. The Astra online news outlet indicated that the Ukrainian attack targeted the VNIIR-Progress plant that manufactures antennas for drones.
Zelenskyy additionally reported that Ukrainian troops attacked a refinery in Russia’s Samara region, where Gov. Vyacheslav Fedorishchev stated that multiple industrial facilities sustained damage from drone attacks and three individuals were wounded.
Fedorishchev declined to identify the specific damaged facilities, though Astra published photographs showing a major fire at the Samara refinery.
Zelenskyy further noted that Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) had targeted two oil infrastructure sites in Russia’s Vladimir region, approximately 700 kilometers from the battle zone.
In Russian-controlled Crimea, a Ukrainian drone struck the structure containing a massive panorama artwork depicting the city’s defense during the 19th century Crimean War. Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Kremlin-appointed head of Sevastopol, stated the painting by artist Franz Rubo was essentially destroyed.
With the more than 1,000-kilometer battle front in the four-year conflict remaining mostly unchanged as drone swarms prevent territorial gains, both nations have increasingly turned to long-distance attacks.
The progressively deeper and bold Ukrainian attacks have presented a challenge to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, contradicting his assertion that Moscow was prevailing in the war now in its fifth year.
Last week, Putin promised to enhance Russia’s air defense capabilities following Ukrainian strikes that ignited an oil terminal in St. Petersburg and struck a nearby naval facility, overshadowing his prominent economic forum in his home city.
The St. Petersburg attacks represented another setback for the Russian leader, occurring weeks after he scaled back an annual Victory Day parade in Moscow due to concerns about Ukrainian drone strikes.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported air defenses intercepted 181 of 207 Russian drones.
A wave of 26 drones attacked Kharkiv early Wednesday, wounding at least four individuals, according to regional administration head Oleh Syniehubov. He reported one person died and 15 others sustained injuries in the region during the previous 24 hours.
In Zaporizhzhia and surrounding areas, 10 people were wounded overnight during multiple Russian aerial strikes, according to regional head Ivan Fedorov.
In Odesa, a mother and two children, ages 8 and 10, needed medical care after Russian drones damaged two residential structures, according to regional administration head Oleh Kiper.
ALTAY, China (AP) — Chinese officials welcomed international delegates to Xinjiang on Wednesday for a conference aimed at showcasing economic opportunities in the northwestern territory that has drawn global attention for its treatment of ethnic minorities.
The International Conference for Trans-Altai Subregional Cooperation took place in Altay, bringing together representatives from Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia and additional countries to explore trade partnerships and economic collaboration in the landlocked area. Chinese authorities outlined development strategies for coal, oil and gas extraction, cotton production and other industrial sectors throughout Xinjiang.
“Xinjiang has become a vivid epitome of China’s rapid economic development and fully reflected the significant advantages and vitality of China’s governance,” said Chen Xiaojiang, secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Xinjiang Committee.
Chen also outlined ambitious infrastructure expansion plans, including additional railway lines and increased air travel options for the region.
Xinjiang faces significant economic challenges compared to China’s prosperous eastern provinces. In 2020, rural residents in the territory earned an average of 13,052 yuan ($1,927) per person, while their counterparts in wealthy Zhejiang province averaged 31,930 yuan ($4,714) annually.
This economic inequality contributed to unrest that eventually led to violent incidents by extremist elements within the Uyghur population. Beginning in 2017, Chinese authorities detained one million or more individuals from ethnic minority communities, predominantly Uyghurs. Officials characterized these mass detentions as necessary measures to address the previous attacks.
Chinese authorities announced the closure of most detention facilities by 2021, though several camps were transformed into traditional prison complexes. Documents obtained by The Associated Press revealed that thousands of Uyghurs received lengthy prison terms based on what experts describe as fabricated or inflated accusations.
Human rights organization Global Rights Compliance reports that those not incarcerated, especially in southern Xinjiang areas with substantial Uyghur communities, face mandatory participation in government employment programs that activists say is expanding under China’s current five-year economic strategy.
Chinese officials have previously stated that what they term “anti-China forces” have distorted conditions in Xinjiang by mischaracterizing the government’s counterterrorism and anti-extremism initiatives as discriminatory actions against particular ethnic, regional or religious communities.
As the World Cup tournament begins in the United States, attention will focus on the host nation’s squad. However, for the small Paraguayan community residing in America, this represents a special opportunity to celebrate their beloved national team’s comeback to the global stage following a 16-year hiatus.
Supporters of Paraguay throughout the nation have been organizing cookouts and gatherings to view their team’s group matches. Although many were discouraged by the steep costs for Friday’s game versus the U.S., where individual tickets exceeded $1,000, some supporters have purchased seats for upcoming contests.
Santiago Araujo, 32, is one such fan. His family operates one of the rare Paraguayan eateries in America, located in the coastal community of Pacific Grove, California. He and his sibling secured passes to witness the squad face Australia in Santa Clara, California, roughly 80 miles away.
“Every Paraguayan I know wants to go,” said Araujo, who relocated to California with his family at age 11. “It’s not like there’s seasons of any other sports in Paraguay. I used to sleep with a soccer ball as my toy.”
Census data indicates approximately 37,000 Paraguayans reside in the U.S., and they’re enthusiastic about their national team’s much-anticipated comeback to FIFA’s premier competition. This marks Paraguay’s first World Cup qualification since 2010, when the squad achieved its finest showing by advancing to the quarterfinals. The team, currently positioned 40th globally by FIFA, is making its ninth World Cup appearance.
Paraguay joins the U.S. in Group D alongside Turkey and Australia, facing these opponents on June 19 and June 25 respectively in Santa Clara.
Among Paraguay’s experienced players is midfielder Miguel Almirón, who competes for MLS team Atlanta United. The 32-year-old recalls viewing the 2010 World Cup as a youth, dreaming of one day competing on soccer’s grandest platform.
The wait has been extensive.
“It’s going to be something beautiful in that moment, not just for me, but also for my family and for all the Paraguayan fans, and for anyone who’s been with us through all the tough moments,” Almirón said recently, thinking ahead to the first match. “There are going to be a lot of emotions at that moment. We take it on with responsibility, because we know so many people are depending on us.”
Paraguay ranks among South America’s smaller nations by population, housing roughly 7 million residents. The landlocked country borders Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil, featuring expansive grasslands, rich terrain and indigenous Guarani heritage. Within the U.S., larger Paraguayan populations exist in New York and the wealthy community of Bernardsville, New Jersey, which Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña toured in 2024.
Supporting their team, Paraguay enthusiasts will wear the squad’s red-and-white uniforms and distinctive cylindrical hats. In Northern California, Cafe Guarani, operated by Araujo’s family, is planning a gathering to unite Paraguayan supporters between matches, featuring authentic cuisine including manioc empanadas and chilled yerba mate. In New York’s Queens area, fans will assemble at I Love Paraguay Restaurant to view the competitions.
Ana Di Sessa, from New Jersey, expressed her desire to attend the California matches but cited the distance as prohibitive.
“It is not only the tickets — you have to pay your hotel, the flights,” she said. “A lot of people are not going to be able to go there.”
Zoraida Pereira, a travel coordinator in Bernardsville, reported selling travel packages to supporters heading to Santa Clara, excluding the opener due to ticket costs. The 43-year-old, born in Paraguay but residing in America for over three decades, finds it difficult to pick sides between the competing nations.
“I am rooting for Paraguay this time around,” she said. “They’ve been out for so long.”
The excitement extends over 5,000 miles away to Paraguay, where the documentary “El Renacer Albirrojo” premiered, chronicling La Albirroja’s multi-year quest to return to the World Cup. The squad departed for America amid celebratory fireworks, and some U.S. community members report friends and relatives traveling from Paraguay to attend matches.
Rodrigo Valdez, a software engineer in San Diego, plans to journey over 450 miles to Santa Clara to watch the team compete. Born in America, the 34-year-old spent his youth in Paraguay and appreciates the recognition the team receives.
He plans to view Friday’s contest with relatives and friends in San Diego. Despite having a 4-month-old infant, his spouse urged him to purchase a ticket to the Australia match as a Father’s Day present.
“It was a unique opportunity for us that we are living in California,” Valdez said. “It will be very meaningful.”
Federal prosecutors began presenting their case Wednesday against a former rideshare driver they say deliberately ignited what became one of the most catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles history.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, faces three federal felony charges including property destruction by fire, arson affecting interstate commerce property, and unlawful burning of timber on government land. He was formally charged last October.
Authorities claim he “maliciously” ignited a fire in January 2025 that firefighters thought they had quickly contained, but the blaze continued burning beneath thick brush before flaring up again seven days later.
Hurricane-strength winds then fanned the flames into a massive inferno that claimed 12 lives and devastated the coastal Pacific Palisades neighborhood, resulting in roughly $150 billion in property losses.
Rinderknecht has entered a not guilty plea but remains jailed since his Florida arrest approximately two weeks prior to his indictment.
A conviction on all charges could result in a minimum five-year sentence, with the possibility of up to 45 years imprisonment, according to federal prosecutors.
Legal teams were scheduled to present opening arguments Wednesday in federal court in downtown Los Angeles following Tuesday’s jury selection process.
Government attorneys allege Rinderknecht started the fire shortly after midnight on New Year’s Day near a mountain hiking path close to Pacific Palisades, which sits beside the ocean next to Santa Monica, following completion of his rideshare work.
Los Angeles fire crews thought they had quickly put out what was called the Lachman Fire. However, it reignited on January 7 and rapidly expanded into the destructive Palisades Fire, federal authorities state.
Powerful Santa Ana winds propelled the flames across more than 23,000 acres, destroying approximately 6,000 buildings.
The disaster occurred alongside another major wildfire northeast of Los Angeles called the Eaton fire, which took 19 lives and devastated Altadena.
Federal authorities say Rinderknecht seemed to hold animosity toward wealthy individuals.
Court filings before trial claimed he was closely following coverage of Luigi Mangione, who faces charges for killing the CEO of insurance company UnitedHealthcare and has gained support in certain extreme political circles as a champion of working people.
The documents also stated Rinderknecht was “deeply agitated” about problems in a romantic relationship.
Legal papers and public comments from Rinderknecht’s attorneys suggest his defense will partly argue he’s being blamed for Los Angeles Fire Department shortcomings.
The defendant, who previously lived in Pacific Palisades, declared his innocence in March court documents, stating he did not intentionally start any fire.
He admitted to witnessing flames from a hilltop where he had gone to view New Year’s Eve fireworks after completing a passenger drop-off.
He stated he contacted 911 to report the fire and remained at the location until firefighters arrived, offering his assistance.
However, criminal charges filed in the case indicate cell phone records showed only Rinderknecht was present in the area where the Lachman Fire began.
Court records reveal that while positioned on “Buddha Hill,” Rinderknecht listened to a rap track whose accompanying video showed items being set ablaze.
He then allegedly started an actual fire and left the area, only to come back shortly afterward to observe the flames and emergency responders.
During his emergency call, the complaint states, Rinderknecht entered a question into ChatGPT asking, “Are you at fault if a fire is lift (sic) because of your cigarettes.” The AI responded “Yes,” according to the filing.
Federal investigators determined the fire was likely started by someone using a lighter to burn flammable materials like plants or paper.
During an October bail hearing, defense attorney Steve Haney argued his client was essentially facing arson accusations for an alleged act committed a full week before the larger fire he’s being prosecuted for.
“So why are they blaming him for whatever the fire department didn’t do?” Haney asked, noting the defense disputed prosecutors’ claim that the two fires were connected.
Haney said at the time his client had no previous criminal history and no documented mental health issues.
Prosecutors stated in court documents that Rinderknecht was driven by resentment toward the wealthy, noting he searched for Mangione news using terms like “Let’s take down all the billionaires,” and discussed the December 2024 shooting with various rideshare passengers.
STARBASE, Texas, June 10 – During the most recent rocket launch by the space company in South Texas, charter boat operator Eddie Reyes positioned his pontoon vessel with paying customers less than 2 miles from the launch site. Flames burst skyward as shock waves jolted the watercraft while the massive rocket ascended.
The space company’s presence has generated significant revenue for Reyes and his relatives. Following the creation of the company town, his charter operation has flourished as enthusiasts travel to witness launches. His nephew has secured employment as a welder with the company and drives a Tesla Cybertruck.
However, the same launches that have elevated his family’s economic prospects are causing structural damage to his mother’s residence. Launch vibrations have created ceiling cracks, compromised window seals, and caused foundation settling. She joins dozens of other residents pursuing legal action against the company for property damage.
“You can’t stop progress,” Reyes said.
Numerous residents throughout the Rio Grande Valley area surrounding the company town – which centers on the rocket manufacturing and launch operations – have reached similar conclusions. They’ve chosen to embrace the wave of interplanetary aspirations while accepting the accompanying challenges.
Though the rapid expansion has delivered employment opportunities, tourism, and international recognition, it has also generated litigation, environmental issues, and increasing divisions among the region’s 1.4 million inhabitants.
Following the company’s record-breaking $1.75 trillion public offering on Friday – designed to raise $75 billion partially for scaling operations from occasional test flights to potentially weekly launches – the challenges facing area residents are expected to grow.
“This company is literally shaking the earth,” said Tino Villarreal, city commissioner of Brownsville, a city of 185,000 people that borders the company town. “By the amount of workforce it wants to produce, by the actual wavelengths that are shaking our soil.”
The space company declined to provide comments for this report.
The conflicting realities became evident before last month’s rocket launch – featuring the largest rocket takeoff and landing in the Indian Ocean – when contract employee Jose Bautista, 25, died in a fall at a nearby facility, initially reported by the San Antonio Express-News. He represents the latest worker fatality or serious injury during the rush toward Mars colonization.
On TikTok, local policy researcher Etienne Rosas posted a video calling for corporate accountability that received thousands of likes. One of Bautista’s cousins responded with gratitude, writing “my family is in need of prayers.”
Others defended the company in response to Rosas, arguing the organization bore no responsibility for the death. One commenter suggested that Bautista, even posthumously, would recognize “an accident for what it is.” The individual, who ignored interview requests, added: “Projects of magnitude like the Hoover Dam for example always claim many lives and the project continues. It’s the American way.”
A city spokesperson declined comment. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, conducting an investigation, also declined comment. A family representative declined to speak.
The Cameron County Sheriff’s office referred comment requests to the space company.
The company, which remained silent, has not publicly acknowledged Bautista’s death.
A ROCKET LAUNCHPAD IN THE BACKYARD
When construction commenced at the site in 2014, Boca Chica consisted of a small residential cluster along the Mexico border and a favored beach destination for Brownsville residents. Currently, two launch structures rise nearly 500 feet above the beach alongside expanding neighborhoods featuring Airstream trailers, compact homes, and luxury residences.
The company envisions eventually producing components for up to 1,000 rockets in the town’s manufacturing facility – a 1 million square-foot advanced production center – and assembly building, a 380-foot-tall rocket construction structure.
The community has unique characteristics. Company employee Bobby Peden won election as mayor last year shortly after incorporation. The town is establishing a police department and has considered creating a municipal court – where Peden would serve as temporary judge.
At the local school, Ad Astra, young students learn to work “with numbers into the thousands – far beyond kindergarten standards,” according to the institution’s website. The neighborhood bar, Astropub, restricts access to company employees only.
“When I showed up, we had one street with houses, we were building rockets in tents, and we didn’t have water or a sewer system,” said Kathryn Leuders, who served as general manager before incorporation. Now “you’re raising families, and you’re raising children in this community that is Starbase, that’s also got a launchpad in its back yard. It’s a really cool thing.”
Similar to the Mars settlement illustrated in a large mural on the assembly building’s exterior, the community represents a potential blueprint for future interplanetary settlements. During a recent evening before the rocket launch, streets filled at 5 p.m. with employees departing company buildings on bicycles while Cybertruck convoys traveled the highway to Brownsville, passing sculptures and a sign reading, “Mars Embassy. Future Location.”
“I’ve been to NASA, and you don’t get anywhere near something like this,” said Nicholas Poindexter, a pest control worker and space enthusiast who traveled from Indiana to observe the launch. “Last time I was here I thought, holy cow, you could throw a rock and hit” a rocket.
STARBASE BOON TO REGION
Many area officials have embraced the company town as beneficial to one of America’s most economically disadvantaged regions. An impact analysis by the Greater Brownsville Economic Development Corporation in March indicated the operation has generated 5,000 jobs and delivered $100 million in tourism revenue during the past year.
Wearing a company ‘Starship’ t-shirt, Brownsville city commissioner Villarreal highlighted new restaurants serving the increasingly prosperous workforce, situated between boarded storefronts and deteriorating homes.
The company founder “has moved at the speed of light, and I think that’s helped Brownsville also really move a lot faster in our growth and development,” said Villarreal. “It’s injected a steroid into Brownsville.”
Some area Rio Grande Valley residents initially embraced the company’s arrival. Maria Pointer had lived in the region for nearly two decades when she sold her property to the company in 2020 after meeting with the founder. “We were excited,” she said. “I really felt, at the time, that we deserved the moon as the gas station to wherever all the Elons of the world wanted to go in interstellar space.”
Over time, Pointer has grown less enthusiastic, describing the community as less welcoming. In April, she visited the manufacturing facility to record an interview with an Italian news team, beneath a massive “X” near the building entrance, where her kitchen previously existed. A security officer approached and ordered them to depart. “It was very military,” she said.
Other residents from surrounding communities – Laguna Vista, Port Isabel and South Padre Island – allege the rocket launches are harming their properties, according to a class-action lawsuit filed in April against the company.
One plaintiff, who declined on-record comments per her attorney’s guidance, showed her Port Isabel residence. Cabinets sit crooked, doors won’t shut properly, and chipboard covers damaged flooring she attributes to mold after a shower pipe broke following a rocket launch. She estimates foundation repairs at approximately $100,000, exceeding half the home’s worth.
“They’re wanting to get to Mars,” she said. “But what about us that are here? I’m here now. And nobody is thinking about us.”
WASHINGTON – As the president celebrates his 80th birthday milestone, political observers are pointing to mounting challenges that suggest his influence may be waning during his second term.
Almost a year and a half into his current presidency, the commander-in-chief faces resistance from multiple fronts. Legal challenges are mounting, his efforts to conclude military operations in Iran have hit roadblocks, and public approval numbers show decline. Even members of his own party in Congress are beginning to oppose his initiatives, although his base of loyal supporters continues to stand by him.
Despite these obstacles, the president continues to wield considerable influence in certain areas. He has successfully backed challengers against established Republican candidates in primary contests and maintains his aggressive approach to trade matters. Additionally, he has launched ambitious construction initiatives in the nation’s capital, representing one of the most extensive presidential building campaigns in recent decades.
These developments come at a crucial time, just months before November’s midterm congressional races, where Republicans are fighting to keep their legislative majorities. Should Democrats capture one or both chambers, it could accelerate the president’s transition into what political scientists call a lame-duck period – when executive power traditionally diminishes and domestic agenda items face greater obstacles.
Administration officials are working to counter any premature narrative of declining influence and have been emphasizing to Republican legislators that the president maintains the ability to support or derail their political careers, according to a presidential adviser who requested anonymity when discussing internal strategy.
However, with some Republicans demonstrating increased independence from the president’s positions, the same adviser conceded that some erosion of authority appears unavoidable.
“He’ll naturally start to lose leverage, especially after the midterms,” the adviser stated.
The president has confided to staff members that his occasional references to seeking a third term – which the Constitution prohibits – stem partly from his desire to prevent any public impression that he might become ineffective or fade into “irrelevance,” according to a former senior aide who spoke anonymously.
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales responded by saying, “President Trump is the unequivocal leader of the Republican Party who is committed to maintaining Republicans’ majority in Congress.”
HEALTH UNDER SCRUTINY
Concerns about the president’s political position coincide with increased attention to his physical condition and energy levels.
A Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted in February revealed that 61 percent of Americans believe the president has become more unpredictable with age, while an April poll showed majority concerns regarding his disposition and cognitive abilities.
The president, who holds the record as the oldest person to assume the presidency, plans to mark his 80th birthday on Sunday with a UFC cage fighting event on the White House lawn.
Following frequent travel during the early months of the year, the president has primarily remained at the White House or his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida since initiating military action in Iran on February 28. His domestic travel has been limited since that time.
His daily public agenda typically features “executive time” and closed-door policy discussions. He maintains a more prominent presence on his Truth Social platform, posting messages throughout the day and late evening hours.
Following a standard medical examination last month, the president proclaimed himself to be in excellent health, despite public appearances where he displayed swollen ankles – which his physicians characterized as a “slight” concern – and hand bruising.
A senior White House official, speaking anonymously, indicated the president wants to avoid comparisons to Joe Biden, his Democratic predecessor who faced fitness questions before departing office at age 82.
Nevertheless, the president has been photographed apparently sleeping at public functions, including during an NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden on Monday. When video clips of him with closed eyes circulated widely online, administration staff responded on social media, asserting he was either blinking or concentrating intently.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle characterized the president as “the sharpest and most accessible president in American history.”
A WEAKENING HAND
Political experts acknowledge that even with reduced legislative influence, the president retains the ability to implement policy through executive actions and has greater freedom in international affairs, where chief executives traditionally have more unilateral authority.
Nevertheless, indicators of the president’s diminishing influence have emerged.
While a complete Republican uprising remains unlikely, some defeated incumbents who will serve until January have begun opposing elements of his agenda and signaling resistance to his cabinet selections.
During the past two weeks, small groups of Republican legislators in both congressional chambers have aligned with Democrats to criticize his Iran military actions, reject $1 billion in funding connected to his ballroom project, and force him to abandon his $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate political supporters who claim they suffered from “weaponized” legal prosecution.
As the president encounters difficulties advancing his policy goals, he has devoted increased attention to his building projects. He frequently promotes not only the elaborate ballroom currently under construction but also renovation work on the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall and a proposed triumphal arch.
The president will likely continue influencing the Republican Party through his role in selecting the party’s 2028 presidential candidate, widely viewed as a competition between Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
For the remainder of his term, observers should anticipate unpredictable actions from a president who values his reputation for being unforeseeable, said Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian at Rice University.
“His helter-skelter style of leadership, that’s not going anywhere, whether the Democrats take Congress or not,” he stated.
More than half of Americans express concern that artificial intelligence technology might eliminate employment for themselves or family members, according to fresh polling data from Reuters and Ipsos that also reveals growing unease about the technology’s rapid expansion.
The survey, conducted over six days and concluded on Monday, discovered that 53% of respondents shared these employment concerns, with worries distributed relatively equally among different age groups, genders, and educational backgrounds.
Meanwhile, 37% of those polled indicated no concern about AI-related job displacement, while the remaining 10% were either uncertain or declined to respond.
The polling comes after several major corporations announced workforce reductions linked to AI initiatives, including software company Intuit, which informed employees last month of plans to eliminate 17% of its global staff to optimize operations and focus on key priorities including artificial intelligence projects. Students at the University of Arizona expressed disapproval last month when former Google CEO Eric Schmidt addressed AI’s effects during a graduation speech.
The technology’s potential applications in political messaging, entertainment, and military operations have generated concerns from government officials and even Pope Leo XIV.
While numerous job cuts have occurred at technology companies, the broader impact on America’s employment market remains uncertain. Recent months have shown robust job creation across the U.S. economy.
DEMOCRATS MORE WORRIED
Democratic voters show greater AI skepticism compared to Republicans, reflecting party demographics where Democrats draw more college-educated supporters while Republicans have gained working-class voters since President Donald Trump’s emergence. Among Democrats, 61% expressed worry about AI threatening household employment, versus 47% of Republicans.
The Reuters/Ipsos survey included 4,531 American adults nationwide, with results carrying a 2 percentage point margin of error.
Jennifer Schalhoub, a 62-year-old freelance writer from Little Ferry, New Jersey, recently lost her position writing advocacy letters to government officials for policy issues, a job loss she believes may be connected to AI’s growth.
“AI is taking over because people care less and less about the quality of the work that gets produced,” Schalhoub said.
Artificial intelligence gained national attention in 2022 when OpenAI, a prominent AI developer, introduced ChatGPT, a public-facing tool that responds to user inquiries similarly to humans and created a new internet search method that immediately challenged Google’s parent company Alphabet.
Anthropic, another major AI firm, has rapidly expanded its corporate client base, including through sales of its computer programming assistant Claude Code. Both Anthropic and OpenAI have generated significant Wall Street interest with their public stock offering plans.
The polling found college graduates report higher AI usage rates, with 50% saying they use it regularly, compared to 34% of non-degree holders and 40% overall.
About 73% of Americans expressed concern about expanding AI use, representing a slight increase from 68% who shared that worry in a 2023 Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Lauren Hayes, a clinical psychologist in Washington state, said she became worried after several clients mentioned consulting AI between therapy appointments for anxiety help.
“I don’t believe that artificial intelligence is able to have the nuance that a person has,” said Hayes.
WASHINGTON, June 10 – The Microsoft founder appeared before Congress on Wednesday as lawmakers examine how the Justice Department managed the Jeffrey Epstein case, drawing attention to the tech billionaire’s connections with the convicted sex offender who targeted vulnerable women and girls from disadvantaged circumstances.
The technology mogul provided private testimony to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is examining potential federal mishandling in prosecutions involving Epstein and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell, along with related matters.
U.S. Representative James Comer, the Republican committee chairman, requested the Microsoft founder’s appearance through a March letter seeking an in-person recorded interview.
The witness retained Jake Greenberg, who served as the oversight panel’s chief investigative official until December, to assist with preparation for his appearance, the New York Times reported on Tuesday. A committee spokesperson confirmed to Reuters the panel has not collaborated with Greenberg following his departure.
Epstein admitted guilt to a Florida state felony prostitution charge in 2008 and completed 13 months behind bars.
Federal authorities brought sex trafficking of minors charges against him in 2019. Epstein entered a not guilty plea to those accusations and died in what officials determined was a suicide later that year prior to trial.
Justice Department documents released this year revealed that the Microsoft founder and Epstein held multiple meetings following Epstein’s 2008 incarceration to explore expanding the tech mogul’s charitable work.
The materials also contained photographs of the tech billionaire with females whose identities are concealed. The Microsoft founder has stated previously that his association with Epstein focused solely on philanthropy-related conversations and has acknowledged meeting with him was an error.
The witness “took responsibility for his actions” during a February town hall session with employees of his foundation, a spokesperson for the charitable organization informed Reuters.
The Microsoft founder’s association with Epstein has impacted his foundation, which announced in April it had initiated an external examination of its interactions with the deceased financier. Electronic communications released in January by the U.S. Justice Department also revealed correspondence between Epstein and the foundation’s personnel.
The House committee’s investigation encompasses authorities’ management of investigations and prosecutions, plea agreements, Epstein’s death, shortcomings in fighting sex trafficking, ethics issues and postponements in releasing government records.
The Justice Department’s disclosure of millions of internal documents concerning Epstein exposed his connections to numerous influential figures in politics, finance, academia and business, including President Donald Trump, who maintained extensive social ties with Epstein during the 1990s and 2000s.
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi, dismissed by Trump in April, encountered severe criticism regarding her case management, including allegations from critics that she attempted to protect Trump from examination.
Trump resisted releasing the documents until just before Congress decisively approved legislation mandating their disclosure.
A major immigration court facility in San Francisco has ceased operations, creating significant challenges for asylum seekers who must now travel considerable distances to attend their hearings.
The closed facility ranked among the nation’s most active immigration courts, processing thousands of cases annually. The court also distinguished itself by having one of the highest approval rates for asylum applications in the country.
Asylum seekers like Elin, who came to the United States from Nicaragua, now face the burden of traveling to Concord, California for their proceedings. The alternative courthouse is located several hours away from San Francisco, creating logistical and financial hardships for those awaiting their final asylum decisions.
The closure represents a significant disruption to the immigration court system in the region, affecting thousands of pending cases and the advocates who work to support asylum seekers through the legal process.
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s armed forces launched rockets toward China using American-made mobile rocket systems during military exercises Wednesday, showcasing defensive tactics against a potential Chinese invasion.
The exercise marked the first occasion that the U.S.-provided HIMARS system fired rockets into the Taiwan Strait waters separating the island from mainland China, though the weapons platform had undergone previous testing.
“Due to the current enemy threat, we will continue HIMARS training with unwavering determination to protect Taiwan as the nation’s strongest force,” army Sgt, Wang Ming-hui said.
Military officials confirmed they deployed training rockets with shortened range capabilities that splash down in coastal waters shortly after launch.
Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway territory that must eventually reunite with mainland China. Chinese military vessels and aircraft routinely patrol near the island, while major war games have taken place in surrounding areas recently. Washington maintains no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but opposes forced reunification and serves as the island’s primary arms supplier.
The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System features truck-mounted rocket pods that can emerge from concealed locations, fire missiles, and rapidly relocate using “shoot-and-scoot” strategies.
The rocket launches occurred during day two of military exercises along Taiwan’s western coastline facing China. The training operations, which also featured 155mm howitzers, practiced responses to Chinese invasion scenarios while testing quick deployment and accurate targeting abilities.
The HIMARS platform served as the drill’s main attraction. Following launch authorization, the vehicle positioned itself and fired rockets with brilliant flashes in under three minutes, highlighting its “shoot-and-scoot” maneuverability.
Washington announced intentions in December to provide Taiwan with 82 additional HIMARS units through a significant weapons package, though the deal appears suspended following President Donald Trump’s recent meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing last month.
Authorities in South Africa report that a dozen people lost their lives and at least nine others sustained injuries during a violent shooting spree that occurred Tuesday evening in Johannesburg.
Law enforcement officials believe over 10 gunmen arrived by minibus to an unplanned residential community in Cleveland, a Johannesburg neighborhood, where they began firing at residents during the nighttime hours.
This incident adds to a troubling pattern of mass violence that has plagued the South African metropolis in recent months, including two separate December attacks that claimed more than 20 lives. At least one of those previous incidents also involved multiple shooters.
These violent episodes are often connected to criminal organizations involved in unauthorized mining operations that function in the Johannesburg area. The Cleveland neighborhood where Tuesday’s attack occurred is known to have ties to such illegal mining activities.
Law enforcement described how the perpetrators “moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.”
The casualties included nine male victims and three female victims, authorities confirmed. Eleven individuals were pronounced dead at the location, while one additional victim succumbed to injuries after being transported to a medical facility.
Investigators continue their search for the suspects, with no apprehensions reported thus far. Officials stated that the reason behind the attack has not yet been determined.
Unplanned residential communities in South Africa consist of spontaneous housing developments typically constructed with temporary structures like shacks.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe explained that “Provincial and district detectives, supported by crime intelligence and forensic experts, have been mobilized to investigate the incident and track down the suspects.”
Police commissioner Tommy Mthombeni condemned the perpetrators as “heartless” but declined to connect the killings to unauthorized mining operations pending completion of the investigation.
“We are still investigating, but what we have seen here is a criminal act. We have deployed all required units,” he stated, noting that intelligence personnel have also been assigned to the location.
BARCELONA, Spain — Pope Leo XIV is marking the centennial of renowned architect Antoni Gaudí’s death Wednesday by conducting special ceremonies at two of Barcelona’s most revered religious sites, including prayers at a mountaintop monastery and an evening Mass at the world-famous Sagrada Familia Basilica.
The pontiff began Wednesday by meeting with prisoners at a Barcelona correctional facility, continuing the practice established by Pope Francis of reaching out to marginalized communities during international visits who cannot participate in public papal events.
Leo’s presence in Spain marks part of a seven-day tour that has demonstrated how this nation of 50 million residents, despite experiencing a faith crisis following the end of its 20th-century dictatorship, continues to maintain a substantial Catholic population that has gathered in large numbers to welcome the American pontiff.
The pope will acknowledge their devotion through worship at Montserrat, a mountainous religious site outside Barcelona that holds special significance for many Catalans. This location features an 11th-century Benedictine monastery alongside a 16th-century church, both treasured for housing the Black Madonna sculpture.
Wednesday evening’s Mass at Sagrada Familia represents the pinnacle of Leo’s Barcelona visit. The service marks exactly one century since Gaudí’s passing, who died at 73 years old just three days following injuries sustained when struck by a streetcar.
One hundred years after initial construction commenced under Pope Leo XIII, Leo’s papal predecessor and namesake, the church has evolved into among the globe’s most visited yet incomplete religious structures, welcoming more than 5 million annual visitors.
Gaudí, the celebrated Catalan designer who may achieve sainthood recognition, dedicated four decades to creating and constructing this sacred building as his stone interpretation of Christian beliefs. Key moments from Jesus Christ’s story, including the Nativity and Passion scenes, are carved into the church’s eastern and western exterior walls. A third southern-facing section, called the Glory, will function as the primary entrance upon completion.
The structure stands as both an architectural and mathematical marvel, representing a stone and light tribute to Christianity and divine creation, drawing from Byzantine and Gothic church design traditions.
Eighteen towering spires extend upward from the building’s peak, creating Barcelona’s distinctive skyline: twelve representing Christ’s apostles, four honoring the Gospel writers who documented Jesus’s earthly ministry, one star-crowned spire above the altar area dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and the highest structure devoted to Jesus Christ.
Last year’s completion of the final Christ tower at 172.5 meters (564 feet) established Sagrada Familia as the planet’s tallest church building. Leo will officially bless this tower during Wednesday night’s ceremony.
The cross-designed interior space, centered around the altar, celebrates illumination and the natural world. Column structures resembling trees reach skyward, bathed in ever-shifting colored light streaming through stained glass panels like sunbeams filtering through forest canopy.
“Nature is my teacher,” Gaudí once said. “Everything comes from the great book of nature, always open that we must read.”
Tour guide and historian Mònica Santín, who conducts basilica visits, explained that Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia design drew inspiration from two primary sources: the Gospels and the natural world.
“The way he lets in the natural light is also an invitation to the Christian mystery,” she said, citing the three facades depicting Christ’s birth, death and glory.
“And when you enter inside, it is all light,” Santín said. “What is that the symbol of? We can’t see God, but we perceive his light all around us. I think that is how you can read this message, and it is fascinating.”
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Four members of Indonesia’s armed forces were convicted Wednesday by a military tribunal for carrying out an acid assault against a well-known human rights lawyer, receiving prison terms ranging from 18 months to three years in a case that has heightened questions about military oversight and sparked fresh condemnation from advocacy organizations.
The convicted personnel include three naval marines — Sgt. Edi Sudarko, First Lt. Budhi Hariyanto Widhi Cahyono, and Capt. Nandala Dwi Prasetya — along with air force officer Lt. Sami Lakka. All four worked for the intelligence division of Indonesia’s National Armed Forces, known as TNI. Their convictions stem from a March assault on Andrie Yunus, a civil rights attorney and senior member of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence, called KontraS.
The 27-year-old Yunus sustained serious burns and lasting injury to his right eye when attackers threw hydrochloric acid at his face as he traveled by motorcycle through central Jakarta. The incident occurred after he had finished recording a podcast discussing the military’s role in Indonesia’s government.
At Jakarta Military Court, the three-judge panel imposed a three-year sentence on Sudarko, two and a half years for Cahyono, while Prasetya received two years and Lakka got 18 months. Sudarko, believed to have organized the recruitment of the other three servicemen, and Cahyono, who proposed using acid in the attack, were also dismissed from TNI.
Presiding military judge Fredy Isnartanto stated: “The defendants, as TNI service members, betrayed their duties by deliberately throwing acid at Andrie Yunus. Their actions damaged the image of the Indonesian military and demonstrated clear arrogance. The attack inflicted trauma and suffering on the victim and caused permanent damage to his eye.”
Advocacy organizations quickly condemned both the verdict and case management, contending it neglected to examine potential involvement from higher-ranking officials.
Amnesty International Indonesia stated that the comparatively lenient prosecution requests strengthened worries the proceedings could become a “show trial,” demanding that anyone who might have commanded or funded the assault be identified and tried in civilian courts.
The National Commission on Human Rights of Indonesia, or Komnas HAM, initiated a comprehensive probe and discovered evidence suggesting the attack was a deliberate and organized effort, possibly involving additional people beyond the four accused. The commission identified several rights violations, including violations of security rights, protection from torture, and access to justice.
Prosecutors had earlier requested two and a half year sentences for all four military members, claiming the defendants operated independently rather than under orders, driven by frustration over Yunus’ work. They characterized the assault motivation as personal, intended to “teach him a lesson” for his military criticism.
Yunus has gained recognition for his work fighting impunity in Indonesia, focusing on security sector reform and civil rights protection. He participated actively in demonstrations last year against proposed changes to Indonesia’s military legislation that would broaden the armed forces’ involvement in civilian matters. Associates report he has experienced ongoing intimidation related to his advocacy.
During the trial that started in late April, Yunus declined to attend or provide testimony, citing continued medical treatment from skin graft procedures and distrust of the military court system, according to the Advocacy Team for Democracy, or TAUD, a civil society organization representing Yunus.
Last week, judges at the civilian South Jakarta District Court partially approved Yunus’ pretrial request, including directing Jakarta Police to maintain their investigation to guarantee justice and human rights protection.
The district court panel also acknowledged pressure from Komnas HAM on police to pursue the investigation further to reveal other perpetrators, including civilians. Both Komnas HAM and the Civil Society Coalition assert that over a dozen individuals participated in the attack.
This incident has renewed worries about military accountability and recalls previous unsolved attacks on activists, including the 2004 killing of Munir Said Thalib, a prominent human rights advocate and KontraS founder who died from arsenic poisoning during a flight to Amsterdam.
PORTLAND, Maine — Senator Susan Collins finds herself in a familiar position this election cycle — the Maine Republican is campaigning for reelection while Democrats rally behind a fresh face hoping to unseat her. Previously, it was state lawmaker Sara Gideon challenging her seat. Now, combat veteran and oyster farmer Graham Platner leads the Democratic charge.
However, Collins has consistently presented challenges for Democratic opponents throughout her career — even against candidates who don’t carry Platner’s controversies, including criticism regarding his relationships with women, provocative social media content, and a former tattoo associated with Nazi imagery. The incumbent seeks her sixth term armed with widespread name recognition, a record-setting streak of consecutive Senate votes, and decades of securing federal dollars for her home state.
Collins stands out as one of the few Republicans who can sometimes enhance her local standing by maintaining space between herself and President Donald Trump. She has mastered this careful balance even as Trump’s increasing influence over the party contributed to the electoral defeats of two fellow Republican senators.
Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana fell in their primaries against Trump-backed challengers. Yet despite the president’s grievances with Collins, he chose not to actively oppose her campaign. Decades of experience have taught her when to align with the president for political benefit and when to demonstrate independence.
“She’s shown time and time again where her state’s electorate is. She understands what’s too far, she understands where she needs to be,” explained political consultant Matt Mackowiak, who worked for Cornyn’s unsuccessful reelection effort. Trump had endorsed Cornyn’s challenger, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Democrats require four seat flips to control the Senate following November’s elections and believe Trump’s declining approval numbers and the Iran conflict — along with resulting impacts on oil costs and the economy — might strengthen their prospects. Maine ranks among their primary targets, alongside Alaska, Ohio and North Carolina.
Platner aims to argue that Collins maintains closer ties to Trump than her independent image suggests — frequently highlighting how she supported his Supreme Court nominees, which contributed to the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, the pivotal 1973 ruling that established abortion rights, among other significant matters.
“Susan Collins may have started her career decades ago in Washington with good intentions, but she has become just as spineless and corrupt as the establishment she now serves,” Platner declared at a victory celebration on Tuesday.
Platner’s supporters welcome potential change, according to John Keenan, of Sullivan, Maine.
“I think Maine has grown tired of the same old system,” he stated. “And putting youth into the campaign, with new instead of a rubber stamp, is very refreshing.”
While preparing to face Platner in November, Collins must remain cautious regarding Trump. The president has repeatedly criticized her for occasionally opposing him on certain matters.
Nevertheless, he has held back recently — particularly as Collins avoided drawing a serious primary opponent and easily secured her Republican nomination.
The White House declined comment. Political advisers close to Trump indicated the president recognizes the importance of Republicans retaining Congressional control after November, which means accommodating Collins. Trump seeks to prevent a Republican collapse similar to the 2018 “blue wave” midterms when Democrats captured the House and disrupted much of his final two years’ agenda.
“Senator Susan Collins represents the people of Maine first and foremost and has proven herself to be a dedicated public servant,” stated Republican National Committee spokesperson Kristen Cianci.
Collins spokesperson Blake Kernan noted the senator “has worked with five different Presidents throughout her Senate tenure, and has never agreed with any of them on every issue.”
“When she agrees with an effort, she will support it; when she disagrees, she does not hesitate to speak up for what she believes is the right outcome for Maine and for America,” Kernan added.
This approach failed other Republican senators.
Cornyn ranked among his party’s leading voices, advancing through leadership after entering the Senate in 2002. Paxton defeated him decisively in a runoff following Trump’s endorsement of the attorney general.
Serving since 2015, Cassidy voted to convict Trump during his post-January 6, 2021 Capitol siege impeachment trial. He lost his primary to Trump-endorsed state Rep. Julia Letlow.
Maine appears positioned for a more competitive November contest — demonstrated by Trump’s recent restraint in targeting Collins. This occurred despite her joining Democrats last week to block the nearly $1.8 billion fund the president sought to establish for allies he claims faced unfair law enforcement targeting.
“She’s always down in the polls and she survives,” Trump acknowledged when questioned about Collins during a New York Post interview last week.
Collins defeated Gideon, the Maine House speaker, by nearly 9 points in 2020, the same year Biden won the state by a comparable margin over Trump.
Mackowiak observed “there’s just no pathway to a MAGA senator from Maine.”
“It does appear that the Trump political operation is soberly analyzing the electoral environment in Maine and really kind of follows her lead as it relates to that state and that race, particularly this cycle,” he explained.
Chuck Ellis, a Republican from Westbrook who operates a digital marketing business, said Collins’ unwillingness to follow Trump completely can benefit her.
While acknowledging some “hard-line” voters might object, Ellis noted, “ultimately a lot of your conservatives, your Republicans, are people who are a bit more pragmatic.”
Following Collins’ opposition to the White House’s major tax cut and spending legislation last year, plus her vote against a proposal to recover $9 billion in foreign aid and public media funding, the president criticized her on social media.
“Republicans, when in doubt, vote the exact opposite of Senator Susan Collins,” he posted.
Then in January, Trump attacked the “stupidity” of Collins and four other Senate Republicans who joined Democrats to begin debate on limiting the president’s military authority in Venezuela.
She subsequently received a profanity-filled phone call from Trump.
Serving as chair of the influential Senate Appropriations Committee, Collins cast her 10,000th consecutive Senate vote last week, establishing a record.
“She has been able to do and show that ‘I am bringing money and resources from the federal government to Maine to help Maine,’” Ellis said.
The president likely won’t visit Maine before November despite traveling to other states with crucial Senate contests, including Iowa and Michigan. He might even personally campaign for Paxton.
Vice President JD Vance has visited Maine, where he promoted his anti-fraud task force. Collins skipped Vance’s Bangor speech last month where he acknowledged the senator’s separation from the Trump administration.
“If she was as partisan as I sometimes wish that she was,” Vance remarked, “she would not be a good fit for the people of Maine.”
Soccer fans worldwide are preparing for the launch of the FIFA World Cup, which will showcase an unprecedented 48 men’s national teams in what promises to be the tournament’s most expansive edition to date.
The competition represents a major expansion from previous World Cup formats, bringing together nearly four dozen countries to compete for soccer’s most coveted international prize during the summer tournament.
Preparations for the massive sporting event are already underway, with venues and infrastructure being readied to accommodate the enlarged field of competitors and the global audience that will follow the action.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is scheduled to participate in a private interview with congressional investigators examining his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender.
The House Oversight Committee will conduct the closed-door session to question Gates about his relationship with Epstein. Gates’ name appears multiple times throughout the Epstein-related documents that have drawn congressional attention.
The interview represents part of ongoing congressional scrutiny into various individuals who had contact with Epstein before his death in federal custody.
STOCKHOLM, June 10 – A former Swedish military employee faces charges of attempting to conduct espionage activities on behalf of Russia, according to an announcement from Swedish prosecution officials on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old defendant previously served in Sweden’s armed forces, where his position granted him access to highly sensitive classified materials, prosecutors revealed in their statement.
“The suspect attempted to disclose (the information) by travelling to Moscow in November 2025 and meeting with representatives of the Russian intelligence and security service there,” Prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist said in the statement.
Officials from the Russian embassy in Stockholm have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the charges.
The accused individual has remained in custody since January and is scheduled to face trial in Stockholm beginning June 15.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s political party confirmed Wednesday that the Israeli prime minister will pursue re-election this year, following comments from former U.S. President Donald Trump questioning whether Netanyahu would seek another term.
The Likud Party issued a short statement declaring that Netanyahu would compete in the upcoming election and, with divine blessing, would emerge victorious. While the election date hasn’t been officially set, it must take place by October.
The announcement followed remarks from Trump to ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl, who shared on X that the former president expressed uncertainty about Netanyahu’s political future.
“I don’t know, he’s had an amazing career. Does he want to continue?” Trump was quoted as telling the journalist.
This will mark the first Israeli election since the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault, which represented the nation’s most severe security breakdown and triggered Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu has experienced a challenging period since regaining office in December 2022, leading what has been described as the most right-wing coalition in Israeli history. His government confronted widespread anti-government demonstrations prior to the conflicts involving Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
Public opinion surveys consistently suggest his coalition would struggle to secure a majority in the next election. Research released June 9 by the Jerusalem-based Israel Democracy Institute think tank indicated that 61% of Israeli citizens believe he should not seek re-election.
Nevertheless, polling data also reveals that opposition parties would likely fall short of a parliamentary majority unless they partner with Arab parties, an alliance some opposition figures have rejected.
According to U.S. and Israeli officials, Trump and Netanyahu maintain a strong relationship despite occasional tensions, including recent disagreements as Trump has urged Israel to reduce military operations in Lebanon while Washington pursues peace negotiations with Tehran. The two leaders jointly initiated the Iran conflict in February.
Trump recently admitted to calling Netanyahu “fucking crazy” during a heated phone conversation, though he emphasized their good working relationship. He has consistently urged Israel’s president to grant Netanyahu a pardon regarding pending corruption allegations, which Netanyahu disputes.
Investment banking giant Morgan Stanley predicts that worldwide debt financing tied to artificial intelligence projects will more than double, reaching approximately $570 billion by 2026, as major technology firms seek alternative funding methods to support enormous AI infrastructure spending.
The financial services company outlined several key trends driving this surge:
• Technology corporations that traditionally depended on robust cash generation are now increasingly seeking debt financing as their investment requirements skyrocket
• Morgan Stanley calculates that AI-linked worldwide debt financing reached approximately $236 billion by May 31, 2026, representing a four-fold increase compared to the previous year’s equivalent timeframe
• Major cloud computing companies Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta are projected to allocate $700 billion in expenditures during the current year
• Morgan Stanley anticipates financing activity will accelerate during the latter half of 2026, with hyperscaler capital expenditures expected to exceed $1 trillion in 2027
“Hyperscalers have been broadening their investor base through non-USD issuance,” the brokerage said
“Fundamental (economic) backdrop remains strong, but for now we think (bond) price action is being mostly driven by supply expectations,” Morgan Stanley added
• Funding for semiconductor firms, which is experiencing increased activity in both public and private markets, is moving toward shorter-duration agreements that require complete repayment over time, according to Morgan Stanley
Bill Gates is scheduled to participate in a private congressional interview focusing on his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender. The House Oversight Committee will conduct the behind-closed-doors session to examine Gates’ association with Epstein.
DELMARVA — The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for northern Delaware through Friday evening, with heat index values reaching 103°F. The advisory affects New Castle County from 11 AM Thursday through 8 PM Friday.
Agricultural experts are recommending natural pest control strategies for summer cattle grazing as filth flies surge during warmer months. Specialists suggest relocating cattle to different areas, disrupting pasture environments, and applying both organic and synthetic deterrents to minimize production losses.
The Agriculture Secretary is traveling to Texas Monday to address a growing New World screwworm outbreak that poses risks to livestock throughout the United States.
Livestock contracts gained Tuesday at Chicago on limited supplies. August live cattle closed $2.97 higher at $239.70. August feeders rose $3.45 to $354.15.
For local cash grain, Laurel Grain Company in Laurel Delaware is offering $4.67 per bushel for July corn and $10.87 for November soybeans.
Expect a high of 81°F Wednesday with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Thursday looks mostly sunny with a high of 87°F before a slight chance of storms develops. Heat and humidity will be significant through Friday.
This article is based on the Delmarva Farm Report Update Morning Edition, June 10, 2026. Hosted by Tom Bradley.
BELFAST, Northern Ireland — A Sudanese man, age 30, is scheduled to appear before a Belfast court facing attempted murder charges in connection with a brutal knife attack that seriously wounded a victim and sparked violent anti-immigrant demonstrations throughout Northern Ireland.
Groups of masked individuals torched multiple residences they suspected of housing immigrants, ignited garbage containers and a Belfast public bus, and hurled debris at law enforcement officers during Tuesday evening’s unrest. Emergency responders pulled multiple individuals from blazing houses.
Leaders from both sides of Northern Ireland’s coalition government denounced the violence. First Minister Michelle O’Neill of Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein characterized it as “thuggery.”
“Groups of masked men burning families out of their homes is nothing less than disgusting cowardice,” she said.
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, of the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party, said that “taking frustration at the evil actions of a person out on those who had no part in it is utterly wrong.”
Monday’s assault, captured in disturbing video that rapidly circulated across social platforms, was exploited by anti-immigration groups. The injured party, a man in his 40s, remains hospitalized with severe wounds to his eyes, face and back following the north Belfast incident.
Authorities stated the accused is a Sudanese national who arrived in Northern Ireland from the neighboring Republic of Ireland in 2023, sought asylum and received a 5-year residency authorization.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland indicated no evidence suggests the assault involves terrorism and they are not pursuing additional suspects.
The street disturbances occurred despite political appeals for restraint.
Prime Minister Starmer described the knife attack as “sickening” and declared he had “no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets.”
Demonstrations were promoted online by far-right organizers including Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson.
Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long said social media instigators who “yesterday would have struggled to find Belfast on a map” were “weaponizing” the fears of local people.
“If you’re driving people from their homes based on nothing but the color of their skin, you can’t dress that up any other way, it’s racism, and those bad faith actors need to take a step back,” she told the BBC.
Last week a separate case of a university student who was stabbed to death in Southampton, England in December was seized on by activists and U.S. Vice President JD Vance who blamed immigration for the violence.
Henry Nowak, who was white, was killed by Vickrum Digwa, a Sikh who falsely claimed to police that he was the victim of a racist assault by Nowak. When police officers arrived, they initially treated the wounded Nowak as a suspect before noticing his injury and trying to resuscitate him.
Digwa was convicted of murder for stabbing Nowak with a Sikh dagger and sentenced last week to life in prison with a minimum 21-year term. But the case has spurred heated debates about policing and race, and a protest over Nowak’s death turned violent with some attacking police with chairs and rocks. Several people were charged with violent disorder over the protest.
Chinese automakers experienced a dramatic surge in overseas shipments during May, with passenger vehicle exports climbing 73% compared to the same period last year to reach approximately 809,000 units, according to industry data released Wednesday.
The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers announced that shipments of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid models more than doubled in May from the previous year, totaling around 435,000 units and representing over half of all passenger car exports. This increase came as elevated gasoline and diesel costs resulting from the conflict in Iran sparked greater global interest in electric alternatives.
The May figures represent growth from approximately 796,000 passenger vehicles exported in April, based on data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
Chinese car manufacturers like BYD are intensifying their international expansion efforts, focusing on markets across Latin America, Asia and Europe. This overseas push comes as domestic sales face challenges, partly due to reduced government subsidies encouraging consumers to adopt electric vehicles.
Within China, passenger car sales dropped 23.4% year-over-year in May to 1.44 million vehicles, marking the seventh consecutive month of declining sales compared to the previous year, the CAAM reported. Sales of traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles plummeted nearly 42% from the year before as electric vehicle market share expanded.
Financial analysts at UBS project China’s annual passenger car exports will increase roughly 40% in 2026 compared to the previous year, with electric vehicle exports potentially rising about 80%.
“The high oil price certainly has translated into further higher interest on the EV,” said Paul Gong, head of UBS’s China automotive industry research.
According to Gong, China’s vehicle exports performed better than anticipated during the early months of this year, while domestic car sales fell short of expectations.
Claire Yuan, an automotive analyst at S&P Global Ratings, anticipates China’s passenger car exports will sustain strong growth momentum in 2026, predicting year-over-year increases of 30% to 50%.
The International Energy Agency reported in its latest annual global EV outlook released in May that approximately one in four new vehicles sold worldwide last year was electric, with that proportion expected to grow further this year despite a slower beginning.
The IEA projects electric vehicle sales could reach 23 million units and account for nearly 30% of all vehicle sales in 2026.
China leads global electric vehicle production, manufacturing the majority of EVs sold internationally.
BYD, China’s top electric vehicle manufacturer, sold more than 160,000 vehicles in international markets during May, representing an 80% increase from the previous year. The company targets overseas sales of 1.5 million vehicles this year, up more than 40% from last year’s 1.05 million units.
The southern China-based automaker surpassed Tesla last year to become the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer by sales volume.
Expanding international sales may also improve profit margins for Chinese automakers, as aggressive pricing competition within China last year reduced profitability for many manufacturers.
S&P’s Yuan suggested China’s domestic car sales might recover during the year’s second half as consumers increase purchases following automakers’ introduction of new vehicle models.
Motorists traveling on eastbound U.S. 40 should expect delays overnight as construction crews have shut down the right lane between Wilton Boulevard and U.S. 13.
The lane closure will remain in effect until 7 a.m., according to traffic officials. Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when navigating through the work zone.
Officials recommend using alternate routes if possible to avoid potential backups in the construction area.
Drivers should expect delays on westbound Capitol Trail as construction crews continue work that has shut down the right lane.
The lane closure affects the stretch between E. Green Valley Circle and Harmony Road, with the restriction remaining in place until 5AM.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when navigating through the construction zone.
HAVANA, June 10 – An 85-year-old former government worker named Sagrado Armando Garcia recently collapsed at home, but his son couldn’t transport him to medical care because there was no fuel available for their vehicle. Garcia has experienced episodes of severe hunger-induced dizziness that left him worried he might collapse again.
Garcia dedicated years of service to Cuba’s Ministry of Social Security, trusting in a system that pledged to protect citizens during their retirement years. That confidence has now disappeared.
“They are leaving us to our fate,” he said.
For years, Cuba has battled against severe U.S. economic sanctions while attempting to fulfill the promises made by the communist government to provide essential services for workers: subsidized food, healthcare, education, public transportation, and pensions.
The island’s elderly residents – already familiar with deteriorating public services, electrical blackouts and persistent shortages of food and medicine – now confront even more difficult circumstances following the administration’s decision in late January to eliminate the country’s fuel supply.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson directed Reuters to recent testimony from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who attributes Cuba’s problems to internal corruption and mismanagement rather than U.S. sanctions.
“Cuba was having blackouts well before January 3rd of this year, for two reasons: they were no longer getting free oil from Venezuela, and they did not invest a single dollar back into their plants,” the spokesperson said, citing Rubio. “Cuba is a mess.”
AGING POPULATION AT HIGH RISK
Monthly pensions have decreased to approximately $7 on the black-market exchange, as the peso has lost roughly one-third of its value compared to the dollar since the blockade began.
The Cuban government has requested assistance from the United Nations World Food Programme to help maintain two daily meals for vulnerable and elderly populations.
Cuba represents the most rapidly aging country in Latin America and the Caribbean. Over 25% of residents are above age 60, based on Cuban government statistics, due to declining birth rates and massive emigration of younger citizens. The total population has dropped below 10 million since 2021, representing a 10% decrease.
Etienne Labande, the WFP representative in Havana, explained that the combination of rising prices and diminishing pensions and rations has created dangerous circumstances for many seniors, who cannot afford adequate food or medical treatment.
“This is a very high-risk population right now, a situation that worsened starting in January,” he told Reuters. “Inflation has skyrocketed, there’s no public transportation, and getting around costs a lot of money.”
The Ministry of Internal Commerce, which oversees public food kitchens, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
CRUMBLING SERVICES
Cuba’s public healthcare system, previously considered a major accomplishment of communist governance, has deteriorated under years of sanctions.
The number of doctors in Cuba dropped by 30% between 2019 and 2024, according to Cuban government figures – the most recent year of publicly available data – while 70% of essential medicines were either scarce or completely unavailable.
The waiting list for surgeries is expected to reach 160,000 patients by year’s end, a 60% increase, according to the Cuban health ministry. Most medications, including blood pressure treatments, are in short supply, doctors told Reuters.
HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS
On an island where typical monthly earnings hover around $15, even modest amounts of money sent by relatives abroad make a difference.
For elderly Cubans who don’t receive remittances from abroad, conditions are especially tight.
“In this crisis that Cuba has been experiencing since January, the elderly are most affected,” Bryan Arbuelles, a member of the clergy at the San Juan de Letran church in Havana, said. “They are people who worked for decades but whose pension is now not enough to live on.”
He added: “The outlook is terrible.”
Regina Zaida Jorge, a 74-year-old retired doctor who lives alone in the former servants’ quarters of a once-regal old house, receives no money from outside Cuba.
Her small apartment lacks running water, forcing her to carry it daily from a rooftop cistern. She survives on government rations and food donations from the Catholic Church.
“The policies here were designed to guarantee the basics,” she said. “But deep down they are cosmetic measures, to keep you alive. You have to forget about aspiring to have a television, a telephone; the pension isn’t enough for anything.”
She explained that she had given “everything” as a low-paid state worker to a system unable to provide her with necessities as fundamental as a bar of soap.
Now that she is a pensioner struggling to survive, she said, “I feel like I sacrificed myself in vain.”
Last year, U.S. sanctions prompted top money transfer company Western Union to halt services to Cuba.
Some still find a way to get an external cash injection.
Sonia Belmonte Puebla, 73, receives small amounts of money in dollars from a daughter in Florida.
Unlike many of her generation, she said she is enjoying her old age, living independently at home with her husband with little need for state assistance.
“I can treat myself now and then and eat well,” Belmonte said.
A major Swedish truck manufacturer announced Wednesday that business conditions remain favorable across key markets, with particularly robust demand continuing in North America as production levels gradually climb.
Speaking from Sweden ahead of investor presentations, the company reported that European customer demand and deliveries are holding steady at positive levels throughout their operations during the current quarter.
The manufacturer noted that while cost pressures are mounting, the heavy utilization of customer vehicles and equipment is boosting service business activity.
Company executives projected that both their truck manufacturing and construction equipment divisions will exceed traditional growth patterns, though they did not provide specific timing for these projections.
In autonomous vehicle development, the company’s self-driving truck division is targeting fully automated highway operations by early 2027, with goals of reaching approximately $3 billion in revenue over the next five years to enhance overall company profits.
The firm’s engine and power systems division has set ambitious targets to double sales in upcoming years.
The Swedish company ranks among the globe’s leading producers of commercial trucks, buses and construction machinery.
Company shares remained flat by mid-morning European trading compared to the previous day’s close.
During Israeli aircraft strikes on Beirut’s southern neighborhoods last March, a detained man seized his chance to flee. While residents evacuated in terror, he broke free from a Hezbollah detention facility and headed toward the hills above Lebanon’s capital city.
He vanished into the Ukrainian Embassy compound located in Baabda’s upscale diplomatic district.
His current whereabouts remain unknown, caught in an intelligence operation as Hezbollah works to expose Israeli operatives who have penetrated the organization.
Lebanese authorities identify the individual as Khaled al-Aydi, described as a Palestinian refugee from Syria who also possesses Ukrainian citizenship. Hezbollah had been holding him in Beirut’s suburbs, with Lebanese officials claiming he participated in a failed Israeli intelligence scheme involving planned bombings and targeted killings.
Information about al-Aydi’s escape and the Lebanese military court proceedings came from three judicial officials and two senior security officials in Lebanon who requested anonymity since they lacked authorization for public statements. A senior political official within Hezbollah also shared details.
Al-Aydi’s vanishing act may create political complications for Lebanon’s government, which has stayed largely quiet regarding this matter.
Should proof surface that al-Aydi fled Lebanon with government assistance, it might anger Hezbollah’s predominantly Shiite Muslim supporters. The government already faces criticism for conducting direct negotiations with Israel, which has maintained intense combat with Hezbollah since the Iran war’s beginning.
According to a Lebanese government document acquired by The Associated Press, the Ukrainian embassy requested Lebanese officials in March to help al-Aydi leave the country following his escape from Hezbollah custody. However, Lebanon’s General Security agency denied the request, citing a judicial arrest warrant issued in September 2025, the document shows.
Israel’s Mossad intelligence service refused to provide comments. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry similarly declined to respond.
A Ukrainian official familiar with the situation stated that al-Aydi is neither in the Ukrainian Embassy nor its compound in Lebanon. The official, speaking anonymously due to the matter’s sensitivity, wouldn’t reveal al-Aydi’s location and declined to confirm whether he was ever at the embassy or if Ukraine assisted his escape, citing security concerns for the embassy and staff.
Through human assets and advanced surveillance technology, Israel has developed extensive intelligence operations in Lebanon. This network has enabled dramatic strikes against Hezbollah.
In the most sophisticated operation, Israel penetrated Hezbollah’s supply network and provided the Iran-supported militant organization with thousands of explosive-rigged pagers and walkie-talkies. Israel triggered the devices remotely in September 2024, resulting in at least 37 deaths. Shortly afterward, Israeli air attacks eliminated Hezbollah’s long-serving leader, Hassan Nasrallah, while he hid in a heavily protected underground facility.
Prior to that operation, Israel’s intelligence penetration of Hezbollah enabled strikes against the group’s top leadership and field commanders “with relative ease,” according to Nicholas Blanford, an expert on the militant organization at the Atlantic Council.
Following the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah conflict, Hezbollah and Lebanese officials have intensified efforts against suspected intelligence networks. Approximately 50 individuals have received convictions and are serving prison terms, while others face ongoing investigations, judicial officials reported.
“We were successful in detecting many spy networks, and the state was also successful in this matter,” said Hezbollah political official Wafiq Safa. However, “the Israelis are always working to recruit young Lebanese people from all communities.”
Numerous suspected intelligence operations have included current or former Hezbollah members or people with family connections to the organization.
Al-Aydi, by contrast, was an outsider. He obtained Ukrainian citizenship through his mother, the Lebanese government document AP reviewed shows. The method of his alleged Israeli recruitment remains unknown.
Hundreds of thousands of Syrians sought refuge in Lebanon during Syria’s 14-year civil conflict. However, Al-Aydi arrived in the country in August 2025 on a flight from Ethiopia, according to one Lebanese security official.
Although Hezbollah started in the 1980s as a small guerrilla force opposing Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon, it expanded significantly after its 2006 conflict with Israel, making it “easier for the Israelis to penetrate,” Blanford explained. The group’s involvement in Syria’s civil war created additional vulnerabilities as recruitment standards dropped, he noted.
Lebanon’s economic difficulties also helped Israel’s recruitment activities, Blanford said.
Court filings in Lebanon’s military court show operatives receiving payments between $2,500 and $20,000 for intelligence on Hezbollah weapons storage sites and political headquarters. Many suspected agents were contacted by Israeli handlers via social media platforms, judicial officials stated.
One notable case involved Mohammad Hadi Saleh, a singer and well-known religious performer in circles linked to Hezbollah. Authorities arrested him in May 2025 and charged him with supplying the Mossad with maps and coordinates of important Hezbollah locations later targeted in Israeli operations. He remains imprisoned awaiting trial.
“It’s ironic that they (Hezbollah) were spending a lot of time accusing their opponents of being Israeli spies, and it turns out that the spies were actually from within the organization and its support base,” explained Mohanad Hage Ali, a senior fellow at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut.
Recruitment activities persist. During the recent war, Israel distributed leaflets over Lebanon containing QR codes that, according to the Lebanese army, connect people to an Israeli military unit responsible for recruiting agents.
Lebanon’s General Security announced in October it had dismantled a network planning bombings and assassinations in Lebanon, including an operation targeting events for the one-year anniversary of Nasrallah’s death. Officials found a motorcycle equipped with explosives and a car modified to carry explosives, security and judicial officials reported.
Al-Aydi and six others, all Lebanese, face charges. One of the six also escaped, while the others remain in a Lebanese prison awaiting trial, judicial officials said. Only al-Aydi was held by Hezbollah, probably because he was considered a valuable prisoner.
The military court claims the operation was directed by a Mossad handler residing in Germany who contacted others through encrypted messaging applications. The court issued a summons to the Ukrainian embassy that received no response.
Safa mentioned there was a failed attempt to smuggle al-Aydi out of Lebanon to Syria. He provided no additional details.
The two senior Lebanese security officials believe al-Aydi has departed the country. Whether he crossed into Syria remains unclear, as officials there reported having no information about him.
Relations between Lebanon’s government and Hezbollah have reached a low point. The government was upset by the militant group’s independent decision to engage in another conflict with Israel, while Hezbollah is angry the government chose to negotiate a ceasefire and potentially broader security and political agreements directly with Israel.
Al-Aydi’s escape might worsen tensions and create difficulties for the Lebanese state.
If Lebanese authorities denied al-Aydi permission to leave the country, the U.S. and Ukraine were “well-positioned to exert significant pressure” to secure his release, Hage Ali said. Conversely, if the state appears to have allowed al-Aydi’s escape, it would face “public anger, predominantly among Lebanese Shia” sympathetic to Hezbollah, which could use that sentiment to increase internal tensions, he said.
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Festive preparations for the FIFA World Cup have collided with growing social unrest in Mexico as the nation’s capital gets ready to host the tournament’s opening ceremonies.
The soccer championship, which Mexico is co-hosting alongside the United States and Canada, will begin Thursday with inaugural festivities and an opening game in a high-profile event designed to establish the tournament’s atmosphere.
The international competition arrives during a challenging period for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who faces a delicate political balancing act amid strained U.S. relations before July trade talks, political controversies, and safety worries following violent incidents in host city Guadalajara during February.
As visitors pour into Mexico City, tensions have escalated, with government officials facing increasing criticism from demonstrators and citizens who claim authorities have put the tournament ahead of urgent social issues affecting the Latin American country.
“Mexico wants to project an image to the world that doesn’t exactly square with reality,” said Carlos Pérez Ricart, a Mexican political analyst at the Mexican Center for Research and Economic Education. “The World Cup is putting the president in a vulnerable situation … The government is under extreme pressure.”
Bright orange Mexican marigold flowers, FIFA branding, oversized soccer balls, and various sporting decorations adorn streets throughout Mexico’s capital and its two additional host locations, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Enthusiastic soccer supporters wandered Mexico City’s thoroughfares with anticipation, taking pictures near iconic landmarks while wearing their favorite teams’ uniforms.
According to the Mexican Soccer Federation, the athletic event is projected to generate $3 billion in revenue for accommodations, dining establishments, and sporting facilities.
Thursday’s inaugural ceremony and opening game, featuring Mexico against South Africa, are anticipated to attract larger audiences than many other tournament matches, with Colombian music icon Shakira and additional performers set to take the stage.
Should everything proceed smoothly, it would represent a significant achievement for Sheinbaum, Pérez Ricart noted, demonstrating to the global community that Mexico is “modern and capable of organizing high impact events.”
Mexican officials have strengthened security measures for months to address concerns following multiple days of unrest that disrupted World Cup host city Guadalajara in February.
Over 100,000 military personnel, naval forces, National Guard troops, and law enforcement officers are planned for deployment throughout the three tournament cities, though escalating social discord that has intensified over recent weeks presents the biggest challenge, especially in Mexico City.
Mexican opposition voices have argued that the administration has allocated excessive resources and attention to accommodating international guests while neglecting local residents.
The nation’s teachers’ union has spent more than a week blocking roadways and destroying World Cup monuments as part of their yearly campaign for improved employment conditions. Relatives of Mexico’s over 130,000 disappeared individuals have posted notices about their missing family members and stated that officials should concentrate efforts on addressing humanitarian emergencies affecting other regions of Mexico.
“We’re not against the ball game,” said Luis Antonio Rosales Narváez, a protest organizer. But “they should be investing in education … not giving the city a makeover.”
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Sheinbaum dismissed the criticism and rejected claims of social disorder preceding the championship.
The political opposition “wants to give the impression that there is chaos, that there are problems, right in the middle of an international event we’ve been preparing for a long time,” Sheinbaum said in her morning press briefing on Tuesday.
Law enforcement has primarily prevented major demonstrations from occupying central squares and stadium surroundings, though uncertainty remains about potential developments when games commence and throughout the following month of competition.
Transportation hubs throughout the Americas filled with supporters who had spent considerable money to support their teams. Panama City’s airport — serving as a primary connection point between North and South America — displayed a colorful array of jerseys from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Germany, and other nations.
“This year we’re defending the title, and we’ll follow Argentina to the ends of the earth,” shouted Emilio Sosa, a 29-year-old from Buenos Aires on his way to Los Angeles.
David Botero, a 43-year-old Colombian, organized his holiday around the World Cup and was heading to Mexico City with his family to attend Colombia’s opening match on June 17 against Uzbekistan after modifying their original plans to avoid elevated costs in Miami.
“What matters is that we’ll get to see our team up close,” Botero said.
Meanwhile, individuals like 66-year-old Dr. Jose Luis Muñoz expressed more doubtful sentiments as he read and smoked near a downtown Mexico City park that previously bustled with street merchants, who were recently relocated by authorities attempting to improve the area’s appearance.
Muñoz recalled that some of his most cherished experiences involved bringing his 8-, 12- and 14-year-old children to matches during Mexico’s 1986 World Cup and cheering for their national team during its successful run.
“I was so excited, and that joy I passed on to my children,” he said.
However, this time around, he cannot afford to attend games where admission costs hundreds of dollars.
“The prices are sky-high. Many people aren’t going to be able to go unless they’re foreigners with a lot of money,” Muñoz said. “It feels very discriminatory.”
Nevertheless, he mentioned he would support Mexico’s national team from his residence alongside his children and grandchildren.
Officials in Hong Kong announced Wednesday that seven individuals and two companies now face criminal charges related to the catastrophic apartment fire that claimed 168 lives last November.
The devastating blaze swept through seven residential buildings on Nov. 26, 2025, marking the territory’s most deadly fire incident in recent decades. Survivors and families of victims have spent months seeking accountability following the tragedy that devastated the Wang Fuk Court community in the Tai Po suburban area, where thousands of residents lived.
According to Wednesday’s official announcement, law enforcement and the Independent Commission Against Corruption have filed 25 separate charges against the defendants. The allegations span multiple crimes including manslaughter, conspiracy, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and tax violations.
All seven charged individuals had various responsibilities connected to Wang Fuk Court’s extensive renovation work. The two corporate defendants include the consulting company that advised on the project and the primary construction contractor.
Court proceedings for these cases were set to begin Wednesday afternoon.
Earlier this year in March, police detained 38 individuals on charges related to the housing complex, with accusations ranging from manslaughter to fraud. Law enforcement confirmed that nine people have now been formally charged. That same month, anti-corruption investigators also took 23 people into custody on suspicion of bribery and conspiracy to commit fraud.
Victor Dawes, an attorney working with an independent panel investigating what caused the fire, has stated that nearly every fire protection system malfunctioned during the incident due to mistakes made by people.
GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines — Emergency responders wearing protective helmets rushed from a damaged shopping center in a southern Philippines city Wednesday when tremors from continuing aftershocks shook the structure following a devastating earthquake that claimed 45 lives and left 17 people unaccounted for across the area.
A safety coordinator sounded an alarm whistle while others shouted warnings for approximately 30 firefighters and coast guard members to evacuate quickly as chunks of concrete fell from the tilting three-story structure in General Santos city, according to witness accounts from an Associated Press video journalist on scene.
The waterfront city, known as a major commercial center and the nation’s tuna fishing capital, suffered severe damage from Monday’s 7.8-magnitude tremor that carved a path of destruction throughout southern Mindanao, the country’s second-largest populated area.
“It was a strong aftershock and an alarm was immediately sounded so those inside and under the damaged building can run out for a headcount,” said Ressa Mia Tactaquin-Betoya, who speaks for the firefighters searching for the last employee missing in the ruined grocery, where two upper floors collapsed during the initial quake.
“It was scary because we don’t want our rescuers to be harmed so the area must be secured before they can go back in,” she told The Associated Press.
More than 2,100 secondary tremors have followed the main earthquake, including several measuring up to 6.4 magnitude — powerful enough to inflict additional injuries and structural damage, according to Teresito Bacolcol, who heads the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
Over 25,000 residents continue living away from their homes, with many housed in 45 government emergency facilities and remaining too frightened to return to their residences, authorities reported.
The Monday tremor ranked among the most severe to strike the Philippines in fifty years. It left at least 630 people injured and caused damage to more than 3,100 homes, 29 roadways, 11 bridges and over 100 government facilities.
The disaster also affected General Santos’ international airport, forcing officials to suspend all operations indefinitely except for government and military aircraft delivering supplies and emergency personnel, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines spokesperson Eric Apolonio said.
Approximately 6,000 public school structures in earthquake-affected areas require safety evaluations before educational activities can restart. The tremor occurred on the opening day of nationwide classes following a two-month summer vacation, with many injuries affecting young students who had assembled enthusiastically for morning flag ceremonies.
The majority of fatalities resulted from falling rubble and landslides in General Santos and surrounding provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato and Davao Occidental.
At least one fatality occurred when someone was carried into the ocean after the earthquake, as wave heights reached 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) above normal tide levels in the southern Philippines. Smaller waves reached shores in Indonesia and Palau and extended to southern Japan before tsunami alerts were canceled.
Seven people swimming near General Santos were caught by powerful currents immediately following the earthquake. Coast guard teams rescued three individuals, one managed to reach shore independently, one perished, and two remain unlocated, Philippine coast guard officials reported.
The dangerous currents that carried away the victims were likely triggered by the seismic activity, Bacolcol explained.
Movement within the Cotabato Trench caused the earthquake, marking one of the most powerful to affect the nation since the same underwater geological feature generated an 8.1-magnitude quake that created tsunami waves on Aug. 17, 1976 and resulted in approximately 8,000 deaths.
The Philippines, recognized as among the globe’s most disaster-vulnerable nations, frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic activity because of its position along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a zone of seismic activity surrounding the ocean.
Visual coverage of primary election activities has been compiled from four states during recent voting proceedings.
The photographic documentation captures scenes from polling locations and election-related activities as voters participated in primary contests across the multiple states.
The images provide a glimpse into the electoral process as it unfolded during the primary election cycle in these four jurisdictions.
Authorities in Chicago are examining the circumstances surrounding a large wooden cross that was found ablaze at a city park on Tuesday afternoon, officials confirmed.
Footage captured by a passing driver reveals the wooden structure completely consumed by flames as it rested against a tree within Grant Park, a well-known recreational area situated close to Lake Michigan. Fire department officials verified the burning object was indeed a cross and reported that crews successfully extinguished the blaze.
Law enforcement representatives stated no injuries were reported in connection with the incident and confirmed they are examining both the motivation and situation surrounding the “object on fire.”
Keinika Carlton, 43, was returning home after completing errands with her daughter and mother-in-law when the group witnessed the flaming cross. She described experiencing a mix of shock, sadness, disgust, and curiosity upon seeing it.
“Is this a racial thing? Is this a religious thing?” she said. “As Black women, of course, our first thought is racial, because burning crosses are known to be used as a tactic, an act of violence toward Black Americans in the South.”
Carlton approximated the cross measured no less than 6 feet (1.83 meters) in height. The incident was unprecedented for all three women, including Carlton’s mother-in-law, who was raised in Kentucky.
According to Carlton, as their vehicle slowed to record the flames, she observed additional cars reducing speed and pedestrians in the vicinity stopping to stare at the burning structure.
Though the motivation for the cross burning remains unclear, such acts throughout American history have been recognized as “symbols of hate” that are “inextricably intertwined with the history of the Ku Klux Klan,” based on a 2003 U.S. Supreme Court ruling authored by the late Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. The court determined the First Amendment permits prohibitions on cross burnings solely when they aim to intimidate, as the practice “is a particularly virulent form of intimidation.”
Alyna Carlton, 22, expressed that she never anticipated witnessing such an event during her lifetime.
“It kind of really opened my eyes, had me realize that I’m not that far removed from the past.”
ATLANTA — Two Republican members of Congress from Georgia have filed impeachment resolutions targeting a federal judge in Atlanta who faced discipline following an investigation that confirmed she engaged in sexual activity with a police officer in her chambers, participated in a partisan political gathering, and provided false information to investigators examining the alleged wrongdoing.
U.S. Reps. Clay Fuller and Andrew Clyde submitted the resolutions against U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross. Clyde posted on social media Tuesday that Ross’ “deeply disturbing actions prove she is incapable of displaying integrity or impartiality. She must be impeached and removed from the bench.”
The House Judiciary Committee holds the authority to determine whether to begin impeachment proceedings against Ross. Federal judges receive lifetime appointments and can only be removed through the impeachment process.
When contacted Tuesday afternoon, a person answering the phone at the judge’s chambers stated that Ross had no comment.
Ross received her nomination to the Northern District of Georgia in January 2014 from then-President Barack Obama, a Democrat, and gained Senate confirmation in November that same year. She previously held a position as a state court judge in DeKalb County, which encompasses a small portion of Atlanta, beginning in 2011. Prior to her judicial career, she spent more than ten years working as both a state and federal prosecutor, primarily in Atlanta.
The investigation into Ross started when one of her law clerks reported that the judge had repeatedly engaged in sexual conduct with a high-ranking uniformed police officer in her office while staff could hear. Additional allegations included improper supervision of clerks and an incident where she shouted and used profanity toward staff members.
Ross was issued a “private reprimand” following the investigation that substantiated the sexual activity and determined she attended a partisan event and initially provided false denials of the accusations.
The court’s investigation kept the judge’s identity and court location within the 11th Circuit’s jurisdiction confidential, which covers Alabama, Florida and Georgia. A person knowledgeable about the situation who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive information verified to The Associated Press that Ross was the judge who faced discipline.
Additionally, the Atlanta Police Department announced it has launched an investigation to establish whether the “high-ranking law enforcement officer” determined to have engaged in sexual activity with a federal judge in the judge’s chambers belongs to their department.
William Pryor, the chief judge of the 11th Circuit, initiated the original investigation of Ross. He requested her response to the clerk’s allegations and she answered the same day, “specifically denied” each claim. In a subsequent email the following day, the judge suggested to Pryor that the law clerk might have fabricated the allegations as revenge for being required to work in the office.
Pryor designated a special committee to conduct the investigation. That investigation received detailed documentation in a report included with the disciplinary order.
The committee’s examination of logs and security footage revealed an officer had regularly visited the judge’s chambers in uniform during lunch hours. Six clerks remembered seeing someone matching the officer’s description, with three recalling they overheard what could have been sexual activity in the judge’s office.
Three clerks recalled bringing summer interns on their initial day to observe the judge conducting a hearing in a criminal case. Immediately afterward, they informed the committee, the judge refused to have lunch with the interns, admitting to consuming too many martinis the previous night at a primary election victory celebration for a district attorney friend.
The clerks reported the judge failed to provide adequate guidance and “rarely, if ever, substantively edited civil orders the clerks drafted.” While clerks described an “eggshell culture,” the committee found no evidence of abusive conduct.
The judge eventually confessed to maintaining an extramarital sexual relationship with the officer but rejected the allegations regarding staff mistreatment, the committee documented. The judge acknowledged to the committee attending a “mixer” of former employees from a district attorney’s office where the judge previously worked but claimed it occurred in a separate room from the victory party.
A former Taliban commander received a 42-year federal prison sentence Tuesday for crimes that included abducting a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and supporting operations that resulted in three American soldiers losing their lives.
The sentencing of Haji Najibullah concluded an intense day of proceedings in Manhattan federal court, highlighted by a powerful moment when journalist David Rohde confronted Najibullah directly, telling him he was “refusing to take responsibility as I look at him today” for his role in the 2008 abduction in Afghanistan.
Rohde, currently MSNOW’s national security reporter who previously worked at The New York Times and other news organizations, expressed to Judge Katherine Polk Failla that he felt “surprised and disappointed” by Najibullah’s attempts to shift blame for the kidnapping that also involved another journalist and a driver.
The three men remained captive for more than seven months before successfully escaping from a Taliban-controlled facility in Pakistan’s tribal regions.
Najibullah entered a guilty plea in April 2025 to charges of providing material support for terrorist activities and conspiracy to take hostages.
The 50-year-old defendant, sporting a beard and wearing a black skull cap during Tuesday’s proceedings, acknowledged supplying material support including weapons to the Taliban between 2007 and 2009, understanding these resources would be used against U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Through an interpreter, Najibullah offered an apology to Rohde and his family, stating “what happened to him was terrible, and I deeply regret my role in it.”
Positioned at a podium mere feet away from Najibullah, Rohde explained that it was Najibullah’s deception that led him to what he believed would be an interview but instead became an ambush.
“Hostage taking is a cruel and cowardly crime. Family members spend weeks and months thinking they have the power to save their loved one’s life,” Rohde stated, describing this belief as “an illusion” since families lack the necessary leverage and enormous sums required for ransom payments.
However, Rohde emphasized that his suffering and that of his loved ones paled in comparison to the deaths of three U.S. soldiers killed by Najibullah’s associates in a different operation.
He emotionally named each soldier three times during his statement, becoming visibly moved while discussing their deaths, his family’s ordeal, and his passion for journalism.
Following the sentencing, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a statement declaring the case demonstrates that “those who harm Americans and engage in acts of terrorism will be hunted down and brought to justice, no matter how long it takes.”
While announcing the sentence, the judge commended Rohde for his and his wife’s advocacy work supporting families of other kidnapping victims.
Judge Failla explained she chose not to impose the life sentence recommended by federal guidelines because Najibullah had entered a guilty plea, preventing additional trauma for victims, and because he endured severe prison conditions for six years, including during the pandemic.
However, she dismissed most leniency arguments presented by his defense attorney, who had sought an 18-year sentence while characterizing his client as someone protecting his homeland during wartime.
The judge noted that fighters under Najibullah’s command had attacked a military convoy, resulting in three soldiers’ deaths.
“I don’t think he needed to pull the trigger, to decapitate a body, to be responsible for what happened,” Failla stated.
Rohde described arranging the interview with Najibullah that led to his kidnapping as the “biggest mistake of my life,” saying he would never have proceeded if he had known about Najibullah’s involvement in killing American soldiers.
During his court statement, Rohde mentioned that his captors had accused him of being a spy “when in fact I was a journalist” attempting to understand a Taliban commander’s perspective “to understand their hopes, their lives and their worldview.”
He then reaffirmed that he remains “a journalist and I could not be prouder of being part of this profession,” a declaration that momentarily left him emotional.
In Latvia’s peaceful woodland region near the Russian border, a tourism crisis is unfolding as visitors abandon their vacation plans due to concerns about wayward Ukrainian military drones.
Martins Kiscenko, who operates Birdwhistles Guesthouse in a rustic wooden structure located 50 kilometers from Russia, reports that all eight of his rooms sit empty during what should be peak season. Two wedding celebrations scheduled to take place at his facility were called off by couples worried their guests might need to seek emergency shelter during drone alerts.
The affected area, known as the Land of Blue Lakes, typically attracts summer visitors seeking tranquility in its pristine forests and clear waters. Tourists usually come for fishing, bird observation, forest walks among towering birch trees, and evening folk singing in intimate cabins.
However, the possibility of interruptions from errant Ukrainian attack drones has driven tourists elsewhere, putting approximately 500 small tourism-dependent enterprises at risk of financial hardship, according to Jelena Kijasko from the regional tourism industry association.
After a two-week period without drone incidents in late May raised hopes for improvement, a French NATO aircraft was compelled to destroy another drone on Monday. “Now we know it will not be so easy,” Kijasko told Reuters following that event.
Since March, Ukrainian military drones have been straying into Latvian and neighboring Baltic nations’ airspace. Both Ukrainian officials and NATO countries attribute these diversions to Russian electronic interference that redirects the weapons from their intended Russian targets.
While no injuries have occurred, these intrusions have prompted repeated shelter orders for residents. Kiscenko’s wooden lodge offers no basement or reinforced walls for protection. “That was not a requirement when I built it,” he noted.
During the previous month, two drones detonated within the town of Rezekne, where visitors typically come to see ancient castle ruins on a hilltop. Two additional drones struck a nearby oil storage facility, sparking a fire.
Government officials are working to convince Latvians that the region remains safe for normal vacation activities. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs plans to spend his summer holiday in the area, his spokesperson confirmed to Reuters.
The reassurance efforts may be insufficient. Kijasko reported that her association’s survey of tourism operators revealed 85% experienced cancellations related to drone concerns, with some losing more than half their future bookings.
Kijasko argued that tourist fears are unreasonable. “We live here and we don’t feel ourselves particularly endangered,” she explained. “The probability of being in a road accident in Riga is much, much higher than having a drone fall on your head in the forest.”
BEIJING/TAIPEI, June 10 (Reuters) – A diplomatic confrontation erupted Wednesday between China and Taiwan regarding Chinese coast guard operations in waters east of the island, following Taiwan’s accusations that commercial vessels were being “harassed” near its territorial waters.
Beijing, which considers the democratically-run island part of its territory, became incensed after Japan and the Philippines announced plans last month to initiate official discussions about their sea boundaries, interpreting this as affecting Taiwan’s surrounding waters.
Chinese state media announced over the weekend that vessels had been deployed for a “special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation” in Taiwan’s eastern waters, responding to the Japanese-Philippine declaration.
Taiwan reported that these vessels had been “harassing” commercial shipping in recent days by requesting information about ships’ origins and destinations while asserting territorial control.
“The relevant mainland authorities’ law-enforcement patrols in the relevant waters are a just act to safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” Zhang Han, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said in Beijing.
The Chinese coast guard is conducting “law-enforcement patrols” in the waters east of Taiwan in accordance with the law, and China will continue to strengthen its control over those waters, she said.
TAIWAN ANGERED
The patrols have angered Taiwan’s government, which rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.
Speaking to reporters in Taipei on Wednesday, Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said China was “using so-called ‘law enforcement’ as a pretext to pursue expansion”.
“The Chinese communists have no right to intervene in matters concerning the waters east of Taiwan, whether they involve Taiwan’s sovereignty or jurisdiction,” he said, describing China as a “problem-maker” that is damaging the status quo.
Beijing recognises no claims of sovereignty by Taiwan’s government and has rejected multiple offers of talks by President Lai Ching-te, saying he is a “separatist.”
“The Chinese communists’ actions not only endanger our country’s sovereignty, but also violate relevant international laws and international conventions,” Taiwan’s cabinet Secretary-General Xavier Chang said at a separate event in Taipei.
“We will not yield an inch of our blue maritime territory,” he added.
Taiwan has also complained in the past month of Chinese coast guard ships getting close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands, which sit strategically at the top of the South China Sea.
Zhang said China had sovereignty over the Pratas and its patrols there were likewise “normal”.
“If the Democratic Progressive Party authorities dare to provoke, they must bear all consequences arising from this,” she added, referring to Taiwan’s ruling party.
Pharmaceutical giant Sanofi announced on June 10 that it has discontinued a major clinical trial for its experimental drug riliprubart following disappointing interim results that indicated the treatment would not demonstrate adequate effectiveness.
The discontinued study, known as the MOBILIZE trial, was testing riliprubart as a potential treatment for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, specifically targeting patients who had not responded to conventional therapies for this rare neurological disorder.
According to the company’s announcement, an independent data monitoring committee conducted the interim review and determined no safety concerns were associated with the experimental treatment during their analysis.
Sanofi indicated it will now assess whether to continue other ongoing studies involving riliprubart, including another Phase 3 trial called VITALIZE.
The pharmaceutical company stated that ending this trial will not result in substantial financial losses or alter its projected financial outlook for 2026.
Greek lawmakers voted late Tuesday to enact new measures designed to expedite the removal of asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected, while also establishing the framework for transferring them to detention facilities in nations outside the European Union once bilateral deals are finalized.
As the southernmost nation in Europe along the Mediterranean Sea, Greece serves as a primary gateway for migrants seeking to enter the continent. The country faced enormous pressure during the 2015-16 migration surge when over one million individuals from Middle Eastern and African nations made their way into Europe.
While the number of new arrivals has decreased since that period, two Greek islands closest to the African coastline – Crete and Gavdos – have experienced a significant increase in migrant vessels, primarily originating from Libya, arriving at their coastlines in recent years.
Last week, European Union legislators and national governments reached agreement on updated regulations that would permit member nations to transport migrants who have been ordered to depart to facilities located in non-EU countries. This decision has faced strong opposition from human rights organizations, which caution it may lead to potential mistreatment.
Greece has been collaborating with the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and Austria to establish shared deportation and transit facilities, though discussions with Uganda regarding a comparable arrangement have been temporarily suspended.
Prior to Tuesday’s parliamentary vote, Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris indicated that EU member states have been conducting negotiations with non-EU nations as they work to finalize initial agreements this year, with the goal of having these facilities operational by 2027.
“The Greek government has already been in consultations with two African countries,” Plevris stated to the semi-state Athens News Agency on Wednesday. He declined to identify which specific countries were involved in these discussions.
Weather authorities have issued a heat advisory warning residents of dangerous temperature conditions that began at 2:24 AM on Monday, June 10th.
The advisory, issued by the National Weather Service Mount Holly New Jersey office, will remain active until Wednesday, June 12th at 8:00 PM EDT.
Residents are advised to take precautions during this extended period of elevated temperatures and potentially hazardous heat conditions.
Olympic sports leadership rarely sees a sitting president challenged for re-election after serving only one complete term in office.
Even more unusual is when that official has also gained membership in the International Olympic Committee.
Johan Eliasch confronts a re-election battle Thursday to remain head of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), facing significant resistance from Alpine, Nordic and north American winter sports strongholds.
“Out of 80 voting nations there are about 10 that feel differently,” Eliasch stated to The Associated Press in a recent interview. “The vast majority are on board for what we are trying to achieve.”
The billionaire who developed the Head sportswear brand has been at odds throughout his tenure with traditional ski powerhouses who argue his aggressive leadership threatens FIS’s financial security.
Holding dual citizenship from Sweden and Britain, Eliasch received no backing from either nation’s ski federation for another term. Following FIS regulations, he obtained a passport and nomination from Georgia.
When initially elected in 2021, Eliasch secured endorsements from skiing legends Lindsey Vonn and Aksel Lund Svindal, both longtime Head equipment users.
However, current stars Mikaela Shiffrin and Marco Odermatt have voiced opposition to FIS’s current trajectory.
Alexander Ospelt, a lawyer from Liechtenstein, stands as Eliasch’s sole challenger on the ballot. Potential candidates from the United States, Britain and Denmark pulled out before the election meeting in Belgrade, Serbia.
“For me, this election is a win-win,” Eliasch shared with the AP. “If I win, I get to carry on with what I’m the most passionate about, which is ski racing. And if I lose, I get my life back.”
The 64-year-old Eliasch admits to implementing changes too quickly: “I don’t have 25 years to devote to this.”
He moved commercial rights for FIS competitions including world championships and World Cup series under internal control, resulting in lawsuits and unhappy member federations.
“We had a lot of cash in the bank, we invested that. Put the money to work,” he explained to the AP, referencing acquisitions of the Freeride World Tour, a travel agency and developing digital content to expand ski sports’ worldwide appeal.
Eliasch maintains FIS accomplished more in five years than the preceding century but believes he could have moved faster. “I haven’t been tough enough. I’ve tried to be too diplomatic in many cases and that has backfired.”
Critics characterize Eliasch as overly controlling, lacking openness and spending excessively.
Senior representatives from the U.S., Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Norway sent a letter to FIS member federations last month outlining their worries.
“Cash reserves have declined substantially, annual operating costs have increased significantly, and revenues have not developed as anticipated,” they stated in correspondence reviewed by the AP.
FIS established a new CEO position last year and appointed Urs Lehmann, a Swiss former downhill world champion who ran against Eliasch in 2021. He resigned last week.
Eliasch’s persistent objective involves narrowing the enormous earnings disparity between skiing and tennis, Head’s primary sports.
“We haven’t seen any significant changes based on much of what was promised, including intentions around prize money,” Shiffrin commented during the FIS presidential campaign. “In fact, in the coming years, it seems that FIS’s contribution to prize money will actually decrease.”
American freestyle skier Alex Hall, a two-time Olympic medalist, shared similar sentiments: “I have been advocating for change over the past five years and can honestly say not much has changed.”
Odermatt, the Swiss standout in men’s Alpine skiing, indicated “there is little choice but to make a change” atop FIS.
“Marco’s comments I don’t think are reflective of the general mood of the athletes,” Eliasch countered.
Ospelt serves on the FIS Council. His campaign platform emphasizes a “realistic and transparent financial plan,” along with improved knowledge sharing for member federations.
“I want to really have the impression that we are a family, taking care of each other, and growing to be more of an international world sport,” Ospelt explained Tuesday during a Zoom interview. “It’s more sexy for the sport if we have medal winners from 80 nations and not a Swiss, Austrian or German championship.”
His goal includes greater athlete participation across all disciplines, noting “if something is not OK, then the athlete should raise their voice. It’s a sign that something has to be changed and I just want to be an alternative for change.”
For revenue generation, he supports more projects like ESPN’s five-episode series “On the Edge: World Cup Ski Racing” that broadcast during the Milan Cortina Olympics in February. The show highlighted Shiffrin, Vonn, Odermatt and Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, the Norwegian-born racer who captured Brazil’s first Winter Games gold medal.
“To improve the income streams, we have to put the athletes in front,” Ospelt stated. “If they’re only behind the helmet and the goggles, it’s difficult to get to know them.”
GENEVA — Swiss citizens face an historic decision this Sunday as they vote on an unprecedented measure that would place a ceiling on the country’s population, representing the latest effort by conservative politicians to restrict foreign immigration to the wealthy Alpine nation.
The nationwide referendum asking whether to limit Switzerland’s population to 10 million people in the coming decades will conclude with in-person voting on Sunday. Switzerland’s democratic system allows citizens direct input on policy decisions through ballot measures conducted four times annually.
The populist Swiss People’s Party, which holds the largest number of parliamentary seats and has long promoted isolationist policies in Switzerland, supports the measure.
Polling data from the gfs.bern agency indicates the outcome may be decided by a narrow margin.
Those backing the initiative oppose the arrival of expatriates from nearby European Union nations, claiming that Swiss infrastructure, housing, social services, natural resources and quality of life have suffered due to population increases.
Opponents argue approval would harm the country’s interests, contending that Switzerland gains from stronger EU relationships and receives essential workers, knowledge and expertise from foreign nationals in industries including healthcare, finance, pharmaceuticals and technology.
Both the federal government and Parliament reject the proposal. EconomieSuisse, a prominent Swiss business organization, condemned it as an “absurd proposal” that endangers Switzerland’s security and economic well-being.
Bernard Bapst, a People’s Party legislator from the Fribourg region and former customs official, dismissed security concerns and claimed “various forms of criminality” have increased since Switzerland implemented open-border policies.
Following the 2002 relaxation of border restrictions between Switzerland and the EU for citizens living and working across boundaries, the Swiss population has expanded by 23% to 9.1 million by the end of last year. Economic production has similarly risen by 24% during this timeframe, according to government statistics.
“We are the victim of our own success,” said Reto Föllmi, a professor of international economics at the University of St. Gallen in northern Switzerland.
Approval would mandate government action to establish a 10 million population ceiling by 2050. Should the population reach 9.5 million beforehand, authorities would need to implement limits on asylum, family reunification and residency permits, potentially requiring the elimination of Switzerland’s EU free movement agreement entirely.
Due to the extended timeline, analysts suggest immediate economic and demographic consequences would be minimal.
Rene Schwok, a political science professor at the University of Geneva, warned that approval would damage Switzerland’s relationship with Brussels and create uncertainty for foreign investment, noting the EU serves as the country’s primary trading partner.
The 38-member Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reported Switzerland’s foreign-born population at 32% in 2024, ranking third behind Luxembourg, where over half of residents were born abroad, and Australia.
Immigration has remained a contentious topic across Europe as nations address aging populations and growing anti-foreigner attitudes. Unlike other European countries where such sentiment focuses on developing world migrants, most foreign residents in Switzerland are Europeans.
Swiss voters have addressed immigration through multiple referendums over five decades. Only the 2014 “Against mass immigration” measure narrowly succeeded, following campaigns that raised concerns about overpopulation and increasing Muslim populations.
Philippe Wanner, a demography expert at the University of Geneva, noted no nation has previously voted to restrict its population, though countries like China have implemented population control policies.
Etienne Piguet, a professor at the Institute of Geography at the University of Neuchatel, observed that many countries do limit immigration.
The debate has persisted for decades in Switzerland.
Around 2000, as anti-immigration sentiment grew in Switzerland, then-President Adolf Ogi declared: “We live from foreigners … we need laborers for tourism … we need intelligent people in Switzerland.”
South African authorities report that a devastating shooting Tuesday night claimed the lives of 12 individuals and left nine others wounded at an informal settlement in the Cleveland area, located east of Johannesburg.
According to a police statement released Wednesday, investigators have initiated a search for more than 10 suspects connected to the deadly incident at the Jumpers informal settlement.
Authorities have not yet determined what prompted the violent attack.
Law enforcement officials report that the perpetrators traveled in a white Toyota Quantum vehicle, accessed the settlement through two separate entry points, and discharged weapons at several locations throughout the area before departing in their original vehicle.
The nation of South Africa experiences one of the globe’s most severe murder rates, with approximately 60 homicides occurring daily.
Dense layers of volcanic pumice from an ongoing underwater volcanic blast in Papua New Guinea’s Bismarck Sea have created floating barriers that are preventing boats from operating, destroying fishing areas and raising concerns about potential food shortages, according to leaders from isolated coastal communities on Manus Island.
The underwater volcanic activity, which remains active, started on May 8 approximately 125 kilometers southeast of the island, according to NASA satellite data, creating floating pumice debris and discolored ocean water spreading outward from the eruption site.
Coastal villages have experienced severe impacts, according to local government official Jayso James So-on, who is requesting disaster relief assistance from the provincial government.
“Our livelihoods are based on saltwater, and with the influx of the pumice now, it’s really affecting daily activities,” he stated, noting that coral reefs have been buried and ocean transportation to Lorengau, the provincial capital, has been interrupted.
Government officials have not yet responded to requests for comment. News reports indicate that Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has directed agencies to evaluate the underwater volcanic activity.
Photographs reveal brown volcanic rock debris lining the island’s shoreline, reaching depths of two to three meters in some locations according to local residents, creating walkable surfaces where water once existed.
These floating pumice formations, as scientists call them, develop only under specific circumstances, such as when gas-filled magma erupts at the proper depth to create foam that remains buoyant, explained volcanologist Mike Rosenberg of Earth Sciences New Zealand.
“The pumice itself is not dangerous,” Rosenberg noted. “The main issue is that it’s just massive and you can’t move through it easily.”
These floating debris fields may require months or years to sink after becoming saturated by ocean currents and tidal action, he explained.
Local residents report difficulties with essential daily activities including fishing for food and traveling to Lorengau for supplies and services.
“Food will run out first and then water,” said head teacher Michael Kuam from Timoenai, a community of approximately 800 people, where boat motors cannot operate because pumice has accumulated two to three meters deep in certain areas.
“People can’t afford food too because they sell fish to get money,” Kuam added, who has coordinated students and community members to spend mornings attempting to remove the pumice to prevent long-term damage to fishing areas.
Collected pumice bags are being utilized to fill marshy areas around the school and create a level surface for the sports field, he reported.
The underwater volcanic eruption remains ongoing, according to the latest report from the Smithsonian Institute’s Global Volcanism Program.
JAKARTA – Four Indonesian military personnel received prison sentences Wednesday from a military tribunal for their roles in an acid assault targeting a human rights advocate who opposed the military’s expanding influence.
The court handed down varying sentences: one officer received three years behind bars, another was given 2.5 years, a third officer got two years, and the fourth will serve 1.5 years, according to the presiding judge.
The military personnel were convicted of serious premeditated assault in the attack against Andrie Yunus, who serves as deputy coordinator with the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, a human rights organization also called KontraS.
A substantial wave of foreign currency exchange requests worth an estimated $1.5 billion connected to SpaceX’s initial public offering has been processed in South Korea, according to an informed source who spoke with Reuters on Wednesday.
The enormous volume of currency conversion requests tied to the SpaceX IPO had put considerable pressure on South Korea’s won currency over the past several weeks, but this demand has now been resolved.
According to the source, who has access to information about dollar-won transactions in the domestic market, the approximately $1.5 billion worth of requests to purchase dollars has completed its final phase.
The source requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information.
The head of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng announced Wednesday that he will take direct control of the company’s robotics division as the automaker prepares for large-scale production of humanoid robots by the end of the year.
In an internal company memo obtained by Reuters, Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng explained his decision: “The (robot) industry is becoming increasingly hot and competitive, and we have clearly seen the direction and timing of victory, but it still requires more arduous implementation and extremely high decision-making ability.”
He Xiaopeng stated that his appointment as head of the robotics division takes effect right away and comes “on the eve of mass production and commercialisation” of the company’s human-like IRON robots, which were first introduced last year.
The leadership change occurs amid reports that Shi Xiaoxin, a key executive working on the IRON robot project, departed the company earlier this month. On Wednesday, Xpeng verified that Shi had stepped down from his position as senior director of robotics product planning, though the company provided no additional information about his departure.
The electric vehicle company is shifting its focus toward what it calls “physical AI,” which includes humanoid robots, autonomous taxis, and aerial vehicles. Xpeng has established a target of beginning mass production of IRON robots before 2026 ends.
According to He Xiaopeng’s comments during a late May earnings conference call, the humanoid robots will first be tested in Xpeng’s retail locations before being sold to business clients in China and international markets starting in 2027. At that point, robotics equipment and associated artificial intelligence technology are expected to become major sources of income and profit margins for the company.
Financial results showed Xpeng’s first-quarter revenue dropped 17.6% compared to the same period last year, while net losses increased from the previous year. This marked a reversal from the company’s first-ever profitable quarter in the fourth quarter of last year.
Federal agricultural officials are moving forward with plans to update paperwork requirements related to egg imports and poultry exports in response to ongoing bird disease threats.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has announced its plans to seek revised approval for information collection procedures tied to regulations controlling table egg imports from areas where Newcastle disease or highly pathogenic avian influenza may be present. The agency is also requesting an extension of current rules governing the export of poultry and hatching eggs from the United States.
This administrative action falls under the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, which mandates federal agencies to seek approval for information collection activities that affect the public.
Federal agricultural authorities are requesting public feedback on potential changes to regulations governing fresh pineapple imports from the Philippines and Thailand.
Officials have completed plant risk assessments and risk management studies related to bringing fresh pineapple fruit from these two countries into the United States for human consumption.
Under current rules, fresh pineapples from the Philippines can only enter Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the North Atlantic region of the United States. Meanwhile, Thai pineapple imports are permitted at all U.S. entry points except Hawaii, but must undergo irradiation treatment.
Plant protection agencies in both the Philippines and Thailand have requested APHIS to broaden import permissions, allowing all fresh pineapple varieties to enter through any U.S. port. Thailand has also asked for approval to ship fresh pineapples without requiring irradiation treatment.
The completed risk assessments examine potential threats from plant pests and invasive weeds that could accompany fresh pineapple shipments from these nations. The accompanying risk management documents outline proposed safety measures to address identified concerns.
Federal officials are now making these assessment and management documents available for public examination and comment.
A federal agency responsible for protecting American agriculture is seeking to modify its data collection procedures aimed at stopping foreign plant threats from entering the country.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has announced its plans to seek changes and an extension for approval of information gathering activities tied to rules designed to prevent foreign plant pests and diseases from being introduced or spreading throughout the United States.
This announcement follows requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, which governs how federal agencies handle information collection from the public.
Film directors have secured a preliminary four-year contract agreement with major studios and streaming platforms following negotiations that began a month ago.
The tentative agreement was announced Tuesday between the Directors Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers after four weeks of contract discussions.
These negotiations marked the first conducted under the leadership of new DGA President Christopher Nolan, who assumed the position in September.
The four-year contract duration matches recent agreements ratified by writers and actors unions, extending beyond the typical three-year industry standard and suggesting the possibility of extended labor stability amid ongoing industry changes.
According to a DGA statement, the tentative contract requires approval from the guild’s national board before any terms are disclosed. Following board approval, the agreement must receive ratification from guild membership, though preliminary agreements typically receive approval at both levels.
The current directors’ contract was scheduled to end on June 30.
In their statement, the AMPTP expressed satisfaction with reaching “a fair deal that helps advance a stable and successful entertainment industry.”
HARARE, Zimbabwe — When Melisa Kasu’s mother passed away, her family wasn’t financially ready for the elaborate funeral customs expected in Zimbabwe. These ceremonies require substantial expenses for food and music, often pushing families into debt to maintain their reputation in the community.
The 29-year-old Kasu recalled how their local burial society stepped in with large cooking pots, bags of cornmeal, and other necessities. The group even started the cooking fires for the ceremony.
“That’s the time I decided to join them,” she said.
After assuming her deceased mother’s membership in 2023, Kasu witnessed an unexpected transformation occurring throughout parts of Africa: Traditional burial societies are broadening their scope to assist living members alongside their funeral services.
Beyond funeral support, these organizations now provide grocery savings programs and small business development opportunities. They’re helping families navigate rising expenses, limited banking access, and irregular earnings in a nation where more than two-thirds of workers are employed informally. Participants contribute small monthly fees.
During a recent gathering of Kasu’s Kuchemana Burial Society, funeral planning wasn’t the primary focus. Female members sang together, discussed various topics, and presented business proposals from chicken farming to soap production.
“We wanted dignity in death. Now we are striving for it in life,” society secretary Nyadzisayi Mirisawu said. “We don’t want members suffering while alive.”
A women’s group established the society in Kuwadzana, a township in Zimbabwe’s capital of Harare, during 2021 to help families avoid what members described as “embarrassing” funerals that reveal financial hardship.
Providing a proper burial for family members represents one of the most significant household duties. Kuchemana translates to “mourning one another” in the local Shona language. However, membership benefits extend far beyond funeral planning.
The organization includes 40 participants ranging from 23 to 72 years old. They contribute $3 each month and receive food supplies, cooking assistance, and a $150 payment when a family member dies.
In addition to funeral contributions, members now deposit $10 monthly into a group savings program. Both members and trusted community residents can access loans from this fund at 20% interest, with participants splitting annual profits.
“Borrow for health care, school fees or projects,” Mirisawu explained to members who recently gathered beneath an avocado tree. Wearing coordinated T-shirts and floral skirts, they formed lines to make their monthly payments. A separate grocery initiative enables bulk purchasing of essential items.
For Kasu, who lost her hardware store job in 2022, the organization’s appeal stems more from its financial support than burial benefits. She received $100 from the savings program in December and borrowed an additional $30 without banking complications.
“I bought gas tanks and a scale. Now I sell cooking gas to neighbors,” she said. “Business is good. I support myself.”
Academic experts suggest these developments represent a widespread trend across the African continent.
“Banks normally do not lend to the poor or the unemployed, and governments are not providing enough support,” said Sharon Chilunjika, a lecturer in social sciences at Midlands State University in Zimbabwe. “People are using an institution they already trust, the burial society, and expanding it to cover more of their needs.”
She described funerals as “one of the most underrated or underappreciated drivers of household poverty” in Africa, with families sometimes resorting to predatory lenders or asset sales.
“The way you bury your loved one says a lot about who you are as a family. A cheap coffin or scant food invites judgment. The society will talk,” she said.
In Zimbabwe, burial societies trace back to the early 1900s during colonial times, when migrant laborers created mutual assistance networks to guarantee respectful funerals away from their homes in locations like neighboring South Africa.
This custom has persisted in Zimbabwe, where funeral coverage is more prevalent than health insurance, which remains unaffordable for many residents. Government data shows fewer than one in 10 people have health coverage.
Studies from insurance companies, research organizations, and the nation’s statistics agency reveal funeral policies as the most common insurance type in the country, with providers and mobile phone companies marketing affordable options.
However, members explain that community-based burial societies continue thriving primarily because they offer something corporations find difficult to replicate: genuine connection and belonging.
“It is your neighbor, your church mate,” Chilunjika said. “They don’t ask you to fill a form. They come to your home and comfort you.”
BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona’s renowned Sagrada Familia basilica displays towering spires resembling sandcastles, intricately carved stonework mimicking abundant vegetation, a rainbow-hued interior, and countless hidden gems scattered throughout. Even faithful parishioners who regularly attend services at this world-celebrated monument continue to be amazed by its wonders.
The Catalan rector of the Sagrada Familia, Josep Turull, who oversees parish operations, recently provided The Associated Press with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at his most cherished discoveries before Pope Leo XIV’s eagerly awaited Mass scheduled for Wednesday evening.
“We say that one of the elements of the Sagrada Familia Basilica is that you never exhaust it,” Turull said. “I have spent the last eight years as its rector, and each day I discover something new.”
Every morning, Turull walks toward the basilica’s ornately adorned exterior walls. These surfaces contain countless religious imagery and symbolic elements, with some readily understood by those familiar with basic Christian teachings, while others remain puzzling and surprisingly bold for a house of worship.
The west-facing Façade of the Passion appears austere, displaying anguished figures with bodies twisted into sharp, geometric positions. This design matched architect Antoni Gaudí’s vision — “harsh and cruel, as if made of bones,” to represent the suffering and agony of Christ’s final days.
Years following Gaudí’s passing, sculptor Josep Subirachs balanced the façade’s somber mood by incorporating whimsical touches. Gaudí’s likeness appears above the main entrance, gazing toward Jesus as he bears his cross toward Calvary. And what about that puzzle-like number grid positioned beside Judas kissing Jesus during his betrayal?
This “magic square” represents the certainty of Christ’s death; combining the numbers from any direction consistently yields 33, representing Jesus’s age when crucified.
Another riddle awaits observant viewers who examine the scene depicting Peter’s denial of Christ: a tiny, square-shaped maze. Turull explained that it represents the importance of maintaining faith in God during times of confusion.
Following Mass, Leo will exit to provide a blessing for the Tower of Jesus Christ, which elevated the Sagrada Familia to become the globe’s tallest church upon its completion in October.
The basilica’s upper reaches overflow with natural elements, including the rooster that crowed during Peter’s denial of Christ, reptilian creatures serving as gargoyles, and clusters of fruit adorning the spire tops.
Living creatures also inhabit the structure; a peregrine falcon family has made their home in the tower honoring St. James, deterring pigeons and their droppings.
Gaudí’s architectural wonder was selected as an optimal location for reestablishing this species, representing one of the final places in the city where these birds had nested before vanishing in the 1970’s. The falcons have successfully reproduced at the basilica for more than twenty years.
Turull noted that these swift predatory birds “recover the cycle of natural life.”
Among the millions of yearly guests who marvel at the rainbow light streaming through the basilica’s colored glass windows, compete for photo opportunities, and gather around tour leaders, many miss what Turull describes as its “spiritual heart.” Accessing this requires entering through a humble side door and walking down steps.
Below ground lies a considerably smaller, more personal chapel where dozens of worshippers quietly participate in Mass while faith successfully keeps tourism away.
Appropriately, this location houses Gaudí’s final resting place in an understated tomb within an alcove. The devout Catholic architect passed away precisely one century ago when struck by a streetcar.
“People come to ask for his intercession,” Turull said, gesturing to the tomb interred in the floor. “That’s why there are so many candles. Because people place their trust in him. Many people have received favors for having prayed at the tomb of Gaudí.”
The Vatican continues a lengthy evaluation process that might ultimately result in Gaudí’s sainthood. Following Pope Francis’s designation of Gaudí as “venerable” in 2025, the Vatican must verify a miracle credited to his intervention for beatification, followed by confirmation of a second miracle for canonization.
The basilica has suggested the pope visit Gaudí’s tomb during his stay, though this remains uncertain.
Before returning upstairs, Turull stops at a massive seashell — an authentic specimen, not stone carving — functioning as a holy water font. He explained that Gaudí had this Philippine seashell mounted in wrought iron and attached to the pillar.
“Gaudí always takes nature as an example,” Turull said, referencing the way the natural world inspired his designs and decorations.
Up a winding stairway, a private chamber filled with sunlight contains two standalone oak storage units decorated with detailed metalwork. Created by Gaudí, they store the basilica’s most valuable relics and significant ceremonial garments. These include Pope Benedict XVI’s chasuble — a vestment worn during Mass — from his 2010 consecration of the Sagrada Familia.
This room will serve as Pope Leo’s preparation area, where he’ll don a specially crafted chasuble being created at a workshop exclusively for this event.
Turull revealed the garment will incorporate symbolic details reflecting the occasion’s significance and design elements connected to the basilica’s newly erected Cross of Jesus Christ. However, he refuses to share additional details; certain aspects must remain confidential.
Markets across Asia declined Wednesday as technology companies faced continued pressure following Wall Street’s latest selloff, while crude oil prices climbed amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.
Military action resumed early Wednesday after an Army helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, an incident President Donald Trump attributed to Iran. Iranian officials vowed retaliation, stating they “will leave no attack or threat unanswered.”
This renewed conflict has raised questions about achieving a lasting resolution to the war, which has now stretched beyond three months and continues to unsettle markets already shaken by significant selling in artificial intelligence-related companies.
Energy markets responded to uncertainty surrounding the critical shipping route, with crude oil prices continuing their recent upward trajectory.
International benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.9% to reach $92.30 per barrel after declining Wednesday. This represents a substantial increase from approximately $70 per barrel before the conflict began in late February.
U.S. crude futures advanced 1% to $89.04 per barrel.
“The situation remains highly volatile,” wrote ING commodities strategists Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey in their Wednesday analysis. “This once again demonstrates the difficulty Iran and the U.S. face in working toward a sustainable ceasefire that allows for the free flow of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.”
The analysts observed that seasonal demand patterns typically strengthen during this period, contributing additional upward momentum to pricing.
U.S. market futures declined following losses among semiconductor companies, including Micron Technology, Advanced Micro Devices, or AMD, and Marvell Technology during Tuesday’s session.
South Korea’s Kospi index dropped 4.7% to 7,720.59, reversing the previous day’s gains. Samsung Electronics, the nation’s largest company by market value and a major producer of memory and logic chips, fell 5.8%. Fellow chipmaker SK Hynix tumbled 6.3%.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 1.4% to 64,524.84 following economic data revealing the producer price index increased 6.3% in May compared to the same month last year. This marked the most rapid pace of wholesale price growth in over three years.
SoftBank Group, the multinational investment company with significant artificial intelligence investments, saw shares drop 8.9%. However, semiconductor equipment manufacturer Tokyo Electron gained 5.3%.
In China, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 1.1% to 24,296.62, while the Shanghai Composite decreased 0.7% to 3,980.24. Government data released Wednesday indicated Chinese producer prices reached a nearly four-year peak of 3.9% in May versus the prior year.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 managed a modest 0.2% increase to 8,624.50.
Taiwan’s Taiex traded 1.6% lower, while India’s Sensex advanced 0.6%.
Tuesday’s U.S. trading saw the S&P 500 slip 0.3% to 7,386.65. The Dow Jones Industrial Average managed a 0.2% gain to 50,872.11, while the tech-focused Nasdaq composite fell 1% to 25,678.82.
Micron Technology experienced significant volatility, starting with a 4% gain before plunging 10% and ultimately closing down 1.4%. Marvell Technology declined 7.6%, while AMD dropped 3%.
Market participants are closely watching upcoming U.S. inflation data as the Iran conflict continues pushing global energy costs higher.
Currency markets showed the U.S. dollar holding steady at 160.36 Japanese yen. The euro traded at $1.1550, up from $1.1543.
Nevada voters will witness one of this year’s most hotly contested gubernatorial battles when they head to the polls in November.
The race pits Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford against sitting Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in what political observers are calling one of the most competitive governor’s races nationwide.
Ford, who currently serves as the state’s top law enforcement official, will be looking to flip the governor’s mansion from Republican to Democratic control by unseating the incumbent Lombardo.
The November election will determine which party controls Nevada’s executive branch as both candidates prepare for what promises to be a closely watched and hard-fought campaign.
Elementary-aged students nationwide have bounced back academically, showing measurable improvement in core subjects following years of educational setbacks.
According to recent findings from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, 9-year-old students demonstrated increased performance in both reading and mathematics between 2022 and 2025. These younger students appear to have avoided the most severe impacts of pandemic-related school disruptions.
The positive trend among elementary students contrasts sharply with outcomes for older children. Thirteen-year-old students have not experienced the same academic recovery, continuing to struggle with performance levels in these essential subject areas.
The assessment results highlight a clear divide in educational recovery based on student age, suggesting that younger learners were better positioned to overcome the challenges posed by remote learning and interrupted classroom instruction during the pandemic years.
Court officials supervising the NFL’s $1 billion concussion settlement have banned five law firms from processing additional claims after discovering they fraudulently directed former players to physicians who would diagnose Parkinson’s disease regardless of whether symptoms were present.
These five firms handled cases for 98 retired players seeking substantial six- and seven-figure settlements for Parkinson’s disease claims in recent years, according to special masters who help manage the settlement. Their findings were documented in a report submitted Monday to U.S. District Court in Philadelphia.
Among these cases, 37 are still waiting for approval and will now be rejected, though players can begin the claims process again. However, 57 cases had already been approved, resulting in payments exceeding $95 million before an audit was triggered by reports of questionable activity. Legal fees from these cases totaled approximately $20 million, and the report suggests additional firms may have participated in similar misconduct.
The document described it as “an organized scheme … in which these law firms — and potentially others — circumvented the Settlement’s anti-fraud safeguards and laundered questionable Parkinson’s Disease diagnoses into payable claims.”
Among the lawyers implicated was Bart Oates, a former three-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers who obtained his law degree during his NFL career. Oates did not respond to The Associated Press’s request for comment left at his law firm.
The NFL established this fund in 2013 as part of a 65-year settlement to resolve class-action lawsuits alleging the league concealed knowledge about neurological dangers following concussions. The program provides retired players with baseline evaluations and compensation reaching $5 million for the most severe conditions connected to football-related head injuries, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and deaths from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
The league has previously raised concerns about physician shopping and other fraudulent activities in fund distribution, while some player representatives have criticized the NFL for creating barriers to payment. In 2019, a judge removed three of four class counsel attorneys after they opposed geographic limitations on doctors authorized to assess retired players for dementia and other brain conditions.
“The NFL remains committed to ensuring that players and their families receive the benefits they deserve, and any misconduct threatens the integrity of the Settlement and the prompt payment of legitimate claims,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy told the AP. “We are pleased with the Special Masters’ Decision, which sends a clear message that fraud in the NFL Concussion Settlement Program will not be tolerated.”
Settlement rules specify that only program-contracted physicians can provide qualifying diagnoses. These doctors must hold board certification, possess neurological expertise, and follow anti-influence guidelines preventing fraud or kickbacks.
According to the report, the law firms bypassed these requirements by recruiting retired players as clients and directing them to unauthorized doctors who diagnosed Parkinson’s and prescribed symptom-suppressing medications.
In one instance, retired players gathered in a Dallas hotel lobby to meet with a traveling physician who had rented a suite specifically for Parkinson’s examinations, the report stated. Another unauthorized doctor used by these firms lacked board certification and movement disorder specialization, and would have been disqualified anyway due to previous bankruptcy, tax liens and civil judgments.
Following diagnosis and prescription from unauthorized physicians, the firms sent clients to approved doctors who faced difficulty determining whether the former player actually had the disease, since the player was already taking symptom-suppressing medication. These approved physicians typically could only rely on previous medical records: the earlier diagnosis and current prescription.
The report named the involved law firms as Douglas Grossinger, Attorney at Law; Feder Law, LLC; Pro Athlete Law Firm, P.A.; Syme Law, PLLC; and Reppert Oates & Vytell, LLC. It indicated the scheme originated with Grossinger, who then enlisted other attorneys to submit claims on his behalf to avoid suspicion from filing numerous Parkinson’s cases.
While Oates didn’t distribute claims to other attorneys, he employed similar diagnostic practices, with sources telling auditors he “cold-called Retired NFL Players, promising a Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease” if players transferred from other law firms to his.
“By structuring their clients’ evaluations in this way, Mr. Grossinger and ROV deliberately put (approved) Physicians in a position where they had little choice but to defer to manufactured outside records,” the report stated.
Grossinger, licensed in New York, refused to provide on-record comments to the AP. Pennsylvania-based Fred Feder responded via text that he would not comment without consulting his attorney. The AP could not immediately verify contact details for Syme Law or Pro Athlete Law Firm.
The Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist is scheduled to appear Wednesday for questioning by House lawmakers examining connections to the convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The House Oversight Committee will conduct the interview with Bill Gates in a private session, following the same format used for other witnesses in their ongoing investigation. Committee transcripts are typically made public at a later date.
Committee chairman Republican U.S. Rep. James Comer issued the formal request for Gates’ testimony after his name surfaced repeatedly in Justice Department documents made public during the federal Epstein investigation.
The released papers contain names of influential figures spanning technology, finance, politics and various other sectors. While all individuals have rejected any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities, some continued relationships with him even after his history of sexual misconduct became public knowledge.
The documentation includes scheduled appointments between Gates and Epstein recorded in calendars, electronic messages discussing charitable initiatives, and photographs showing Gates at gatherings where Epstein was also present.
Records show their business connection started in 2011, which was three years following Epstein’s guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor, and continued through at least the end of 2014.
Federal prosecutors charged Epstein in July 2019 with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. Authorities alleged Epstein established an extensive network involving underage girls, including some as young as 14, whom he sexually abused from 2002 to 2005. Epstein took his own life in 2019 while held in custody awaiting trial.
Gates, who leads the Gates Foundation, faces no allegations of misconduct related to Epstein and has stated he had no awareness of Epstein’s abuse of girls. He has maintained their meetings focused solely on charitable work and has described his connection with Epstein as “a huge mistake.”
Both Gates and his former spouse, Melinda French Gates, have acknowledged that his relationship with Epstein caused strain in their marriage.
The foundation confirmed in February that a limited number of staff members had interactions with Epstein due to his “claims that he could mobilize significant philanthropic resources for global health.” No joint charitable fund was established, and the foundation provided no payments to Epstein.
Foundation CEO Mark Suzman ordered an independent assessment in March to review the organization’s previous dealings with Epstein.
During a separate private questioning session in February, former President Bill Clinton answered lawmakers’ questions for over six hours regarding his connection with Epstein from more than twenty years ago. Epstein had made multiple visits to the White House during Clinton’s administration, and Clinton occasionally traveled aboard Epstein’s personal aircraft.
The former Democratic president stated he observed no indicators of Epstein’s sexual misconduct and ended their association well before Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea. Clinton has not faced any accusations of wrongdoing concerning Epstein.
Democratic members of the House committee have called for testimony from President Donald Trump, a Republican who maintained his own association with Epstein. Republicans have indicated they have found no evidence suggesting Trump engaged in any improper conduct during his documented friendship with Epstein.
BISMARCK, N.D. — Last year, the Trump administration made an unusual request to visitors at America’s national parks: alert officials to any displays or exhibits that portrayed Americans in an unfavorable way, whether from past or present times.
However, the majority of people who responded used the opportunity to condemn the initiative, based on an Associated Press review of 35,000 public comments submitted during the latter half of 2025 and recently released through legal action.
A visitor to a park in North Carolina described the administration’s actions as “un-American.” Another person criticized the concept of “having Americans call in and snitch on each other.”
“Hey Donald Trump!” one person wrote from North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park. “Trying to erase history doesn’t mean it didn’t still happen!”
According to the Associated Press review, a substantial portion — over half, not including duplicate submissions — represented opposition to the initiative itself.
Some responses to the administration’s request identified interpretive materials that officials might now attempt to reverse — and in dozens of instances already have, according to one organization.
However, given that the National Park Service recorded approximately 323 million visits across more than 400 locations last year, the 35,000 initial public responses received between June and January and disclosed after a lawsuit represented a modest reaction.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued a directive last year targeting “inappropriate content” including any signage and displays “negative about either past or living Americans or that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes and other natural features.”
The directive came after President Donald Trump’s order on “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” which aimed to highlight America’s accomplishments and the magnificence of its terrain.
The objective, Burgum stated, was to transform sites into “solemn and uplifting public monuments that remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage, consistent progress toward becoming a more perfect Union, and unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity, and human flourishing.”
A monitoring organization of librarians, public historians and data specialists called Save Our Signs, using photo documentation and news accounts, has tracked at least 59 signs that were taken down or altered.
These include signage addressing slavery, climate change, women’s rights and conservation involvement, and Native American history, according to Jenny McBurney, a government publications librarian at the University of Minnesota who participates in the organization.
“It seems to be anything that is sort of going against the ideology, this idea of America is perfect and can do no wrong, which of course we know is not true,” McBurney said.
Numerous modifications occurred at Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, where the administration eliminated exhibits about the lives of nine people enslaved at the location during the 1790s under George Washington, the first U.S. president. Some of these exhibits were subsequently reinstated following a judge’s directive before additional work was stopped after the administration filed an appeal.
Over half the responses showed evidence of organization and criticized the effort. However, many others appeared individually written.
The responses became available through a Sierra Club legal challenge seeking their disclosure. Some praised the parks, including their personnel and informational materials.
“We had a great time learning about the development of this site including the difficult parts of our American story,” a visitor to Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis wrote. “We need those reminders to help us become even better in the future.”
Others turned playful: “Didn’t see any Bigfeets,” a visitor to Washington’s North Cascades National Park noted.
A significant number, however, targeted the administration.
“Trump’s idea of having Americans call in and snitch on each other … is straight out of the fascist playbook he’s literally acting like Hitler or Mussolini,” one visitor wrote.
Some visitors reported what they considered inappropriate references to historical figures, including Black leaders, connected to race and inclusion concepts.
A visitor to Missouri’s Harry S. Truman National Historic Site reported an installation they claimed celebrated the former president as a “founding father” of diversity, equity and inclusion and a “precursor” advocate of critical race theory, or a method of examining U.S. history through the perspective of racism.
“I came here to see his hat and maybe a piano, not to read about intersectionality and ‘equity frameworks.’ I nearly choked on my commemorative root beer,” the visitor wrote.
Another person objected that signage at Virginia’s Booker T. Washington National Monument characterized the Black leader as a “father of DEI and early architect of critical race theory.”
“This sign is blatantly misleading, politically loaded, and clearly designed to push a modern agenda by hijacking a respected historical figure. It’s like naming Paul Revere the first Uber driver because he got around fast,” the person said.
The Trump administration has provided little clarity about modifications it has implemented through the program.
“In many cases across the system, flagged materials remain unchanged,” an Interior spokesperson said in an emailed statement, while not answering questions about signs or exhibits that are or will be changed.
Additional sites where signage has been eliminated or modified include Maine’s Acadia National Park, Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park, New York City’s Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Virgin Islands National Park, according to Save Our Signs.
“We hear from folks all over the country that history matters, that our national parks matter and that this is important to them,” McBurney said.
