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Dallas Federal Court ‘Evidence Bombshell’ Spurs Emergency Preservation of Records

A daring filing by media entrepreneur Alki David urges that crucial corporate and cross-border documents be preserved before they’re lost, linking high‑profile figures, NXIVM, and a Texas court into a sweeping evidence strategy.

Alki David’s emergency petition to Judge Sean D. Jordan in the Eastern District of Texas calls for the immediate preservation of a sprawling network of records—from cloud logs to witness materials—asserting that the forensic trail could unlock untold connections between Dallas, NXIVM, celebrity patrons and Fortune‑500 entities. The broader claim that documents housed in corporate ecosystems across multiple jurisdictions could become decisive evidence underscores a new legal gambit that could reshape how evidence is collected and protected worldwide.

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High Court Under Fire: Senior Master Jeremy David Cook Faces Recusal Demand Amid Serious Allegations

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High Court Judge Under Fire Amid NXIVM Horrors

shockya.com

The Control of Justice: Who Manages the Middleware in the E-Filing System of Royal Courts?

shockya.com

Alki David's Legal Battle: A Transatlantic Crisis Over Digital Evidence and Disability Rights

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Trump Announces Nearly $700 Million in Funding to Revive U.S. Coal","description":"President Trump will provide near $700 million to support coal plants, construction of new plants, and coal exports as part of a push to reverse the decline of the U.S. coal industry.","summary":"The White House will use the Defense Production Act to finance 13 existing coal plants and build new ones in Alaska and West Virginia, creating about 14,000 jobs. The $700 million package will aid plant operations, a new export terminal in California, and a restart of a Maryland plant. Critics warn it will raise electricity bills and air pollution.","image":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1576998408371-5b16a0c3dceb","text":"WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump is set to announce a nearly $700 million package aimed at supporting the struggling U.S. coal industry. The funds will back 13 existing coal‑fired power plants, spur construction of new plants in Alaska and West Virginia, and help restart a Maryland plant while also funding a long‑delayed coal‑export terminal in Oakland, California.\nThe administration said it will use authority under the Cold War‑era Defense Production Act to boost the coal sector. The move is the latest step in a broader effort by the Trump administration to reverse the years‑long decline in coal, which has been driven by tighter environmental regulations and competition from cheaper natural gas.\nEarlier this fall, the White House announced a $625 million investment to recommission or modernize existing coal‑fired plants and to open 13 million acres of federal lands for new coal mining. The new Treasury proposal will add to these measures, creating or supporting more than 14,000 jobs across the coal, construction, rail and maritime industries.\nPresident Trump’s orders also extend the Energy Department’s short‑term directives that keep certain fossil‑fueled plants in service past their scheduled retirement dates. The policy is intended to meet rising U.S. power demand, fueled by the rapid growth of data centers, artificial intelligence applications and electric‑vehicle charging infrastructure.\nEnergy Secretary Chris Wright said the emergency orders have helped prevent major blackouts during severe winter storms that left much of the country without power. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin are expected to join the president for a briefing later Thursday at the White House.\nEnvironmental groups have sharply criticized the new funding, arguing that it will lift electricity bills and worsen air quality. “Propping up coal billionaires with taxpayer money is another way the Trump administration puts polluters first at the expense of the rest of us,” said Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “The best thing for the air, the climate, and our utility bills is to let these plants retire peacefully.”\nCoal once provided more than half of U.S. electricity, but its share fell to about 15% in 2024, down from roughly 45% in 2010. Natural gas now accounts for about 43% of the nation's power generation, with the rest coming from nuclear, wind, solar and hydropower.\nTrade and global demand pressures have also weighed on the coal sector. U.S. coal exports fell during the first year of Trump’s second term, largely because China imposed reciprocal tariffs on American products. While global coal demand reached record highs in recent years, the International Energy Agency predicts the market will flatten or decline over the next few years.\nNo coal company can easily expand into new markets because the world is still flooded with reserves, even as U.S. plants continue to shut down.\nThe President is expected to invoke the Defense Production Act—a 1950 law that grants presidents wide authority over national security–related industries—during the announcement.

June Takes a New Shape as GOP Governors Rebrand Pride Month","description":"While Pride Month has been a fixture of June for decades, several Republican governors have introduced competing proclamations—Nuclear Family Month, Strong Families Month, and Fidelity Month—transforming the meaning of the month for their constituents.","summary":"The new year sees June split between LGBTQ+ celebrations and conservative proclamations. Governors in Indiana, Tennessee, Alabama, Utah, Arkansas, and others have reaffirmed the idea that the month should spotlight families, faith, and fidelity, sparking debate over cultural identity and political messaging.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/bcc631f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F3b%2Fd8%2F49c7cbfb4e2a458e2827f100508d%2F80b7aeff66cc4c658059aac10eef20d0","text":"June has long been celebrated as Pride Month, marking the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots that ignited the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. The month is now, however, the backdrop for a new political conversation. A handful of Republican governors have issued proclamations giving June entirely different meanings—Nuclear Family Month in Indiana and Tennessee, Strong Families Month in Alabama, and Fidelity Month in Utah and Arkansas.\n\n<h2 style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:22px;line-height:1.5;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:0.6em;\">Governors’ Rebrand Projects</h2>\n\nWithout overtly calling it a replacement for Pride Month, these officials have opened new chapters for the season. Indiana’s governor declared June a “Nuclear Family Month” to highlight families shaped around the traditional unit of one husband, one wife, and any children—biological or adopted. Tennessee’s proclamation echoes the same tone, while Alabama’s Gov. Kay Ivey launched Strong Families Month, dovetailing the message with Father’s Day. Utah’s Spencer Cox, who has officially recognized Pride Month in past years, has shifted the focus this year to his Fidelity Month—an assertion that loyalty to faith, country, and family should be celebrated.\n\nThe pattern extends beyond the flagship states. At least four other GOP‑controlled states have introduced similar measures to name June Fidelity Month. The push was spearheaded by Princeton University jurisprudence professor Robert P. George, a long‑time conservative commentator who allegedly began the concept in 2023. \"No one gets a monopoly on a particular day or month,\" George told the National Catholic Register.\n\n<h2 style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:22px;line-height:1.5;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:0.6em;\">Reactions and Debates</h2>\n\nFor several LGBTQ+ advocates, the new proclamations feel like a counterprogramming strategy designed to undermine Pride Month’s legacy and keep the community’s visibility in the background. \"You can call it whatever you want, but one thing you’re not going to do is take away our pride or take away our joy,\" said Jordan Braxton, co‑president of USA Pride. The USA Pride leadership points out that every Democratic president since Bill Clinton has signed a Pride proclamation, while no Republican president has.\n\nThe debate often turns to the cultural narrative. A GOP conservative resolution introduced by Illinois Rep. Mary Miller called for June Family Month and prized the idea that Pride events “denigrate the nuclear family.” The measure was never voted on, but its rhetoric underscores a broader trend of reframing the month to reward very traditional family images.\n\nKevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, argued, \"It’s good to have conservative recognitions because Pride celebrations...were going so far as to make it difficult to celebrate traditional marriage.\" In contrast, Marina Lowe, legal director for Equality Utah, notes that many LGBTQ+ people value faith and family as well, urging that ‘the positions do not have to conflict.’\n\nPublic symbolic gestures, such as the Turning Point USA chapter in Wenatchee posting family banners on light poles, have sparked counter‑actions, including billboards and yard signs supporting Pride by the local Out North Carolina group. Small communities have become theaters for the larger cultural debate.\n\n<h2 style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:22px;line-height:1.5;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:0.6em;\">Why Pride Month Stands</h2>\n\nCentral Alabama Pride’s president Josh Coleman emphasized that events—parades on June 13 and a festival on June 14—continue regardless of a governor’s proclamation. \"The fight for Pride is rooted in ensuring our community has a community,\" he noted. Likewise, Indy Pride’s Alex Richardson sees the proclamation as a swipe, yet believes August events celebrate aspects the executive also values, such as chosen families and blended households.\n\n<h2 style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:22px;line-height:1.5;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:0.6em;\">What’s Next for June?</h2>\n\nThe full story unfolds as federal and state proclamations roll out. Governments across the United States, from Alabama to Utah, will continue to embrace family‑centric themes in June while LGBTQ+ rights organizations prepare to uphold Pride’s history and bring out the resilience that first sparked the movement in 1970. The month will now contain two generational messages—one of pride, one of faith, one of family—each vying for the public’s attention.\n\nLevy reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Mulvihill from Haddonfield, New Jersey.

Albanian Protesters Rally Against Kushner‑Backed Luxury Resort

Senate Sets Door‑Key Vote on $70B ICE Funding Amid Settlement Fallout","description":"Downtown lawmakers move to fund Trump‑era immigration enforcement agencies after Democrats block money for months, as a contested settlement fund remains under scrutiny.","summary":"On Thursday, the Senate tabled a $70 billion bill that would fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol through the end of President Trump’s term. The measure follows months of Democratic obstruction linked to a $1.776 billion settlement fund for Trump supporters and the deaths of two protesters shot by federal agents in January. Republicans adopted a procedural maneuver designed to circumvent the filibuster, offering the bill to the full Senate with no Democratic votes. Senator John Thune stressed the focus on clearing ICE and CBP money while maintaining clean auditability. Meanwhile, Republican senators sign the promise that the settlement will not proceed and are ready to introduce amendments to block any attempt at resurrecting the fund. The funding debate reflects a long‑standing fight over homeland security budgets, amid cuts to other House appropriations and opposition to a White House “ballroom” security package. The Senate’s move marks the final push toward a three‑year fix for ICE and CBP that could rekindle partisan divisions over enforcement priorities and the administration’s legacy.\n","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/2b5ec9f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5884x3923+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/2b5ec9f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5884x3923+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/2b5ec9f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5884x3923+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F00%2F95%2F665adbf0609b1cca4648d0fe512e%2F419aaebd4c6b4a3aac98e9eadce2f0da","text":"WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate began a long series of votes Thursday on a $70 billion bill to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol through the end of President Donald Trump’s term. The move comes after Democrats blocked the money for months, citing a controversial settlement fund for Trump supporters and the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents in January.\nThe bill, which has gone through a complicated procedural maneuver designed to avoid the filibuster, would provide a three‑year fix for the agencies that have been left unfunded since the collapse of the DHS budget in February. Republicans say the legislation is narrow, clean and focused solely on financing ICE and CBP, a sentiment echoed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune who noted, \"The thing we’re trying to do here is keep the focus on funding for ICE and CBP.\"\n\nIn the debate that follows, Republicans must confront a gauntlet of Democratic amendments, many of which aim to permanently ban the settlement fund. Dems have announced an amendment that would strip the $1.776 billion fund from the bill and return the immigration spending measure to committee. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has said the settlement would not move forward, a statement that has satisfied several Republican senators.\nAn additional hurdle is a White House security package that originally included $1 billion for a ballroom. Democrats and some Republicans objected to that spend, and the final bill was trimmed to exclude the program.\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:bold;\">Republican Strategy and Democratic Counter‑moves</h2>\nSenate Republicans will contend with Democrats who are planning to use reconciliation to pass amendments that could ban the settlement by law and potentially kill the immigration budget. Senator Thom Tillis has indicated he will submit an amendment to block any revival of the settlement fund. Democrat Chuck Schumer, meanwhile, has urged that the settlement must be abolished to protect the agency’s accountability.\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:bold;\">The Fight Over Homeland Security Funding</h2>\nDems seek restrictions on immigration enforcement, including better officer identification and more use of judicial warrants. Their demands reflect frustration over the old DHS budget, which expired in early February and was never replaced with consistent funding for ICE and the Border Patrol. The current bill seeks to finally provide order to these agencies without forcing broader fiscal battles.\nIn summary, the Senate vote is a decisive moment for Trump-era immigration policy. If Republicans secure a simple majority, the $70 billion bill will pass, permanently removing the settlement fund and paving the way for three years of stable ICE and CBP funding.

19‑Year‑Old Faces Life in Prison Over Fatal Stabbing at Texas Track Meet

Trump’s Higher‑Education Revolution: From Campus Raids to Federal Rule‑Making

New World Screwworm Fly Detected in South Texas, Threatening Cattle Industry","description":"The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirms the first detection of the flesh‑eating fly in the country in decades, sparking quarantine measures and a fresh wave of eradication efforts.","summary":"A 3‑week‑old calf in LaPryor, Texas, tested positive for the New World screwworm fly, a parasite that once devastated U.S. cattle. Texas officials have erected a 12‑mile quarantine zone and accelerated sterile‑fly releases, while the USDA has opened a new breeding facility in Mexico and plans a large factory in Texas to curb future outbreaks.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/2fc44e6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fc0%2Fe7%2F08d2c122f267d953008cbbd64eef%2F9f30a8f704e8436aa4b0ed1000b44b80","text":"The New World screwworm fly has reached south Texas, the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s officials confirmed on Wednesday. The parasite, known for its flesh‑eating larvae, now threatens the country’s cattle industry for the first time in decades and the third time it has been seen in the U.S. since the 1970s eradication program.\nAgriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the case is a 3‑week‑old calf in LaPryor, Texas, roughly 50 miles (80 km) from the Mexico border. Texas State Veterinarian Bud Dinges reported a 12‑mile (20 km) quarantine zone has been set up, banning the movement of any warm‑blooded animal—including pets—outside the zone without an official inspection.\n\"There is no reason to believe this incursion will result in establishment of the pest in our country,\" Rollins said. She also noted that no other detections have been reported in the U.S. while the larvae remain a threat to livestock production. Proper treatment—even for an infested calf—can allow recovery.\nThe fly’s presence has sparked warnings from U.S. and Texas agriculture officials and cattle‑industry leaders, who have been sounding alarms about its movement across the Mexico border for more than a year. The message is clear: memories of the fly’s cost—tens of millions of dollars lost in the 1970s—have made prevention a top priority.\nThe USDA is employing a strategy that worked successfully before the original eradication: release of millions of sterile screwworm flies to mate with wild females. If a female mates with a sterile male, the eggs will not hatch, gradually killing the population. The agency is confident that this approach means there is \"no threat of mass infestation\" in the region.\nThe brown fly’s lifecycle is short; females lay eggs in open wounds or mucous membranes, and the larvae consume flesh. Infestations can be fatal if left untreated, affecting livestock, wild mammals, pets, and even humans.\nRecent history shows the fly roaming inside Mexico, close to the U.S. border, and even marking a case in a Maryland resident who had traveled to El Salvador in August 2025. All reported cases have been contained without spread to the U.S. population.\nTo strengthen containment, the USDA announced a $21 million investment to convert a fruit‑fly breeding facility in southern Mexico into one dedicated to sterl‑fly production, which will release sterile flies across southern Texas. Construction of a $750 million fly factory is underway in Texas, with the Mexican facility expected to be operational next month. The USDA also deployed 8,000 fly traps along the U.S.–Mexico border and has tested more than 58,000 fly samples, along with 19,000 wild animal samples.\nIn addition to quarantine enforcement, Rose said the USDA closed foreign livestock imports from Mexico last year, a decision she defended during a recent news conference. Although the fly can travel on people, pets, and wild animals, officials caution that it does not fly great distances independently.\n\"Please help us prevent any further movement of this pest by staying put,\" said Dinges to ranchers and pet owners, stressing the importance of respecting the quarantine zone.\n

Melinda French Gates Pledges $215 Million to Advance Women’s Health Worldwide

Obama Presidential Center Opens on Juneteenth: A Digital Hall of History and Community

Trump’s Family Separation Policy Continues to Ript Apart Families","description":"Eight years after the controversial Trump-era family separations, new investigations reveal that the US government has re-separated dozens of children from their parents, breaching legal agreements that promised family unity.","summary":"The article centers on the story of Ederson Alva, a three‑year‑old who was taken from his mother at the U.S.–Mexico border in 2018 and separated again in 2024, illustrating a larger pattern of re‑separation under the Trump administration. AP’s latest probe finds that the government violated a landmark settlement that protected more than 11,800 families from forced separation. The piece outlines how the federal courts’ mandates were ignored, how immigrants are now risked deportation, and the ongoing uncertainty faced by families seeking to reclaim their legal status.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/3b21a05/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8640x5760+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Ffe%2F6b%2Fb5695ec27def0182e3698487be98%2Fe89ef3586e4043848e6174551247b59d","text":"In 2018, when he was just 3 years old, Ederson Galicia Alva was taken from his mother’s arms at the U.S.–Mexico border under the first Trump administration’s family separation policy and kept apart from her in a government facility for months. They were finally reunited after lawyers intervened. Then, in June of last year, he and his mother were separated a second time and ultimately sent back to Guatemala, despite legal protections meant to keep them and families like theirs together.After nearly a year in the indigenous highlands of Guatemala, Ederson’s family was finally allowed to return to Florida last week, following a federal judge’s order that the government had acted illegally.<h2 style=\"font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:10px\">Separations Under Trump’s Second Term</h2>Trump’s second administration vowed to deport more than 1 million people per year. Federal agents have been plucking people from their communities so swiftly that, according to the Brookings Institution, now the parents of tens of thousands of children have been detained. Family separations look different from the first term: officials separated families from the border, kept parents and children in separate computer systems, and delayed reunions for months.<a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/immigration-trump-family-separation-ice-71a610d15af5207a68f989fcafb55039\" style=\"color:#0066cc;text-decoration:none;\">High‑lights from the AP’s reporting</a>Today, if parents are arrested or deported under the president’s push for mass deportations, they are forced to choose whether to leave their children behind in the United States.<h2 style=\"font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:10px\">Government’s Position</h2>“DHS complies with all court orders, even as radical NGOs shop for the most favorable forum and activist judges seek to thwart our operations,” stated acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. Government attorneys argue that there are no legal restrictions on the “statutory authority to execute orders of removal.” Bis said enforcement was “not optional,” and that every removal “helps restore order and reinforce the rule of law.”<h2 style=\"font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:10px\">Aftermath for Alva Family</h2>Since Alva López was deported back to Guatemala last June, she has been awaiting word on when her family can return. Money ran out. The children started forgetting English slang, and Briseidy—now 14—worries she may lose her American friendships. Two weeks ago, a judge ordered the government to bring them back to Florida on an American Airlines flight.They arrived in Miami, but immigration officials questioned her again, re‑taking photos, fingerprints and scrutinizing her documents. Her stay in the U.S. will likely be short: she was granted only two weeks of humanitarian parole.Despite the dire circumstances, Ederson said the return felt like a miracle. Yet the future remains uncertain, with a looming deadline for families to request cancellation of pending removal orders before losing their chance to stay legally in the U.S.Have a news tip? Contact AP’s global investigative team at <a href=\"mailto:investigative@ap.org\" style=\"color:#0066cc;text-decoration:none;\">investigative@ap.org</a> or use the free Signal app +1 (202) 281‑8604.

Boy Facing Family Separations: Ederson's Story

Federal Charges, No State Charges for Protesters Who Disrupted Minnesota Church

Virginia Bus Crash Investigation Sheds Light on Bus Safety Standards","description":"A fatal collision involving a commercial bus and multiple vehicles in Virginia has prompted scrutiny of driver conduct, company practices, and the industry's safety measures.","summary":"The crash, caused by driver speed and fatigue, left five dead and dozens injured. It raises questions about enforcement of federal rules, unmet NTSB recommendations, and the need for more advanced collision‑avoidance technology in commercial buses.","image":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1606372774415-4e00a4e47b90?auto=format&fit=crop&w=800&q=60","text":"A commercial bus crash in Virginia that killed five people and injured dozens of others has raised questions about the driver, the company that employed him and the overall safety of the industry.It isn\u2019t yet clear what could have prevented last week’s crash because the National Transportation Safety Board investigation is just beginning. Still, it highlights the inherent dangers whenever a bus or semitruck crashes into other vehicles—even if riding a bus is statistically safer than driving a car.Commercial buses still lack standard collision‑avoidance technology and emergency braking systems, despite long‑standing NTSB recommendations and proposed regulations.Observers point to driver fatigue as a possible factor. The driver, Jing Sheng Dong of New York City, was previously convicted of speeding on two occasions within three years—first in Virginia in 2024, then in Maryland in March. Federal rules would disqualify a driver for 60 days if convicted twice for driving more than 15 mph over the limit. Dong now faces five charges of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless driving.Experts argue that the criminal charges may not improve road safety because they target the driver rather than the company that set the schedule and routes. Fatigue and scheduling practices can play a major role in such accidents.Bus drivers are legally barred from driving over 10 hours or working more than 15 hours without at least eight hours rest. Electronic logs have improved enforcement, though tampering still occurs.In a 2024 crash in North Carolina involving another E&P Travel driver, nine people were injured when the bus failed to stop for a traffic control vehicle. The driver pleaded guilty to failure to reduce speed.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is verifying that the driver was issued a commercial driver’s license in compliance with New York state rules. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has called for stronger enforcement of CDL standards, though efforts have primarily focused on truck drivers.<h2>A Long List of Unfulfilled Recommendations</h2>Even when the NHTSA supports a safety innovation, it can take years to adopt a rule. Commercial buses only required seat belts since 2016. Recommendations for stricter standards on driver fatigue, rest requirements, and collision‑avoidance technology remain unfulfilled.Regulators, Congress, and the industry must adopt these measures. Funding and cost are cited as barriers, but many argue that safety is a business imperative.<h2>Investments in Safety by Some Bus Companies</h2>Some companies have adopted driver‑monitoring technology, such as inward‑facing video cameras and telematics systems, which can alert operators to risky behavior. Others have installed collision‑avoidance technology to prevent catastrophic accidents. However, the high cost of new motorcoaches—roughly $650,000—and tariff impacts slow upgrades.The American Bus Association highlights that safe operations benefit businesses economically and ethically. Its members represent about 40% of the 1,800 companies operating roughly 50,000 motorcoaches in North America.

Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak Highlights Urgent Need for Treatments and Vaccines","description":"The recent Andean hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship has sparked renewed focus on developing antiviral therapies and vaccines amid growing concern over rodent‑borne diseases worldwide.","summary":"A rare rodent‑borne virus capable of human‑to‑human spread exploded aboard a cruise ship, leaving patients with no proven treatments or vaccines. Researchers in Chile, Argentina and the U.S. have pressed for new therapies, including an immune‑modulating drug and antibody‑based options, while vaccine development lags behind. The episode underscores the challenges of funding research for rare diseases and highlights rising threats as climate change increases human contact with rodents.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/1f65cc3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6240x4160+0+0/resize/1440x960!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F1e%2F24%2Fb6e8792884e1e642fbe174465f46%2Fadce3b6a211d479abb0f10aadd970f95","text":"SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — When a rare but deadly rodent‑borne virus struck passengers on a cruise ship and seemed to be spreading, there were no treatments for those who fell ill and no vaccines to protect others. That was the case even though it wasn’t a novel germ that the world had never seen before, like the virus that caused the coronavirus pandemic. It was a hantavirus, one of a family of viruses that have been known for decades and are thought to exist around the world. Teams of researchers, including in Chile, Argentina and the United States, have long been trying to find and develop drugs and vaccines. But because the viruses are relatively rare and don’t spread easily between people, there hasn’t been enough sustained investment by governments, global health groups, or drug companies to pay for the extensive safety and efficacy testing needed to make them available.\n<h2>Different species of hantavirus cause different symptoms</h2>\nHantaviruses usually spread when people inhale contaminated residue of rodent droppings. But there are unique species of hantavirus found in different parts of the world that have their own characteristics and can cause different symptoms. The Andes virus, the germ behind the cruise ship outbreak, is a particular focus of researchers because it is the only hantavirus thought to be able to spread between people in some cases. And while hantavirus infections are rare, they can be extremely deadly.\nThat is a public health problem, said María Inés Barría, a virologist at the Universidad San Sebastián in Chile who studies hantaviruses.\nThree of the 13 likely cases among cruise ship passengers ended in death. Separately, in Chile, the Ministry of Health has confirmed 15 deaths and 42 cases of hantavirus so far this year. Authorities in Argentina have reported 32 deaths and 102 cases since June 2025. In the U.S., 35% of the hantavirus cases since tracking began in 1993 have resulted in death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\n<h2>The search for treatments to fight the worst symptoms</h2>\nIn Argentina, researchers are testing whether a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis might help fight hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe infection caused by both the Andes virus and the Sin Nombre virus, a type of hantavirus found in North America. The drug tocilizumab tampers down a molecule called IL-6 that triggers damaging inflammation in some autoimmune and other diseases. IL-6 also is a suspect in the inflammatory reaction to the infection, which can rapidly cause lungs to fill with fluid and fail.\nFour of five patients in an Argentinian hospital survived after receiving tocilizumab in addition to traditional supportive care for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, the research team reported in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.\nThe report is unusual, tracking the first people to receive tocilizumab in an ongoing “compassionate use” study – meaning doctors can use it in patients they deem eligible. Another five who were deemed eligible for tocilizumab but didn’t get it and instead received only standard care died. Two worsened too quickly and the hospital lacked supply for the others, the researchers reported.\nThe research team cautioned that the five patients who didn’t receive the drug were sicker and older than those who did. Still, they said tocilizumab warrants further investigation.\n<h2>Efforts to stop hantavirus have also shown promise</h2>\nBarría’s team, which includes Chilean scientists, researchers from the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories and the Robert Koch Institute in Germany, is working on another approach – using cloned antibodies from hantavirus survivors to fend off infections. The team published research in 2018 showing the approach worked in animals, but they were not able to get funding to continue with human trials, in part because resources were diverted to fight the coronavirus pandemic.\nWe are truly at the forefront, at a very important stage of moving to the next phase, Barría said.\nSeveral other groups, including at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Vanderbilt Center for Antibody Therapeutics, are also working on antibody treatments.\nVaccines against so‑called Old World hantaviruses have been developed and used, though the World Health Organization says there are no current licensed hantavirus vaccines. But there are new vaccines in the works, including ones aimed to fight the Andes virus. A team led by Jay Hooper of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases is working on a vaccine that has successfully generated antibodies against the virus in early‑stage human trials, according to a study the team published in 2020.\n<h2>Hantavirus treatments and vaccines have many hurdles still to clear</h2>\nDr. Paul Bollyky, an infectious disease doctor and researcher at Stanford Medical Center in California, said attracting and sustaining the support needed to produce vaccines and treatments is extremely difficult for rare diseases like hantavirus. For one, labs typically don’t have the necessary machinery they need to test and validate vaccines and treatments for rare infections. Also, because hantavirus outbreaks are so sporadic and unpredictable, the virus is much harder to study compared with a common germ that regularly circulates, such as the flu.\nThat also makes clinical trials in this space super difficult because of the number of people you would have to immunize to protect against one infection. It’s just impractical.\nAnd it means there might not be a large or steady market for a vaccine or treatment, because it would be hard to know who is going to be exposed, and when.\nStill, it frustrates researchers and doctors who know there are potential treatments that, with enough sustained investment, could be helping people now.\nWhat happened was a tragedy, but it can happen not only with this but also other diseases, Tortosa said, referring to the cruise ship outbreak.

Rising Cores: Antelope Reef’s Rapid Reclamation and the South China Sea Power Play

ICE Revamps Training for Deportation Officers Amid Criticism","description":"Immigration and Customs Enforcement rolls back shortened training, pledging longer, comprehensive programs after allegations of a deficient curriculum.","summary":"Following pressure from lawmakers and a former ICE lawyer, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced that the agency will return new deportation officer training to its former 72‑day length starting July 1. The move comes after ICE’s rapid expansion of its rank‑up to 10 000 officers and accusations that critics were “cutting corners.” ICE officials say the revamped curriculum now includes firearms and de‑escalation instruction, with no hours trimmed. Short‑term, the agency will add pre‑and‑post‐arrival instruction and intensify training at Federal training centers.","image":"https://via.placeholder.com/800x450","text":"Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced this week that it will restore its full 72‑day training program for new deportation officers effective July 1, after critics said the agency was cutting corners to quickly field a larger workforce. In a heated congressional hearing, Secretary Markwayne Mullin was questioned about the agency’s shift from the 42‑day course back to the longer curriculum. Mullin replied that the new cadets “will receive all the training they need to perform their duties” and that the change would be implemented next month. He declined to address the criticisms that prompted the shift. ICE has been expanding its rank‑up to 10 000 deportation officers in the wake of last year’s federal investment boom. The programme, with billions of dollars flowing in, has faced scrutiny for trimming lessons and shortening the program, leading some to claim the new recruits are inadequately prepared. Former ICE lawyer Ryan Schwank testified that the agency’s training curriculum was “deficient, defective and broken,” adding that the department had “removed so many essential parts that what remains is a dangerous husk.” He said DHS lied about the new program’s adequacy. ICE officials counter the claims, saying the revised training includes increased firearms instruction, de‑escalation tactics, and constitutional civility. Acting director Todd Lyons explained the agency had ‘streamlined the process’ but not watered it down. Additional measures include a six‑day work week at the federal training center, pre‑ and post‑arrival lessons, and the removal of a Spanish‑language requirement. The decision to return to the full 72‑day curriculum marks a key attempt by ICE to address concerns about the readiness of its swift‑expanding workforce. Critics still question whether the newly added training time will be sufficient to give officers the skills and judgement needed on the job.

CBS News ‘60 Minutes’ in Turmoil: Firing of Staff Raises Questions","description":"The iconic investigative program faces upheaval with new leadership, firing of correspondents and accusations of political bias.","summary":"Since its 1968 debut, “60 Minutes” has been a flagship of investigative journalism. Now, CBS News executive Bari Weiss’s sweeping changes—including replacing long‑time producers, firing key correspondents such as Scott Pelley, and appointing a new chief with no broadcast experience—have sparked intense criticism and raised doubts about the show’s future.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/cd33d6d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3600x2400+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F6c%2Fe7%2Fb553edb5b6448206b538498b3370%2F8c9c8f390853414fbe6839e426ea0b66","text":"On September 24, 1968, Harry Reasoner introduced the iconic broadcast “60 Minutes” as a new “magazine for television.” Fifty‑seven years later, CBS News chief Bari Weiss is running a very different kind of new approach to the same program.Weiss’s changes, which included firing the top producer, two long‑time correspondents, and installing a new chief who has no TV broadcast experience, have pushed the venerable show into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.One of the show’s most recognizable faces, Scott Pelley, was dismissed after a tense confrontation with executives. In an email posted by New York Times media reporter Ben Mullin, Pelley accused Weiss of lying and of forcing his team to insert unverified claims into politically sensitive stories.Industry observers note that the show has already lost four correspondents this week: Pelley, Anderson Cooper, Sharyn Alfonsi, and Cecilia Vega. The departures have sparked fierce debate about whether “60 Minutes” is being deliberately reshaped to favor certain political narratives or simply evolving to stay relevant in the 21st century.Former executive producer Jeff Fager, author of “Fifty Years of 60 Minutes,” called the loss of Pelley “hobbles the program.” He warned that without his star correspondent, the show's core investigative work could suffer.Historically, the program has prided itself on its fearless journalism and independence. But the turmoil has turned “60 Minutes” into a headline in its own right, with reporters and commentators questioning whether the changes threaten to erode its legacy.Despite the turmoil, Weiss and newly appointed executive producer Nick Bilton have promised continuity. They assure viewers that the program will continue to deliver “unforgettable stories” and that new talent will join the remaining team.The result remains uncertain. While some argue the changes will ultimately strengthen the show, others fear that the new direction could turn “60 Minutes” into an instrument of political influence, potentially jeopardizing its long‑standing reputation for probing journalism.

'Crazy' phone call between Trump and Netanyahu deals wild card in Iran talks

Chicago Prosecutor Confesses to Appearing Before Grand Jury in Immigration Protest Case

George III Reexamined: History, Health, and the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution

Featured Sections

BUSINESS

$Trump Announces Nearly $700 Million in Funding to Revive U.S. Coal","description":"President Trump will provide near $700 million to support coal plants, construction of new plants, and coal exports as part of a push to reverse the decline of the U.S. coal industry.","summary":"The White House will use the Defense Production Act to finance 13 existing coal plants and build new ones in Alaska and West Virginia, creating about 14,000 jobs. The $700 million package will aid plant operations, a new export terminal in California, and a restart of a Maryland plant. Critics warn it will raise electricity bills and air pollution.","image":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1576998408371-5b16a0c3dceb","text":"WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump is set to announce a nearly $700 million package aimed at supporting the struggling U.S. coal industry. The funds will back 13 existing coal‑fired power plants, spur construction of new plants in Alaska and West Virginia, and help restart a Maryland plant while also funding a long‑delayed coal‑export terminal in Oakland, California.\nThe administration said it will use authority under the Cold War‑era Defense Production Act to boost the coal sector. The move is the latest step in a broader effort by the Trump administration to reverse the years‑long decline in coal, which has been driven by tighter environmental regulations and competition from cheaper natural gas.\nEarlier this fall, the White House announced a $625 million investment to recommission or modernize existing coal‑fired plants and to open 13 million acres of federal lands for new coal mining. The new Treasury proposal will add to these measures, creating or supporting more than 14,000 jobs across the coal, construction, rail and maritime industries.\nPresident Trump’s orders also extend the Energy Department’s short‑term directives that keep certain fossil‑fueled plants in service past their scheduled retirement dates. The policy is intended to meet rising U.S. power demand, fueled by the rapid growth of data centers, artificial intelligence applications and electric‑vehicle charging infrastructure.\nEnergy Secretary Chris Wright said the emergency orders have helped prevent major blackouts during severe winter storms that left much of the country without power. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin are expected to join the president for a briefing later Thursday at the White House.\nEnvironmental groups have sharply criticized the new funding, arguing that it will lift electricity bills and worsen air quality. “Propping up coal billionaires with taxpayer money is another way the Trump administration puts polluters first at the expense of the rest of us,” said Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “The best thing for the air, the climate, and our utility bills is to let these plants retire peacefully.”\nCoal once provided more than half of U.S. electricity, but its share fell to about 15% in 2024, down from roughly 45% in 2010. Natural gas now accounts for about 43% of the nation's power generation, with the rest coming from nuclear, wind, solar and hydropower.\nTrade and global demand pressures have also weighed on the coal sector. U.S. coal exports fell during the first year of Trump’s second term, largely because China imposed reciprocal tariffs on American products. While global coal demand reached record highs in recent years, the International Energy Agency predicts the market will flatten or decline over the next few years.\nNo coal company can easily expand into new markets because the world is still flooded with reserves, even as U.S. plants continue to shut down.\nThe President is expected to invoke the Defense Production Act—a 1950 law that grants presidents wide authority over national security–related industries—during the announcement.$

Trump Announces Nearly $700 Million in Funding to Revive U.S. Coal","description":"President Trump will provide near $700 million to support coal plants, construction of new plants, and coal exports as part of a push to reverse the decline of the U.S. coal industry.","summary":"The White House will use the Defense Production Act to finance 13 existing coal plants and build new ones in Alaska and West Virginia, creating about 14,000 jobs. The $700 million package will aid plant operations, a new export terminal in California, and a restart of a Maryland plant. Critics warn it will raise electricity bills and air pollution.","image":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1576998408371-5b16a0c3dceb","text":"WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump is set to announce a nearly $700 million package aimed at supporting the struggling U.S. coal industry. The funds will back 13 existing coal‑fired power plants, spur construction of new plants in Alaska and West Virginia, and help restart a Maryland plant while also funding a long‑delayed coal‑export terminal in Oakland, California.\nThe administration said it will use authority under the Cold War‑era Defense Production Act to boost the coal sector. The move is the latest step in a broader effort by the Trump administration to reverse the years‑long decline in coal, which has been driven by tighter environmental regulations and competition from cheaper natural gas.\nEarlier this fall, the White House announced a $625 million investment to recommission or modernize existing coal‑fired plants and to open 13 million acres of federal lands for new coal mining. The new Treasury proposal will add to these measures, creating or supporting more than 14,000 jobs across the coal, construction, rail and maritime industries.\nPresident Trump’s orders also extend the Energy Department’s short‑term directives that keep certain fossil‑fueled plants in service past their scheduled retirement dates. The policy is intended to meet rising U.S. power demand, fueled by the rapid growth of data centers, artificial intelligence applications and electric‑vehicle charging infrastructure.\nEnergy Secretary Chris Wright said the emergency orders have helped prevent major blackouts during severe winter storms that left much of the country without power. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin are expected to join the president for a briefing later Thursday at the White House.\nEnvironmental groups have sharply criticized the new funding, arguing that it will lift electricity bills and worsen air quality. “Propping up coal billionaires with taxpayer money is another way the Trump administration puts polluters first at the expense of the rest of us,” said Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “The best thing for the air, the climate, and our utility bills is to let these plants retire peacefully.”\nCoal once provided more than half of U.S. electricity, but its share fell to about 15% in 2024, down from roughly 45% in 2010. Natural gas now accounts for about 43% of the nation's power generation, with the rest coming from nuclear, wind, solar and hydropower.\nTrade and global demand pressures have also weighed on the coal sector. U.S. coal exports fell during the first year of Trump’s second term, largely because China imposed reciprocal tariffs on American products. While global coal demand reached record highs in recent years, the International Energy Agency predicts the market will flatten or decline over the next few years.\nNo coal company can easily expand into new markets because the world is still flooded with reserves, even as U.S. plants continue to shut down.\nThe President is expected to invoke the Defense Production Act—a 1950 law that grants presidents wide authority over national security–related industries—during the announcement.

Tirana’s streets buzz with the pink‑flamingo movement, calling for the halt of a 10,000‑room development that threatens protected wetlands.

The philanthropic powerhouse is investing an additional $215 million to boost contraceptive access, maternal care, and menopause research, marking her contribution to women’s health over $600 million in two years.

The United States announces 10‑12.5 % duties on 60 trading partners over concerns that they fail to curb forced‑labour practices, sparking debate with allies.

TRAVEL

bbc.co.uk

Albanian Protesters Rally Against Kushner‑Backed Luxury Resort

Two travellers who returned from African countries were suspected of Ebola, but both tested negative. The cases were quarantined in Brazil’s largest cities before and now pose no threat of a new outbreak outside Africa. The news marks continued vigilance during the Bundibugyo strain crisis.

The 19th‑century bronze‑colored bull in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II has been in need of repair after thousands of tourists rubbed its ‘lucky’ spot. City officials have moved quickly to preserve a key piece of Milan’s living heritage.

See how the sun aligns with Manhattan’s grid during spring and summer sunsets – learn dates, best viewing spots, and the history behind the phenomenon.

After a decade‑long tradition in suburban Maryland, the 80‑student word‑war has been relocated to a grand Washington venue, sparking security revamps and cultural buzz.

Despite escalating tensions in the Gulf and scorching temperatures, this year’s pilgrimage starts with a record crowd of foreign Muslims arriving in Saudi Arabia.

SPORT

19‑Year‑Old Faces Life in Prison Over Fatal Stabbing at Texas Track Meet

A new champion is looming at Roland Garros after 24‑time champion Novak Djokovic crumbles to teenage Brazilian Joao Fonseca, while Jannik Sinner also lost to a low‑ranked opponent. With all major male titles knocked out, the tournament is set for fresh faces to emerge

14‑year‑old Shrey Parikh from Rancho Cucamonga outsmarts fellow champion Ishaan Gupta in a 90‑second tiebreaker, spelling 32 words correctly to claim the title of the best young speller in the U.S.

The 98th Scripps National Spelling Bee finals will be broadcast Thursday night in Washington, DC. Learn the competition’s rules, the top finalists, the prize breakdown, and where to stream the action.

ENTERTAINMENT

CBS News ‘60 Minutes’ in Turmoil: Firing of Staff Raises Questions","description":"The iconic investigative program faces upheaval with new leadership, firing of correspondents and accusations of political bias.","summary":"Since its 1968 debut, “60 Minutes” has been a flagship of investigative journalism. Now, CBS News executive Bari Weiss’s sweeping changes—including replacing long‑time producers, firing key correspondents such as Scott Pelley, and appointing a new chief with no broadcast experience—have sparked intense criticism and raised doubts about the show’s future.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/cd33d6d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3600x2400+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F6c%2Fe7%2Fb553edb5b6448206b538498b3370%2F8c9c8f390853414fbe6839e426ea0b66","text":"On September 24, 1968, Harry Reasoner introduced the iconic broadcast “60 Minutes” as a new “magazine for television.” Fifty‑seven years later, CBS News chief Bari Weiss is running a very different kind of new approach to the same program.Weiss’s changes, which included firing the top producer, two long‑time correspondents, and installing a new chief who has no TV broadcast experience, have pushed the venerable show into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.One of the show’s most recognizable faces, Scott Pelley, was dismissed after a tense confrontation with executives. In an email posted by New York Times media reporter Ben Mullin, Pelley accused Weiss of lying and of forcing his team to insert unverified claims into politically sensitive stories.Industry observers note that the show has already lost four correspondents this week: Pelley, Anderson Cooper, Sharyn Alfonsi, and Cecilia Vega. The departures have sparked fierce debate about whether “60 Minutes” is being deliberately reshaped to favor certain political narratives or simply evolving to stay relevant in the 21st century.Former executive producer Jeff Fager, author of “Fifty Years of 60 Minutes,” called the loss of Pelley “hobbles the program.” He warned that without his star correspondent, the show's core investigative work could suffer.Historically, the program has prided itself on its fearless journalism and independence. But the turmoil has turned “60 Minutes” into a headline in its own right, with reporters and commentators questioning whether the changes threaten to erode its legacy.Despite the turmoil, Weiss and newly appointed executive producer Nick Bilton have promised continuity. They assure viewers that the program will continue to deliver “unforgettable stories” and that new talent will join the remaining team.The result remains uncertain. While some argue the changes will ultimately strengthen the show, others fear that the new direction could turn “60 Minutes” into an instrument of political influence, potentially jeopardizing its long‑standing reputation for probing journalism.

Singer Celine Dion expresses deep sorrow over the passing of Peabo Bryson, her duet partner in the iconic Disney "Beauty and the Beast" soundtrack.

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter gains court‑issued protection after a man repeatedly trespassed on her Los Angeles property.

From MTV drama to political contender: former ‘The Hills’ villain Spencer Pratt leaps into mayoral race, promising a new era for LA but facing skeptical voters.

A wave of singers drop from the DC fair after learning it was tied to the Trump administration, prompting the former president to consider giving a speech himself.

OPINION

CBS News ‘60 Minutes’ in Turmoil: Firing of Staff Raises Questions","description":"The iconic investigative program faces upheaval with new leadership, firing of correspondents and accusations of political bias.","summary":"Since its 1968 debut, “60 Minutes” has been a flagship of investigative journalism. Now, CBS News executive Bari Weiss’s sweeping changes—including replacing long‑time producers, firing key correspondents such as Scott Pelley, and appointing a new chief with no broadcast experience—have sparked intense criticism and raised doubts about the show’s future.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/cd33d6d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3600x2400+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F6c%2Fe7%2Fb553edb5b6448206b538498b3370%2F8c9c8f390853414fbe6839e426ea0b66","text":"On September 24, 1968, Harry Reasoner introduced the iconic broadcast “60 Minutes” as a new “magazine for television.” Fifty‑seven years later, CBS News chief Bari Weiss is running a very different kind of new approach to the same program.Weiss’s changes, which included firing the top producer, two long‑time correspondents, and installing a new chief who has no TV broadcast experience, have pushed the venerable show into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.One of the show’s most recognizable faces, Scott Pelley, was dismissed after a tense confrontation with executives. In an email posted by New York Times media reporter Ben Mullin, Pelley accused Weiss of lying and of forcing his team to insert unverified claims into politically sensitive stories.Industry observers note that the show has already lost four correspondents this week: Pelley, Anderson Cooper, Sharyn Alfonsi, and Cecilia Vega. The departures have sparked fierce debate about whether “60 Minutes” is being deliberately reshaped to favor certain political narratives or simply evolving to stay relevant in the 21st century.Former executive producer Jeff Fager, author of “Fifty Years of 60 Minutes,” called the loss of Pelley “hobbles the program.” He warned that without his star correspondent, the show's core investigative work could suffer.Historically, the program has prided itself on its fearless journalism and independence. But the turmoil has turned “60 Minutes” into a headline in its own right, with reporters and commentators questioning whether the changes threaten to erode its legacy.Despite the turmoil, Weiss and newly appointed executive producer Nick Bilton have promised continuity. They assure viewers that the program will continue to deliver “unforgettable stories” and that new talent will join the remaining team.The result remains uncertain. While some argue the changes will ultimately strengthen the show, others fear that the new direction could turn “60 Minutes” into an instrument of political influence, potentially jeopardizing its long‑standing reputation for probing journalism.

A fresh look at King George III’s role in the American Revolution, his medical history, and how Americans now view him as they celebrate 250 years since independence.

Former president Donald Trump has pushed to make himself the headline act for the country’s 250th anniversary, demanding high‑profile events and costly overtures that have drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers.

The $850 million Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park has finished its most controversial aspect—a 225‑foot granite tower—bringing fierce debate about Chicago’s skyline and community impact.

POLITICS

Trump Announces Nearly $700 Million in Funding to Revive U.S. Coal","description":"President Trump will provide near $700 million to support coal plants, construction of new plants, and coal exports as part of a push to reverse the decline of the U.S. coal industry.","summary":"The White House will use the Defense Production Act to finance 13 existing coal plants and build new ones in Alaska and West Virginia, creating about 14,000 jobs. The $700 million package will aid plant operations, a new export terminal in California, and a restart of a Maryland plant. Critics warn it will raise electricity bills and air pollution.","image":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1576998408371-5b16a0c3dceb","text":"WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump is set to announce a nearly $700 million package aimed at supporting the struggling U.S. coal industry. The funds will back 13 existing coal‑fired power plants, spur construction of new plants in Alaska and West Virginia, and help restart a Maryland plant while also funding a long‑delayed coal‑export terminal in Oakland, California.\nThe administration said it will use authority under the Cold War‑era Defense Production Act to boost the coal sector. The move is the latest step in a broader effort by the Trump administration to reverse the years‑long decline in coal, which has been driven by tighter environmental regulations and competition from cheaper natural gas.\nEarlier this fall, the White House announced a $625 million investment to recommission or modernize existing coal‑fired plants and to open 13 million acres of federal lands for new coal mining. The new Treasury proposal will add to these measures, creating or supporting more than 14,000 jobs across the coal, construction, rail and maritime industries.\nPresident Trump’s orders also extend the Energy Department’s short‑term directives that keep certain fossil‑fueled plants in service past their scheduled retirement dates. The policy is intended to meet rising U.S. power demand, fueled by the rapid growth of data centers, artificial intelligence applications and electric‑vehicle charging infrastructure.\nEnergy Secretary Chris Wright said the emergency orders have helped prevent major blackouts during severe winter storms that left much of the country without power. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin are expected to join the president for a briefing later Thursday at the White House.\nEnvironmental groups have sharply criticized the new funding, arguing that it will lift electricity bills and worsen air quality. “Propping up coal billionaires with taxpayer money is another way the Trump administration puts polluters first at the expense of the rest of us,” said Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “The best thing for the air, the climate, and our utility bills is to let these plants retire peacefully.”\nCoal once provided more than half of U.S. electricity, but its share fell to about 15% in 2024, down from roughly 45% in 2010. Natural gas now accounts for about 43% of the nation's power generation, with the rest coming from nuclear, wind, solar and hydropower.\nTrade and global demand pressures have also weighed on the coal sector. U.S. coal exports fell during the first year of Trump’s second term, largely because China imposed reciprocal tariffs on American products. While global coal demand reached record highs in recent years, the International Energy Agency predicts the market will flatten or decline over the next few years.\nNo coal company can easily expand into new markets because the world is still flooded with reserves, even as U.S. plants continue to shut down.\nThe President is expected to invoke the Defense Production Act—a 1950 law that grants presidents wide authority over national security–related industries—during the announcement.

Tirana’s streets buzz with the pink‑flamingo movement, calling for the halt of a 10,000‑room development that threatens protected wetlands.

A former Texas high school athlete has been indicted after fatally stabbing a 17‑year‑old competitor during a Thursday‑night track meet in Frisco. The trial begins this week amid heightened security and heightened scrutiny over racial tensions.

The Trump administration has shifted its tactics from campus investigations to imposing new federal rules that enshrine conservative values and roll back diversity initiatives. The move aims to regulate universities across the nation, meeting new procedural hurdles for funding and oversight.

HEALTH

$New World Screwworm Fly Detected in South Texas, Threatening Cattle Industry","description":"The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirms the first detection of the flesh‑eating fly in the country in decades, sparking quarantine measures and a fresh wave of eradication efforts.","summary":"A 3‑week‑old calf in LaPryor, Texas, tested positive for the New World screwworm fly, a parasite that once devastated U.S. cattle. Texas officials have erected a 12‑mile quarantine zone and accelerated sterile‑fly releases, while the USDA has opened a new breeding facility in Mexico and plans a large factory in Texas to curb future outbreaks.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/2fc44e6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fc0%2Fe7%2F08d2c122f267d953008cbbd64eef%2F9f30a8f704e8436aa4b0ed1000b44b80","text":"The New World screwworm fly has reached south Texas, the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s officials confirmed on Wednesday. The parasite, known for its flesh‑eating larvae, now threatens the country’s cattle industry for the first time in decades and the third time it has been seen in the U.S. since the 1970s eradication program.\nAgriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the case is a 3‑week‑old calf in LaPryor, Texas, roughly 50 miles (80 km) from the Mexico border. Texas State Veterinarian Bud Dinges reported a 12‑mile (20 km) quarantine zone has been set up, banning the movement of any warm‑blooded animal—including pets—outside the zone without an official inspection.\n\"There is no reason to believe this incursion will result in establishment of the pest in our country,\" Rollins said. She also noted that no other detections have been reported in the U.S. while the larvae remain a threat to livestock production. Proper treatment—even for an infested calf—can allow recovery.\nThe fly’s presence has sparked warnings from U.S. and Texas agriculture officials and cattle‑industry leaders, who have been sounding alarms about its movement across the Mexico border for more than a year. The message is clear: memories of the fly’s cost—tens of millions of dollars lost in the 1970s—have made prevention a top priority.\nThe USDA is employing a strategy that worked successfully before the original eradication: release of millions of sterile screwworm flies to mate with wild females. If a female mates with a sterile male, the eggs will not hatch, gradually killing the population. The agency is confident that this approach means there is \"no threat of mass infestation\" in the region.\nThe brown fly’s lifecycle is short; females lay eggs in open wounds or mucous membranes, and the larvae consume flesh. Infestations can be fatal if left untreated, affecting livestock, wild mammals, pets, and even humans.\nRecent history shows the fly roaming inside Mexico, close to the U.S. border, and even marking a case in a Maryland resident who had traveled to El Salvador in August 2025. All reported cases have been contained without spread to the U.S. population.\nTo strengthen containment, the USDA announced a $21 million investment to convert a fruit‑fly breeding facility in southern Mexico into one dedicated to sterl‑fly production, which will release sterile flies across southern Texas. Construction of a $750 million fly factory is underway in Texas, with the Mexican facility expected to be operational next month. The USDA also deployed 8,000 fly traps along the U.S.–Mexico border and has tested more than 58,000 fly samples, along with 19,000 wild animal samples.\nIn addition to quarantine enforcement, Rose said the USDA closed foreign livestock imports from Mexico last year, a decision she defended during a recent news conference. Although the fly can travel on people, pets, and wild animals, officials caution that it does not fly great distances independently.\n\"Please help us prevent any further movement of this pest by staying put,\" said Dinges to ranchers and pet owners, stressing the importance of respecting the quarantine zone.\n$

New World Screwworm Fly Detected in South Texas, Threatening Cattle Industry","description":"The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirms the first detection of the flesh‑eating fly in the country in decades, sparking quarantine measures and a fresh wave of eradication efforts.","summary":"A 3‑week‑old calf in LaPryor, Texas, tested positive for the New World screwworm fly, a parasite that once devastated U.S. cattle. Texas officials have erected a 12‑mile quarantine zone and accelerated sterile‑fly releases, while the USDA has opened a new breeding facility in Mexico and plans a large factory in Texas to curb future outbreaks.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/2fc44e6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fc0%2Fe7%2F08d2c122f267d953008cbbd64eef%2F9f30a8f704e8436aa4b0ed1000b44b80","text":"The New World screwworm fly has reached south Texas, the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s officials confirmed on Wednesday. The parasite, known for its flesh‑eating larvae, now threatens the country’s cattle industry for the first time in decades and the third time it has been seen in the U.S. since the 1970s eradication program.\nAgriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the case is a 3‑week‑old calf in LaPryor, Texas, roughly 50 miles (80 km) from the Mexico border. Texas State Veterinarian Bud Dinges reported a 12‑mile (20 km) quarantine zone has been set up, banning the movement of any warm‑blooded animal—including pets—outside the zone without an official inspection.\n\"There is no reason to believe this incursion will result in establishment of the pest in our country,\" Rollins said. She also noted that no other detections have been reported in the U.S. while the larvae remain a threat to livestock production. Proper treatment—even for an infested calf—can allow recovery.\nThe fly’s presence has sparked warnings from U.S. and Texas agriculture officials and cattle‑industry leaders, who have been sounding alarms about its movement across the Mexico border for more than a year. The message is clear: memories of the fly’s cost—tens of millions of dollars lost in the 1970s—have made prevention a top priority.\nThe USDA is employing a strategy that worked successfully before the original eradication: release of millions of sterile screwworm flies to mate with wild females. If a female mates with a sterile male, the eggs will not hatch, gradually killing the population. The agency is confident that this approach means there is \"no threat of mass infestation\" in the region.\nThe brown fly’s lifecycle is short; females lay eggs in open wounds or mucous membranes, and the larvae consume flesh. Infestations can be fatal if left untreated, affecting livestock, wild mammals, pets, and even humans.\nRecent history shows the fly roaming inside Mexico, close to the U.S. border, and even marking a case in a Maryland resident who had traveled to El Salvador in August 2025. All reported cases have been contained without spread to the U.S. population.\nTo strengthen containment, the USDA announced a $21 million investment to convert a fruit‑fly breeding facility in southern Mexico into one dedicated to sterl‑fly production, which will release sterile flies across southern Texas. Construction of a $750 million fly factory is underway in Texas, with the Mexican facility expected to be operational next month. The USDA also deployed 8,000 fly traps along the U.S.–Mexico border and has tested more than 58,000 fly samples, along with 19,000 wild animal samples.\nIn addition to quarantine enforcement, Rose said the USDA closed foreign livestock imports from Mexico last year, a decision she defended during a recent news conference. Although the fly can travel on people, pets, and wild animals, officials caution that it does not fly great distances independently.\n\"Please help us prevent any further movement of this pest by staying put,\" said Dinges to ranchers and pet owners, stressing the importance of respecting the quarantine zone.\n

Singer Celine Dion expresses deep sorrow over the passing of Peabo Bryson, her duet partner in the iconic Disney "Beauty and the Beast" soundtrack.

An investigation reveals widespread medical neglect in detention centers across 33 states, with detainees suffering untreated conditions, delayed care, and fatal outcomes.

New regulations force food delivery platforms to verify restaurant licences and addresses, targeting the surge of licence‑free ghost kitchens.

TECH

$Virginia Bus Crash Investigation Sheds Light on Bus Safety Standards","description":"A fatal collision involving a commercial bus and multiple vehicles in Virginia has prompted scrutiny of driver conduct, company practices, and the industry's safety measures.","summary":"The crash, caused by driver speed and fatigue, left five dead and dozens injured. It raises questions about enforcement of federal rules, unmet NTSB recommendations, and the need for more advanced collision‑avoidance technology in commercial buses.","image":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1606372774415-4e00a4e47b90?auto=format&fit=crop&w=800&q=60","text":"A commercial bus crash in Virginia that killed five people and injured dozens of others has raised questions about the driver, the company that employed him and the overall safety of the industry.It isn\u2019t yet clear what could have prevented last week’s crash because the National Transportation Safety Board investigation is just beginning. Still, it highlights the inherent dangers whenever a bus or semitruck crashes into other vehicles—even if riding a bus is statistically safer than driving a car.Commercial buses still lack standard collision‑avoidance technology and emergency braking systems, despite long‑standing NTSB recommendations and proposed regulations.Observers point to driver fatigue as a possible factor. The driver, Jing Sheng Dong of New York City, was previously convicted of speeding on two occasions within three years—first in Virginia in 2024, then in Maryland in March. Federal rules would disqualify a driver for 60 days if convicted twice for driving more than 15 mph over the limit. Dong now faces five charges of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless driving.Experts argue that the criminal charges may not improve road safety because they target the driver rather than the company that set the schedule and routes. Fatigue and scheduling practices can play a major role in such accidents.Bus drivers are legally barred from driving over 10 hours or working more than 15 hours without at least eight hours rest. Electronic logs have improved enforcement, though tampering still occurs.In a 2024 crash in North Carolina involving another E&P Travel driver, nine people were injured when the bus failed to stop for a traffic control vehicle. The driver pleaded guilty to failure to reduce speed.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is verifying that the driver was issued a commercial driver’s license in compliance with New York state rules. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has called for stronger enforcement of CDL standards, though efforts have primarily focused on truck drivers.<h2>A Long List of Unfulfilled Recommendations</h2>Even when the NHTSA supports a safety innovation, it can take years to adopt a rule. Commercial buses only required seat belts since 2016. Recommendations for stricter standards on driver fatigue, rest requirements, and collision‑avoidance technology remain unfulfilled.Regulators, Congress, and the industry must adopt these measures. Funding and cost are cited as barriers, but many argue that safety is a business imperative.<h2>Investments in Safety by Some Bus Companies</h2>Some companies have adopted driver‑monitoring technology, such as inward‑facing video cameras and telematics systems, which can alert operators to risky behavior. Others have installed collision‑avoidance technology to prevent catastrophic accidents. However, the high cost of new motorcoaches—roughly $650,000—and tariff impacts slow upgrades.The American Bus Association highlights that safe operations benefit businesses economically and ethically. Its members represent about 40% of the 1,800 companies operating roughly 50,000 motorcoaches in North America.$

Virginia Bus Crash Investigation Sheds Light on Bus Safety Standards","description":"A fatal collision involving a commercial bus and multiple vehicles in Virginia has prompted scrutiny of driver conduct, company practices, and the industry's safety measures.","summary":"The crash, caused by driver speed and fatigue, left five dead and dozens injured. It raises questions about enforcement of federal rules, unmet NTSB recommendations, and the need for more advanced collision‑avoidance technology in commercial buses.","image":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1606372774415-4e00a4e47b90?auto=format&fit=crop&w=800&q=60","text":"A commercial bus crash in Virginia that killed five people and injured dozens of others has raised questions about the driver, the company that employed him and the overall safety of the industry.It isn\u2019t yet clear what could have prevented last week’s crash because the National Transportation Safety Board investigation is just beginning. Still, it highlights the inherent dangers whenever a bus or semitruck crashes into other vehicles—even if riding a bus is statistically safer than driving a car.Commercial buses still lack standard collision‑avoidance technology and emergency braking systems, despite long‑standing NTSB recommendations and proposed regulations.Observers point to driver fatigue as a possible factor. The driver, Jing Sheng Dong of New York City, was previously convicted of speeding on two occasions within three years—first in Virginia in 2024, then in Maryland in March. Federal rules would disqualify a driver for 60 days if convicted twice for driving more than 15 mph over the limit. Dong now faces five charges of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless driving.Experts argue that the criminal charges may not improve road safety because they target the driver rather than the company that set the schedule and routes. Fatigue and scheduling practices can play a major role in such accidents.Bus drivers are legally barred from driving over 10 hours or working more than 15 hours without at least eight hours rest. Electronic logs have improved enforcement, though tampering still occurs.In a 2024 crash in North Carolina involving another E&P Travel driver, nine people were injured when the bus failed to stop for a traffic control vehicle. The driver pleaded guilty to failure to reduce speed.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is verifying that the driver was issued a commercial driver’s license in compliance with New York state rules. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has called for stronger enforcement of CDL standards, though efforts have primarily focused on truck drivers.<h2>A Long List of Unfulfilled Recommendations</h2>Even when the NHTSA supports a safety innovation, it can take years to adopt a rule. Commercial buses only required seat belts since 2016. Recommendations for stricter standards on driver fatigue, rest requirements, and collision‑avoidance technology remain unfulfilled.Regulators, Congress, and the industry must adopt these measures. Funding and cost are cited as barriers, but many argue that safety is a business imperative.<h2>Investments in Safety by Some Bus Companies</h2>Some companies have adopted driver‑monitoring technology, such as inward‑facing video cameras and telematics systems, which can alert operators to risky behavior. Others have installed collision‑avoidance technology to prevent catastrophic accidents. However, the high cost of new motorcoaches—roughly $650,000—and tariff impacts slow upgrades.The American Bus Association highlights that safe operations benefit businesses economically and ethically. Its members represent about 40% of the 1,800 companies operating roughly 50,000 motorcoaches in North America.

A drone strike on the outskirts of Russia’s second city at dawn coincides with the high‑profile St Petersburg Economic Forum aimed at attracting foreign investment.

Meta claims its AI support tool was tricked into giving attackers access to user accounts. The incident raised alarms over AI trust and the absence of human support for victims.

New regulations force food delivery platforms to verify restaurant licences and addresses, targeting the surge of licence‑free ghost kitchens.

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Dallas Federal Court ‘Evidence Bombshell’ Spurs Emergency Preservation of Records

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Explosive Revelations in UK Court: Obama and Harris Tied to Legal-Media Cartel

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Albanian Protesters Rally Against Kushner‑Backed Luxury Resort

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