ICE arrests Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University protests

ICE arrested Palestinian graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, a key figure in last spring’s anti-Israel protests at Columbia University, at his campus residence. His attorney said agents cited State Department orders to revoke his visa, later claiming to revoke his green card as well. Khalil, now in detention, was allegedly targeted under President Trump’s pledge to deport international students involved in pro-Palestinian protests. Columbia faces federal … Continue reading ICE arrests Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University protests

US orders nonemergency government staff to leave South Sudan as tension grows over fighting

The U.S. State Department ordered nonemergency personnel to leave South Sudan’s capital as tensions rise due to northern fighting. Clashes last week led to the arrests of key officials linked to Vice President Riek Machar, sparking concerns over the country’s fragile peace deal. A U.N. helicopter evacuation was attacked, prompting warnings from the U.N. that the escalating violence threatens to derail peace efforts, the Associated … Continue reading US orders nonemergency government staff to leave South Sudan as tension grows over fighting

Russia is advancing in Kursk, threatening Ukraine’s sole territorial gain

Ukraine’s hold on Russia’s Kursk region is weakening as Russian forces, supported by North Korean troops, intensify attacks. Moscow has reclaimed several settlements and is targeting Sudzha to cut off Ukrainian supply routes. Kyiv initially invaded Kursk in August to pressure Russia and gain leverage, but with U.S. support waning, its position has become precarious. Military bloggers warn Ukraine may soon withdraw, as poor road … Continue reading Russia is advancing in Kursk, threatening Ukraine’s sole territorial gain

Pope Francis pens prayer thanking hospital staff, as he shows ‘mild improvement’

Pope Francis, 88, remains hospitalized in Rome with a guarded prognosis after complications from bronchitis, including pneumonia and respiratory crises. Despite his illness, he released a Sunday prayer thanking healthcare workers for their care and urging compassion for those in hardship. The Vatican reports his condition is stable with no fever, though his recovery remains uncertain, NPR has reported. Francis also praised volunteers, calling their … Continue reading Pope Francis pens prayer thanking hospital staff, as he shows ‘mild improvement’

Syria descends into 48 hours of bloody carnage

Syria has descended into chaos, with over 1,000 killed in violent clashes between remnants of Bashar al-Assad’s forces and the new Islamist government, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Assad loyalists launched a surprise ambush, triggering days of bloodshed, including mass executions and revenge killings. Witnesses report horrifying atrocities, including women paraded naked before being shot and a boy forced to kill his family. The violence, centered … Continue reading Syria descends into 48 hours of bloody carnage

USA ‘to cease all future military exercises in Europe’

The U.S. has informed allies it will not participate in future military exercises in Europe beyond those already scheduled, marking another shift in Donald Trump’s approach to NATO. The move forces NATO countries to plan exercises without U.S. military involvement. Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO members for not meeting the 2% GDP defense spending target and warned that the U.S. may not defend those who … Continue reading USA ‘to cease all future military exercises in Europe’

Trump administration must pay debts to USAID partners by Monday, judge rules

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to pay several nonprofit organizations affected by the freeze on foreign aid and the shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The government has until Monday to release funds to at least nine groups, including the Global Health Council and the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition. While a full $2 billion in aid was previously estimated, … Continue reading Trump administration must pay debts to USAID partners by Monday, judge rules

Trump to put tariff exemptions on certain goods from Canada, Mexico

President Trump announced Thursday that most goods covered under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will be exempt from his 25% tariffs for the next month. The tariffs, which took effect earlier this week, will be reinstated on April 2. Trump imposed the tariffs on Canada and Mexico to combat fentanyl trafficking and lower border crossings. While some, like Dan Greenhouse, see it as a useful tool, … Continue reading Trump to put tariff exemptions on certain goods from Canada, Mexico

Judge says plans to release a woman in Slender Man case can go forward

A judge has approved the release of Morgan Geyser, who nearly killed her classmate in 2014 to please the horror character Slender Man. Geyser has spent seven years at Winnebago Mental Health Institute and was ordered released in January after a community supervision plan was finalized. Despite concerns from state health officials about her reading habits and communications with a murder memorabilia collector, the judge … Continue reading Judge says plans to release a woman in Slender Man case can go forward

Man accused of aiding Kabul airport bombing charged in US court

Mohammad Sharifullah, accused of helping plan the 2021 Kabul airport bombing during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, appeared in court on Wednesday. Charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for supporting a foreign terrorist organization, he faces life in prison. Sharifullah, a member of ISIS-K, allegedly helped prepare the attack that killed over 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members. He also admitted involvement in … Continue reading Man accused of aiding Kabul airport bombing charged in US court

South Carolina Supreme Court rejects man’s final appeal, clearing way for firing squad execution

The South Carolina Supreme Court has rejected the final appeal of Brad Sigmon, clearing the way for his execution by firing squad on Friday. Sigmon, 67, convicted of beating his ex-girlfriend’s parents to death in 2002, chose the firing squad over lethal injection, citing concerns over painful execution methods and a lack of transparency regarding the state’s lethal injection drugs. His lawyers argued that his … Continue reading South Carolina Supreme Court rejects man’s final appeal, clearing way for firing squad execution

Recovery teams hope to reach site of Alaska avalanche that buried 3 skiers

Authorities in Alaska are attempting to reach the site of an avalanche near Girdwood that trapped three skiers, who are believed to have died after being buried in over 30 feet of snow. The avalanche occurred Tuesday afternoon after a helicopter dropped the skiers on a backcountry peak. The snow slide, which was up to 100 feet deep, caught the skiers, and despite efforts by … Continue reading Recovery teams hope to reach site of Alaska avalanche that buried 3 skiers

$10M reward offered for arrest of former Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug lord

The U.S. Department of State is offering a $10 million reward for the capture of Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder accused of leading a major drug trafficking organization and orchestrating multiple murders. Wedding, a Canadian national, is wanted for smuggling cocaine from Colombia to Canada and U.S. cities and ordering murders to further his criminal activities. He was indicted last year on multiple charges, … Continue reading $10M reward offered for arrest of former Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug lord

About 20 countries could join Ukraine coalition, UK says

Around 20 countries, mainly from Europe and the Commonwealth, are interested in joining a “coalition of the willing” to support Ukraine, though not all may send troops. The plan, led by the UK and France, aims to uphold a ceasefire in Russia’s war on Ukraine. However, Russia’s foreign minister rejected the proposal, warning it could escalate NATO’s involvement. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasized … Continue reading About 20 countries could join Ukraine coalition, UK says

Teen armed with gun overpowered by passengers onboard plane

A 17-year-old was charged in Australia after boarding a plane with a shotgun and ammunition at Avalon Airport near Melbourne. The teenager, who breached a security fence, was tackled by passengers and crew before takeoff on a flight bound for Sydney. He faces eight charges, including unlawfully taking control of an aircraft and endangering flight safety. No one was injured, though the incident caused distress … Continue reading Teen armed with gun overpowered by passengers onboard plane

Fighter jet accidentally bombs village, injuring 15, during South Korea military drill

South Korea’s air force apologized after a fighter jet accidentally dropped eight bombs outside a designated training range during a live-fire exercise on Thursday, injuring 15 civilians and damaging several buildings in the village of Nogok-ri, near the North Korean border. The bombs, each weighing 225kg, were released due to incorrect coordinates entered by the pilot. The incident occurred during preparations for joint South Korea-US … Continue reading Fighter jet accidentally bombs village, injuring 15, during South Korea military drill

Meloni Backs Giving Ukraine NATO Security Without Membership

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposed granting Ukraine the security of NATO’s collective defense under Article 5 without full membership. Speaking at a European Union leaders’ meeting, she emphasized the need for more sustainable solutions than European peacekeeping troops. Meloni suggested this extension of NATO protection would be more effective, Bloomberg has reported. While her stance may position her as a potential bridge between Europe … Continue reading Meloni Backs Giving Ukraine NATO Security Without Membership

Canada Eyes Arctic Military Expansion in Response to USA Demands

Canada is increasing its military presence in the Arctic, investing C$2.67 billion ($1.86 billion) over 20 years to enhance support hubs in Inuvik, Yellowknife, and Iqaluit. The plan aims to deter Chinese and Russian influence while addressing calls from the Trump administration for higher defense spending. The funding will improve airstrips, logistics, and equipment for military operations. This move comes as Canada’s defense spending remains … Continue reading Canada Eyes Arctic Military Expansion in Response to USA Demands

NASA powers down two instruments on twin Voyager spacecraft to save power

NASA is shutting down two science instruments on its Voyager spacecraft to conserve power and extend their missions. Voyager 2 will turn off an instrument measuring charged particles and cosmic rays later this month, while Voyager 1 powered down a similar instrument last week. The spacecraft, launched in 1977, are now in interstellar space, with Voyager 1 over 15 billion miles from Earth and Voyager … Continue reading NASA powers down two instruments on twin Voyager spacecraft to save power

Private lunar lander may have fallen over while touching down near the moon’s south pole

Intuitive Machines’ Athena lunar lander touched down near the moon’s south pole but may have tipped over, creating uncertainty about its status. Despite communication with controllers and solar power generation, the lander’s exact position remains unclear. NASA and Intuitive Machines are assessing whether the onboard drill and drone can still function. This was the second moon landing this week under NASA’s commercial lunar delivery program, … Continue reading Private lunar lander may have fallen over while touching down near the moon’s south pole

SpaceX again loses its Starship rocket on test flight after explosion during previous attempt

SpaceX’s Starship megarocket suffered another setback during its eighth test flight, losing contact with the upper stage about eight minutes after launch. The rocket lifted off from Starbase in Texas but appeared to experience engine failures before communication was lost. Debris from the explosion was reported over Florida, Jamaica, and Turks and Caicos. Despite the failure, the Super Heavy booster successfully executed its “catch” landing, … Continue reading SpaceX again loses its Starship rocket on test flight after explosion during previous attempt

They’re Teaching Robots How to Stunt Ride Motorcycles Now

Researchers at the Robot and AI Institute (RAI) in Massachusetts have developed a robot capable of performing motorcycle stunts using reinforcement learning. The demonstration, which showcases the robot’s ability to drive, turn, jump, and balance, has sparked concerns reminiscent of the Terminator franchise, where AI goes rogue. The project raises questions about whether scientists are prioritizing AI capabilities over potential risks, echoing the famous Jurassic Park quote: “They were so … Continue reading They’re Teaching Robots How to Stunt Ride Motorcycles Now

Mysterious unmanned warship spotted off of Washington state coast

The USX-1 Defiant, a 180-foot, 240-ton unmanned warship, was spotted in Washington state’s Puget Sound. Developed under DARPA’s “No Manning Required Ship” (NOMARS) program with Serco as the primary contractor, the vessel was launched last month for trials. Designed for autonomous naval missions, it aims to provide a cost-effective alternative for surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering. The U.S. military sees such vessels as key to … Continue reading Mysterious unmanned warship spotted off of Washington state coast

Fintech exec arrested for allegedly defrauding investors out of $145M

Joseph Neal Sanberg, founder of the climate-focused banking startup Aspiration, was arrested for allegedly defrauding investors of $145 million. His co-conspirator, Ibrahim Ameen AlHusseini, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and admitted to falsifying financial statements to support the scheme. Sanberg, a Democratic donor with celebrity investors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Drake, allegedly misled investors using Aspiration shares as collateral. Federal authorities are also investigating the … Continue reading Fintech exec arrested for allegedly defrauding investors out of $145M

Scientists created a ‘woolly mouse’ with mammoth traits

Colossal Biosciences has genetically modified a lab mouse to exhibit woolly mammoth-like traits, including longer, wavy hair and curly whiskers. The experiment aims to test how specific DNA sequences influence traits that helped mammoths survive cold climates. Scientists edited eight genes, including those affecting hair growth, color, and body fat, using advanced gene-editing techniques, CNN has reported. The research, detailed in a preprint paper, is … Continue reading Scientists created a ‘woolly mouse’ with mammoth traits